Hummingbird Morning Miracle

3 hummers now huh...you're getting quite a crowd!

Yes, I just made DH hand them over. I only ever saw two hummers, but Mom swears there were three.
I went out to try to get some photos. I discovered that it is really hard when you have tree limbs in the background to get a clear shot. So I moved.
During this time I noticed repeated visits from two different hummers. The one we have been watching, and another one who has a deeper pitched wing sound. Don't know how else to explain it. The lil guy, came in from my right and the big guy came in from the walnut tree to the left. Lil guy fed more often.
The three best photos of the day to follow.
WIB,
Jules

Feeding up real good. I'm bringing in the feeder tonight, cleaning and refilling it, minus food coloring, while they are sleeping.

I'm moving my chair tomorrow, much better photos from this angle.
This is my favorite photo of the day.

Great photos!

Wow, great pics, Jules! It's great your mom enjoyed the humming birds too!
Adina

It was really breezy this afternoon. Mom now has custody of the binoculars.
I was unhappy with the photos so I'm only going to post six today. First a photo of the one I believe we rescued. So windy today, and it is so blurry, but I remember that small red dot on it's neck. He sure was moving fast!


This message was edited Feb 26, 2009 5:58 PM

Then this guy showed up. Isn't he gorgeous? I did crop the photo so you can see the band encircles his neck. He is the faster of the two, and has the deeper sounding wing beats.

Then there was this one.

Oops, I forgot about this view. I don't whether or not to be offended or pleased that it turned it's back on me. This is the lil guy again.

Found this when I was looking up some hummer ID info. Thought you might enjoy it:

"Hummingbirds in Native American Tradition
Whether this qualifies as "natural history" may depend upon your own beliefs, but Peter Guanikeyu Torres, President and Council Chief of the Taino Indigenous Nation of the Caribbean and Florida, sent me this:

The Taino Native American people were the first people to meet Columbus in 1492. The Hummingbird is the symbol of the spreader of life on the Earth. It also symbolizes the rebirth of the Taino Indian Nation of the Caribbean and Florida. We also call our Warriors, Colibri Warriors (Hummingbird Warriors), as the Hummingbird is very peaceful but, it protects it own homeland with the heart of a Eagle. Our history tells us the small Hummingbirds were at one time small flies that Agueybaba the Sun Father transformed one day into little birds."

Ooops! I forgot about these last two, I promise.

I love it ima! I've heard a similar story about the brave Hummingbird warriors. Especially stories from the southeast of us. Thank you for sharing the story with us! ^_^
This last photo is just a shot that I cropped so you could see the big bully better. The smaller one doesn't come as often and the bigger one chases him off. I guess I'll have to put a feeder out front too! LOL!
WIB,
SW

SW, that's the male. As usual, they show more color than the females.

I think mine are nesting now----they're not using the feeders much, and they're going after insects like crazy.

So KC, is the other one an adolescent male or a female? I kinda figured the big guy was a male. The deep wing sound I guess. Or that glorious COLOR!
ima, that is so cool. It makes sense they'd be stocking up on protein before they start their clutch.
sunnyg, what's going on with your pair? Did they come back to the old nest?
Now, Mom not only has custody of my DH's binoculars, but also my beloved, paper-clipped North American Guide to Birds by the Audubon Society. I finally found it!
WIB,
SW

I just put my finch sock out late Sunday evening. All your talk about birds flyin' about got me going. My finchies found us by Tuesday afternoon upon my return home from work. I am thrilled. The pic attached only shows a coupl'a little guys, but yesterday afternoon the place was surrounded by easily 20 or more. The were chirping and trilling and rough housing all about.

So, not intending to squish your thread, SW, I just wanted to show you my little kiddles. Not sure when to expect our Hummers to return. I don't feed them because I've never been able to keep my various feeders from leaking out sugared water onto the ground, thus inviting ants into the fold along with the hummers. I just don't need ants running about. If someone can tell me how to insure that my feeders don't leak sugar water I'll put those feeders back up in a heartbeat. They are so very cute and sweet.

