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| Hey guys, the migration is on. Tally mentioned it on 'Hummers Spotted' so I thought I'd break it out on its own thread.
I've had more hummers this a.m. than I've ever seen. Almost a swarm! They emptied my feeders and seem to be content to share (sometimes). I've had as many as 4 at one feeder with one hovering. Fun to watch, but signals the end of most hummer activity for me til spring. Hope ya'll are having as much fun watching them. Jim, Tally - heads up! coming to ya!! J.D. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by marlingardener 8b (My Page) on Mon, Sep 7, 09 at 17:33
| The hummers are here in Central Texas, just south of Waco. We had eight at the two feeders today, and have noticed an increase in activity over the past week. Most are ruby throats, with a black-chinned or two arriving. |
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| the ruby throsts are my first heads up on migration. I don't have any local ruby throats. I've been having several lately. My local birds are black-chinned. |
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| The activity has quited down a bit here at Sheaville ... was really a mad house this morning. I am going to have to fill my feeders again, and they have tons of plants to feed on. This is so exciting. |
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| I had one bird yesterday evening. |
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| No hummers at my house yesterday ............ |
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| I saw 2 at my house Friday afternoon. |
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| One straggler this morning .............I am leaving my feeders up !!!! |
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| Saturday report: The sun is setting so they're all bedded down for the night. I saw one this afternoon who spent a long time at the feeder. He looked so tired! Hubby told me he saw one too. |
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| I don't know if I have the heart to tell you guys this, but for the last two days, I've been COVERED UP with hummers. All ruby throats - literally a swarm this a.m. on the feeders/plants. Had 6 trying to get on a '4 holer'. Go figure! J.D. |
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| So far I've seen 4 this morning, only one actually on a feeder. The others are just buzzing around. I'm glad you're seeing so much activity JD! I have hopes for next year when I have more hummer plants for them. |
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| I'm sure this is just another little migratory wave. I didn't have this last year, so I'm hoping the improved habitat over the last couple of years is starting to produce some results. This morning's 'swarm' was truly amazing. They had the one feeder they all really wanted and emptied 1 1/2 cups by lunch! They really seem to like the vitex and coral honeysuckle, too. |
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| We had what we think were the same 2 or 3 hummers all afternoon long. One was very vocal when he'd come near the feeder. |
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| Did not watch for hummers yesterday, but have not seen any this morning. Many of my hummer plants are in locations that are not visible to me here at the computer, and I have not been outside for a couple of days. I have not seen ANY on the feeders, however. I know you are enjoying seeing the activity, JD, keep up the good work. |
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| Hummers are still here and zipping around. One has decided all my feeders are his. But the others keep trying to sneak in when he's off busy somewhere else. Its almost constant either the front feeders or the back ones.. back and forth they go! The one guarding is VERY vocal about the one feeder by the kitchen table window. |
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| This evening I counted 10 trying to get on one '4 holer'! They had emptied the other feeder they really liked and nearly had this one empty. I hurried up and refilled them both and the party continued until dark. I've never seen anything like it - literally a swarm! I got a couple of bad pictures through the window - jolana would probably just draw on them if I posted them. ;-) J.D. |
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| I had hummers again today............ go figure. One day I don't see any, then there they are again !!! |
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| JD... I'm starting to wonder about you.... |
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| Do you think he is pulling our leg, Mel????? |
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| JD, I represent that, lol Which drawing would you prefer? I would really like to see the pic of the *swarm* wouldn't the rest of you?
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| Yeah, Jolana, sort of like "show us the money", but instead "show us the swarm". |
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| HAHAHA, yeah Show us the swarm |
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| SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pictures to follow. ;-) J.D. |
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| Can't wait ........ |
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| LOL! I love you guys! We've got the same little bunch of hummers. One is for sure a ruby. He's the one that is claiming my whole back yard now. I can't easily see both the feeders in the front with out scaring them so I can say for sure if he's guarding them too. JD, I hope you are able to get great shots of the hummer swarms at your place. I know its difficult to get shots like that. I do know a pro who is willing to come out your way and take the pictures for you if you'd like. :) |
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| I had a "swarm" of three this morning ...... does that count???? |
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| HAHAHA, we love you too Mel. Carrie, I want to know that as well because I am further south and I have a huge swarm, I think, lol JD, if you can get past that goofy stuff in the pic, look how your yard looks now. It is amazing BTW, I don't think I was the only one in on the RU pic, I think Jim and Carolann contributed, lol but who gets called out???? LOL |
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- Posted by freshair2townsquare 8a, D/FW (My Page) on Wed, Sep 16, 09 at 21:57
| i think jd must've forgotten to take down the mirrors he used for the waterfall picture way back when we have about 4 working on our two feeders - none share - all very territorial - my dh calls it "hummer wars: the saga continues" in his gravitas announcer voice at least one black-chinned and two ruby-throats - not sure about the fourth, but we've seen the fourth body several times ~ freshair |
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| jolana, I couldn't remember who all got in on my RU 'improvements' but I was certain you were probably the 'instigator'. LOL Hard to capture the 'swarm' they have been literally EVERYWHERE in the yard, but I caught these five on a 4 holer. I have 2 other feeders out that they are working over at the same time. When you look out my back window, there are hummers everywhere flying around, feeding, doing crossword puzzles, etc.
