Yahoooooo!!!!

[KCFoggin]

I now have male and female hummers. The female showed up last night and this evening she was feeding every 10 minutes in this very chilly 20 degrees cooler than it should be for this time of year weather. How's that for a run on sentence ;)

[Katy Penland]

LOL, not too excited, are we, KC? :bounce: Cute shot!

Just had my first two for the season yesterday as well, a male Black-chinned and a Broad-tailed, but I didn't see it, just heard its chirrrrrrrrring as it buzzed me early yesterday morning. I saw the back of it this afternoon again, but still just the fleeting glimpse as it took off for the trees. Wahooooooo, is right! I love these little guys!

[humminbird]

Great KC.

I have female and male (don't know if more than one of either yet) Ruby-throated hanging around here in the Lost Pines. Have never tried to find a nest around the house.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[KCFoggin]

Katy, my boss positively hates it when the hummers arrive cause I make sure I am out of the office while I still have sunlight. She asked me again, how long they will be here for. Boy did her face drop when I told her October ;)

[KCFoggin]

Hi Mark.

I'm only sure of one male and one female myself. The problem here is I have sooo many pines and so many vines which I have been weeding out slowly. The point being that it is so hard to try and even locate a nest. Loads and loads of honeysuckle, carolina jasmine and a lot of thorny vines. The thorny vines which seem to have choked out a lot before I got here are slowly being cut out and down.

[humminbird]

I know the feeling KC. With all the plants around my garden often looks more like a jungle, especially from now through next March when I am on the road talking about and looking for hummingbirds!
I just saw what I am sure was a female Black-chinned! I do not expect them in this area at this time of year, but some of my neighbors are insisting on removing a lot of pine trees and as a result some properties, which do not sell immediately, are looking more like the land about 40 miles west where the Black-chinned is the predominant bird. Maybe I will see both species through the nesting season this year!

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[craig whitmore]

LOL, not too excited, are we, KC? :bounce: Cute shot!

Just had my first two for the season yesterday as well, a male Black-chinned and a Broad-tailed, but I didn't see it, just heard its chirrrrrrrrring as it buzzed me early yesterday morning. I saw the back of it this afternoon again, but still just the fleeting glimpse as it took off for the trees. Wahooooooo, is right! I love these little guys!

Hi Guys: Know the feeling. A pair of rufous showed up March13. I'm at the extreme southern edge of their summer range and expected they were just passing through, but believe I have two pairs hanging out. Several trees give a good location to defend territory and give the annas fits. Anyone up in Oregon, Washington, or BC have sighitings?

Katy, Do you get black headed grosbeaks? I sent 3 families to Mexico on August 23, and the first male showed up Monday during a 3" snow.

Craig

[Katy Penland]

Katy, Do you get black headed grosbeaks? I sent 3 families to Mexico on August 23, and the first male showed up Monday during a 3" snow.
CraigI sure do and I can't wait for them to return this summer! We had several breeding pair on and around the property last year. I love listening to 'em eat -- those beaks can really snap! ;)

[humminbird]

I'll be visiting my favorite Black-headed Grosbeak area next weekend when I go west to the Davis Mountains. Hope to get a few new pics.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[Katy Penland]

Oh, sure, rub it in, Mark! LOL! Look forward to seeing some photos (hint hint). ;)

[humminbird]

Most of what I get are owned by my employer. I do post a few once in a while so if I can figure out how, I may just do so.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[Katy Penland]

Cool! Uploading photos is fairly straightforward, but yell if you need any help. Would love to get a BHGR fix! ;)

[humminbird]

I found three old photos taken on my camera. how do I post them?