Linda

The females have small red spot(s) on the throat. The juveniles look like the female with no throat markings at first.

Sometimes when the male turns his head, his feathers will stick out on the sides as if he has a cap over his head. Also, the color will sometimes be a real red red, but in some light look pinkish. When they turn their head, they "flash" their colors to warn off other hummers. "This is MY patch - get off!!"

http://www.hummingbirds.net/annas.html

http://images.google.com/images?oe=UTF-8&q=anna's+hummingbird&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=XnynSbGaN4GStQO38YDoDw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

So I have a girl and a boy hummer! Oh goody! Thanks for the info KC. That male sure acts like he owns the feeder. I think the rescued one was a lil gal, not a lil guy.
I've never seen a finch sock before, Twincol. We have finches all over. They are pretty cute! I have no idea what they are eating, but my pup sure likes chasing the ones that live here. Don't know what MIL uses on her hummer feeders to keep the ants away, but I'll ask. I have problems with the wind blowing so hard that the "nectar" gets spilled out. Maybe anchoring it top and bottom? I'll ask.
WIB,
SW

oh the gold finches - I love them... my daughter had a friend over (last spring) and there was a big group of them at the feeders... her friend asked "are those birds real?" ha ha ha , love that feeder, haven't seern one like that.

SW -cute pictures !

That is so interesting about boys and girls hummer!

SW, unfortunately no hummingbird nesting action around here that I can see. The frogs aren't croaking either...man oh man :-(.

Great pics, btw!

sunny,
Keep on looking, remember they are most active in the early mornings and late afternoons. I'm pulling for you.
I'm glad you are enjoying the photos. I enjoy taking them. Just want a better camera, with a good telephoto lens. Said nothing to DH, but showed him the thread, and how many have visited it. He volunteered, "You need a better camera." Mother's Day is coming up! LOL!
Pictures later on today. I got a couple this morning and will try for some if the sun comes out.
WIB,
SW

I wasn't successful in getting any photos this evening. I did hear the Lil Guy/Gal.
However, this morning I got this shot. I cropped the following photos so you can see them better.
Mom likes this one the best for today. Says he's telling me who is the boss.

Look at how fast his wings are beating.

My personal favorite of the day. Sure was the only spot of bright color today. Dismal, cold and gray outside.

You're getting more demanding of your own photos, SW---all three of these are fantastic!

Yes, awesome, SW, AWESOME!! You lucky duck, errr, girl! What shots you've gotten.

I've done some searching about hummers. One source stated that you can place the feeders close to windows and after several days the little gugals become so accustomed to having you nearby, you slow-moving human, you, that they are willing to allow you to get very close in order to watch them.

It would seem that, given your history with one of them anyway, along with your experience nearby the others, you've acclimated yours to your presence. Good job!

Linda

Beautiful photos, SW!

Yes, gorgeous!

I can't wait to get some of my hummer plants out and see if I can get a few more to visit this summer. I always have one or two infrequent visitors. They're just amazing!

This is such a great thread to visit on a cold gray winter day here in zone 5.
Thanks ^_^

I hope I take after Dad. At any rate, it took a lot of patience, a steady hand (I would have used the tripod, put I have a boisterous puppy.), and I deleted a whole bunch of really blurry ones.
I was worried about our little rescued girl. I think we've determined she is a girl at this point. Didn't see her much yesterday so was excited to see her, even blurred today!

Then after many attempts with the pup gamboling at my feet, a change of chairs, and more patience. I got this shot. I really think that we ought to name her. What do you all think?

Then there is this guy. Zooming in to terrify and intimidate!

Here he is giving me a dirty look.

Look at that beady eye. He just isn't sure he trusts me.

Here he is looking at me with his other beady eye.
We really ought to give him a name too.

Exit, stage left!

I tried anticipating when he would fly into the frame. I swear he was flying backwards on this one. I know it is way too dark, but you can see part of him on the right of the photo.
WIB,
SW

SW,

She: SweetiePIE (Princess In Extreme), aka PIE
He: ZoomieTI (Terrify and Intimidate), aka TI

Lindai