Teen birds can be
very confusing, especially when you are just starting with birdwatching. They have the coolest patterns and colorations going on, and I have to say they are one of my favorites to see. It is fantastic that it is possible to see them even into fall. The calendar birds for August, September and October are teens. There’s a Rubythroated Hummingbird with just the first parts of the gorget appearing, a juvenile Cowbird morphing into adult plumage, and a teen Cardinal, still with lots of baby feathers and the characteristic brown beak.
Video: Hummer!
As you know, hummingbird activity has been rather low for me this summer, a fact that made me very sad. But I did keep the feeders up in hopes that things would change. And yesterday, they finally did. I love this feeder that allurafeeders.com generously sent me because it looks so different and has such a clever filling system, and it was awesome to see it getting used. It was funny to see them explore the feeder. First I saw one trying to drink under the lid, but then they figured it out and then even sat. Wohoo! Let’s hope for more.
Things have gone
very quiet in the last two days, and the backyard feels almost deserted. There are still Doves and Blue Jays and some Chickadees and Finches, but somehow it is like everyone left abruptly. It is nice after the frenzy of the summer but it also feels strange. However, whenever I go to forage in the garden, I can hear the adorable squawks of the Titmice, and I see Hummingbirds buzzing around, checking out the flowers and feeders, and it makes me happy and content. It is nice to have a bit of a break. The Hummingbird in the photo appears to be a young male with the gorget just starting to come in. I hope he stays around for a bit and develops at least one red feather there. Have a great Wednesday!
Tiny case of "Nope"
I saw a male Hummingbird today on the regular feeder and then decided to try and get video eith this cute little homemade button feeder. He did not come, but this one did, a female or younrgster. Also not happy about it haha I’ll give it another try tomorrow. I took the video with the GitUp camera at 60 fps and slowed it down a lot to show some of the cool flight movements.
More hummingbirds!
And I think this might be a young male because I see a teensy hint of red coming in at the neck (I added an arrow pointing to it in the second photo). I love his fuzzy little legs. I am not sure if the second one is the same bird. The light was different and I cannot see the red but otherwise they look pretty much identical with the little bulge on the neck and the black feathers in front of the eye.
This Hummingbird
finally got over their fear of the camera box and took some sips from the feeder. I am thinking this is a female but the throat somehow looks as if it could just as well be a young male. I am still amazed by their delicate beauty and the colors in their tiny feathers.
Finally,
Finally, a Hummingbird on camera today! And a male to boot. They are so different this year. Very few, and the ones that I do see are super skittish. They go to a feeder, hover and check and then take off. We have some flowers but not a ton this year, things are still emerging, so I don't know what is going on. I am happy to see them every now and then but this is nowhere near previous years. Second pic I think is a House Wren. They seem to think the camera boxes are nestboxes 😂
Video: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
There are very few hummingbirds around this year, but last night one of my cams captured this cutie. Looks like she has a white dot on the head. Could be a discoloration or could be pollen. I wish she would have had a sip but at least she now knows where it is.
The Hummingbird situation this year
is so different from previous years. Usually, by now I would have regulars. Few, but still. This year, I am seeing very little Hummingbird activity at all. I don’t know if it is because of the big storm that happened when they migrated or because so many more people are home and putting feeders out, but I have been missing my hummers. Today, though, I have seen a female and a male! And the female was brave enough to go for the camera feeder. I hope they both return.
The nectar is fresh and the feeders are clean here - spread the word!
Today is my birthday,
and I turned 42. It feels weird and I don’t feel like it, and after all, it is just a number. But birthdays are a thing in my family. We celebrate them in a big fashion. So today was a special day for me. I was lucky I did not have to work, and I worked in the garden today. And it was wonderful. I am achy. My one wish was that a Hummingbird would show up. And I got my wish granted. Here he is. And I hope he comes back. This is me, tipsy-posting. 42! What a weird number. Let’s spin some Binaural…