catkinZ8a, because I'm in a less sunny area than you, I chose the electric pump instead. Solar pumps cost more and I read that the charge in 'cloudier' areas is not as long as one might want. However, when I set up my hummingbird fountain, I got more loungers than users. Have yet to get a picture of the hummers using it.

Love it Jane, thanks! Looks like the life of Riley!

Received email back from Cornell - Nestwatch - on the hummingbird with the protruding throat and chest pictured above:

Hi
Jane,

This
is not a brood patch; it’s too high on the breast/throat. Brood patches are also
virtually invisible to the casual observer, unless the wind happens to part the
belly feathers. You typically cannot see a brood patch unless you have the bird
in hand and can part the belly feathers to look.

That
said, I’m not sure what it is. It looks like some kind of disorder, but I
couldn’t diagnose it as I do not have a veterinary background. Sorry I can’t be
more helpful.

Best, Robyn

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I haven't seen a hummer in about 3 days, so now I wait and hope that little girl will be okay.

Jane (rats!)

Sorry to hear that, Jane. It was a happy solution to a worrisome problem.

Claire

On a lighter note, is anyone ready for some beetle porn? This mating pair of winter fireflies (Ellychnia corrusca) appeared on a table next to me as I was eating dinner on the deck.

The male dragged the female along the table top:

Apparently it wasn't where they (or he) wanted to go, so they changed direction.

At this point I wanted to finish dinner without possibly eating the beetles so I lured them onto a post-it pad and put them on the deck.

The winter firefly is A firefly that doesn't light up, Ellychnia corrusca and mates during the daytime. I guess every species has its rebels. I saw these beetles last year so I recognized them this time.

Claire

Jane - I'm sorry your hummer seems to be unwell. I hope that she at least manages to raise a brood successfully, though it would be better if she manages to overcome whatever the health problem is. I would think a swelling that large on such a tiny critter would make her center of gravity so far off that flying would be difficult.

Thanks to the new camera, I finally was able to get a photo of my favorite bug just by zooming in from a distance. I don't know what it is and have never gone looking - I just love the peacock-colored iridescence of this beetle.

Pretty thing, NHBabs!

Claire

The midnight hummingbird feeder drinker is back! Last year I noticed that on some mornings the feeder on my deck would suddenly be almost empty even though not that many hummingbirds would be using it. I figured a raccoon or maybe a possum was tipping it and drinking the sugar solution.

Whatever it is has learned a new trick - pull off a plastic/rubber flower and the fluid pours out easier. It's easy to reach from the deck railing. There's just a thin film of solution on the bottom even though the feeder was full the day before. I found the removed flower on the ground below the deck.

I think I may remove this feeder for a while since the hummers have plenty of flowers in bloom and there's another feeder on the other side of the house. I could use the Hummzinger feeder which just has flowers molded in the plastic so they can't be fulled off...

Claire

Did you see this video?

▶ 2:40

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-1OLJsWhyo

That looks very very likely, Jane! Although I picture a more leisurely scene with the raccoon lounging on the railing peeling the flower off and tipping the feeder with a smile.

Claire

After several years of enjoying the presence of bluebirds, I finally got a good look at nestlings. Faces starting poking out of the hole in the box on Wednesday, which led me to believe that fledging was imminent. I’ve pieced together a video:

The first frame shows the male removing a fecal sac (for sanitation and safety from attracting predators). The Dad happens to be featured here, but both parents work in tandem to do all of the duties.

Next, a curious nestling inadvertently frustrates the bluebird Dad by blocking the hole when he has other mouths to feed. When he finally gets the job done, I love the way he takes a long look into the box to make sure all is well!

Thursday: I believe all but one fledged at dawn. I came out a little later and sat patiently. It paid off. Eventually a head appeared in the hole. The rest is self-explanatory.

It
flew directly to a tree at the end of the fence line to join the siblings. The adults were nearby.

Susan

Susan, when I click on the arrow, it says "Please sign in to view this video". We really want to see this!

For me it says "This video is private".

Claire

Try again and let me know. I am SO sorry for this inconvenience.

NIce! I love the drama of the baby getting up the courage to leave the box.

Claire

Oh, Susan! Well done! 5 STARS. Love the bee stopping by. Did you film this with the SX50 and was it on a tripod? I made a video last week and for some reason when I loaded it onto Youtube, it ran twice - a loop. I deleted it, but will try again sometime. You did good! Thanks.
Jane

Jane, thank you, yes. I was able to stay at an acceptable distance from the box, credit due the SX50. I used a flimsy tripod that was thrown in with the camera pkg. It wasn't very stable, but did the job in the end. I have been trying for 2 days get the video posted, and nearly gave up too. Very frustrating. If anyone has any tips one how to get the acceptable resolution and not spend hours uploading, please share. And yes, I googled a lot of stuff trying.