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[MikeDale]

Wonderful picture KC, just send some my way. :hi:

[KCFoggin]

Wonderful picture KC, just send some my way. :hi:
Uh uh Mike. I'm gonna keep them here as long as they want to stay. Tomorrow, another 3 feeders go up ;)

[humminbird]

Think I may have figured it out.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-12/905804/Black-headedGrosbeak.jpg http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-12/905804/Black-headedGrosbeak1.jpg http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-12/905804/Black-headedGrosbeak2.jpg

[crickieheather]

Me too me too!!!! I haven't seen ANY before today, but out of nowhere a male and a female showed up! I have two feeders, one SE (post mounted) and the other NW (window hung). I saw the female buzz up to the NW one right at about 6:30pm. I freaked, but didn't move so she wouldn't be scared away. When she flew off, I grabbed my camera. She came back and I was still setting up, so she flew off, scared. I was in place the next time she came back, but the camera was out of focus. :( She didn't come back in 45 minutes of me waiting with the camera poised, so I turned it off and went to make dinner. This puts me in view of the SE feeder, on which a male was perched, calm as could be! I ran back to grab the camera, but by the time I got to a decent light point, he was gone. I waited around a bit, but he didn't come back before dark. Hopefully I'll get some decent photos tomorrow.

Congrats on your great shot!

[KCFoggin]

Mine seem to favor the window just outside my kitchen and figures, I put the screen back in 2 days ago. Well tomorrow it is coming back out. That feeder faces an eastern exposure but is also nestled in a dogwood tree and they just sit on the branches between fill up.

[Katy Penland]

Awwwww, look at that handsome devil! Can't wait to hear their song! Thanks, Mark!!!

[humminbird]

I'll take both cameras with me. Who knows? Him, the Acorn Woodpecker, some hummers .....

[wings]

The feeder had been up for a couple of weeks and no hummer. Then suddenly one morning my wife said "Look, there's a hummer on the feeder" Sure enough, but the rufous sided hummer didn't give me time to go grab my bins or camera.

But never mind, because Sunday I head for SE Ariz, the hummer capital of the U.S (sorry KC)

[Katy Penland]

Hey, Wings, I should drive down and meet you! You'd be my first US and only my 3rd World tick on my "BF Life List"! :bounce:

[humminbird]

Hey Wings. If you want to visit the real hummingbird capital of the US you should join me in the Davis Mountains sometime!

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[jeeper]

Hummers are Here Now

Saw my first today at our feeder. Had been catching glimpses in the cedar trees across road for a few days but couldn't confirm as hummers.

BTW do they like to nest in cedars. Last year those trees were full of hummers and no vines with flowers etc there at all. I never was able to find a nest but in a cedar that would be a lucky find.

Katy,
I solved the problem about the finches and our close window feeder. I just changed pole to one with two hangers now I can watch both finches and hummers.

[humminbird]

Jeeper:
Are you sure those hummers are not in the cedar for other reasons? Cedars carry a very heavy insect load. Wouldn't be surprised if most of those hummers weren't just insect hawking.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[Katy Penland]

Jeeper and Mark, I'd sure love to find a hummer nest anywhere on our 2+ acres. We have dozens of hummers each year, and we have two kinds of cedars (alligator and shaggy-bark junipers) which they hang out in during the day. I've watched 'em hawk for insects, as Mark mentions, from these particular trees. Of course, their nests are sooooo tiny and junipers are so hard to inspect for every branch because they're so lush. I'll let you know if I have any luck this year nest hunting. ;)

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Guys,

I sure envy you those Hummers, please keep the stories and pictures coming.

Wish we had properties your size in England, all those trees, thorny vines, heaven, can you send me some please. I only have a small garden but love green, my neighbours call it untidy. They have all removed large trees shrubs everything is in pots and tubs they keep moving round and they wonder why the bird numbers have fallen (the one that likes birds that is).

I am up at 6.00 am to clean under my feeders, it has been wet for 2 weeks so is messy, have to do it before they are up or I get moaned at for the mess.

Sorry about the rant just envy you all that space and those beautiful birds, please please look after them you are so lucky.

