Got a good shot of one at a Mexican sunflower bloom (Tithonia rotundifolia) this morning. She is covered with pollen.

Great Picture Jon, They are hard to catch, they move so fast. Wish I had room for a Mexican sunflower, I am out of Full Sun areas to plant.
Thanks for sharing..
Debra

Me, too, Deb. But I haven't had the patience to sit there for an hour at 6:30 pm to see.

Don't despair, tho. I've been re-reading my Hummingbird book (Wildbird Guide). It says hummers are rarely seen in May because Ma is incubating her eggs, Says she hardly leaves the nest and actually loses weight. Some have starved to death trying to keep the eggs warm in a cold spell!

Then feeding the young, that is mostly insects (for the protein) and less for nectar.

Says population explodes in July with all the new teenagers around. Likely no one has very many right now.

I'm keeping my feeders up, because I know they're out there, but not expecting much action now til the 'Ava' blooms. That seems to mark teenager season, with all kinds of whizzing around and chasing.

Going to do some more reading as I have time, will let you know of anything pertinet to sighting them.

PS also says in finding herself a territory she looks for 1. nectar, 2. and most important a place with lots of insects. Apparently nectar flowers also attract insects, so she gets two-for-one.

I'm actually thinking of hanging up an old banana skin to attract fruit flies for her :D

Thanks Mehitabel, That is very interesting about the female not eating while she sits on the nest. Like you, I have not spent very much time watching for them lately, so if I have a nester nearby, I hope she is feeding in the wee hours. I have plenty of tiny insects around. I will keep my feeders fresh, maybe about half the amount of nectar I usually put in, as it gets hotter, I think I should change it more often.
In the mean time, I have a pair of House Wrens who decided to build their nest in the large bracket of my satellite dish. Every time I walk around the corner they fly away. Danger, danger. The male sat on the fence and fussed at me the other day, while I was watering, he was only a few feet away on the fence. He kept scratching on the picket and telling me all about it, we had a very nice chit chat, I think he feels more comfortable now! LOl

Deb, that's just wonderful. Don't you love it when they like your place enough to have babies there?

I just love the little things. I had a wren nesting nearby this year, too. Every day he came onto the deck and sang a song, several times a day, then flew off into a spruce bush. But a couple of days ago, I think they fledged because there was a lot of watching and fussing and hopping around and then two of them flew off one after the other. He hasn't come to sing since then, either.

Yes, put out less and change it oftener as it gets hot. Here's the schedule for changing that came with my Hummzinger
: High Temp Change feeder after

71-75 ...........6 days
76-80 ...........5
81-84 ...........4
85-88............ 3
89-92 ............2
93+............... every day

Thanks for the schedule, Mehitabel. We are expecting cooler temps and a big chance of rain for the next 5 days, so at least I won't have to change it everyday!
We are in a drought, and the winds have been more than usual this spring. It seems constant, but then we have had some beautiful spring days as well.

It was cool and raining this morning, I had my office door open to enjoy it, when my little female came to the feeder, then I watched her go back to the huge Mulberry tree in the yard behind us, not long after the male came to the feeder and I watched him go back to the tree. So I am sure that is where they are nesting. Then one of them returned 30 minutes later. I never could get a good look at the males throat, but I'm sure they Black Chinned hummingbirds. Can't wait to see some young ones. Any way, it made my day to know they are still here.

What a wonderful surprise and reward for all your work and thoughtful planting and faithful feeder care!

Here's to July when her babies are swarming all over. :)

The books say they remember and come back the following year, so you'll have them for years now. Great work!

I thought i spotted one a couple weeks ago checking out a pink mop head on the deck...(i hate that thing but i use it for spider webs under the eaves). Came with the house that previous owners left behind.
Just saw it again this morning looking at the meyer lemon blossoms. Sighting confirmed.
I've had them for years at the weekend farm but first time seeing them here, near NYC.

Just happened to be looking out my office window this morning, and saw one fly by. Still haven't had time to watch the feeders on the deck, so don't know if they're visiting there, but they're definitely out there.

I think it has been a week since we have seen one. We still go out in the evening, just because our weather has been so nice that time of day. Getting to enjoy nature before it gets too hot.
I don't think my neighbor has any feeders but she might have lots of necter plants blooming, in the yard where we watched the pair going to their nest.
Do you think they will leave after the babies hatch, or will they stick around?
mehitabel, what is the Hummingbird book that you always reference? I would love to get one!
Deb

Debra-- I just saw two! !!!!

