She has had a couple of close encounters of the birding kind. The hummingbirds are back, and she has one who is very aggressive about guarding "his" feeders on her deck. He sits in a tree where he can watch all the feeders, and if another hummingbird is actually brazen enough to attempt to feed from one of them, the fight is on! They move astonishingly fast, so the Bag Lady doesn't have much in the way of videotape.
She was minding her own business the other day, doing some yard work, when she was accosted by this little fellow. He flew right into her face and hovered there, almost as though he was daring her to get another step closer to his feeder! The funny part was that she was walking away from it! He finally decided that he had asserted his authority and flew away, back to his perch in the tree, ever vigilant.
After many attempts, she finally managed to film this:
She knows it probably isn't very exciting for those of you in the southern parts who see hummingbirds all the time, but they are rare enough in these parts that she gets quite excited. She was very excited years ago when she realized they were hanging around her delphiniums, so has been putting out feeders for them for quite a few years now.
22 comments:
very cool for this woman who NEVER sees the humming birds.
three cheers for your having a video camera!!
M.
There is something so entertaining about hummingbirds, the way seem so amped all the time. I feel tired just looking at them!
Love the photos and videos you've been sharing with us--now if we could just figure out to get a piece of that rhubarb cake through the computer...
WOW! I actually have not seen a hummingbird in these parts for a pretty long time. I have seen heron (or are they cranes? what's the difference?). I do need to take my camera on my walks...
Thanks so much for posting a Hummie video. It's going to have to be my fix for the year since the little guys don't care for our yard.
Well done, df Bag Lady.
Since moving home to rural New Mexico, my father has become quite the avid birder. He has a hummingbird feeder, regular bird feeders, binoculars and a bird book all handy at his kitchen window. He also has a notepad where he lists each new bird he sees.
Watching hummingbirds is a fine hobby! Beats the heck out of some others I can think of! :-)
Miz - I love having a video camera, and can hardly wait until I become proficient with it! In the meantime, we all have to suffer through the "oops" moments!
Crabby - try as I might, the damned rhubarb cake keeps gumming up cyberspace! Sorry!
Missicat - you'll have to take along a camera so next time you see your heron/crane, you can share with the rest of us!
dfLeah - glad to share the hummer with you - don't know why they chose my yard! Must have been the delphiniums!
BG - love to watch the hummingbirds, and robins and the American Kestrel nesting in the back yard. Yup, birdwatching is far better than some other hobbies like, say, scalp-collecting....
That is so way cool! We do have hummers here but they are still hard to see and we get excited whenever we have 'regulars.' I totally understand about them being territorial...the used to dive bomb our kitty if she way laying under their feeder!
Wow...I've been told there's humming birds around our place but I've never seen them...that video was great! I've never been able to just watch one before. We get lots of bluejays, robins and finches...and the odd bat out here.
Emily - the feeder is on a post right outside the window beside me, so I can see the hummer even as I am typing. Feels quite a bit safer!!
Geosomin - so glad you enjoyed the video - I was afraid the response would be a little like "Yeah, so, when does the action come in?"
Great stuff, Baggie. I have rarely seen hummingbirds. The odd one has appeared only a couple of times in all the years (24) that I'm living in this house. I've seen them up at Frank's cottage though, but have not been successful in either capturing them on video or in a snapshot. I hope to try again this year.
I agree with Crabby about their high energy. They're like the Jack Russell Terriers of the bird world. ;)
Hilary - I'm sure that you'll have some great hummingbird photos for us eventually, especially since you are a much better photographer than the Bag Lady! Looking forward to seeing your photos!
Hummingbirds are so pretty!
Sagan - I agree - I could watch them all day!
So very cool, that you got this on tape. They move so fast, and usually don't stay long.
I love hummingbirds.
Oh, very well done Sis! One of the neighbours has a feeder for them outside, but I am not sure they use it. I'll have to stake it out one day with my camera and see what I can do.
I love hummingbirds, but also do not see them much. I think maybe they're more of a west coast thing, my dad has them like crazy in California.
We have MEAN mockingbirds here in Texas. They will come swipe at you if you are anywhere near their nests. Thus my conundrum about the nest in my fern. :)
Do any of your feeders have perches? mine do and they sit on them and drink for as long as a minute at a time.
Also, you should try offering your "guy" a drink from a container in your hand..have seen pics of a gal doing that on Vancouver Island.
OUr hummers have hatched their babies...must check and find out if they nest more than once a season.
ll (your Abby cuz)
Well, crap. I wrote out nice answers to everyone's comments and the damned computer shut down and lost it!
Maggie - glad you like the hummers! Thanks for stopping in and commenting - hope you come back again!
Reb - do that, because you've been getting some really good photos, so now it's time for a little more of a challenge!
SB - I'd be tempted to let the fern die, then, and save the nest! I had no idea that mockingbirds are mean!
Hey, cuzzie! Not sure I have the patience to sit and wait for a hummer to land on my hand!
The one feeder that I had with perches started leaking, but the hummers perch on the ornaments hanging on my deck.
ah, bet you could do it in no time while enjoying a "brown one" on your deck!
Google "ruby throated hummingbirds eating from my hand" to see the videos.
ll
I love hummingbirds. How fun!
I don't think I have ever had a rhubarb, let alone rhubarb cake.
df Bag lady,
This is the closest I've ever come to a humming bird.
Thanks!
Terrie
cuz - I shall do that!
POM - you've never had rhubarb?! *Gasp* - girl, you haven't lived!! :)
dfTerrie - glad you enjoyed it - you'll just have to come to Alberta for a visit!!
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