Your patience please. I changed the name on this thread to encourage others to post their hummingbird photos and to add to the continuing adventures of the ones we have living here.
We came from here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/954218/
Your participation is welcomed and enjoyed by all.
Walk In Beauty!
SingingWolf
This message was edited Mar 7, 2009 4:35 PM
This must be inside the greenhouse, or you've been holding out on us in the "bloom" department...?
I think that was a photo taken the first day after we rescued him, but before I put in a feeder. It was my favorite of that day. A different hummer found her way into the green house and must have found her way out because I haven't seen or heard her the last few days inside the gh.
Today I spotted her. Here she is looking bored, waiting for the guys to get over themselves and make a break for the feeder while they were off chasing each other around. She is perched on my Wisteria.
WIB,
SW
This message was edited Mar 7, 2009 5:57 PM
I think this is a hot spot of activity. She is on her favorite tree perch, and the boys (at least two, maybe three), were zooming around in the tops and through the bare branches. It was fun to watch, but couldn't get photos.
She seems to perch there just about every day. They really didn't like it when DH walked too close to the feeder.
I sat out there, going brrrr, while they did their aerial acrobatics. So being me, I started singing. I asked them to come visit. Here is what happened.
Must have felt so welcomed that he stuck around and let me get several blurry photos, and then this one. I packed it in after this. Was cold and the sun was hiding, so I figured I would too! LOL!
WIB,
SW
Come sing at my house! All I got trying to take photos of "mine" today was a stiff neck and a lot of humminbird snickering....LOL!
Oh, SW, look at those throat feathers!!!!! They actually have a shape of their own. That is, they stick out like they're a scarf or something, a collar . . . not just the bodice (as in a girl's dress, sorry, can't think of a boy's style which matches).
Absolutely amazing!!! What a GR8 photo, this last one!
This has motivated me to try out a couple of the hummer feeders I have. The feeders I have which have the little straw hanging down always seem to leak and invite ants. So I'm using those which face up in hopes of inviting them to stop here. I've seen them fly through at times, checking out my feeders and flying off disappointed.
So, thanks to you I'm off!!!
Linda
This was the best photo of the day for me. Notice the angle from which I'm taking this picture....directly underneath the branch---thus the stiff neck.
I could practically hear him saying to her "C'mere---this is what I wanted you to see----look at this idiot DIRECTLY under us with her camera...tempting isn't it? HAHAHA!!"
And the last one: "BYE-BYE, bozo!!! Better luck tomorrow...HEEHEEHEEHEEHEE!!!"
Aww! Those photos were amazing, I was surprised at how well they turned out. I was only able to get about 10 shots of hummers today, and to have two turn out so nice was well, like winning the lottery! LOL!
I just got to get there late in the afternoon before the sun goes behind the hills. It also helps to set up a chair to sit in, because patience pays when it comes to these guys. I get really tired, and it's nice to be able to sit while you wait. The hummers seem to visit about every 10 to 15 minutes, unless disturbed by someone or something with wings or four paws. LOL!
imapigeon, next time I'm up your way, I will.
Twincol,
Those throat feathers kind of remind me of how turkeys or peacocks show off their plumage for the ladies. I can't think of any apter description than maybe a Nehru type collar, which were popular in the late 60's.
What do you all use to clean out the grunge at the top of the feeder? I'm going to have to clean and refill (for the 2nd time) mine. I've found a denture tablet and breaking it up so it would fit into that narrow neck seemed to bubble most of it off, don't dare try anything more toxic. Did rinse out the feeder really good with really hot (ouch!) water afterwards. Any one have a better suggestion?
I know that some of you have good photos of hummers to share. Please don't be shy, jump right on in!
WIB,
SW
imapigeon needs a perch! LOL! (sorry we crossed posts!)
Or to lower the feeders! Too Funny, and even in silhuette(sp?), they are entertaining to see. Just surprised they didn't drop a bomb on you!
You got two in one shot. That is so hard for me to do. I almost did it today, but DH started his car and it scared them off. Rats!
WIB,
SW
Wow, SingingWolf, you're creating a real little haven there. Here's a link to one of the Hummingbird specific threads on the bird watching forum. It may help with your query about cleaning the feeder. If there isn't anything there, ask and you'll get a bucketful of useful replies.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/957754/
This second link isn't specifically about Hummingbird feeders, but there may be something in there which could help.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/957369/
I awoke yesterday morning with my auto COVERED in finch poop! EEEEeeek! And given that I only recently picked it up from the body shop after a rear end collision on the freeway I was fearful of the increased risk of paint damage with the poop. That collision resulted in $8,000 damage, which my AAA insurance initially equivocated about spending on my 12-year-old Camry (but ultimately paid, as it only has 60,000 miles on it), to the rear end of the vehicle.
SO, I went out and bought a car cover. You'd think I'd stop feeding the finches, rather than spend the bucks on a car cover I have to place and remove, place and remove, place and . . . . This is the only place for me to park the car safely behind a locked gate.
So, I feed the finchies and cover the car. And I'm going to add feeding hummers to the mix. What a HOOT! You Gugals are a baaaaad influence on me.
Linda
SW, use a solution of 10:1 bleach and water. Rinse well after soaking. The 'grunge' is mold or fungus and can make them ill if you don't get it out.
That dilution of bleach is a good overall disinfectant - also good for cleaning plant pots, countertops, etc.
