Thursday, October 21, 2010

After The Rains

It has been gray for 6 days now and rainy for the last 3 (OK, drizzly 2 days, rainy with lightning 1 day). All told, 2 and 3/4" of rain. This seems to have built up quite the appetite on the hummers. Here are a few photos: the images are clickable for larger views.
 It is not as dark out as it may seem, but it was gray and a little drizzly so I used the flash to get sharper pics.
 This was, by a good measure, the most activity at a feeder I have seen at my yard. For some reason, this was the hot feeder this morning! This shot has 21 birds, I am pretty sure.

This photo is the dead ceanothus (Ramona Lilac) bush that is a favorite landing spot for the hummers (and orioles, when it is that season). I counted over 20 birds waiting for their turn at the feeders.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Gray Sunday

Last week was in the 90s, today was 60 and wet. The weekend (actually, since Friday) has been gray and on and off drizzly.A good indication that this is just fog-marine layer is this capture from UCSD High-Performance Wireless Research and Education Network
at around 5 PM taken from North Peak at around 5700 feet looking west.

Hummingbirds are not bothered by this weather and are buzzing around like crazy.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Summer in October

It's October 10th, 2010 or as some have said - 10 10 10, earlier this day was 10h:10m:10s. Such a binary occasion, what could it all mean? Seems to mean "it is going to be hot today!' 92 degrees by 2 o'clock.

Old Guy hummer report: possible sighting - old guy behavior for sure, with a twist. He is still guarding his favorite feeder ( but losing the battle midday to the bees). But early in the AM and later in the PM he is hanging out on a ledge created by the outside window treatments. I think it may be warmer there than elsewhere, but who knows. Also, I was not sure what was happening to his tail feathers until I got a closer look. He's molting, just as Phinny (pinhead, photo to follow) the parrot is.
Of course, they all do it, just the first time I have seen a hummer doing it. I don't know if somewhat limited flexibility is keeping him from getting the casings off quickly. The bill condition is slightly improved.

 Here's the pin head, although it will be more noticeable in a couple weeks.


A photo of an Anna's showing some tail to a female, she's watching but not too impressed!