I just happened to look up while I was in the kitchen and saw a little green girl sitting there peacefully drinking. She stayed a long time, then looked up and saw me and flew away. A few minutes later a male zoomed in (their heads are black, even if you can't see the red gorget), but zoomed right out again.

I am so pleased. I've been faithfully changing those feeders every three days with no reward, but now I know it was not for nothing.

!!!!

This evening I watched for a half hour or so around 7 and there were two visits. They don't stay long when I'm sitting there-- they can see all the way into the kitchen thru a sliding glass door. The kitchen is brightly lit by a big window on the west.

But they're out there, and I'm looking forward to the explosion of teenagers in early July.

That is wonderful, mehitabel! I think with the longer days they are coming earlier in the morning, later in the evening, so I haven't seen any for over a week.
So glad your diligence has paid off and you are getting to watch them. No matter how many times I see them, when I spot them, it is just as exciting as it was when I saw the first one... If they new how much we enjoy it, maybe they would indulge us more often! :-)

Sorry, Deb, I just noticed your question about the hummingbird books.

The book with the most information per page is Wild Bird Guides: Ruby Throated Hummingbird by Robert Sargent. Not sure if you are getting ruby-throats where you are, or some other kind. It's a small paperback book. Nice pictures, tho.

I also enjoyed June Osborne *The Ruby Throated Hummingbird* It's a diary of observations she made of a female ruby throat nesting in a park, plus information about territories, how the male spends his day, etc. Talks about territories, breeding, nesting. There's a section on hummingbird gardens, and at the end she talks about the hummingbird festival somewhere in Texas. I think you would like this one.

Also, I've seen hummers at my feeders several times in the last two days -- just happened in the kitchen when one was feeding and kept very still til he left. Then this evening I twice saw *two* at once, and one was sitting on a little wire I have out there near the feeders while a second one ate. Pretty sure there's a male, and one or more females.

I've got another spot for a feeder where I can see it from the windows, so putting a third one up soon.

They're out there, Deb, you just have to get lucky and chance on them when they're there. I have a zillion flowers blooming right now, and a hummer would have to be really dumb not to at least stop to look things over :).

PS the red columbine went to seed and I have spread it all over the back garden-- hoping for lots of new ones next year. And the agastache 'Ava' is just beginning to show a little pink. Hope you got some. Every year as soon as the 'Ava' blooms, I see hummers on it.

Won't be long now before the feeders are full of teenagers. Here they show up at the end of June, early July. I think you are at least one zone warmer than here, so start looking for them from now on.

Thank you, mehitabel,
I found the June Osborne book on Amazon for $4.00 and two others, one for Texas as well. I love Amazon used books!
The Rockport Hummingbird festival is on the coast near Corpus Christi, We are at the very northern part of Texas, so it would be about 675 miles. :-) There was a nice video about it, they catch, measure and tag lots of hummers.
We had 30-40 mph winds yesterday, two of my feeders were completely empty this morning from swinging all day. I hope the little hummers stayed safe in their tree. I had to move one of my feeders, a squirrel was able to reach it and kept emptying it, I could tell from the scratch marks all over the clear plastic. They are quite entertaining as long as they stay across the street.. LOL
I never ordered an "Ava" and now they seem to be out of stock everywhere.
Next year I will have a perfect place for one. All of my Gaura is blooming beautifully, if you don't have any, I highly recommend it...
While I am waiting for the hummers I have kept myself watching 20+ Black Swallowtail caterpillars grow on my dill plants. I have had a few butterflies looking around, but they don't seem to find anything they want to nectar on. Yes, July will be "the month" for hummers, butterflies and bees... And hopefully all of my new plants will be blooming like crazy... My little Columbine that I planted are still blooming, and the three red ones are finally showing some new growth...
We are in zone 6A, right now it is 55 degrees, we have had a few days of rain, probably why my columbine thinks it is spring.
Deb

Wow, 6A! I assumed you would be at least 7. think we're 6B here, usually only gets to -3 for three or four days in winter.

LOL, I know TX is big, when I flew to AZ we would spend most of the flight "over TX".

You and I have the same mind about plants, too (with Robert). I saw some Gaura at Lowe's a couple of weeks ago and gobbled up four of them. By the time I got home I was sorry I hadn't got more. They are just beautiful! I think they seed themselves, right?

