YourHub.com \\ Wichita Falls \\ Blogs \\ Life \\ My Life \\ Random

Blog Entry 51 of 53 Mema becomes a writer

My blog is to discuss reading, to share good books I've read, and to encourage others to read. I will also talk about writing, the joys, the disappointments, and all that goes into writing a magazine article or novels for children and teens. Promoting books will be another topic I'd like to discuss. Getting publicity through the Internet, newspapers, TV, and radio. Using message boards and blogs to tell others about your work. Music too is an interest I may discuss from time to time.

Blog Url: http://wichitafalls.yourhub.com/~beverlyjean

For Someone Who Knows--Jim?

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

NEXT › ‹ PREVIOUS

Contributed by: Beverly McClure on 9/13/2008

This is the third year I've put out humming bird feeders. We've always had few visitors: usually four to six, except in October during migration when some are passing through.

The past three days, however, ten or more hummers are flitting about the feeders like crazy. I've never seen so many at one time. They chase each other, like playing tag. When one bird zooms in to perch and eat, two or three others dive bomb it and chase it away. A couple of males sit in the mesquite tree, as if they're guarding the feeders. They appear to be young birds, juveniles. They are mostly ruby-throated hummers. When the light is just right, the males' throats are gorgeous, sometimes a glowing golden color. I'm not sure whether any are black-chinned, which is usually what we have, or not.

Needless to say, I'm spending hours simply watching them and marveling at their grace as they fly so fast they're hard to capture in photos. Yet they seldom collide or run into the windows or a tree branch. They amaze me. I've been video taping them and can get some of their action that way, better than in the still shots.

My question is could these young birds be babies from the couple of pairs of mature birds we had this year? There are so many, I don't think they're all from earlier in the year, though with 25 acres of trees for nesting, they might be.

Could they be migrating already and just passing through? I thought it was a bit early for migration, but what do I know?

I've attached some photos for comments. Some are kind of blurred, but can you tell if they are juveniles? Thoughts on these adorable birds?

< Previous: 'Hot Summer Days' | Next: 'For rebels and book lo...' >

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog

Current Rating

Based on 1 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the blog

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Thank you! Your comment has been updated.

Showing 1-7 of 7 comments

Submitted By: Beverly McClure

posted on 9/27/2008 @ 7:52:40 PM

(Not Rated)

Thanks, Ann. I never thought it would be so much fun to watch the hummers. I have three of these feeders and put them on the windows so I could take pictures because my camera doesn't have a zoom lens and I can't see them that well in the trees. Love the feeders. They are the easies to clean I've every had.

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Beverly McClure

posted on 9/27/2008 @ 7:50:38 PM

(Not Rated)

Thanks, Penny. I'm hoping for another group to pass through, because we haven't seen a single hummer yesterday and today, and only one juvenile the day before and a couple of other birdss.

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Penny Miller

posted on 9/20/2008 @ 12:16:41 PM

(Not Rated)

Beverly, just checked back in here and saw your post. Since you've been to my other blog, you already know the hummingbirds are indeed migrating and it seems to be a good year from the numbers people are reporting. I am wondering if Hurricane Ike pushed them inland further. The Hummingbird festival in Rockport was cancelled this year due to Ike. These look like ruby throats, due to the shorter bill and shorter wings than the black-chinned. You have one photo with a bit of red showing, but that is not always reliable as it depends a lot upon the light. But in this case, all the clues come together. Penny

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Ann Weyant

posted on 9/18/2008 @ 4:09:34 PM

Rated Blog Entry

What lovely photos you got of these beautiful little birds. Thanks for sharing. I have had a few hummingbirds this year, but their feeder is out away from the house. You are blessed to have so many hummers. It looks like you have the same kind of feeder I got this year - so easy to clean as it all comes apart!

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Beverly McClure

posted on 9/14/2008 @ 6:15:11 PM

(Not Rated)

Thanks for the information, Jim. It helped. I love the little hummers. They're so cute.

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Jim Miller

posted on 9/14/2008 @ 7:44:56 AM

(Not Rated)

As for an early migration, anything is possible. I haven't been keeping up with hummingbird tracking by Journey South, but I'll see what I can find out for you. Meanwhile, check out Penny Miller"s new blog at http://charmoffinches.blogspot.com/ and ask her.

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Jim Miller

posted on 9/14/2008 @ 7:41:03 AM

(Not Rated)

Yes, I believe you could be seeing this year's crop of new birds, but I do not have the expertese to say for sure. Annie and I are seeing anywhere from 4 to 6 rubys throughout the day with one male in particular dominating access to the feeders.

[Report as objectionable]

Showing 1-7 of 7 comments

CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Beverly McClure

Iowa Park , TX

Beverly McClure has posted 53 blog entries and 218 comments since joining on 9/17/2006. Beverly McClure 's average blog rating is 4.71.

view profile » view other postings from Beverly McClure »

BLOG ENTRY RSS FEEDS

All blog entries

All blog entries in Wichita Falls

All blog entries by Beverly McClure

Loading Ad