The great hummingbird migration of fall 2013 seems to be well under way. The activity in my yard is fast and furious. I'm not sure how many hummers are here just at the moment, but I know there are more than three. There were three - one of them an adult male - chasing each other around in my backyard earlier while I could hear others chittering away as hummingbirds do in the background.
There are plenty of blossoms here for them to sip from, but I'm putting up my sugar water feeders again, too. I had taken all of them in except for one several weeks ago when it appeared that I only had the one adult female in my yard and she wasn't spending much time at the feeders. Now, in order to keep the peace and to make sure that everybody has a table to eat from, it's time to put them out again.
As far as I've been able to tell, so far all my visitors are Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, but it was around the last week in August last year when my first Rufous visitor showed up, so I will be keeping my eyes open for them over the next weeks. I will also be on the lookout for any other more exotic species that might be passing through. It is an exciting time to be a hummingbird watcher!
Showing posts with label hummingbirds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hummingbirds. Show all posts
Monday, August 19, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
More winter hummers!
I stepped out into my backyard and into the middle of a war today. The hummingbirds were going nuts! The chittering noise and activity were incredible. It seemed like a lot for just two hummingbirds.
I sat down to watch for a while and quickly realized that it was not just two hummingbirds. There were at least three and possibly four involved in the conflicts. The little critters zip around so quickly that it's hard to absolutely confirm that there were more than three, but I saw three at the same time so I know there are at least that many.
I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures, but I really can't be sure if I was photographing new arrivals or my "regulars."
Well, this one I'm pretty sure is a regular because she's sitting on the favorite perch of my longest-term visitor. This female Rufous has been here at least since early September.
And this one, I believe, is the juvenile male who's been here for several weeks. This is the feeder that he considers his private preserve, the one where he regularly feeds throughout the day and from which he chases any interlopers.
But this one, half-hidden behind a grape leaf still clinging to the bare vines, may be one of the newcomers.
Regardless of how many there are, based on their voices alone, even though I haven't yet been able to get a good confirmed look at the newcomer(s?), I believe they are all Rufous Hummers. I would be thrilled beyond words to find something more exotic in my yard, but I know it isn't likely.
In an effort to reduce the conflict, I did pull out another sugar water feeder from my cabinet and filled and hung it in the magnolia tree. Maybe that will give me a better chance of actually getting the new bird or birds into my viewfinder so I can accurately identify them.
I sat down to watch for a while and quickly realized that it was not just two hummingbirds. There were at least three and possibly four involved in the conflicts. The little critters zip around so quickly that it's hard to absolutely confirm that there were more than three, but I saw three at the same time so I know there are at least that many.
I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures, but I really can't be sure if I was photographing new arrivals or my "regulars."
Regardless of how many there are, based on their voices alone, even though I haven't yet been able to get a good confirmed look at the newcomer(s?), I believe they are all Rufous Hummers. I would be thrilled beyond words to find something more exotic in my yard, but I know it isn't likely.
In an effort to reduce the conflict, I did pull out another sugar water feeder from my cabinet and filled and hung it in the magnolia tree. Maybe that will give me a better chance of actually getting the new bird or birds into my viewfinder so I can accurately identify them.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Hummingbird wars, phase 3
The backyard hummingbird wars have heated up again as a new wave of the cantankerous little birds has swept in with the latest cool front. Working in the garden this morning, I was constantly buzzed by the combatants as they chased each other around. I couldn't tell you how many were involved in the battles, but I know for sure there were Ruby-throated adult males and females and at least one juvenile male and there were at least a couple of Rufous females. I went and grabbed my camera and tried to document some of the visitors.
An adult Ruby-throated female held sway at one of the feeders. She guarded it against visits by any of the other birds. Of course, occasionally when she was chasing one bird off, another would slip in for a sip!
Meanwhile, at one of the other feeders, an adult male was guarding his prize.
A juvenile male RTH, identifiable by the spot on his throat sat on a bare twig over a hamelia bush the blossoms of which he considered his personal feeding ground.