Enjoy your butterflies.

I'm not sure about the gaura reseeding. I planted one last year, three more this spring. My Lowe's is 50 miles south of me in Amarillo, so I only get to go when I have appointments etc. That is probably a good thing. I picked up a Gaura for $1.00 off the almost dead cart, if I lived right there I would be too tempted to go everyday to check out the marked down plants! LOL, I could only find one, and all it said was "Gaura", so I have no idea how big it will get. I am completly out of planting space this year, and promised DH I would not dig any more beds until next year.. We are painting the house exterior etc, so once we get that done, I will have all of the beds that are next to the house to plant in... I am going to try to save some seed and winter sow them. But, buying plants is so much easier! Right?

Buying plants is easier, but expensive. When you have lots of seed from your own plants, just scattering it is pretty easy and then they come up in little surprise niches. I love that. Winter sowing seems pretty easy, too.

Planting from seed when you only get 200 to a packet is a lot harder for me. I planted a packet of blue columbine and got 5 out of it. Then of course, the cutworms need to get their share.

I think Gaura reseeds because I planted some white ones last year next to a fountain. They were only 4" pots, and never got going strongly. They died from being walked on while the fountain was being cleaned, and splash etc. But a big fat one appeared about 6' away, and is just starting to bloom, plus several others that I think are gaura, but smaller.

The ones at Lowe's were pink-- gorgeous! And yes, the only way to keep from overspending is to stay away. :)

Your garden will be fabulous next year when the perennials come back 3 or 4 times as big and covered with blooms.

My partner saw a hummer zip by right before dark last night. I haven't seen one since May 14 (the day before I finally bought a feeder).
That's okay. It's good to know they're still out there.
At least the Downy Woodpecker has been enjoying the feeder! :)

-Robert

Astonishing, Robert. What do you think he's after? I would have thought the holes would be too small for his break.

Apparently the holes aren't too small or he's able to use his tongue to get to the sweet nectar!
He's adorable so I'm happy somebody is getting something out of it.
It will be interesting to see what happens when the hummers return. :)

-Robert

Robert, that will be something to see. Poor little guy, they are ferocious, dive bombing at 60 mph from 20 or more feet up, so he better not get caught. :) I don't think size is an impediment to them if they want you to leave.

Do you have another source of water nearby in case that's what he's after? I've tasted 4:1 and it's not very sweet.

Yes. We have two birdbaths in the backyard. One is close to the feeder. I think the Downy just has a sweet tooth! ;)
I've googled Downys on hummingbird feeders and other people have pics as well so maybe it's not so uncommon after all?
I just hope my hummers find the feeder as easily as the Downy did! :)

-Robert

I think you're very lucky. Enjoy! I certainly enjoyed your picture. Thanks for sharing. :)

Robert, he is just adorable. I had heard other people complain of Woodpeckers on their hummingbird feeders. Nice of you to let him stay. I have not heard a woodpecker all spring. There is a huge dead Elm tree in the back yard two places down, and I usually see and hear them on it all day long. Not yet, this year.
I am waiting anxiously for some action other than Grackles. We do have a few doves, but anything different would be wonderful. I haven't seen a hummer for over 3 weeks now. I feel that they are gone, as there has been zero noise from the big Mulberry tree behind us. Soon I hope.
Deb

Thanks, guys! I hope everyone sees some birds soon!
I just briefly saw a hummer flying away as I let the dog out.
I'm super excited that I might see it again. I've got tons of plants blooming right now. I'd like to think it was coming to the Bouvardia ternifolia that I got from Logee's that's been blooming its head off. :)

-Robert

Wow, that's beautiful. Don't see how they could pass that by.

I'm seeing one on the feeders several times a day now, but if they see me they fly off. There is some chasing, so sometimes there's two.

Monarda 'Marshall's Delight' is just starting to bloom (5 blooms right now), and Agastache 'Ava' is starting to show color-- 5 or 6 stalks have a few pink buds.

I hope to see some hummers on it soon!
Our Jacob Kline monarda is blooming its head off.
Hoping that will draw some in. :)

-Robert

Robert, my Jacob Cline is blooming as well. I don't know what else we can do but wait. My Major Wheeler I planted in early spring is about to bloom also. I have planted so many plants for Hummingbirds and Butterflies this past spring I could not name them all. Most of them are still not blooming, and I have butterflies acting as if I have nothing for them.. I keep changing my Hummingbird feeders with fresh nectar, and I am trying to be patient,, but.. I am a little dissapointed at this point. But I will continue on and wait. July is just a few weeks away..

