Saturday, September 3, 2011

The Hummingbird Days of Summer

This has become one of my favorite times of year.  Not necessarily September's weather, but because a wonderful mob of hummers is passing through.
Just about any morning I have the opportunity, you will find me sitting on the patio, coffee in hand, sometimes camera, with hummingbirds all around me as I watch the interactions at the feeders.  And the juvenile antics add a big plus to the pleasure.  Just a day ago, I looked out the window before going out and found one juvenile perched on the top of the feeder he was guarding, and another one perched on the shepherd's hook with the feeder he guarded hanging below him.  And today, I noticed two adult males feeding at the same time on one feeder.  It's fascinating to know that subtle hummer communication made that possible, when otherwise, they would be embattled.
Unlike the northeast, we have needed rain badly in east Tennessee.  So this evening when a storm moved in, I sat out under the shelter of the deck, enjoying its approach. Our temperature had reached 97 F, the humidity making that feel like 100 degrees of suffocating air.  The storm blew in packing 30-40 mph winds with gusts up to 60 mph and within an hour the temps had plummeted to the low 70's.  A welcomed change.  As the wind picked up, I watched as several hummers tried to reach the feeders by flying into a headwind.  It pushed them backward.  This was not easy to watch.  But their quick adjustment was heartening.  After several attempts, they would adjust direction, sometimes moving to a different feeder to get a better angle or a different wind effect.  As soon as the wind slumped, it seemed like hummers were falling out of the sky, and not peacefully either.  They arrived again with full attitude until the gusts picked up again. Amazing creatures!
And my favorite moment of all this week happened when I was just standing in the right place at the right time.  A petite little female landed on the feeder right in front of me.  She was so close I could have reached out and touched her.  I didn't move, just stood there watching her, in awe of her beauty.
A special moment in the hummingbird days of summer.

Links and resources:

For more information about hummingbirds and their migration click this link to my posts on Ruby-throated hummingbirds.  And to see more of my hummingbird art, visit my bird gallery.

5 comments:

  1. I love the hummers,too.

    Your painting is very nicely done.

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vickie...I love this time of year too. Our hummers are going crazy at the feeders while new visitors drop in to fight! I will miss them keeping me company while I'm out on the deck. Love your painting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Vickie your pictures are of hummingbirds are great and I love the painting. I love to watch them at my feeders and am in awe of the aerial displays. We are lucky to have two Anna's hummingbirds that stay year round, both my neighbour and I have feeders that we are careful to clean and fill regularly year round.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lovely, lovely, priceless times and so happy to know others enjoy this sweet time with the Hummers. They have come and gone from here most of the summer and yet when late summer arrives, they come in larger numbers and yes, it is sad when the winds come and they get shaken a bit. I have had to just walk away from the windows during those times. So glad we each have had a soaking though. We need lots more and maybe this week shall present enough rains to be sufficient.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Vicki - I finally got a new computer and at last I can enjoy your blog without my computer freaking out! (I did so love my big ancient Mac though) Your work is beautiful as always.

    ReplyDelete

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