Hummingbird Adventures #4

Something to eat!

Very hungry!

This is a strange looking one.

She was backing out when the camera caught her.

I don't care if her back is to me, I love those irridesent green wings.

Look she's all hunched over her food!

Looks like she is posing for her profile photo! LOL!

Close up of them feathers.

What happened to her wings?

How about this one?

Look at that beak, look at those wings!

Another profile.

Her wing appears to be a fan, while she feeds.

Sweetie Pie is such a sweet model.

Love this view.

This one is better, and we are almost done for the day.

I know this one is blurry but how often do you see their beak in the feeder from this angle?

Last one for the day. I know it is hard to tell, but that is Zoom, resting after successfully defending his territory. He blends in so well, that even though I knew he was there I had to search for him for about 20 minutes so that I could crop the photo to share with you.
I may not be able to post photos for the next day or so, but I'll be checking in to see what y'all are posting. ^_^
WIB,
SW

SW, did you notice the tongue on that "What a beauty" shot?

KC, are you trying to tell me that she was sticking her tongue out at me? Now that you mentioned it, I went back and looked. Sure enough, extending from her beak is a small pink tongue sticking out. Never would have noticed if you hadn't mentioned it, and it wasn't against the background of the old birdcage/feeder stand. You have such a good eye.
Didn't really see any hummers til the fog burned off about 10 this morning.
Saw some females hit the gh feeder as soon as they could. I got lucky today and caught Zoom.
Isn't he handsome?

And another, not quite as clear.

Zoom refilling his tank. Much better!

Call this view the dolphin fin flip. Not Zoom. After he refilled his tank, he took off. Then this one flew in.

See what I mean? Look at his marking around the eye. Then go back and look at Zooms'. LMK what you think.

Another view.

This looks like Zippy. She was being very territorial and buzzed me repeatedly chittered, and appeared quite ruffled when I approached a certain area.
Do the h.birds that live by you exhibit that behavior when nesting, SunnyG?

can't tell for sure who this is.

I see wings!

Now only see one wing.

Perched.

Sweetie Pie perched in the lantana.

Zoom perched where he can keep an eye on both feeders. LOL!
Last one from me tonight.
WIB,
SW

Zoom certainly is a handsome little guy! I did indeed discover the nests due to "odd" behavior. The first one was when I was standing out front at dusk, and this hummer repeatedly buzzed me and hovered nearby. She definitely looked like she was protecting something (I was standing under her nest). I discovered the second nest when my mom and I were sitting on the curb, waiting for the airporter to pick her up. We were watching this crow and then a hummingbird started harassing it...pretty wild! When I was walking back to the house, the thought entered my mind that maybe there was a nest, and so I looked up and found the nest right there! I discovered the third nest that I'm currently watching, because a hummer would drink from the feeder and then zip down into the bushes next door. I walked next door, and sure enough there was a nest, right where she had been zipping down. I'd say start checking out the area that Zippy is "protecting" and you might just find a nest. :-)

Good tips, Sunny!

Good Thread. Sharon from Las Vegas. I have had HB nests the last two years that I knew of and my next door neighbor has had them for several years. We both had archs built into the front facade of our homes and have climbing fig vine covering the stone. We both have fig vine that has moved under the arch, the vine is solid, and has attached itself to the ceiling of the arch. After attaching the vine has a tendency to hang several short pieces down. Maybe a foot long. They love to build their nests on something that is not attached and moves in the breeze. I only know this from observation. Last year I had three nests up high. I have an long narrow courtyard that widens about 10 feet from the front door. I have a chair I sit in every morning and take in the new beautiful day. One morning in July, after the nests above had been used and the babies had fledged I had a HB flying around and just paying more than usual attention to me. For the first few days I did not think anything about it. Then I finally woke up and paid attention to what she was doing. She would check me out and because I was there every day I guess I was no big deal. Then she would settle into a section of fig vine that was at the top of the house overhang. This section of fig vine was only about 10 feet up. As I sat there day, after day, I watched her build a nest. I went on line to find out what they use to build their nests. Moss and spider webs. I know I live in Las Vegas, Moss? Well I have a Koi pond and loads of moss. I will post photos of the nest and babies.. I am now on the look out for the returns because they usually come back and rehab their old nests. The first thing I look for is the little tint black poop specks. It is usually directly below their nest. With the one on the overhang area, it was on the wall. I do not have a HB feeder because I read that the females want to nest away from the aggressive males. Just type into Google Hummingbirds and you will not have enough time in your time left to read it all. Enjoy. My nest with babies last year was not on my bucket list but should have been.

Another angle close up.

When they were getting bigger.

This shows you when one was trying to learn to fly (fledge). I thought he was going to fall out of the nest. Did nothing. Had already been told to leave the babies and nest alone.

Great pics of the nest, Sharon! That last one is especially dramatic.

Then one day they were both gone. I was so lonesome because I talked to them everyday. Then about 5 days later I was in the front garden in another hideaway on a bench. All of a sudden I was buzzed by two hummingbirds. It was them and they were as happy to see me and I was to see them. We went into the courtyard and they landed near their nest. They were there everyday for the rest of the summer. I truly expect to see them soon. I am so looking forward to their return., I have not seen anyone but someone is rehabbing the nest. You can tell because the old part of the nest is white and the new part of the nest is gray. I am 66 years, retired from a very successful career and this, besides my husband, children and grandchildren is a big moment in my life. Being politically correct....LOL. Picture is Koi pond...