I know what you mean, Deb.
I've got sooo many beautiful blooming plants right now but no takers!
Maybe they're still feeding on the Japanese honeysuckle or maybe they're busy still raising babies but I sure wish everyone would see some soon!
I guess July is not too far away. :)

-Robert

I was just about to post that maybe they are gone, since I hadn't seen any for a couple of days either, then one came. He didn't stay long, but he was there. This happened before about two days ago.

They can't be only coming once a day--has to be they're coming when I just happen not to be around. I'm just glad I've been seeing them all thru June-- last year I didn't get my feeders up til later, so didn't see them til July.

Mine are easily spooked and fly away at once when they see anyone, so if they see me first, I won't see them at all.

The books say they remember and come back to last year's feeders, so I'm way ahead on next year :)

Take heart-- they really are out there!

Just saw a little guy sitting on the wire I put out there for them near the feeders. He flew off twice, but came back again right away, and was sitting out there when I left the kitchen.

I know one of them will use the wire to protect "his" precious feeders, but I have another feeder 30 feet away out of his sight, plus lots of hummer flowers. I love to see them on the wire, just makes my heart smile.

mehitabel, I am so glad they are still coming around for you. I think they will get less skittish as the summer goes on.
I am just waiting patiently.....

From mehitabel:
Mine are easily spooked and fly away at once when they see anyone, so if they see me first, I won't see them at all.
I wonder if it's species-related? What do you have there? My Anna's will come to a feeder I'm holding.

mbrowne, you are so lucky! I bet you get them all year round, too.

What we have are the red-throated. But lots of people report being able to sit or stand near the feeders with ruby throats. And I've read that they aren't really that afraid of people, counting on their speed vs our slow clumsiness.

I think mine just aren't used to the feeders/people yet. This is only my second year, and from where the feeders are you can see deep into the kitchen, so the slightest movement will be picked up. They can probably catch the movement just as anyone comes into the kitchen.

I sited the feeders to be easy to see and keep clean, without thinking about what the birds could see. And to be honest, not moving a finger for several minutes is hard for me :)

Hummingbird on the Ava! The Ava in my office window has a few flowers on it-- far from full bloom, but sitting here just now on the phone, looking out the window, Ava was visited by a hummer.

It was just luck, usually I sit with my side to the window, so I might have missed ten other visits for all I know.

Also saw one this morning on the red honeysuckle (Major Wheeler).

They really are out there.(trademark). But it will still be good to see them chasing each other and whizzing all around in July.

Ha! Love your trademarked saying. :)

Congrats! I love the rich red color of Major Wheeler.
So glad I planted three of them in our yard.
My Avas are just babies. No signs of flower buds yet.

Looking forward to the return of seeing hummers almost every day. :)

-Robert

YAY mehitabel, They really are out there! LOL
I would say "it doesn't take much to make you and Robert happy", but then I know how hard we have all worked on our gardens to attract them.
I am so glad you are seeing them often. What a delight! Enjoy..
Deb

You guys, I just saw a hummer on the black & blue salvia!
I was going outside to turn off the water and let the dog out and there she was!
I guess they really are out there. :)

-Robert

You guys, I just saw a hummer on the black & blue salvia!
I was going outside to turn off the water and let the dog out and there she was!
I guess they really are out there. :)

-Robert

WOW, Robert, what a thrill. I'll bet they're there ten times for every time we actually happen on them. My Black and Blue will be blooming in a few days I hope. Major Wheeler is a winner-- blooms all summer into fall, and a couple of major flushes of bloom where it's nearly a wall of red. I love it.

BTW, 'Ava' blooms the first year, a little later maybe and a little sparser, but bloom they do. My old guys are showing about 1/4 pink right now.

Debra, you've worked hard, too, building that beautiful garden for them. You'll catch them coming around, too, and soon, I hope. Don't forget to let us know when you see them.

I'm catching them at odd moments, just as Robert did. Just happen to see the honeysuckle bobbing with no wind, just happen to be on the phone. They're not buzzing around all day yet like they did last year in July and August. But they will be.

And you're right, it's a thrill to see them, and a pleasure to have someone to share it with. :)