Susan

I particularly enjoyed watching the fledgling watch the bumblebee. Fun video!

Birds in the bath are just the best. Catbird was so happy.

Lovely!

Claire

Nice photos, Jane.

A few minutes ago I went charging out the front door to do a quick check on the rain gauge and froze when I realized I had chased away a male hummer who was visiting the Nepeta. I stayed in place, and after watching me for a couple of minutes, he actually returned and tolerated my presence 3-5' from the flowers as he continued feeding. I was surprised that though there are also Alliums, columbine, azaleas, and lupine all blooming right around the catmint, he stuck with the catmint although it seemed like each flower only had a tiny amount based on how long he visited each. I wonder if hummingbirds can taste differences between different flowers?

I thought of you all when a friend sent me the link to this NY Times article on how birds communicate and understand alarm calls in response to preditors.

Today I noticed a female just outside the window visiting the Major Wheeler honeysuckle. I only had my cell phone and the shots didn't come out, but then she left the honeysuckle and perched on a branch of the Annabelle hydrangea nearby, giving me another chance with a real camera. She just sat 3 feet from the window I was shooting through. It looks like she has a bit of pollen on her feathers just under her chin.

Interesting article, NHBabs. The idea that all of the different species understand each others' warning calls is fascinating.

I sometimes try to negotiate with the chickadees when they do the dee-dee-dee-dee-dee alarm call at me. I answer "no, dee-dee!" and we go back and forth. Sometimes they'll reduce the number of dees - I don't know if I convinced them I'm not that dangerous or they just got bored.

Nice detail on that hummingbird - she looks very composed.

Claire

The first brood of HOSP has fledged from the Blue bird house. In all fairness, the Mourning Doves can spread seed from the feeder with just as much enthusiasm and momentum. A bird is a bird is a bird. Before we got 3.7" of rain in the past 2 days, there were 4 HOSP fledglings bouncing after their parents in the birch. The Chicadees and Nuthatches have reappeared at the feeder, but not the C.Wrens yet. And, Buddy did come back, haven't seen the girls back yet. Going to have to switch to safflower.

Jane

"A bird is a bird is a bird" - I like your attitude! And that looks like a mourning dove fledgling to me too.

Claire

For most of the last two weeks there have been geese hanging out at the edge of where the corn meets the alfalfa part of the field, anywhere from 2 to 5 of them, occasionally joined by the mallard pair. As I was watching them the other day, I was amused by the mallards who landed about half way across the field and then hiked over to where the geese were, a long distance on those short legs.

The large rhodie in front of the house planted by the PO is always popular with the insects when it's blooming, but I don't think I've ever looked closely enough to see the ants. There are often so many bees on it that the hum of buzzing bees is the first thing I notice when I leave the house. The bees (sorry so blurry, but they were moving) were a perfect example of why they are called bumble bees - they actually ran into each other twice as I was watching, once when they were both headed for the same flower, but also once when they simply flew into each others' flight paths. No apparent injuries.

NHBabs: I didn't know mallards are like turkeys - flying is way down the list on ways to travel. Maybe walking is slower but takes much less energy than flapping those wings to lift a heavy body?

I love the sound of bumble bees bumbling around.

Claire

Claire, I'm stretching the boundaries of your thread again, but the folks who frequent here MIGHT be interested. Last night at late sunset, I noticed the light coming through the trees across the street, so I grabbed my camera. This morning when I put the photos on the PC, in the cropped pictures I noticed the outline of the leaves on the tulip trees through which the sunlight shone. Light/shadows, I get it. However, as an amateur gardener who talks to plants and a semi-professional tree hugger, I wonder if these photos show the life energy (aura) of the tulip leaves? I want to think that. What do you folks think? See more photos on flickr

Jane

Lovely photos, Jane. The interaction of plants and light is always fascinating.

Claire - I've looked but can't find anything about relative efficiency of walking vs. flying for mallards, but they certainly can move right along on foot and they appear to be relatively ungainly flyers.

We spotted our first turkey poults today, largely by the hen's watchful behavior. The poults are so tiny and the grass so long that only occasionally did we spot little brown heads rather than just moving grass.

Jane: The photos are beautiful and bring to mind the figure-ground perception
artworks where your eye/mind jumps between the background and foreground. In your case, are you looking at the tree or the light or the tree or the light....

I remember once watching a bit of light that was reflected on the ground and it moved back and forth as the wind moved the leaves of the tree overhead. I was almost convinced the light was alive until I realized where it originated.

I'm so glad you're seeing the poults, NHBabs. None here yet but it's always a joy to see those little bitty things and watch the hen shepherding them around.