I didn't see any male Rufous hummers today but there seemed to be several of the females - and maybe a juvenile - around. I was able to capture images of two of the females.
This bird often chose the same perches and vantage points as one of the birds which spent last winter with me, which made me think perhaps it was the same bird. Or maybe not - who knows? They don't wear name tags.
This female showed a preference for crape myrtles and often perched in the tangle of branches of a couple of neighboring trees.
The cast of characters changes almost daily now and I don't know if any of these birds will still be here tomorrow, but so far it has been a very active migration season. It started early and now it is in full swing and the show - and the war - goes on.
I didn't see any male Rufous hummers today but there seemed to be several of the females - and maybe a juvenile - around. I was able to capture images of two of the females.
The cast of characters changes almost daily now and I don't know if any of these birds will still be here tomorrow, but so far it has been a very active migration season. It started early and now it is in full swing and the show - and the war - goes on.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
More over-wintering hummingbirds news
Maybe it's just because I have one in my yard, but it seems to me there has been a population explosion of hummingbirds here this winter, and not just the expected Rufous. A friend of mine reported that she had a Rufous and a Ruby-throated in her garden in Clear Lake. I've had other anecdotal reports from readers and "through the grapevine" about such birds. And yesterday, Gary Clark's Nature column in the Houston Chronicle was devoted to a report, with pictures, of a Calliope Hummingbird that is spending the winter at a suburban backyard in The Woodlands, just a few miles from where I live!
The Calliope is the smallest North American hummingbird at just 3.25 inches long. (The Ruby-throat and Rufous are each a half-inch longer which is a lot when you are talking about a bird this small.) It is a bird of the far Northwest in summer, but its migratory wanderings can bring it into our area. The one in The Woodlands, though, may be the first record for Montgomery County and they don't normally spend the winter here but in southern Mexico.
So far, we have had a very mild winter, with only two episodes of temperatures that got into the twenties. This is a stark contrast to our last two winters. The mild weather may account for some of the hummingbird lingerers, which brings up the question, how did they know it was going to be mild?
We have abundant evidence from around the world that birds are changing their ranges due to the warming global climate. Perhaps this is just another instance of that.
The Calliope is the smallest North American hummingbird at just 3.25 inches long. (The Ruby-throat and Rufous are each a half-inch longer which is a lot when you are talking about a bird this small.) It is a bird of the far Northwest in summer, but its migratory wanderings can bring it into our area. The one in The Woodlands, though, may be the first record for Montgomery County and they don't normally spend the winter here but in southern Mexico.
So far, we have had a very mild winter, with only two episodes of temperatures that got into the twenties. This is a stark contrast to our last two winters. The mild weather may account for some of the hummingbird lingerers, which brings up the question, how did they know it was going to be mild?
We have abundant evidence from around the world that birds are changing their ranges due to the warming global climate. Perhaps this is just another instance of that.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Over-wintering hummingbirds
One of my Facebook Friends reported recently that he had a hummingbird visiting his yard last week. I replied that the last one I had seen in my yard had been on December 2. My friend is located quite a bit farther south than me, so a hummingbird in late December is not all that unusual in his area and we know that more and more hummingbirds are over-wintering here. They've even been reported in the Magnolia area, not that far from where I live, but I certainly wouldn't EXPECT to see one in my yard at this time of year.
Surprise, surprise!
I was sitting in my backyard today, idly watching the birds feeding and planning my next chore in the garden when a tiny, tiny bird crossed my field of vision. I blinked and looked again. Sure enough - it was a hummingbird!
The bird was flitting around the shrubbery along my back fence. I did not have my binoculars on me and he was too far away for me to identify the species. My guess would be a Rufous since I did have a few visiting my yard in late summer and autumn and they are the most likely species to spend the winter here.
There are very few blooms in my garden to sustain a nectar sipper at the moment, so I immediately went inside and mixed up some sugar water and rehung one of my feeders in the backyard. It seems that I've spent the autumn taking these feeders in and putting them out again.