HTH,
k
Margaret and imapigeon, thanks for the help with the new page set up. It is a hoot! ^_^ I needed the practice too.
KC, you always have the best solutions (pun intended! LOL!)
Will put the new one out until the grunge is completely gone from the old one.
Twincol, ME, a bad influence! LOL! Says you! Laughing harder!
Margaret, it was really interesting to read the hyperlinks above, and I enjoyed them immensely. Noted with some interest the migratory hummers back east.
So it got me wondering, what do our seasonal or migratory hummers look like? Who is visiting your yards? Mine live here year round, but I know we get a lot of hummers from other places too.
What do you say folks? Send in your photos, and they don't have to be perfect, mine sure aren't. Being curious again about our region. LOL!
WIB,
SW
The winery up the road from me says they get black-chinned, but all I ever see is Anna's. I think the ones that live near me may be so territorial no one else would DARE venture into their space!
That's how it is here, too, Ima -EXCEPT for one or two days a year when we see a crowd around the feeder. I think the Anna's must have a truce day spring and fall. LOL!
Here are the ones from my garden. They love the purple sage and the flowering maple the most. Although this picture was taken when agastache was in bloom.
Nice pic!
I have just so much enjoyed looking at your pics (everyone's pics) and hearing the tales of the hummers.
This is my favorite pic I've taken (it was about 2 years ago and haven't been able to take a better pic)
Very much looking forward to seeing my pics here!!!
Beautiful, Aguane! Did you make the feeder?
Thanks KaperC.
No, I didn't make it. There is a guy here in Phoenix who makes these feeders. I have several .
I buy them at Work of Artists in Scottsdale at Scottsdale Road and Mayo Blvd.
RustyStar, what a lovely photo. Too bad they don't pose for us more often. Happy that you shared! ^_^
Aguane, I can see why that is your favorite, all silvery green. Gorgeous! ^_^
I was so tired today I took a nap, before I did, I changed out the feeder. The black dreck was dead bugs on the outside of the feeder. Cleaned it with both the denture tablets and the bleach. Old one is just yellowed from the sun, and very clean for the next time I need it.
Spotted the hummers, very windy today, and they were unsure about the feeder change.
First pic, female trying to decide if she likes the new color from her favorite perch.
She got brave enough to come closer.
Here she is on approach.
Nice vintage. LOL!
Must like the new mix.
Wow, look at the detail on those feathers!!!
I never get over those little feet. :-)
While the boys were chasing each other around, she glided in for another drink.
Never got more than a red blur of the males today. But she was taking advantage of their games to get her tummy full.
Got really windy after this, so I called it a day.
Took a long nap, and woke up to find others posting to this thread. Put a huge smile on my face. I'm so glad that you are getting out your photos of the hummers to share. All I ever get to see are the Anna's, which is great by me.
I understand from a friend of DH, that his father gets a whole bunch of different kinds of hummers at his feeder. But he kills the agressive Anna's, because they drive the others away from the feeders. That is so wrong and so sad. Any solutions to keep him from doing that in the future? Like setting up a separate Anna's feeder? How far would it have to be from the one the others use? Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with keeping both the native's and the visitors happy.
Thanks for all your comments and photos, and please, keep 'em coming!
WIB,
SW
Thanks, ima, and KC. I have decided that weeding is hard work, and waiting for the hummers to reappear counts as resting, if you are sitting down. Of course I took a whole lot of photos to come up with these few good ones. I am so glad I have a digital camera. Then I don't feel so bad when I delete most of them. LOL!
Ima, can you take a photo safari down to the winery and try to get some photos of their visitors? I'm curious what theirs look like.
Sorry we cross posted.
WIB,
SW
I might be able to do that....I'll see if they'll let me roam around. They have a gorgeous garden; I've only been there when they were having hoo-hahs, so maybe if it's not full of people the hummers will be there. They say the black-chinned are extremely agressive, and chase other birds away from the grapes.
As for the guy who kills Anna's? I can't even imagine anyone deliberately killing hummers. May he be bitten by a thousand mosquitos.
Ok, here is my poor contribution to this thread...one of the male allens that lives in my yard. They are smaller than annas and more aggressive. Very hard to tell apart from rufus.
And # 2, taken thru screen door
OCCarol,
He is gorgeous! Look at those vibrant colors! Is it my imagination, or in the first photo, is he trying to pretend that he is a bougainvilla (sp) blossom? Gosh it is so hard to get good photos of these birds. They move so fast, sometimes I'm just happy to get a pretty streak of color. Yours are a pleasure to see!
So rainy today, intermittent showers, that I don't know if I'll be able to get out there and take any photos today.
So share away! ^_^
WIB,
SW
Oh, yeah, nice to see another variety!
OCCarol, are you aware we are having a Round-Up not far from OC this Saturday? We'd love to have you join us.
Kathleen
SW, glad you enjoyed him. I wish I could get some better shots to really show his colors. He will come within 1 foot of me....until I get the camera out! I have 4 feeders in myyard and my neighbor has 1 right across the driveway, so we get a lot of hummers. The last 2 feeders, I added to try to lure the warblers and sparrows away from the one on my porch. They really make a mess! So far, no luck with that. Here is 1more of him in the Bougainvilla.It's one of his guard posts.
KaperC, Yes, I was aware of the roundup. Thank you for the invitation, but I won't be able to make it to this one.
Carol
