skip to main content

Hummingbird Photos - SoCal

8 years ago

Inspired by ZachS's thread, I thought I go out into the garden and take a few new photos of the California hummingbirds in my garden.

Allen's Hummingbirds

Male Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird -- limited viewing, while they stop by during their migrations. I tend to hear their arrival, before seeing it.

Featured Answer

ZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado

8 years ago

Nice! We have the rufous coming through and I have (or had, haven't seen her in a couple days) a female that I think chased off all the Anna's hummers that typically visit my feeders. I also BELIEVE I had a female Costa's, which would be unusual for my yard. But some of these female hummingbirds are hard for me to identify. The rufous was easy though, she was orange, haha.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

FeatherBee
8 years ago
Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing!
gyr_falcon thanked FeatherBee
Related Discussions
Choosing Exterior Paint (Dunn Edwards only): SoCal "Spanish" c 1931
Q
Comments (9)
yes, the gray tones are hard to work w/those tiles. I just had a complete reroof during the paint change. The entire neighborhood (I'm in North OC) has those heavy pink/terra cotta cement tiles. but they've faded after 40 years. I couldn't wait to get something diff. If you want to remain period to your home, stick w/the white/yellows for the stucco, and the greens/blues or even black for the trim. have you thought about doing black? It's very handsome this is a creamier white w/more of a dark bronze trim blue or green always works I did find one with a dark charcoal gray and a swiss coffee stucco. this color gray would work. You need a true gray with no blue or yellow undertones. this is a 1930's in Los Feliz I still like the black though i'm jelly of your home. vintage spanish are my favorites. I'd love to redo one. (you in the highland park/echo park/ lincoln hts area?)
...See More
Softscape help on newly built yard 10a/b SoCal
Q
Comments (7)
Based on what you have chosen as your style of pool I am guessing that you are going for a resort style, modern space that makes you feel like you have stepped out of a hotel into a private corner by the pools. Love it. The irregular shape of the backyard is actually a very interesting characteristic of your backyard and one you can really play off of. Large planters will be an investment, especially because I am going to suggest adding a modern privacy wall on the left behind the planters to increase privacy and to hide the pattern and the texture of the brick wall which is a bit busy. I would place a series of planters (exactly the same and in odd numbers) with spiky grasses in them. Low maintenance, structural like the cactus but safe for kids. Also a chance to bring in some colour in a clean way, depending on the colour of the grasses. Grasses are easy to take care of and cheap to replace if they die. Planters come in all shapes and sizes and this would work with a narrow long planters just as wel as three or five larger cube shaped planters. The best part is if you provide uplighting to highlight the screens it will be very dramatic at night. Lighting all around your yard to highlight the different elevations and the plantings will extend your house and your views both day and night. Great for entertaining and night time swimming. You can take screens super high or maintain that linear feel by stretching them across your wall to increase privacy. Love the sitting area over the pool. I would consider either building something for shade over head in the same wood as the privacy screens or investing in a shade sail to bring in some colour. Building a structure will continue to introduce vertical lines to the space that will add interest and also increase privacy, shade and usability of that seating.
...See More
Thinning fruit on mango tree in So Cal...how and when?
Q
Comments (2)
I usually let the tree decide..but I also think that thinning if you have the daring,is a good thing since the tree will make many stunted small fruit on a branch that should have no more than a handful at most. You might try thinning some branches and then compare with those not thinned later. Plus size matters,young tree's can give so much effort on too many fruit that it drains them of making it through an extra cold following winter. Larger Mangos in California can do both self thinning and give plenty of fruit. Its the smaller shrubby sized trees that probably could use the help.
...See More
So Cal Zone 10b
Q
Comments (3)
Southern California is not the easiest place to grow bigleaf hydrangeas. But it can be done. My sister lived in Laguna Beach for years and she had great hydrangeas but they were in pretty much all day dappled shade. Plenty of shade and plenty of water will prevent the browning of any flowers prematurely. One of the issues you will have to contend with is the lack of a proper period of dormancy. These are not evergreen shrubs and they need a down time to recharge themselves and the very mild or even warm winter temps you experience interfere with that. Lack of sufficient dormancy will affect flowering and eventually the health of the plant overall. You can induce a "forced" dormancy of sorts by removing any remaining foliage in late fall and not allowing the shrub to flower until after the spring equinox.
...See More
Jennifer_in_KS
8 years ago
Great photos! How fun to have such interesting birds in your own backyard.
gyr_falcon thanked Jennifer_in_KS
gyr_falcon
Original Author
8 years ago
They sure can be a challenge! Especially in an area that gets many species and wanderers, such as AZ. There is a reason even experts have to mark some counts as Selasphorus sp., for example. Proportions sometimes help with experience, but they are often not noted in id books. I can pick out the rare black-chinned that wanders through by their tiny head to body size--but I've never seen books mention it. Although Hummingbirds of North America does list some very nice details and proportions to separate id. A shame the birds are not inclined to stop long enough to allow tail-feather tip observations, and such, though!
luvofdesign
8 years ago
Love watching these busy birds in my So Cal. yard for sure! They suck down quickly the sugar h20 I prepare for them. Your pictures are awesome...what type camera did use to capture these shots?
gyr_falcon thanked luvofdesign
luvofdesign
8 years ago
Here are a couple photos I shot recently
gyr_falcon
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, demolition. My photos were taken using an old Nikon D50 a 70-210mm zoom--not the best system for bird photography, by far. Thank goodness for digital; I typically have to toss a number of junk photos to get keepers!