Ann

[humminbird]

Ann:
We have similar problems in some areas here. My property is in the county about 3 miles from the city line. The county does not have the legal authority to create "weed laws", but some cities nearby have some very strict ones. I even know of one community close by that has one that reads "any native plant over 18 inches tall must be cut." Think about what that means - pecans, oaks, cedar, mesquite, etc. etc. etc.

I'll try to keep the hummer, and other bird photos coming, but can't always do so. For every one that is worth keeping, there are hundreds of garbage.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[krazyhorse]

KC, i have 2 males now and 3 females, hoping for a good breeding season here again, showed up on april 5th, then i did a big ole booboo, i did a 5 to 1 mix duh 5 parts sugar 1 part water , dadgummit i got it backwards , and now have almost 3 gallons of bird juice

[KCFoggin]

KC, i have 2 males now and 3 females, hoping for a good breeding season here again, showed up on april 5th, then i did a big ole booboo, i did a 5 to 1 mix duh 5 parts sugar 1 part water , dadgummit i got it backwards , and now have almost 3 gallons of bird juice
Oh no, tell me you didn't and you are kidding me. ;) Could you even stir it?

Once corrected it will freeze well so don't keep it all in the fridge as it will develop a black mold if left in there too long. Two nights ago, I had a male and a female sitting on the same branch about 4 inches apart. So I'm a happy camper.

[krazyhorse]

well i guees i could use it to feed the fire ants in the yard , i bet they would love it :)

[KCFoggin]

Ha! Well the hummers do eat ants. Not sure they eat the fire ant variety but I would assume they would. I was tempted to use the "over and out" everyone seems to be raving about but I'm afraid about what it might do to the other insects and the birds that feed on them.

[crickieheather]

I envy everyone's hummers. I have not seen the two that I saw again. :( I had two for about 3 hours, then they were gone.

[humminbird]

Oh no, tell me you didn't and you are kidding me. ;) Could you even stir it?

Once corrected it will freeze well so don't keep it all in the fridge as it will develop a black mold if left in there too long. Two nights ago, I had a male and a female sitting on the same branch about 4 inches apart. So I'm a happy camper.

KC & Crazyhorse:
I always recommend the 4:1 solution and suggest an easy way to remember it - we have four fingers and one thumb and the baby sucks the one that is sweet.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[KCFoggin]

Hi Mark. Yes, I use the 4 to 1 ratio as well. I was just looking for a way for Crazyhorse to rework his mixture and then freeze it.

[humminbird]

Hi Mark. Yes, I use the 4 to 1 ratio as well. I was just looking for a way for Crazyhorse to rework his mixture and then freeze it.

I would dilute to the desired concentration (anywhere between 3:1 and 6:1) then freeze.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[FeistyRdHd]

So far the hummer sightings seem to have been from birders in the deep south. I live in Virginia, so they on their way north!

Last Sunday we had 2 males. Later in the week another male appeared. Today some females have arrived. I'm not sure how many total birds we have now because they move around so fast. I think we have 5.

We have 2 feeders up and they are fighting for both of them:)

Man, it's a great sight!!

Lydia :girl:

[KCFoggin]

So far the hummer sightings seem to have been from birders in the deep south. I live in Virginia, so they on their way north!

Last Sunday we had 2 males. Later in the week another male appeared. Today some females have arrived. I'm not sure how many total birds we have now because they move around so fast. I think we have 5.

We have 2 feeders up and they are fighting for both of them:)

Man, it's a great sight!!

Lydia :girl:
If you can count 5 you probably have twice that ;)

Here's a pic of one of my males. Notice all the pine pollen laying on the feeder which had just been re-filled and washed an hour before

[weather]

I envy you KC! I have been trying to attract hummers to my backyard for 3 years now. I have the feeders out now, and hope it will work this year. Thanks for the pic.

Mike

[KCFoggin]

Mike, I am in seventh heaven. When I lived right at the beach I never saw a hummer much before the end of May or early June and then it was only an occasional 1 or 2.

