Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Nectar Lovers

These are some of the birds spotted at my backyard feeder. For many weeks the only hummers observed had red bills, probably broad-billed hummingbirds. The first one below has a metal band around his left leg.
Lately we've seen hummers with dark bills, but I'm not sure what species they are.


This one that usually comes to the yard at dusk may be a Rufous. Blurry picture, but I think it's cute how he fans out his tail feathers.
Gila woodpeckers love to sip nectar out of the feeder.
And so do verdins. I love this acrobatic pose.
Only a few flowers are blooming in the yard right now. With bats emptying the hummingbird feeder at night, I try to remember to refill it each morning.
at

28 comments:

  1. pennySeptember 9, 2009 at 7:28 AM

    Oh how I would love to have them all visiting my yard. Your photos are all so beautiful, Diane. It was a very happy sight for me, thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. LindySeptember 9, 2009 at 7:39 AM

    Really great shots of the hummers. They usually don't want to sit still for me. At our house, the Gilas are the ones to do the acrobatics on the feeder. Perfect capture of the wing action in the last shot!

    ReplyDelete
  3. TesSeptember 9, 2009 at 9:00 AM

    Interesting visitors you've got there Diane! You're quite the birdwatcher. Beautiful shots - especially that ones in action! I am encouraged to go bird watching myself! Thanks for sharing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. WarrenSeptember 9, 2009 at 10:10 AM

    Great pictures! Looks kind of like an immature rufous above your adult rufous?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Betsy Banks AdamsSeptember 9, 2009 at 12:45 PM

    Oh My Diane.... You have so many different birds/hummers/etc... at your nectar feeders. I had no idea a woodpecker would eat from the nectar feeders. Amazing.... And that Rufous is a cutie.

    We have lots of bats here--but they've never been to the nectar feeders... Interesting--from one place to another.

    Love your interesting blog, Diane.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Phoenix C.September 9, 2009 at 3:21 PM

    I've never seen any of these birds in real life! They are so different to the ones over here. Lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  7. MaxSeptember 9, 2009 at 4:06 PM

    That broad-bill was probably banded at the site I assisted in April. Who knows, maybe it was one that I captured myself!

    ReplyDelete
  8. MaxSeptember 9, 2009 at 4:15 PM

    -Also, I think your three mystery birds are an immature broad-billed (top), female Anna's (middle) and immature rufous or broad-tailed (bottom). Great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  9. TeriSeptember 9, 2009 at 5:15 PM

    GREAT photos!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Icy BCSeptember 9, 2009 at 5:44 PM

    Wow..hummingbird are so hard to take pictures of, and you've done an outstanding job! Great capture, Diane!

    ReplyDelete
  11. KaySeptember 9, 2009 at 6:03 PM

    Fantastic photos.

    Kay

    ReplyDelete
  12. JenSeptember 9, 2009 at 7:43 PM

    The second one looks like a Ruby Throat female. That's about all we have here in KY.
    My home in Tucson has a bat that hangs out on the back porch-yuck. I suppose I will have to contend with him when I set a feeder out there. :<

    ReplyDelete
  13. StephanieSeptember 9, 2009 at 11:13 PM

    Beautiful little birds! Good shots of them. Have another adventurous day!

    ReplyDelete
  14. SAPhotographs (Joan)September 9, 2009 at 11:28 PM

    You sure have active feeders Diane. We cannot buy those here so this summer I am going to try to make one and see what happens.

    ReplyDelete
  15. CherrySeptember 10, 2009 at 5:58 AM

    wow! those are lovely birds. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. GaelynSeptember 10, 2009 at 7:34 PM

    Your hummer feeder sure stays busy. What fun to watch.

    ReplyDelete
  17. ProsperoSeptember 11, 2009 at 2:46 PM

    That last shot is fantastic, Diane.

    ReplyDelete
  18. betchaiSeptember 11, 2009 at 8:45 PM

    you have a wonderful backyard Diane, the birds not only visit you, they also pose for you :)

    Maybe I should put a feeder at home too, so that when I go out whenever I hear them, they won't fly away from me as they hear my steps :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. VickieSeptember 12, 2009 at 8:40 AM

    Wow, love the parade of birds at your hummer feeder! Love that first one. He/she looks so big compared to my little ruby throats.
    On my list, a hummer field guide!

    ReplyDelete
  20. EzhilanSeptember 13, 2009 at 12:17 AM

    Nice bird photos.I like the bird,who is doing some type of gymnastics.I like to watch the birds.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2009 at 7:21 AM

    Lovely bird shots, wish I'd learn to do them too. I'm not always successful with them, gggrr....

    ReplyDelete
  22. Bhavesh ChhatbarSeptember 14, 2009 at 2:10 AM

    Oh! These birds are sooooooooooooooooooo cute!

    Building a New Home

    ReplyDelete
  23. RajeshSeptember 15, 2009 at 8:43 AM

    Lovely birds. You have taken very nice shots of them.

    ReplyDelete
  24. TesSeptember 16, 2009 at 6:04 PM

    Hi Diane! I had to come back because I showed your photos to my hubby! Fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  25. yoon seeSeptember 16, 2009 at 10:10 PM

    Hello Diane, this little birds are so unique.
    I especially love the second one:)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Jeannette StGSeptember 17, 2009 at 11:21 PM

    Well caught! I have an artist friend who has done a whole series of hummingbird paintings on wood - that's what your last pic reminds me of!

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2009 at 9:23 AM

    That first hummingbird is very unique looking. It is quite exotic and has my full attention.

    ReplyDelete
  28. AshleySeptember 27, 2009 at 12:04 PM

    Great hummingbird shots! Those little guys are really hard to get good images of, but they sure are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete