I haven't seen hummingbirds since mid to late September, but I've kept the feeder up (as recommended) in case of late migrants or lost birds. No activity lately except for the occasional chickadee drinking from the center well. Except for today when I saw something small buzzing around the feeder and I thought maybe a late hummer! As usual I grabbed the camera first, took some shots, and then pulled out the binoculars. Turns out a butterfly was visiting the feeder. It came back several times and stayed a while. I'm not sure if it actually drank the nectar or just checked it out, but they probably have long tongues (or the equivalent) too. It was hanging around the outside of the feeder so it wasn't going for the water in the well. I have a few photos, not very good, that seem to show it at the flower ports. I think it's a Painted Lady but I'm not sure. Maybe a migrant? This is about the time I see Monarchs. I have plenty of asters and goldenrods in bloom so there should be enough nectar around for butterflies, but I never thought they'd go to a hummingbird feeder . Claire

I thoroughly enjoyed reading these posts! I'm not really in the catbird's seat...nope I just found three more B list invasives! Funny, I don't really care all that much. I'll pull them out, as I do the bindweed, but that is about the biggest deal around them. For me, my gardening addiction started as a kid. I could not keep my hands and feet out of the dirt. My parents had to take out the holly bush because I ate that. I ate the grass, the magnolia, the dirt, the juniper berries, you name it, I ate it. There is a tiny photo of a tiny me. My father is sawing some old trees we had taken out. My brother (2 1/2 years older than moi) is sawing some logs with a tiny child's saw, and I am next to him, "sawing" away with a butter knife. I like it, gardening that is. I like the dirt and the things that grow. I like the challenges of weeds and pests and weather. I really like watching the chihuahuas roll in the dirt and the grass, nibbling away on bits of blades forever, without any grass actually getting in. My garden is pretty crazy, not all dirt and poop, but I really have to work it to keep it up. Three dogs plus the neighbors' makes four...they all poop. several times a day. I have an old garden hand spade that I use. I have no idea why people just let poop sit there, stinking!! I had always heard that it was not healthy for dogs to be around old poop. Even so, I don't want it all around! Pablo Honey, the tiniest dog, likes to pretend to sleep on the matt by the door, with his tongue hanging out, looking at me, watching every motion I make. I just remembered. When I was little, we had an old well that had been filled in and had a magnolia planted in it. We would save our carrot tops from the market and re-plant them. So much fun!! Gardening, weeding, thinking about it even...such a joy!

Aren't they fun to watch? I'm not surprised by the behavior. I would be willing to bet that the Oriole was a male, and that he was seeing his reflection in the window glass. I have a male Bluebird right now who goes from window to window in my house. He just lands upon the screens or the ledges outside and looks in. He never attacks the window which is also interesting to me. I've heard people tell of birds that they believed came to their windows to signal a request for food. :o)

Gorgeous photos. The male tree swallow is iridescent in your pics! I do question your final id though, are you really sure that's a rabbit? (big grin)