February 21, 2024 My neighbor, Lucifer’s Mistress, sends me a text: “Female rufous confirmed.” Yesterday, I had asked her where they all were, the rufous hummingbirds, since my records show the previous first sightings from early February. She wanted to know if anyone in the county was reporting them, and I mentioned the nice male I’d seen visiting the feeders at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia, the next county over.
Here in Northern Vermont it is way too early to even contemplate the ‘real’ spring. We have a seasonal camp near the Canadian border. Every spring season, the hummingbirds ‘tell’ us , with very little patience , that it is about time we hang the feeder. Short of knocking on the window, he hovers about a foot away, as if looking through the window to find one of us and ask, ‘could you hurry it up please “ . I am sure this is exactly what he’s doing. I have had the privilege of standing two feet away from our deck feeder, as up to four sparkling ruby throated hummingbirds take turns for the prime spot . I should say, defending their territory. And me, I just stand there motionless, with a big smile.
Thank you for introducing me to your ‘backyard’ wonders. Your photographs are just gorgeous.
Your hummingbirds are just amazing! I’m seeing signs of spring here too. Many trees are starting to bud. Snow geese and greater white fronted keys have been passing through. Yesterday there were eight trumpeter swans on the other side of the lake that took off at sunrise going north. It’s so warm here I’ve had my windows open every day to keep it cool enough in my house. Already seeing gnats and mosquitoes . That is not a good sign for summer!
I never realized just how territorial the hummingbirds were of their feeders until last summer’s turf war in my yard with the ruby-throats. Beautiful photos!
Not only have I not seen any Rufous hummers but our three Anna's seem to have flown the coop! The Gila Woodpeckers are the only birds enjoying the hummer feeders and I wish they'd stop.
Here in Northern Vermont it is way too early to even contemplate the ‘real’ spring. We have a seasonal camp near the Canadian border. Every spring season, the hummingbirds ‘tell’ us , with very little patience , that it is about time we hang the feeder. Short of knocking on the window, he hovers about a foot away, as if looking through the window to find one of us and ask, ‘could you hurry it up please “ . I am sure this is exactly what he’s doing. I have had the privilege of standing two feet away from our deck feeder, as up to four sparkling ruby throated hummingbirds take turns for the prime spot . I should say, defending their territory. And me, I just stand there motionless, with a big smile.
Thank you for introducing me to your ‘backyard’ wonders. Your photographs are just gorgeous.
And yes, I can stand there in my pj’s.
Your hummingbirds are just amazing! I’m seeing signs of spring here too. Many trees are starting to bud. Snow geese and greater white fronted keys have been passing through. Yesterday there were eight trumpeter swans on the other side of the lake that took off at sunrise going north. It’s so warm here I’ve had my windows open every day to keep it cool enough in my house. Already seeing gnats and mosquitoes . That is not a good sign for summer!
Ok, how cool is that!!
I never realized just how territorial the hummingbirds were of their feeders until last summer’s turf war in my yard with the ruby-throats. Beautiful photos!
Oh isn’t that male Rufous a beauty! Come up to Bellingham, my friend…but maybe not quite yet!
Not only have I not seen any Rufous hummers but our three Anna's seem to have flown the coop! The Gila Woodpeckers are the only birds enjoying the hummer feeders and I wish they'd stop.