Just a matter of moving a measly 7 miles inland and what a difference plus the fact that my yard is virtually overgrown in carolina jasmine and honeysuckle helps a bit too. ;)

[weather]

Mike, I am in seventh heaven. When I lived right at the beach I never saw a hummer much before the end of May or early June and then it was only an occasional 1 or 2.

Just a matter of moving a measly 7 miles inland and what a difference plus the fact that my yard is virtually overgrown in carolina jasmine and honeysuckle helps a bit too. ;)

Might be a tough sell to my wife, but I'll try. "Honey, can we move inland so we can get Hummers in the yard?".......Damn!...Time to do the laundry! Thanks a lot KC. ;)

Mike

[humminbird]

I envy you KC! I have been trying to attract hummers to my backyard for 3 years now. I have the feeders out now, and hope it will work this year. Thanks for the pic.

Mike


Mike:
My personal opinion - concentrate on shelter and food plants - use the feeders as a supplement.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[FeistyRdHd]

If you can count 5 you probably have twice that ;)

Here's a pic of one of my males. Notice all the pine pollen laying on the feeder which had just been re-filled and washed an hour before
KC,

Wonderful picture!! An hour's worth of pollen? I didn't know anyone had it worse than we do ::achoooo::

Lydia :girl:

[KCFoggin]

This was THE worst year for the pollen and me. It got so when I went out to cut the grass I had to wear a surgical mask. It's just about through falling though.

[Tz'unun]

Hey Wings. If you want to visit the real hummingbird capital of the US you should join me in the Davis Mountains sometime!

Mark
Bastrop, TX

Okay, Mark, I'll admit that the hummingbird legislature actually meets in the Davis Mountains ;) , but southeastern Arizona is still the number-one hotspot in the U.S. for hummingbird watchers:

http://www.sabo.org/hummers.htm

It's great to see things opening up in West Texas, but it's got a long way to go to beat Beatty's Guest Ranch, where the public is always welcome and you can see up to 13 species in one visit.

[humminbird]

What is this anti coast thing? We get some of our best hummingbird photographs within view of the Gulf of Mexico. Some of my best Ruby-throated Hummingbird memories are right across the road from the beach.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[humminbird]

Okay, Mark, I'll admit that the hummingbird legislature actually meets in the Davis Mountains ;) , but southeastern Arizona is still the number-one hotspot in the U.S. for hummingbird watchers:

http://www.sabo.org/hummers.htm

It's great to see things opening up in West Texas, but it's got a long way to go to beat Beatty's Guest Ranch, where the public is always welcome and you can see up to 13 species in one visit.


Well Sheri, I was unaware of the 13 species in a single visit to any one location in Arizona. With this report coming from a highly reputed hummingbird nut like yourself, I will concede single location diversity status for the time being. We have a record of a yard that is readily available for visits with notice having recorded 12 species on a single occasion, and I have personally seen 10 species in this Davis Mountains property on multiple occasions however. Maybe we should just concede that both locations are wonderful hummingbird hot spots - nah, right now ya got us!

Mark
Bastrop, TX

P.S. I am sitting here watching a Buffy tank up for what is apparently her last feeding of the day (spending a long time drinking) as I type this message.
This makes 5 of the last 6 years that I have hosted a Buffy in Bastrop County!

[Tz'unun]

Well Sheri, I was unaware of the 13 species in a single visit to any one location in Arizona. With this report coming from a highly reputed hummingbird nut like yourself, I will concede single location diversity status for the time being.

Technically, the record was 13.5 species (including a Magnificent X Berylline hybrid but no pure Berylline), set on June 30, 2002 by Mark Stevenson & company. The only possible species that they missed was Calliope. The previous one-day record for a single location was 12 species, but in July and August it's not all that unusual here to see 12 to 14 species in a day between two or three sites. The Beattys have recorded 15 species at their feeders, all of them multiple times in recent years.

