So yesterday I saw a hummingbird at my scarlet runner beans. It checked the red blooms for about 30 seconds and was gone.
Now , surprise , surprise. I saw a hummingbird this morning at the same scarlet runner beans for a full 2 seconds!
Now I'm sure more than one hummingbird visits my yard. I'm sure that I see only a small percentage of all birds that visit my yard. I know that other birders near me see lots of hummingbirds and have very active feeders.
I get envious when I see bloggers showing many hummingbirds at feeders. They show several hummingbirds at one time.
Now I like hummingbirds and would like to have more visit me.
There are four species of hummingbird that spend the breeding season in Alberta. Three of them spend their time in the Rockie Mountains. One , the Ruby-throated spends its summer in central Alberta.
The ruby-throated seems to be a tough little bird as it's sometimes seen at the end of September and beginning of October.
So if I want to see more hummingbirds I'm going to have to move somewhere else or be a very good boy.
Photo by Phil French
I also see a hummingbird about once a year. This only started in the last few years. Before that I never saw any hummingbirds at all. I love the little birds. They are so pretty and fly so fast.
ReplyDeleteI saw quite a few when I was on a recreational property but very few in town.
DeleteI suspect that you get very few hummingbirds as word has spread in the hummingbird community about the fearsome Micro Manager. She might whack them with a mop.
ReplyDeleteThe micro manager is too busy whacking spiders!
DeleteOh, so you are Spiderman?
DeleteI was so surprised to see a hummingbird at my visit to Vancouver Island some years ago. Had never expected such a bird in that area.
ReplyDeleteThey are fascinating to watch.
DeleteI guess they have specific habitat needs. Happy you could see one! Ours buzz, then get mad if we're sitting on the back deck!
ReplyDeleteWhen they buzz you on a deck, I can't help but think they are just curious.
DeleteI haven't noticed them where I live, but no doubt they're around.
ReplyDeleteWe have hummingbirds around here year round. I love to see them, smart little guys. I haven't seen any around my scarlet runner beans, but I'm going to have to go look harder now! :-)
ReplyDeleteHummingbirds go for red flowers so the scarlet runner beans are about as red as you could get.
DeleteBeautiful! They are rather common in and about my area. They are such a joy! One lady in our apt sites them first. Tells all the other tenants put out your sweets in your containers. They are here. So that is about middle of Spring they come and stay for along time.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have a treat if the hummingbirds come to a feeder on a regular basis.
DeleteI have 6 feeders and love to watch, but they are fast and sneek in sometimes for my flowers also.There is a Ruby throated migration site to watch when to put up feeders.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising how fast they can consume the liquid from a feeder.
DeleteWe have only ruby throats here in southern Minnesota but they are very common and plentiful at our feeders. My son in Arizona has numerous species to admire...:)
ReplyDeleteYes, many more species in Arizona.
DeleteA hummingbird that is still around at the end of September and beginning of October? That is indeed on tough little bird!
ReplyDeleteThey are laggards but seem to function well.
DeleteDo you have a hummingbird feeder? You mentioned only your beans -- maybe putting a feeder out would work? Or if you do have one, maybe see if you can make a change to the "nectar" to make it more appealing? Just a thought!
ReplyDeleteI've put up hummingbird feeders but nothing comes to it. they are just not in the area.
DeleteWe see them about once a year also! They've come to investigate whatever we have in the garden that year (last year it was the new butterfly bush) then they leave again. Perhaps there's not enough nectar for their voracious appetites!
ReplyDeleteI know there are lots of hummingbirds here but like you say they find lots to eat somewhere else.
DeleteWe occasionally get hummers in our yard - and I always delight in seeing them!
ReplyDeleteThey are certainly fascinating to watch. I would et they are found at higher altitudes too.
DeleteThey're beautiful birds, and fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a hummingbird feeder once pilfered by a raccoon who tipped it to the side so that the liquid would all drain out onto the ground below.
Racoons are a nuisance. so far we don't have them here.
DeleteI Love these soooper fast moving tiny beauties too.
ReplyDeleteyour observation is excellent Red.
They were in abundance in my native tow but here i find hardly sight of them.
I would think you have many different species.
DeleteHummingbirds are nice to see and watch. I haven't seen one here but I'm sure they are.
ReplyDeleteAbout your question, I don't often get up early to take photos. Most of the towns around here don't come alive until 10am and nothing opens until 10. We were told that by people when we moved here a few years ago. That particular photo that I posted was taken around 1pm. It was a side street with construction so I imagine people avoided that section of town. Thanks for asking.
Have a wonderful day, Red.
I'm sure many people here don't know that we have hummingbirds. Thanks for answering my question.
DeleteI love watching mine, I have four of them as far as I can tell...two are smaller than the others...perhaps a family:)
ReplyDeleteWe only have Ruby-throats on the East Coast but I love watching them while I do dishes. They sit on the clothesline to rest quite often so I get a good look. They also buzz by head in the garden. And I dont even have red hair!
ReplyDeleteOr set up a feeder. If they're attracted to your flowers, they'll return for the feeder. They are indeed such lovely little visitors. Being in an apartment now, I miss those little sweeties.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! This is an amazing photo! I wish we had hummers in Hawaii. I would prefer them over mynah birds. I think I've only seen a hummer in Chicago once in the 35 years we lived there.
ReplyDeleteI just had one at my window last evening. I need to get my feeder out even though I have lots of flowers that they should like. That is a wonderful capture.
ReplyDelete