Hard to believe, but today is the first day of Spring.
Those little guys will be showing up here in about 15 days. It is time to get the feeders out. After that long flight, they deserve a free meal.
This is one of the most interesting things I've ever seen. I didn't even know they could snore!
http://www.wimp.com/snoringhummingbird/
We have some hooks under the eve of our house that are placed so that we can hang hummingbird feeders so that they are centered in the double windows by the kitchen sink.
While waiting on the hummers to arrive, I decided to hang my sock feeders with nyjer seeds for the finches that were passing through.
I couldn't find last years socks and our local Wally World had only one remaining.
So I bought it and one of those bell shaped clumps of seeds.
The finches flocked to the nyjer seed, and of course I found last years socks while looking for some cord to hang the bell shaped thing.
But I was amazed at the number of birds that are attracted to the bell. My wife has fallen in love with the fat little Carolina Wrens.
Now I guess I need to get the ladder out and put up some more hooks by the dinning room windows.
Because it's Hummer time!
Hummers hit SC in the 2nd week of April.
The finches are year around. They like Niger seed, but it is expensive. They eat Sunflour too. I have a million this Winter joined by a million Pine Siskins. They are breaking my food budget. I (and most likely you) have Gold Finches, House Finches, and Purple Finches.
The Carolina Wrens (SC State Bird) spend the day pulling spiders and bugs from around your house. They like people, easy to hand feed. They love suet and they like peanut butter. Next time you drop by I will give you a bucket of my home made mix.
Another good, mess free food is shelled SunFlower. All the birds eat it, even the Wrens. You can get a 20 pound bag at Tractor Supply for $30. That seems high, but when you compare it to unshelled sunflower seed or Niger seed where most of the bag is shell, not food, it is a good buy.
I am the only guy in a tie
My first Hummingbird of the year showed up at my feeder today!
( Male Ruby throated )
AO I was north of you Friday on the way back from the Cherokee casino and went through a snow storm on top of the mountain on the way home.
Now, about the same distance south of you I got Hummers.
A drop in altitude makes a big difference.
Pics or it didn't happen....Originally Posted by TOAD
We are wired to perceive elevation as North.
Actually you live almost due East of me.
Westminster -- 34.6647° N, 83.0967° W
Chester ------ 34.7047° N, 81.2144° W
I know what you mean about altitude.
Chester is at 535 ft and my place is at 680 feet, not much difference.
Highlands, NC is only about 30 miles away as the crow flies, 41 miles by extremely twisting roads. It is almost straight North from me. The official average elevation within town limits is 4,118 feet, making it one of the highest incorporated municipalities east of the Mississippi.
It is a fun place to visit, especially in the heat of Summer.
The temp difference there and here is always at least 10 degrees. Right now it is officially 70.1 here and 53.4 there.
I am the only guy in a tie
Here are my first Hummer sightings at the lake:
4-06-02
4-05-03
4-09-04
4-05-05
4-02-06
4-02-07
4-05-08
4-09-09
4-05-10
4-??-11
4-12-12
I failed to post 2011, but maybe can find it on another forum.
The critters first yearly arrival is in a short time frame, and of course I may have missed seeing them the first day.:rolleyes-new:
I had the fewest last Summer, blamed it on Obama windmills. Those things kill birds by the trillions. Just last week I read a Golden Eagle hit one.
I believe that some (maybe all) of the first critters to stop by here just fill up with fuel and head on out in a day or so.
It is amazing how they fly for days, cross the Gulf of Mexico, travel through Florida, and Georgia, and return to the exact spot the feeder was hanging when they left last October.
It is an amazing feat from an amazing critter. Some stay here with me, and others have many, many more miles to fly before they rest.
I think this weekend might be a good time to break out the Windex.
Good photo.
You have a Panasonic camera?
I never saw one.
All the Hummers this side of the big river are Ruby Throat except for the rare bird drunk because assholes let the feeder ferment, or blown off course.
What makes you think I have one?
Why wouldn't I have one?
What do you mean by you never saw one?
I got lot's of toys you don't know about.
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