Hummingbirds

[upthesaukee]

Hummingbirds 2021. I put out our feeder Sat. night, May 1 just before dusk. Sunday around 1230pm, my wife saw our first hummingbird. Doesn't hurt to have an azalea bush in full bloom 10 ft away.
Alton Bay, just outside Sandy point, 1/2 mile above the lake on the west side. Let the flitting and flying to and fro, and the territorial chasing fun begin

Dave

[barefootbay]

Also had one on Sat. and Sunday in Wolfeboro .

[jeffk]

Had one at our feeder in Center Harbor today.

[dippasan]

Saw 2 last Sunday

Tiny little guy's this time of year

[hilltopper]

Saw my first of the year in Meredith this afternoon. Over the last few hours I’ve seen multiple birds. Bats are out and about. Very few bees on the azalea bush which is strange (and concerning?).

[DRH]

We've got two hummingbird feeders here in Meredith and they are both quite busy. I took the following photo of a male as he approached one of the feeders yesterday.

[Newbiesaukee]

My three hummingbirds seem unusually active. It’s a little early for their bulking up for the trip south. Usually see that in mid-late August.

[IrishEyes]

I came here to post that my hummingbird feeder is the busiest I have seen it since they arrived in May. Apparently others are seeing the same activity. I was thinking this is how they feed before migrating south but it's only the end of July, way too early for this feeding frenzy. Maybe all the rain affected the flowers and plants they normally feed from.

[hilltopper]

It's possible the increased activity is due to babies that have already left the nest and are now fending for themselves.

[trfour]

Well worth the wait DRH, Thank You for sharing!

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by DRH

We've got two hummingbird feeders here in Meredith and they are both quite busy. I took the following photo of a male as he approached one of the feeders yesterday.

very nice and the photo went big time in today's LDS page 2

https://edition.pagesuite-profession...4-f3c1ee69f46e

[DRH]

Our male hummingbirds left about a week ago but the females are still here. We have at least 4, and probably more, females still actively visiting our feeders throughout each day. It's usually the males who aggressively defend "their" feeders against others wanting to get a drink, but now the females are aggressively defending the feeders and chasing other "intruding" females away. They are drinking quite a bit each day now, likely in preparation for their migration south soon.

[Newbiesaukee]

Originally Posted by DRH

Our male hummingbirds left about a week ago but the females are still here. We have at least 4, and probably more, females still actively visiting our feeders throughout each day. It's usually the males who aggressively defend "their" feeders against others wanting to get a drink, but now the females are aggressively defending the feeders and chasing other "intruding" females away. They are drinking quite a bit each day now, likely in preparation for their migration south soon.

Same situation here. Have not seen any today. It’s a little sad when they leave.

[JTA]

Saw at least one today.

[DRH]

Originally Posted by DRH

Our male hummingbirds left about a week ago but the females are still here. We have at least 4, and probably more, females still actively visiting our feeders throughout each day. It's usually the males who aggressively defend "their" feeders against others wanting to get a drink, but now the females are aggressively defending the feeders and chasing other "intruding" females away. They are drinking quite a bit each day now, likely in preparation for their migration south soon.

Early this past week we had female hummingbirds at our feeders constantly. We recognized several of the "locals" that had been coming to the feeders for some time, but we also saw new birds at the feeders that were likely just passing through. The birds were returning to the feeders frequently, loading up on nutrition.

Last Thursday it appeared that all the "locals" had left and we saw just one or two new birds that were apparently traveling through. On Friday there was no activity at the feeders at all, nor did any birds come yesterday. So it seems the hummers are now gone, at least in our area, and on their way south to warmer climates for the winter.

[Marauder]

One at my feeder today, so a few stragglers.

[trfour]

Hey Don, take a look at this when you have time...

https://www.voetcur.com/products/hummingbird-feeder

[DRH]

Originally Posted by trfour

Hey Don, take a look at this when you have time...

https://www.voetcur.com/products/hummingbird-feeder

Thanks for that link, trfour. I've never seen a feeder like that before. It's interesting how many hummers they show feeding together at one time. The birds we get here are usually quite territorial and aggressive. We often see a dominant bird sit in the maple tree near our feeder and chase away any other bird that comes for a drink. Most of the dominant birds are male, but sometimes its a female that even goes after other males that dare to take a sip at "her" feeder.

[trfour]

Hi Don, maybe you could change the "domain".

Just thought of you and Dave when I came across it. Stay well my friend!

[upthesaukee]

I was going to start a new thread for 2022, but this 2021 thread only had 18 responses.

I put my feeder out yesterday. I looked at a hummingbird migration map and there are a few sightings in Southern New Hampshire already. Most of the heavier sightings have been in Central and Southern Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and points South.

It won't be long now.

Dave

[DRH]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

I was going to start a new thread for 2022, but this 2021 thread only had 18 responses.

I put my peter out yesterday. I looked at a hummingbird migration map and there are a few sightings in Southern New Hampshire already. Most of the heavier sightings have been in Central and Southern Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and points South.

It won't be long now.

Dave

Thanks for the update, Dave. We haven't put our hummer feeder out yet, but we will in the near future.

In the meantime we have many birds coming each day to our "regular" feeders, and they have returned in full force this spring. Of course the bears are out now so we bring the feeders in at dusk and put them back out in the morning to avoid potential problems.

At this point we have red winged blackbirds, cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, downy woodpeckers, snowy woodpeckers, mourning doves, purple finches, and the occasional hawk which likes to sit high up in the trees and watch the action at the feeders. We've lost a few birds to the hawks so far this year, but that's how things work in the wildlife world.

[Jdarby]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

I was going to start a new thread for 2022, but this 2021 thread only had 18 responses.

I put my peter out yesterday. I looked at a hummingbird migration map and there are a few sightings in Southern New Hampshire already. Most of the heavier sightings have been in Central and Southern Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and points South.

It won't be long now.

Dave

Thanks for the update! Yesterday, I was contemplating this very thing! I’ll be putting my feeders out today!


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[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

I put my peter out yesterday.

Dave

Can't you get arrested for that sort of thing?

(Don't you love spellcheck? My feeders will be going up today too)

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

Can't you get arrested for that sort of thing?

(Don't you love spellcheck? My feeders will be going up today too)

Maybe, unless you are in the woods behind the garage.

I was "swiping" for typing on my Samsung Tablet. I usually proofread. No big thing , but it has been corrected.

Dave

[jeffk]

We put our feeders out a week ago in Center Harbor. We just saw our first visitor this morning, ruby throated male.

[Jdarby]

Our first hummer of the year just made a showing here on Long Island. I didn’t see it at either of our feeders but rather it stopped at our deck sliding door to say hello before darting off!


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[DRH]

Originally Posted by Jdarby

Our first hummer of the year just made a showing here on Long Island. I didn’t see it at either of our feeders but rather it stopped at our deck sliding door to say hello before darting off!

We had a similar experience yesterday at our deck's slider! We then put our feeder out but didn't see any hummers today.

[hilltopper]

No hummingbirds at my feeders yet. Plenty of Downy Woodpeckers though.

[hilltopper]

First sighting about 10 minutes ago.

[barefootbay]

First one yesterday in Wolfeboro .

[upthesaukee]

Finally. I have noticed the level of nectar going down over the last few days, but never saw a Hummingbird at the feeder until this morning. Welcome back.

[Jdarby]

Originally Posted by DRH

We had a similar experience yesterday at our deck's slider! We then put our feeder out but didn't see any hummers today.

That’s funny! Maybe it stopped at your slider and was saying, “OK…I’m here…where’s the food!?” LOL


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[DRH]

There were several hummers at our feeder yesterday, so word must have gotten out that the food's back!

[tis]

Originally Posted by DRH

There were several hummers at our feeder yesterday, so word must have gotten out that the food's back!

We saw one yesterday. He wanted to come in the door.

[WinterHarborGuy]

Saw my first today in Wolfeboro.

[JTA]

Maybe it’s my imagination, but the hummingbird activity at my feeder seems to have slowed way down. Have they started their migration?

[DRH]

Originally Posted by JTA

Maybe it’s my imagination, but the hummingbird activity at my feeder seems to have slowed way down. Have they started their migration?

We haven't seen a slowdown at our feeder yet. Yesterday was one of the busiest days we've seen, actually. Could be the migration has started, though, and the additional birds we saw yesterday could be transients on their way south.

[SAB1]

Still seeing plenty in Tuftonboro.

[upthesaukee]

Not at my place. They are eating (drinking) me out of house and home. Still hitting my flowers too.

Dave

[JTA]

Filled my feeder this morning for probably the last time this season. Only saw one bird this morning.

[Merrymeeting]

I have 4 feeders around my property and I've been filling them like crazy for the past few weeks. No lack of birds here.

[jbolty]

earlier this summer I found a dead hummingbird on my deck with a bee speared on his bill. weird.

[DRH]

Originally Posted by DRH

Our male hummingbirds left about a week ago but the females are still here. We have at least 4, and probably more, females still actively visiting our feeders throughout each day. It's usually the males who aggressively defend "their" feeders against others wanting to get a drink, but now the females are aggressively defending the feeders and chasing other "intruding" females away. They are drinking quite a bit each day now, likely in preparation for their migration south soon.

