Garden Fairy

I went out early to my garden to sit and wait for the hummingbird. I was thrilled to see 2 chasing through the air. At least they have some company.

Here is the one that seems to be ruling the garden, sitting on an old stalk amid the still blooming tomatoe vines and sampling the flush of salvia. The red feather on the neck area tells me this is a young male.

Hello Little Friend!

It's late November and I have hummers! We have been hearing the distinctive hum, so I made sure the feeder at my kitchen window was full of fresh sugar water. Sure enough, a female hummer showed up this morning. I went out to my garden (now full of salvias on one end) and waited to see if she showed.

This is a shot of the one that did show and it is a different hummer from the one at my window. This one has lots of markings on the neck and front.

My summer hummers left in September, these must be late migrants.

Storm Troopers

Hurricane Earl was thankfully a minor event. The hummers were in a panicky, fighting mood before today and remain in that frame. I put out two extra feeders on the protected west side before the storm. It's a 'better than tv' show at my kitchen window with plenty of hummers feeding and fighting all day.

Young male hummer

Here's a young male hummingbird resting on a tomato fence during the sparring I witnessed the other day. You can spot the individual jeweled feathers at the neck that give away the young bird as a male.

Hummingbirds in the Garden

It's chase and fight all day for the male hummers. I sat in my vegie garden and watched some tough battles. We let some salvia take over where the fall garden won't be planted and the hummers have really taken to the flowers. I also plant hummgingbird vine every year but those have yet to bud. The vine is great for migrating hummers as they pass through later in the fall.

Here's the resident mature male sampling the salvia.

His red throat

Another look at the male Hummingbird pausing in a Live Oak, his red throat flashing a warning to the other males on the chase.

Hummingbird

The hummers have been going round and round, chasing and feeding. Three feeders spaced about the yard keep them fueled for the fun.

Our winter hummingbird out and about

Coming back in from a walk on Wednesday I saw our hummingbird on the road edge. She was flitting about some sunny weeds low to the ground (looking for bugs?) and then landing.

Live Oak with Hummer

Our winter hummingbird way atop a live oak. Not much bigger than a single leaf.

Good things in small packages

Here she is just a couple days ago, our winter hummingbird. She is spotted almost once a day, drinking sugar water and on sunny days flitting about the live oaks. We fret when she is not spotted and rejoice the next day when we see she is still around.

Hesitant(?) Hummingbird

I have a Hummingbird hanging around. I was sure all my summer birds were gone, so I suspect she is passing through. Accounts of winter hummers in Manteo have been written.

Good Thing they are Little!

Here's a pretty little newbie resting between bouts with another. The speeds of the chases are incredible; they buzz by like fighter jets. And they hit each other at those speeds with an audible smack. Looks like the game is getting serious.

Her Secret Garden

A female hummingbird in her summer garden.

The Game is On

With all the new hummingbirds hatched out, the aerial acrobats and speed runs play out all day long. I'm sure some of it is serious and some fun for the birds, but it's all fun for us watchers. We plant salvia and hummingbird vine and I keep three feeders going, placed so that one is not visible from the others to keep the dominants from controlling them all. It keeps the game going round and round!

Hummingbird Newbie

I was out by the garden and spotted this little guy at the oleander...then the sunflower, up to the crepe myrtle, down to orange gladiolas and then the red salvia. Finally a little rest on the bean fencing. His neck shows indication of future ruby feathers!