They're Baaack!

Here it is the third week in March, and our Hummingbirds have come home!  Well, probably not all of them - but they are beginning their migration north and we couldn't be happier!  These are our only pets, well almost only - there are these guys that take delight in walking up and scaring the socks off me.

That's him, hiding behing the dog's ear, over on the rock!  Yep, they get me everytime I walk outside.  Everyone knows if they hear me scream it's just only of my little friends sneaking up on me - guess I'd better stop that in case there's a real emergency! 

These are the ones I'm so happy to see!  This is a male youngling or a female because of the lack of color and small size.  This is the first one I could catch on camera this morning!   We saw a feeder on the neighbor's tree last week, but, we were expecting a freeze last weekend, which we did get, and I don't want to find my pet's "feet up" below the feeder!  We aren't expecting any more freezing weather this season, after all, it is almost the first of April!

So, yesterday afternoon, we decided to just put up two cups to see if they were really around - we didn't see one bird yesterday!  But this morning, my Sweetie yelled to me, "Our birds are back!"  I got the camera ready so I'd catch them when they came in.  Those little guys are fast! 

Here's another species, a male, and he does look like a mature bird.  Look at the black around his throat!  He could actually be a "Black-Chinned" Hummingbird.

This one could be an "Anna's or Allen's Female" as they are near the coast all year - and come inland during the warmer periods.  It is early for the females.  Or if it is a migrating bird, maybe ?? 

See the one sitting in the bushes!  Find the knot in the wooden fence and go straight down to the top of the bush - see her!!  Wish I was better at identifying - this does look to be an Allen's Female!! 

 This looks to be another "Black Chinned" bird, and this one is a mature male.  See on the side of his neck how pretty his purple iridescence is?!  SEE??  Sweet!!

Later in the afternoon came an "Anna's" mature male. Look at this color!!   Look at the beautiful head and neck and the ROSE iridescence of this bird's head and neck - and the one above, with just the spot on his neck, is purple.  I hope you can see them clearly enough!

While they are migrating and just checking out territories they still share the nectar.  Once the nests are built and eggs are laid, they can try to keep others away.  Kind of hard when there are hundreds visiting our yard though!

Oh,  guess who else came to breakfast?  No, not that cat!  An Oriole!  I saw just one last year that was the brightest yellow, and then this morning.  It looked around a bit, then left after about 5 minutes.  Every time I lifted the camera, it would turn it's back to me, camera down, turned back around.  After a few minutes of this I lost my patience, so you'll just have to take me at my word on that visitor!

Tomorrow is Friday, so I wish you all a blessed weekend!
Donna

The Time Has Come

For my little hummingbirds to fly south for the winter!  We enjoy our little feathered friends.  They arrived late, along with a late Spring, and now with freezing cold nights dipping down in to the teens and lower 20's it's time for them to migrate to South America!  We went . . .



from this



to this..

           










And, while I don't mind watching these little guys from my window when I'm on the inside and they are on the outside, this is not my idea of a welcomed visitor!  Thank goodness my Sweetie was home and caught the little bugger and put him outside!  I mean, I'm in the Christmas spirit and all, but on the night before Christmas this is one little creature I do not want stirring in the house!!!

And look how big he is!!  Nose to tail - he was T H I S    B I G.  About 4"!  But, that's pretty big when you figure it's right next to where I sit in my chair when I watch TV!  Just why is he coming through the fireplace? After all, our Dear Lord gave him a leather coat!

Merry Christmas to all God's creatures, big and small, feathered and not - may they all be blessed this wonderful season!

Blessings,
Donna

Hummingbirds, Lizards and ... CATS? Oh My!!

By now, you all know how I feel about my Hummingbirds - they are a daily reminder of God's love and enjoy watching them, feeding them and caring for them for the time we are blessed to have these small little beauties visit. 

It's beginning to get very cold, with some nights dipping down to 30 - 32 degrees, and then we warm again.  The migration has begun, and we are kept amused by the different species coming and going.  They are absolutely beautiful and hard to believe these little creatures are able to travel the distances they do.

Now, while I love to watch these little creatures from INSIDE the house, through the window, the entire neighborhood, our gardener, the pest control guy, and my family know when one of these little visitors show themselves to me - you'd think a dinosaur was running after me!  If they have ears, all of them in my yard are deaf by now!  I scream so loud - - - but here are a couple of babies from my window.

Now, these little guys are only about 2" nose to tail.  They were playing and it was great entertainment.  About two weeks ago, as the weather started turning colder and colder, we noticed there weren't as many lizards out.  Then one afternoon - I saw a culprit with Mama hanging out of his mouth!

This morning, we figured all of the water must be gone as there was not one little birdie at either of the feeders!  As my Sweetie was heading to the door, I yelled, "WAIT - LOOK!"  The culprit was back!!

Our poor, hungry little Hummers were all frantically trying to signal us, chirping, chirping, "Danger, Danger!"   So, I armed myself with my camera, he armed himself with the squirt bottle next to the door.

Our culprit is gone ... and our Hummingbirds quickly returned, hungry and now satisfied!  Now with some energy, they are off to eat those pesky, I mean tasty, ants, and other bugs!

Thank you for taking a peak at our friends today!  Hope you're all getting ready for those tasty dinners, visiting if you have the opportunity, watching the parades, or just relaxing.  Our day to take in all we have to be thankful for!

Blessings,
Donna