I haven't seen the little bird at the feeder since I put it out - or anywhere else in the yard, for that matter. But now that I know he's around, I'll be keeping an eye out for him. I'll keep the feeder out for him, too.
Surprise, surprise!
I was sitting in my backyard today, idly watching the birds feeding and planning my next chore in the garden when a tiny, tiny bird crossed my field of vision. I blinked and looked again. Sure enough - it was a hummingbird!
The bird was flitting around the shrubbery along my back fence. I did not have my binoculars on me and he was too far away for me to identify the species. My guess would be a Rufous since I did have a few visiting my yard in late summer and autumn and they are the most likely species to spend the winter here.
There are very few blooms in my garden to sustain a nectar sipper at the moment, so I immediately went inside and mixed up some sugar water and rehung one of my feeders in the backyard. It seems that I've spent the autumn taking these feeders in and putting them out again.
I haven't seen the little bird at the feeder since I put it out - or anywhere else in the yard, for that matter. But now that I know he's around, I'll be keeping an eye out for him. I'll keep the feeder out for him, too.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Stragglers
I thought all my hummingbirds had moved on. Imagine my surprise when I looked up today to see not one but two still in the yard.
This one, which I believe is another female Rufous although I didn't get a really good look at her, was feeding from one of the feeders that I had just cleaned and refilled yesterday.
This Ruby-throat was visiting a shrimp plant.
Perhaps the change in the weather brought them to me, as it also brought several Monarch butterflies to the yard this week, as well as the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers that I told you about earlier in the week. No matter the time of the year or the weather, there's always something interesting happening in the backyard. Today it was hummingbird stragglers and a little green and black garter snake sunning itself on the rocks beside the fish pond. What will it be tomorrow?
Whatever it is, I won't be here to see it because early tomorrow, I'm heading out to Colorado for ten days. I can't wait to see some mountains again and maybe some new birds. Blogging may be sporadic during this period, but, rest assured, when I see something really interesting, I'll report it to you here!
Perhaps the change in the weather brought them to me, as it also brought several Monarch butterflies to the yard this week, as well as the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers that I told you about earlier in the week. No matter the time of the year or the weather, there's always something interesting happening in the backyard. Today it was hummingbird stragglers and a little green and black garter snake sunning itself on the rocks beside the fish pond. What will it be tomorrow?
Whatever it is, I won't be here to see it because early tomorrow, I'm heading out to Colorado for ten days. I can't wait to see some mountains again and maybe some new birds. Blogging may be sporadic during this period, but, rest assured, when I see something really interesting, I'll report it to you here!
Friday, August 26, 2011
The hummingbird migration
Once again this year, the people at the Journey South project want us to send in our reports of migrating hummingbirds. They are especially interested in reports of adult male hummingbirds since these are the first to migrate. Personally, I've had male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrating through my yard for several weeks now and perhaps you have, too. The migration seems to have started earlier than usual this year
If you choose to take part in this citizen science project this year - and I hope you will - it is very easy. Just click on this link:
The project likes reporters to send in their sightings at least once a week, but you can actually report as often as you see the birds, if you like. They want us to report any species and any sex or age, but, as noted, they are particularly interested in the movements of adult males.
The site has maps which show what has been reported and show the progress of the birds across the continent. It is fascinating to check in on these maps at least weekly to see what is going on. There will be updates posted once a week during the migration season.
This is a free citizen science project and anyone can participate, so there is no excuse not to! I hope you will.
If you choose to take part in this citizen science project this year - and I hope you will - it is very easy. Just click on this link:
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/maps/Gallery.htmlYou'll be able to sign up and sign in and begin your reporting.
The project likes reporters to send in their sightings at least once a week, but you can actually report as often as you see the birds, if you like. They want us to report any species and any sex or age, but, as noted, they are particularly interested in the movements of adult males.
The site has maps which show what has been reported and show the progress of the birds across the continent. It is fascinating to check in on these maps at least weekly to see what is going on. There will be updates posted once a week during the migration season.
This is a free citizen science project and anyone can participate, so there is no excuse not to! I hope you will.
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