What a great view you have! Both the hummers close and the scenic overlook of a river. Nice sharing hummingbirds shot. I had to work very hard and long to get hummingbirds to share a feeder. My visitors are mostly year-round residents. I'm curious if the eastern migrants still moving are more likely to share as they pass through areas, because they would not feel the need to defend a feeder, or if they are as possessive while there as ones that stay in an area.
luvofdesign
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Well your old Nikon worked like a charm capturing the awesome shots you posted here. The water you see is a man made lake in Anaheim Ca where they keep it stocked with fish-which keeps the fishermen & fisherwomen coming back for more. By my observations of watching the hummingbirds in our yard- the dominate male birds stand guard near 'their' feeder... Fluttering their wings & chasing off any hummingbird that dare approach 'their' feeder. The younger birds tend to have better sharing manners than the more mature male
gyr_falcon
Original Author
8 years ago
Oh, you're local! I live in south OC. :-)
shorisuperstore
8 years ago
These photos are magnificent!
gyr_falcon thanked shorisuperstore

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Invite Entertaining Hummingbirds Into Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Hummingbirds — unique to the Americas — zip through open landscapes seasonally or year-round. Here’s how to attract them

GARDENING GUIDES Attract Hummingbirds and Bees With These Beautiful Summer Flowers

By Annie Thornton

Roll out a welcome mat for pollinators to keep your landscape in balance and thriving

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: California Fuchsia Brings Color and Hummingbirds

Set this summer perennial up in a dry and sunny spot for blazing orange or red blooms into fall

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Flowers That Hummingbirds Adore

To draw those mesmerizing little birds to your garden or doorstep, plant these flowers that are attractive in more ways than one

LIFE Attract Hummingbirds! 8 Ways to Make the Most of This Weekend

By Laura Gaskill

Venture outside to create welcoming spaces for birds, or stay in and refresh your home with simple projects

GARDENING GUIDES These Hummingbird-Attracting Native Plants May Surprise You

By Susan J Tweit

These flowers, vines and shrubs offer shelter and food supplies that keep hummingbirds around longer

EARTH DAY Create a Container Wildlife Habitat for Hummingbirds and Butterflies

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Don’t let limited space prevent you from welcoming wildlife into your garden

HOME OFFICES The 20 Most Popular Home Office Photos of 2015

By Becky Harris

Technology paves the way for space-saving work areas, while designers make up for small sizes with style

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Roll Out the Welcome Mat for Hummingbirds With Red Columbine

By Pollination Press LLC

Grow Aquilegia canadensis in eastern perennial gardens or informal woodland plantings for its delicate foliage and uncommon red flowers

SUMMER GARDENING Photo Gallery: Summer Gardens Take a Bow

By Annie Thornton

Home gardeners amazed us with photos of their flower beds, sheds and outdoor rooms. Take a look and get ideas for fall planting time

Sponsored

More Discussions

ID OWL IN S.E. MICHIGAN z5b

0