Claire

Whether light is alive could be a good pub talk. Thanks, I just like light which is why we have so many windows probably.

There are still 2 female hummers here and Buddy, so I choose to think that whatever one of them was doing with a puffed out chest was simple and not life-threatening.

One little one this morning.

Jane

All the safflower seed is on the ground, so they get to be ground feeders until its gone. Chippers really benefit and I believe this constant bullying is simply chipmunks doing territorial aerobic exercises. One rammed the other and sent him flying.

NHBabs,

That's a nice photo of a six spotted green beetle! Great that you captured it as they are quick, a bit shy, and don't stay long in one place. They can have fewer or more than 6 spots, btw.

They have huge white jaws and they prey on other insects and critters.

Susan, fantastic video of the fledging bluebird. I like how she/he went back into the nestbox just before taking the leap -- "better get that length of paracord."

I used to get a lot of nesting tree swallows and got to see how they fledged one summer. I took some videos as I was there for a long while watching all the nestlings take the leap. The adults offer food, then seem to fly past with an insect, withholding it from the nestling. Na nah nah nah naah! Finally, the hungry nestling can no longer stand it and takes the leap. So wonderful that you were able to capture this with your bluebirds.

All of you are sharing such interesting images and descriptions. Thanks.

Starsplitter, thank you! Yes, the nestling went back
into the box like it was saying a last minute prayer before casting fate to the
wind. Lots of juveniles around yesterday and today. Hope I can get some good
shots. It appears that another brood will be coming. Pair is
defending box 2 and they are very feisty. The tree sparrows are using box 3,
but it’s further away and harder to monitor!

A few recent images:

Eastern cottontail

Cowbird, no doubt looking to put his eggs up for adoption. :) Mrs. CB was by his side.

Lady Hummingbird

Goldfinch looking content (or sleepy)

Juvenile bluebird discovering the joys of the bird bath

Susan

Welcome to the thread, starsplitter. I like the image of the tree swallow parents dangling food out of reach of the nestlings (no more home delivery, kid - come and get it!).

Lovely pics, Susan. That first bath must have been a revelation for the bluebird.

Claire

So many beautiful photographs... from bugs to birds to animal friends. I'm really jealous of the bluebird, tree swallow, hummingbird pictures.... especially the tree swallow, which I've never seen up close. Been doing a lot of gardening lately and when I do sit on the deck, it's usually after weeding when the only thing I have in my hand is a cold drink, not a camera.

Today we were watching the birds under the sprinklers and one mourning dove made us laugh. He/she (?) was parked underneath our arbor. Every time the sprinkler came its way, the dove lifted its wing. Stayed there for quite a while and so I was able to get the camera. Here it is, wet and waiting for the next go-round.

It's darn hot today .... the dove's "pits" must have needed a cooling.

I didn't get the best picture, though, of the dove lying on its back so the spray could hit both the belly and the wing. Doves aren't "glamorous" birds, but their calls and their determination make them so much fun to watch.

Molie, those MODOs are a hoot. I have a bird table and those silly birds take a nap on the thing. Sort of like, well, there's a lot of food here, after that mojito, I feel a tad sleepy. The tree swallows have a keen memory of predators, the MODOs, nope. Groundhog day.

Susan, thanks for the bluebird fledgies taking a splash. I've never seen the babies before. The late owner of the "back forty" logged his acreage as he was being taxed to the hilt for "buildable lots" but the municipality told him outright that they would never allow him to build as it's in the "watershed" (EVERYTHING is in _some_ watershed). Well, we got some wild winds after that, but got a great view of the open area, the lake and the mountain two miles away. Bluebirds came to our nest boxes, but were smart enough not to nest. We always had many tree swallows and had a lot of nest boxes for them, the house wrens, chickadees and titmice. For about 7 years there have been NO nesting tree swallows. I think that one or two years the Cooper's Hawk, Sharpie, or maybe raccoons got them. SAD. But I think that tree swallows, like hummingbirds and crows, remember and pass on information.

This year my husband and I built more bluebird / tree swallow nest boxes and put some up a our neighbor's place. It's more open there, great breezes, views of lake and mountain. Wow! within a day or two she had tree swallows claiming one nest box and a house wren claiming the second. We found a conical floppy sheet metal baffle for the TS nest box, but didn't get to the house wren box soon enough. A raccoon must have gotten to the parent, sitting on the eggs. I still find this disturbing. We'll try to fashion a baffle for that nest box and start again. So far the conical baffle is working for the Tree Swallows (TS).

At our place, we've got about 5 nest boxes up and three or four house wren nests. I like the house wrens and figure any bird that eats bugs and is willing to figure out how to get a 3 inch long twig into a 1.5 inch hole is my kind of bird. [You know what those birds do, right? They go around and build a very NON- Frank Lloyd Wright nest everywhere they can find a free site. Then they get the lady a few of those pink umbrella drinks and a pu pu platter and show her all the available houses/nests. She picks one and that's that.

