The birds stop feeding and disappear about an hour before dusk. They must roost somewhere for the night. That has been my observation. Even if there is birdseed on the ground they disappear till the next day. I notice that in the winter some of them seem to have more feathers, perhaps, for insulation from the cold temperatures. I just love watching birds. And if you can identify a new species, that is even better. Usually, though, I see the same birds. You never know. A bird I saw only a few times was the red breasted grosbeak and last year all a sudden I saw a flock of three outside my window feeding on the ground. In less than two months I will be seeing ruby-throated hummingbirds who have traveled a long distance to come to my nectar I have prepared for them-several thousand miles. I always await their arrival.
Tags: a seldom visitor, bird-watching, birds, birds roost, birdseed, nectar, pleasure identifying new birds, red breasted grosbeak, ruby throated hummingbirds, spring, the arrival of the first hummingbirds, winter
Posted in animals, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
Last night a hummingbird was looking for my nectar I usually put out for him/her. I spotted the bird alighting on a branch of the pine tree ten feet from where the feeder used to be. Since the bear tore that feeder down, I had not put any up, again. I felt so bad that I immediately made some more and filled my feeder for him and put it up again. Within fifteen minutes. I am hoping the hummingbird tries, again. I know it will take time for the hummingbirds to realize there is nectar there for them again. I felt so disheartened when a bear came in our yard twice and raided all our bird feeders. I felt helpless.
Tags: bird feeding, birds, discouraged by the bear who tore down all our bird feeders twice, hummingbirds, nectar, nectar for the hummingbirds, pine tree, ruby-throated hummingbird, the bear raids
Posted in animals, birds, local, nature, time |
I put out two brand new hummingbird feeders. One was small and the other was a large one. I had checked my old one I had hanging outside the large living room window and it had a layer of mold on the ends and was also leaking. Then (???) so I put out fresh nectar in the newly bought feeders, which I hung on both sides of my sunflower feeder. Now I want to see how long it will take before the hummingbirds come. I did note this event in my bird journal. I expect to see one any minute although that is probably an illusion. I can dream any way.
Tags: bird, bird feeding, bird journal, hummingbird feeders, hummingbirds, mold on the ends of the hummingbird feeders, nectar, one small and larger hummingbird feeder
Posted in beauty, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
It was April 14–still no hummingbirds. I keep looking out my window and wonder when I will see the first one. Pretty soon I will have to put out fresh nectar. It only lasts so long. I will have to consult my bird journal to see when I put out the nectar. It always amazes me. Did one fly thousands of miles and remember the spot I put out nectar last year or how did they locate my nectar for the first time! Every year I wait for them to appear outside my large living room window. My sister who lives in California gets different species of hummingbirds. We don’t here: The ruby throated hummingbird is the only variety in the East. Hummingbirds are marvelous to watch.
Tags: bird feeding, birds, California, hummingbirds, my sister, nectar, ruby throated hummingbirds, the first hummingbird of the season
Posted in beauty, birds, knowledge&learning, local, nature, seasons, time |
I had just put it back my hummingbird feeder after filling it with nectar and the wire holding it up broke. A hummingbird came within inches of me. It must have been waiting for the sugar water. The hummingbirds liked this feeder. I had a second one set up fifteen feet away and they never used that one. I did discover the top of my feeder came off and I looped a wire through the whole (???hole), made a knot and attached the end of the wire to the end of a broken dog leash and then was in business. I was thrilled I had fixed my hummingbird feeder.
Tags: bird feeder, bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, hummingbirds, nectar, sugar water
Posted in birds, local, nature, time |
Everything is by grace. Today is a good day to count my blessings. I am not in dialysis. My kidney function has stabilized (the last three years). It is not good but it is livable. My wife loves me. And my two sisters and my brother-in-law (and a friend) sent me birthday cards (and one check). There is so much to be grateful of–two well running cars and a roof over my shoulders. There is no pressing financial needs. And I am surrounded by animals I love (in fact, there are eleven in this house). I love watching the birds out my window. And now I am waiting for the first hummingbird to find the nectar I just put out. My life is not perfect but it is good. I am aware God does not owe anything. Everything is by grace. And He owns everything.