Still, I was blown away by seeing 10 species at a feeding station in the Davis Mountains a few Augusts ago. It was cool just seeing Ruby-throated and Broad-tailed together! We can only hope that hospitality to birders catches on there like it has in Arizona.

And yes, I'm envious of your Buff-bellied!

[krazyhorse]

Quick update , on my juice problem I tossed it the birds did not like it, threw it out in the woods behind my house on an old dead tree, ants love the stuff, and had 2 pileated woodpeckers eating the ants yesterday, i will do this from now on after my 4 day empty and clean of my hummer feeders, as i love the woodpecker almost as much as the hummingbirds.

[KCFoggin]

I've got a pair of Pileateds that hit my yard up every week to 10 days and you have to see what they are doing to this one dead tree at the edge of my property. I'm convinced it will be down to ground level by the end of the year :)

[krazyhorse]

Kc yer dust is like our as far as pollen goes, it is still allover , been real ruff on my nose,and i am tired of washing vehicles, worst year I have seen in over ten years as far as pine pollen, oh and birds like my back to normal juice mix instead of the syrup, have 3 males only seen 2 females but believe I have another nest in same area as last year, strange though I think it is a gnatcatcher nest , but blue jays ran gnat catchers off , but the hummer is not as intimidated by other birds, she was raising caine at a couple of chipping sparrow on the tree ran them both off

[Starzz]

WooHoo!! The ruby throated hummers are here! Seen the first one tonight, was a male, then about an hour later i seen a female!!!! :bounce:

[Tammie]

WooHoo!! The ruby throated hummers are here! Seen the first one tonight, was a male, then about an hour later i seen a female!!!! :bounce:


Starzz, please give them directions to my house..... Westward.... Ho!!!

[wings]

:bounce: [QUOTE=Katy Penland]LOL, not too excited, are we, KC? :bounce: Cute shot!

Just had my first two fr the season yesterday as well, a male Black-chinned and a Broad-tailed, but I didn't see it, just heard its chirrrrrrrrring as it buzzed me early yesterday morning.
________________
Heeeeerrre's Broad-billed ..!!

[janruss]

Here's what I've seen in my garden in Edmonds, Washington; Photo 1 June 15th; Photo 2 June 17th; Photo 3 June 12th; Photo 4 June 22nd; can anyone tell me what hummingbird is in photos 3&4? Photos 1&2 are Rufous Hummingbirds

Hi Guys: Know the feeling. A pair of rufous showed up March13. I'm at the extreme southern edge of their summer range and expected they were just passing through, but believe I have two pairs hanging out. Several trees give a good location to defend territory and give the annas fits. Anyone up in Oregon, Washington, or BC have sighitings?

Katy, Do you get black headed grosbeaks? I sent 3 families to Mexico on August 23, and the first male showed up Monday during a 3" snow.

Craig

[Tammie]

Here's what I've seen in my garden in Edmonds, Washington; Photo 1 June 15th; Photo 2 June 17th; Photo 3 June 12th; Photo 4 June 22nd; can anyone tell me what hummingbird is in photos 3&4? Photos 1&2 are Rufous Hummingbirds


I don't know what they are but those sure are beautiful photos of them! :clap:

[baccalynnwv]

I don't know what they are but those sure are beautiful photos of them! :clap:


I don't know either. I can't figure out pic 3. I was thinking picture 4 might be a female black throat, but I don't think so. Very curious though! Hope someone will hurry up and identify them. LOL...

[crickieheather]

I would say a female black-chinned...

[Tz'unun]

Photos 3 and 4 are certainly tough, but location says a lot. Anna's is the gray+green species to be expected in early summer in western Washington. Photo #3 does seem to show the blunter, more curved outer primaries of a Black-chinned, but the plump physique, relatively short, broad-based tail, pale eyeline, dark green "scaling" on the sides, and fresh juvenile plumage (most visible in #4) all point to Anna's.