NHBabs -- I ooopsed. The name of the green beetle is "six spotted TIGER beetle." I really like them ;) I also think robber flies and dragonflies are cool. Glad they don't prey on me however.

Claire, thank you for the warm welcome. I am largely an ARMCHAIR sailor, cook, diner, birdwatcher, gardener, vintage sewing machine lover and news/info junky. Too many interests and little time. I've been a member of GW for a long while, but mostly read and marvel at the talent and knowledge base of those who contribute. This photo thread is always interesting and you are all such talented observers and photographers. I admire how you can put plantings and critter comforts together so artfully. My gardens have taken a big hit because of various things going on. We started with a gravel filled in lot in the middle of the woods, then I figured I'd use the perimeter areas as "holding" gardens, so I now have huge rhododendrons and shrubs and small trees that started out as $5 plants or orphan offerings at places like Mahoney's.

Jane -- I so enjoyed your dogwood tree story. I understand how sad it can be to lose tall mature oaks. We still have some across the small road from us and everyone notices them. The red tailed hawks like them too. Your dogwood is lovely. It is wonderful to have a nearby tree where you can watch the comings and goings of birds.

I've typed tooooo long ;)

Sunny skies to all!

Oh, that dove cooling off under the sprinkler is wonderful, Molie! I'm imagining it lying on its back...

starsplitter: Groundhog Day is a good metaphor for the doves and predators. The hawks really take a toll on them here and they don't seem to learn.

I couldn't resist taking a short video of a chipmunk stuffing its face today on my deck. That cheek pouch is amazingly flexible.


Claire

Well actually, two videos. The chipmunk came back and stuffed its face with two peanut packs but dropped one. When it realized something was missing it came back for the dropped pack.

Claire

HA! Great videos, Claire. Chipmunks are darn cute. We don't get them here ... maybe too many predators in our open area.

That's good, Claire. It is amazing how those cheek pouches stretch.

Moliep - don't fret about not having any chipmunks, you can have mine.

Last night - Female hummer approaching:

Jane

I agree about the hummer in the serviceberry. Beautiful.

I like that hummer feeder; what make is it? I have a glass bottle feeder. It's easy to clean and is domed so it keeps the bees out, but I had to fashion (not the right word as it's clunky) an ant moat (that would hold water for more than a day) from a plastic cup. I glue gunned some straightened paper clip and copper wire for a perch, but seems like Hum doesn't like it -- perhaps not thick enough.

Last year I looked up to see a hummingbird on one branch of a tall oak and a few feet away, on another branch of the same tree a (?red tailed) hawk. I got some lo res video when the hummer was flying about, but it is difficult to see. I envy you folks w high def cameras and video cams. It's great to see the detail! You are very accomplished.

A few weeks ago, during the long dry spell, I was misting my 'Heritage' raspberries and a hummer came over and was flitting around the leafed out canes. The raspberries were not in flower. The hummer was just enjoying the fine mint. I am always amazed at how confident these small characters can be. This year I didn't get to witness the acrobatic mating display ;( which is so interesting. The young lady watches from a nearby perch. What's the human equivalent? Motorcycle wheelies? Bungie jumping?

Thanks, Starsplitter, for the bug ID. I've always loved them, but never had a chance to catch one with the camera before.

Here is mom turkey surrounded by poults, though you would never know except for the grass moving without any wind.

Ah, NHBabs, that hen has the ever-vigilant look of the turkey mother with poults. Even if they're invisible to us she's determined to protect and feed them. I hope she succeeds.

Claire

This has been the worst winter moth caterpillar season I've ever seen here. It was a perfect storm - there was some sort of bird incident and almost all of the birds suddenly disappeared for several weeks, just as the caterpillars were hatching. The flocks of grackles that I count on to eat caterpillars were nowhere to be seen and the caterpillars feasted. No cowbirds, no red-wings, no orioles, and just a few blue jays and cardinals and finches. Defoliation ensued.

But the birds have been coming back and today this wonderful cardinal had a beak-full of caterpillars.

GOOD CARDINAL!

Certainly hope they came hungry, Claire. Dreadful when trees are defoliated so early. Last year the birches had sawfly, so far, knock wood...

Buddy is definitely a charmer. Tonight...

Buddy looks so graceful, he reminds one of The daring young man on the flying trapeze.

Claire

edit note: I tried to link directly to the first YouTube video but couldn't do it. I think that's Bruce Springsteen appearing with Popeye the Sailor Man.

This thread is getting long so I just started a new one, Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #7.

No problem if you want to continue the discussion here.

Claire