You'll notice the bassboat, grasshoppers, and RU are gone. I suppose I should remove their shock collars so they can leave the yard. J.D. |
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| I wanna know how you get them to behave, to pose for pictures and share the feeder. |
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| Aww Thank goodness the hoppers and boat are gone, you had lots of room for plants and a waterfall when they left, huh? |
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| I thought my hummers had left!!! :( I saw one early this morning on the feeder furthest from the house. Saw nothing else the rest of the day... until about 30 minutes ago! They've got fresh syrup and are happy again. Cold front is supposed to come through over night Monday. Tues' high is supposed to be around 68*.. I wonder if they'll stay much longer after that? |
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| I STILL have swarms. I truly wish I could show ya'll this, but a single picture just doesn't capture all of the activity. I just counted 8 trying to get on the one feeder (they don't go to the others as much) and there were many others just flitting all over the yard. I'd invite ya'll over, but I'm sure they would disappear and ya'll would call me ugly names....................again. ;-) If you're gonna be around Justin, be sure and drop by. jolana - it is interesting to see the 'pre-RU' pictures. Carrie laughed and laughed at me once when I told her I was 'done'. Wan't long til I came to understand that joke!!! |
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| Oh, I know, I am never done and you never will be either, lol I wouldn't mind seeing a wider shots of your yard or if you posted some when I was *out* tell me where they are, lol We still have a lot of hummers and no feeders have been out yet. What I enjoy as much as the hummers are the butterflies and there is no way I could ever get a pic or video that would show what really goes on here. I love it |
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| A work in progress, JD, that is all it will ever be.(grin) |
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| jolana - I put a slideshow over on the 'Gallery'. carrie - any of that stuff look familiar? |
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- Posted by carolann_z8 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 22, 09 at 10:57
| J.D. what a cool picture. My hummers take turns and I never catch more than two at the feeder any time. I had one little hummer that would guard the feeder and chase the others away. I watched him pin down a bigger hummer on the ground right under the feeder. Wish I could have taken a picture of it. I was so shocked. J.D. I really liked the pond. Guess I should have put it in your yard when I made it. (snicker snicker) |
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- Posted by carolann_z8 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 22, 09 at 11:03
| I made a video of one that visits the feeder all day long. I hope you can see it. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Hummingbird
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| Ahhh, there she is returning to the scene of the crime,LOL |
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- Posted by carolann_z8 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 22, 09 at 11:20
| Hey...who added the killer grasshopper? Twernt me!! LOL I wonder if JD's neighbors ever spoke to him about the pond, boat and other cool things that suddenly appeared in their yard. |
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| carolann - at the time, I thought just about EVERYBODY had SOME contribution to the 'pot pourri'! This can be the most 'dog piling'est' bunch! LOL j.d. |
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- Posted by carolann_z8 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 22, 09 at 18:40
| Dog pile on JD...hehehe Jolana made me say that. |
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| JD, I hope to grow up to be like you, lol 'cause I don't want to be like this bunch and do that dog piling stuff anymore. Can I be your grasshoppa and you teach me perfectchunist. LMBO |
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| J.D. your hummers are here! I swear I saw some tiny yellow ear tags. Jim |
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| AHH! I missed seeing the morning visit yesterday, we had to be on the road for an appt... I didn't see hummers all day long. :( Then, just as we sat down for dinner we spotted one at the far feeder. Again, missed the morning window... I'll make more syrup and refill before dinner and see if they're still here. Anyone else still seeing hummers? OH and JD, my contribution to your Round Up picture was to email "someone" and suggest the bass boat. I don't have the skills necessary to put it there, but I know people who do! :) Piling on with this bunch is so much fun. |
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| HAHAHAHA, okay Mel, way to stand and fess up, hehehehehe We still have them and usually do a while after y'all So you don't want to be taught not to pile on? Hahaha |
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| Saw a hummer this morning on the various plants they love ... none at the feeders. |
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| As of yesterday evening, I still had quite a few, but they hadn't emptied the feeders. I suspect this little cold front might have 'done the trick'. I'll see what I have when I get home. One slipped his collar and Jim is already seeing ear tags - they must have left. J.D. |
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- Posted by carolann_z8 (My Page) on Wed, Sep 23, 09 at 20:56
| Mel, the bass boat was perfect. I don't know where JD put that boat. Maybe he went out in it to look for his hummers. I've had either a few hummers that all look alike at the feeder today or the same hummer and he's very fast and thirsty. |
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| I actually saw hummers several times today. I bet most of the ones up here have already moved further south and we're down to the stragglers now. Not nearly as much activity here and no one is guarding the feeders anymore. :( |
