New visitors in the garden

5 years ago

Yesterday and today I had a Baltimore Oriole visit my First Nature Hummingbird feeder. He was a male in all his splendor. I have had these orioles visit me now for the last three years. They tend to come about now and stay for most of the winter. The first year I had only two or three. Last year I had something like five or six visit, both male and female. They are such a joy to see!

Hopefully his family will join him soon and stick around.

Also, I saw a male hummingbird yesterday and today. I've had three or four hummers visiting all summer, but I hadn't seen a male in perhaps two or three weeks. I'm hoping that this guy is going to overwinter and stick around for a while. Normally, I will have one or two that overwinter here.

A hard freeze will drive them away, but we haven't had many of those the past five years or so--last year being a major exception.

Anyone else seeing hummers or Orioles in their gardens?

Featured Answer

Tom
Original Author

5 years ago

Right now the porterweeds are being used the most. I have three types of large porterweeds--red, lavender and dark purple. The hummers love all of them. Also the red firespikes are favorites now. The Hamelia Pantens (firebush) are in full bloom and they get a lot of use as do a number of salvias---probably the favorite now is Phyllis Fancy. Finally, the white cestrums are excellent for both hummers and butterflies. They keep going through blooming cycles. If you want any cuttings just let me know.

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Comments (15)

MissSherry
5 years ago
Not orioles (Oh, how I'd love to have them!) but SO many hummingbirds, adult males, females, and some that are probably juveniles, their chests not being as pearly white as the adult females

They're constantly chasing each other away from my three feeders.

I've been hearing and seeing some birds I didn't expect when I moved here, but on second thought, it's not so odd. Barred owls hoot back and forth, "Who cooks for you?" sometimes at night. They're not here every night, but I sure enjoy it when they are. Some aren't good hooters, they don't have the full blown call down yet, it's kind of off, so maybe they're juveniles. I also saw a swallowtail kite about a month ago soaring over my house. They're large and impressive! I'm not far from the Leaf River, and barred owls and swallowtail kites live around rivers and creeks, so it's really not such a surprise -still it's odd to see and hear them in what is practically down town Hattiesburg!

Sherry
Iris S (SC, Zone 7b)
5 years ago
I did have a lot of hummingbirds, not so many the last 2 weeks. Mostly females. Didn’t see an oriole since Spring. My daughter knows a lot more about birds, she said the warblers should show up soon. 2 years ago we had a yellow headed blackbird in Fall. It sure doesn’t belong here, so after the picture my daughter took was confirmed by the bird club, we had people walking around with binoculars in the neighborhood the next weekend. It was kind of funny.
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sonni1
5 years ago
about 5 years ago a couple of orioles visited my yard and last summer I saw the first hummingbird I've seen in Florida. No sightings of either since then.
dangermouse01 (coastal central FL 9B)
5 years ago
Had the first sighting of the Ruby Throat hummingbirds that over Winter around my yard a little over a week ago. Their return was pretty much right on schedule.
Tom
Original Author
5 years ago
Do you get them every year, dangermouse? Can you tell us what city or area you live in? West Coast?
Rhonda
5 years ago
I'm so jealous. Yes, I get tons of butterflies but I sure would love to have a hummer. I don't think there's any chance of seeing an oriole this far down.
dangermouse01 (coastal central FL 9B)
5 years ago
They show up every year for about the last 7-8 years. Slowly increasing in numbers, there were 6-7 last year. They show up in September and leave about April.

I am in Palm Bay (Brevard County), East coast.
Tom
Original Author
5 years ago
Wow. That's a lot of hummers, dangermouse. Congratulations. They must now be familiar with your garden. Do yo think they come from the north? Do you get equal numbers of females and males? .
mr1010
5 years ago
Lake Co. Fl. ( on border between 9b and 9a) I usually have several hummers all year. They did disappear during July-Aug. this year but they're back now.

every place I've lived I never had hummers until I planted their favorite nectar

plants. Lots of nectar plants and they usually stick around even in the winter.

No feeders, just plants.
dirtygardener
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I haven't seen my hummers in days. I think they must have moved further South, although it's still very hot up here.

And just as the Four O'clocks are starting to bloom well! I thought those would keep them here a bit longer at least.
Tom
Original Author
5 years ago
mr1010 I also live in Lake County. Mine stuck around all summer. Now I have a few, not sure how many. Dirtygardener, you have hummers that visit Four O'Clocks? I didn't think they were used by hummers very much.
mr1010
5 years ago
My purple Porterweeds were frozen down to ground last winter and didn't start blooming well until Aug. this year and those are one of hummers favorite warm

weather nectar plants. I've also lost most of my various salvias which really attracted

them also. Time to propagate more of their favorites.

Tom, which of your plants are attracting the hummers?
Tom
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

Let's see if this pic will upload. This is a pic of the lavender and red porterweeds growing together. They are about five or six feet high and wide. Sorry, but I'm a poor photographer.
dirtygardener
5 years ago
Tom, I've seen them flying around them during the day when they're closed, and I presume they visit in the evening when they're open. I had one who tried to feed on the red peppers! LOL This, despite the fact that they have a feeder. I think they're gone now. I haven't seen any at the feeder in a long time. Next year, I'm going to plant lots of flowers just for them, now that I know they are return visitors.