Tags: animals I love, be grateful, bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, birthday cards, birthday check, cats, count my blessings, dogs, everything-is-by-grace, God, God does not owe anything, God owns everything, grade, house, hummingbird, kidney function stable, my birthday, my brother-in-law, my friend, my life, my sisters, my wife, nectar, not in dialysis, pets, two cars
Posted in balance, beauty, birds, God, health, life, local, marriage, money, nature, pets, relationships, seasons, time, wisdom |
There are many visitors I am waiting for. At some point, sometime soon I will put out nectar I have prepared for the hummingbirds. The first sighting is usually not before the end of April but I am awaiting them. The regal great egret will come back. Maybe, I will see flocks of goldfinch under the tree, again. I don’t understand it but they stopped coming to my thistle feeder but during the beginning of spring I see the most–often a dozen or two at one time. I will put out fresh thistle. Snowy egrets I will see, again, along the river. And about now I will keep my eyes open for the first sighting of a robin. And that is a short list. And includes only the birds.
Tags: April, bird feeding, birds, flocks of goldfinch, goldfinch, great egret, hummingbirds, nectar, robin, snowy egret, spring, thistle feeder, visitors
Posted in animals, birds, knowledge&learning, local, nature, seasons, time |
I made my first definite sighting of a hummingbird since I put out new nectar a few days ago. In fact, it did not feed on the nectar but was attracted to the pink fuchsia flowers from a plant hanging only several feet from my feeder. I was thrilled one was still in the area. I did not think any more were. There were several times I thought I spotted one but this was the first time I was sure. Let us see if it comes back. Most have migrated. It is a straggler. It is already in the first week of September. They have a long journey to make.
Tags: bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, Fall, flowers, hummingbird, long journey, migrate, nectar, pink fuchsia, plants, seasons, September
Posted in beauty, birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
I put out my last nectar of the season for the hummingbirds. I have not seen one in a day or two. Fall has come and they might have all migrated. I will see if there are any more stragglers. There might be one or two that are delaying their journey south.
Tags: bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, Fall, hummingbirds, journey south, migrate, nectar, seasons
Posted in birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
The two hummingbirds must not like each other. Once or twice a day I see these two hummingbirds. One is usually heading for the nectar and then another appears and chases the other away. I could never figure out whether either make it to the feeder. One is always in hot pursuit of the other. Maybe one feeds when the other is asleep. I just don’t know. I just get a kick out of watching them chase each other. Every time.
Tags: bird feeder, bird-watching, birds, hummingbirds, nectar, two hummingbirds chase each other
Posted in birds, local, nature, time |
They could have been swallows. I saw dozens alight on that wire and swirl above. I never saw swallows migrate before. It was early morning and they were over a mile away from water. If I had to guess, they were cliff swallows. I spotted them going through the “back way” into town. I was surprised to see them. Now is the time I usually see flocks of small blackbirds come through. I still saw a hummingbird feed on my nectar today. At least one has not decided to migrate. Temperatures have fallen–the seventies. Summer does not end for another three weeks. There is no doubt Autumn has come already.
Tags: autumn, bird feeder, bird-watching, birds, blackbirds, cliff swallow, early morning, flock of birds, flocks, hummingbird, migrate, nectar, seasons, summer, swallows, town, water
Posted in birds, local, nature, seasons, time |
Soon the hummingbirds will stop coming to my feeder. And will take the long journey south. I never know when I see the last one of the season but I will keep nectar out for a few more weeks for any stragglers. The “passing” of the hummingbirds is another sign the warm weather is out and the cold temperatures are on their way. I can become too used to their sight and they have to go away for me again to marvel at this creation of God. It will be April, again, before they come back. And I will await their arrival.
Tags: April, bird feeder, bird migration, bird-watching, birds, cold temperatures, creation of God, God, hummingbirds, long journey south, nectar, seasons, warm weather
Posted in beauty, birds, God, local, nature, seasons, time |
