Random Pictures From the Yards

I took these pictures on various days in the past few weeks in my yards.  The Ruby-throated Hummingbird was up in the lakeshore Oak that has a branch hanging over the water.  A cool spot for the little bird.  The insects are Swallow-Tail Butterflies and a Dragonfly.  I have enjoyed seeing a variety of animals, birds, and insects here this year and hope to have many more such pretty and interesting visitors in coming months.  The weather is hot, there are many boats and swimmers out on the lake and my yard looks fairly chaotic due to the ongoing construction of the new dock.  The new dock is nearly done but there still are several tick-list items to go before we can say “Done”.  Today’s post will be the last one for about a month.  I am taking a break from blogging for some well-deserved time off.  The blog will resume in the first week of October.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Please consider donating to the American Red Cross or other similar disaster relief agency to help those who likely may be adversely affected by the coming Hurricane Irene along the East Coast.  Many thanks!  To my East Coast blog friends, I am thinking of you and hope all will be well.

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Hooray! The Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are Here!

I had been looking out for our migrant hummingbirds to return.  Yes, earlier we did have one or two here but now I am finally beginning to see regulars.  I took these three pictures of a slightly confused young Ruby-throated Hummingbird who just did not have the hang of how to feed at the nectar feeder that I have hanging.  This newer feeder had been a free gift thrown in with the cost of the bottle of pre-mixed nectar.  I got the deal inexpensively and thought I would give it a try.  So, now I know that yes, the hummingbirds can and will use the feeder.  The pre-made nectar does have red food coloring put into it, but I guess that is just the luck of the low-cost deal.  When it runs out, I will start making my own (probably next Summer).

The little hummingbird also is attracted to bright flowers, and prefers colors in the red-hued family.  Hummingbirds eat nectar and tiny seeds and on occasion, tiny insects.  The hummingbirds are just fascinating to watch.  The little birds are and emerald-green with a white and magenta pink or light red band around the collar area.  The hummingbirds have a long thin bill with which they use to suck up and eat nectar from blossoms or from specially designed hummingbird  feeders.  They are constantly on the move and only will perch for a short time before taking wing once again.  I was glad to have taken these pictures from my front window on July 17, 2011.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

First Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Here This Year

I am now seeing Ruby-throated Hummingbirds here in my yards.  Because I have four hanging pots full of pink and purple flowers on my front porch, my yard is popular with not only the Carolina Wrens, but also the hummingbirds.  I have only seen the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds here and not any of the Rufus.  These tiny little birds are truly fantastic.  They have long thin bills which they use to gather nectar in tube-like flowers.  They hover and beat their wings quite fast.  They are quick in flight.  I like how they look with their emerald-green feathers and white-collar with a bright pink-to-red colored band just at the neck.

The hummingbirds love the nectar that they collect from flowers.  They are naturally attracted to pink, red, purple and orange flowering plants.  I do have a hummingbird feeder, but I have not yet seen any of the tiny birds using it.  Of course, with all the natural nectar around, well, why bother?  When my Fuchsia plants stop blooming, then the feeder will become more attractive to the birds.  These hummingbirds have travelled a long way as they Winter in Central America and in Southern Texas.  I took these pictures from my front window on May 27, 2011.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Hummingbirds in the Trees, Shrubs, and at the Feeder

We have had a generous number of Hummingbirds here at our house lately.  I have a well-used nectar feeder in my front yard and have several flowering shrubs, potted plants, and a small flower border in the back yard.  I think we only have had Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds here so far.  They love to sip nectar and surprisingly, they will on occasion eat small insects!  I have also heard their song and call which is a series of very faint peeps.  The other interesting thing is when they fly close by to me, I can hear a “Swoosh” sound from the fast beating of their wings.  I took most of these photographs in the past week and all were taken here in my own yards.  In one of the pictures, the bird is so well-blended with the background, you’ll need to look very closely to find it.  Please click on the thumbnail version to see the larger photo.  Enjoy!

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Flocking Around the Feeder

I have never before witnessed four Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds at my front yard nectar feeder at the same time.  They all swarmed it!  They did ariel acrobatics, swooping, and swirling around the feeder.  At times, it was likely that they were competing for the “Territory” of that feeder.  I only got pictures of three at a time but there were brightly colored males and a less colorful female at the feeder.  All of this happened yesterday morning just after a short rainstorm at about 9:30 AM.  By the way, there was very fresh sugar water nectar that I had just made the night before.  I guess the birds liked it!  Please click on the thumbnail version to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Perched on a Branch

I walked along the street a few days ago, and a slight movement caught my eye.  Having my camera with me on my walks is helpful because I never know when I  will spot an interesting bird or animal.  I saw a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird perched on a tree branch back-lit by the sun beginning to set in the West.  I think it is a nice scene.   We mostly have the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds here in our local area.  Occasionally a migrating bird of another Hummingbird sub-species will be around but that is very unusual.  Both my neighbor across the street and myself have front yard Hummingbird nectar feeders.  I think other neighbors also have feeders in their yards.  The little Hummingbirds have a passion for the sugar water nectar.  I am committed to keeping the nectar fresh in order to have the healthy birds (old nectar in feeders ferments and causes, well, drunk birds and possibly worse).  Pretty soon, before fall ends, even many of our resident Hummingbirds will be flying South to warmer places and we will have to wait until spring to see our little friends again.  Please click on the thumbnail version to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Sipping Nectar at the Feeder

Since I have installed my nectar feeder for the hummingbirds, I have seen plenty of the little beauties sipping the sugar water mixture (1 cup white sugar in 4 cups water, boiled and then cooled before putting into the feeder).  Many thanks to blogger Diane  from Hill-Stead’s Nature Blog (here on WordPress), who gave me the recipe for the sugar water feeder mix in the comments section here a few days ago.  There are three main birds that feed here with two being larger and 1 very tiny one.  All seem to be Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.  One of these Ruby-throated Hummingbirds is actually chasing other Hummingbirds away and “Defending” this particular feeder.  Interesting!  Please click on the thumbnail version to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!