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| Jolana said, "JD, I hope to grow up to be like you" Now,,,,,The image of Jolana as an aging, fat, 'story telling' (aka lying) balding guy is just too much for me to bear. Fluffer - you're in grave danger! AND HEY, who did take my boat? There was a full bag of Whooper Chow in the live well. |
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| HAHAHAHA, you haven't seen me lately, huh? LOL I never had the boat, lol but seems I recall hearing that Jim really needed surgery because he was lifting something heavy out of a boat?!? |
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| Ah, what treacherous webs we weave .................LOL |
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| HAHAHA Carrie, I am trying to learn 'story telling' (aka lying) I'll get better and it won't seem like a treacherous web, LOL |
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| Jolana, I've found that if you'll keep practicing, it'll just come natural after awhile. Jim |
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| I'm down to one or two showing up this morning (hummers, not story tellers). ;-) Jim, you're right, I've become a pathological story teller. J.D. |
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| Well, one of them must have made a swing by my house, JD, because I had ONE lonely little hummer this morning. He was not at the feeders, but on the Turk's cap and flame acanthus. Practice makes perfect, huh, Jim? I will have to remember that. |
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| I saw one today too. Little tiny thing who appeared to be quite scared and nervous. |
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| I have two today ..... still hanging around, they appeared to be tired. |
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| Saw one Sunday 9-27. I'm glad we're recording this timeline. I couldn't remember when they were all gone last year, but it seems like they were gone much earlier. |
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| I still have them today, but they are much smaller than the ones that are usually here. These are really small !! |
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| I haven't seen any the last 2 days... but I have been awfully busy with other things and not able to sit and watch at my usual times. I did notice the feeders are all getting drained faster than they did in the summer. So its either the hummers or hummingbird moths at night. |
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- Posted by barkingdogwoods 8a DFW (My Page) on Tue, Sep 29, 09 at 21:55
| I only saw one hummingbird in my yard, but I do think it was one that had filled up at JD's house. Carrie, what do you think? Here's the culprit: |
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| My goodness Lin, what are y'all feeding them? |
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| that's a wiry looking rascal! |
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| He does look as if he has been hanging out at JD's. No wonder all the others left. |
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| WOW no wonder mine have all fled! I haven't seen one in days now... but I did refresh the feeders in hopes of seeing a few more of the stragglers. |
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- Posted by carolann_z8 (My Page) on Wed, Sep 30, 09 at 16:35
| That would make a cute topiary. I saw a tiny green one this morning. He was so cute. |
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- Posted by barkingdogwoods 8a DFW (My Page) on Wed, Sep 30, 09 at 20:53
| This one is feeding on the Salvia Greggii - see, things ARE bigger in Texas! |
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| I THINK I saw one buzz by last night, but didn't see it well. Guess we're about done. shucks |
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| Didn't see a one yesterday, and I was looking for them. My brain tells me they are gone...but my heart says hold on for one more sighting. |
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| I haven't seen one for two days now, so sadly, I think you are right, Mel !!! |
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| Gosh I miss them already!!! I'm so sad. :( You guys down south keep your feeders up for them, please. |
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| I saw one yesterday in Waxahachie just as the rain kicked in. |
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| Boy, Mel, that is a long way to go to see ONE hummer ... don't deapair, they will be back next spring, and that is really something to look forward to. |
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| Mel, I have feeders up and flowers everywhere that they are staying around. They were just haging around the salvia greggii but several bottlebrushes popped and they never leave them now, even though it has been raining nonstop, lol They will be back up there before you know it |
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| Carrie, I just had to see one more!! :) Thoughts of my hummers' return is what gets me through Feb and March. |
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| picked up my feeders. Still have salvias, turks cap, coral honeysuckle blooming. They'll just have to go 'au natural'. |
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| Mine seem to like the flower nectar better than the feeders anyway JD. |
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| I just haven't seen any in several days now. I'm sure a drifter will drop by and I'm certain they'll find a few vittles blooming. |
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| I have a drifter this morning, JD, and just spotted him, of all places, coming out of one of my brug blooms. I have NEVER seen one go to a brug bloom before. There are still a lot of blooms on the plants he loves, so I am certain he will get enough nectar to sustain him. |
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