Two days ago, 8/29, our male hummingbirds left. This is almost the same date they left last year, as my 9/7/21 post above reflects. We still have females at the feeder each day, but there are no longer any males. Now, one or more of the females have become fairly aggressive about keeping other females away, just as we observed one year ago. Prior to two days ago, it was one or more males that made every effort to defend "their" feeder.

We are anticipating the females will be leaving soon.

[pam.in.ny]

A couple times this past week, I have seen a hummingbird at the feeder on the Bear Island cam. It was a treat to see.

[JTA]

A couple of times this summer I’ve seen a bee at the feeder. The hummingbirds seem afraid of them. They back right off.

[jeffk]

We have 2 feeders out and the traffic is way down. We were seeing 2 - 4 birds vying for each feeder throughout the day. We have a clothesline near one and we would see 4, usually females, sitting on the line watching the feeder. Now, an occasional one or two. It also seems these birds are different than our "regulars", probably ones migrating through from further north.

We had a hornets nest underneath a nearby porch, an annoyance to us and the hummingbirds. My wife got stung. It was tough to get at the nest to remove it. The hornets were on the feeders, even crawling inside it. I went to refill it and there was one inside. The birds were spooked by the hornets but worked around them. I finally used a power washer with an angled head to blast the hornet's nest out of existence. Then I sprayed the area with foaming hornet killer. No more hornets at the feeder.

[The Real BigGuy]

I was just commenting to my wife this AM that we had 4 birds vying for the feeder. We usually are seeing one or two pretty consistently. One little guy camps out on the top of the crook just waiting to defend his food source.

Our biggest issue is ants crawling up the crook, getting inside the feeder and eventually dying inside. I must have leaned out close to 100 last weekend. The birds seem to be alright with a few but when the feeder is loaded they want no part of it.


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[DRH]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

I was just commenting to my wife this AM that we had 4 birds vying for the feeder. We usually are seeing one or two pretty consistently. One little guy camps out on the top of the crook just waiting to defend his food source.

Our biggest issue is ants crawling up the crook, getting inside the feeder and eventually dying inside. I must have leaned out close to 100 last weekend. The birds seem to be alright with a few but when the feeder is loaded they want no part of it.

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A simple hummingbird feeder ant guard will solve that problem for you.

Here's a link to one particular model at Amazon for $9.72:

https://www.amazon.com/More-Birds-38...73826051&psc=1

The guard goes in between the hanger and the feeder. Adding some water creates a little "moat" the ants can't cross. We used one of these this past summer and it completely solved the ant problem.

[The Real BigGuy]

Thanks! We have something similar at the base of the crook but the gap isn’t wide enough to stop the little b-tards from stretching across the water and grabbing the rod!


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[Merrymeeting]

I made what I figured would be my ,last batch of feeder food today. As I was rehanging the feeders, there were hummers hovering, wanting me to hurry up already. Guess I might need another batch or two.

[DRH]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

I made what I figured would be my ,last batch of feeder food today. As I was rehanging the feeders, there were hummers hovering, wanting me to hurry up already. Guess I might need another batch or two.

We still have several female hummers here as well, which is about a week longer than they stayed last year. They may be birds migrating south from Canada, no way to know. Nevertheless, we enjoy seeing them at our feeder.

[JTA]

No hummers here the last couple of days on Cow. We had a great year with them.

[tis]

We saw one yesterday.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

I think the usual hummingbirds on Rattlesnake Island are gone. Just refilled the feeder for any stragglers.

[DRH]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

I think the usual hummingbirds on Rattlesnake Island are gone. Just refilled the feeder for any stragglers.

We had a few female hummers at the feeder a couple days ago, but didn't see any today.

[jeffk]

None seen the last couple days. It was a great year, about 8 "regulars" during the seasons. Some epic "battles" as well.

[Merrymeeting]

They seem to be gone from our feeders too. Haven't seen or heard any in a few days.

[JTA]

Going to take it down today. It was a fun season.

[barefootbay]

Wonder why they are so territorial in this part of the country? See you tube videos of them in other locals with 15 or 20 at a large feeder at a time looking very friendly .

[IrishEyes]

I had a few hummingbirds at my feeder this morning in Meredith. There's one at the feeder now! I actually had to make more food and fill the feeder last night. They have been coming by everyday although the activity has slowed down. The birds feeding now are most likely from up north on their way south. I was told to leave the feeders out for 2 weeks after you see the last one for any stragglers heading south!

[ApS]

It's only three steps up from ground level to my sundeck.

Stepping onto the sundeck, one would see a bright red "cube" refrigerator to your left, but in my face was a hummingbird, who stayed only long enough to be identified as a female.