Almost Christmas

It is almost Christmas and this year the hummers got an early present in the form of an additional feeder post with 4 spots for feeders. It is about 5 feet from their favorite feeder post but they do not seem too keen on the new one yet. Creatures of habit, I suppose. The bees seem more excited about it, although not for several days since the drizzle moved in. The bees are nowhere to be seen, they will be back with the sun I am sure. Lots of birds still around, about 1 gallon a day of nectar as a reference. The birds also got 2 aloe plant cuttings donated to them a week ago. They are in the ground, time will tell if they root and thrive. They each have a bloom stalk which, so far, have not fallen off. I take that as a positive sign.

Sunny Saturday

I spent half an hour or so out with the hummers this afternoon around 2:00. There was a big crowd hanging out on the 'hummingbird tree' and on the feeding tower. Here is a photo of several hummers and a praying mantis that I almost did not see. I have heard (read) that a mantis can catch a hummer, maybe a much bigger mantis and much smaller hummer.

Here is a better photo of the lizard who has taken over the bird house!

This is about half of the birds in the tree, the rest are lower and are harder to see. That photo is next, most of these photos are clickable for a larger view.

I took a nice 2 minute video of the activity, almost like being there! Well, not quite...

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

Beautiful weather and Thanksgiving Day with family! It has been cool over night (frost Thursday morning) and the hummers are a little slow to the 'breakfast table'. But by 7:30 AM they are ready to go! Old Guy update: he may have moved his territory to the side yard. 2 feeders there are draining slowly and I caught a glimpse of a male Anna's who looks close to the profile.

I sat out with the hummers for a while this afternoon and tried to get a few pics of the males showing off there highlights.

Here are a four getting cozy while getting a snack!

I did not know hummers got Tats! the guy on the left has one right on the top of his head.

This guy has a case of pinhead going on. I rarely see them in that condition.

Here is 'The Lookout', he has got the high ground staked out.

It's a western bluebird box, I mean western fence lizard. It seems to be a favorite hangout for this guy. it is the box that had a family of house wrens this spring.

Just the Winter population?

It seems like we may be down to just the 'locals' now, the feeders are only taking around a gallon a day to refill lately. I don't recall seeing nearly as many kinds of hummingbirds this summer and fall as usual and not the quantity in each type, except for Anna'a and Blackchinned. The weather has been excellent for the last week and generally nice all summer and fall, a bit cooler than normal. Did this keep some of the travelers from staying in the area? Maybe they were searching for warmer climes. Maybe their migration route shifted a little this year.

Old Guy update: Have not seen positive sign for weeks now, 'his feeder is seeing plenty of multibird action lately. I am hoping he just decided to share! Other very territorial hummers have been a bit less so lately, maybe just the season.

New phenomenon this year - for the last 2-3 weeks large quantities of gnat-like insects are getting into the feeders. I have not yet done a close exam on these insects in order to identify this latest annoyance. They may be an effect of the early rain and then hot weather. Better than bees, and they may be a protein source for the hummers - if so, fine.

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.

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.

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!