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Post by hazelrunmama on May 27, 2015 22:27:13 GMT -5
We've had some old friends show up this year. The same female Eastern phoebe that's nested here the past two years is back this year (the crew banded her a couple years ago), and we've seen banded Baltimore orioles and Rose-breasted grosbeaks. A lot of the woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees coming to the feeders are banded, which makes them old-timers, too. But the returnee that thrills me the most was seen this morning. It's a male hummingbird with an abnormal white border along the edge of his tail. I'm about 98% certain this is the juvie with the white tail margin that I saw last summer. He's back and dressed in full ruby-throated regalia! Ach, they grow up so fast! LOL But he's a really handsome dude--and it's so much fun to recognize individuals from one year to the next. I'm still watching for the dude with the red ear feather. This guy: Attachment DeletedHaven't spotted him, yet, but I haven't had a lot of opportunity to sit by the garden and watch for him, either. He might be milling with the rank-and-file and I'm just missing him so far.
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on May 28, 2015 7:15:33 GMT -5
How neat that you can recognize individuals! That puts watching birds on a whole different level. Nice that you see many bands too - means everybody traveled safely.
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Post by luv2bird on May 28, 2015 19:19:04 GMT -5
We've had some old friends show up this year. The same female Eastern phoebe that's nested here the past two years is back this year (the crew banded her a couple years ago), and we've seen banded Baltimore orioles and Rose-breasted grosbeaks. A lot of the woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees coming to the feeders are banded, which makes them old-timers, too. But the returnee that thrills me the most was seen this morning. It's a male hummingbird with an abnormal white border along the edge of his tail. I'm about 98% certain this is the juvie with the white tail margin that I saw last summer. He's back and dressed in full ruby-throated regalia! Ach, they grow up so fast! LOL But he's a really handsome dude--and it's so much fun to recognize individuals from one year to the next. I'm still watching for the dude with the red ear feather. This guy: Haven't spotted him, yet, but I haven't had a lot of opportunity to sit by the garden and watch for him, either. He might be milling with the rank-and-file and I'm just missing him so far.
Looking forward to pics. Hazel. I was glad to hear that your white tail hummer has returned. Hope your other red eared hummer returns, keeping my fingers crossed for you.
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Post by hazelrunmama on May 31, 2015 17:21:26 GMT -5
Thanks, l2b! Still have only seen the white-tailed hummer once and haven't seen Mr Red Ear at all. That doesn't mean he's not out there--it's just been so buggy with blood-sucking gnats that I haven't been able to stand out by the garden and watch for him.
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Post by naturelover on Jun 11, 2015 15:18:20 GMT -5
Hmm, you have gnats, we have mosquitoes! Hoping you can get out to watch for your special hummers soon.
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jun 11, 2015 18:58:35 GMT -5
We have mosquitoes here, too--they generally wax as the gnats wane. bah What I'm hoping for are lots of dragonflies--they eat both the gnats and the skeeters. Can't arrive too soon for me! The bugs are driving me to drink this year!
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Post by luv2bird on Jun 12, 2015 12:45:24 GMT -5
We have mosquitoes here, too--they generally wax as the gnats wane. bah What I'm hoping for are lots of dragonflies--they eat both the gnats and the skeeters. Can't arrive too soon for me! The bugs are driving me to drink this year!
The skeeters are having a picnic on me and those stinking gnats, they can come right through the screen into my home. Do you have any Stink Bugs? they are another pest, glad I have Robins, they eat Stink Bugs.
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Post by naturelover on Jun 13, 2015 10:55:08 GMT -5
I have at least one dragonfly here; I think it's a common whitetail. I haven't seen my bluet damselfly this spring yet. I wish they'd get hungrier!! Between skeeters and ticks I'm an itching fool!
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Post by hazelrunmama on Jun 14, 2015 14:50:54 GMT -5
I think we'd need a horde of dragonflies to eat all the skeeters and gnats here...maybe TWO hordes! Dang, they're awful!! Wish there was something that took care of ticks. Getting really old having to pick them off all the dogs, and me, after walks!
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Post by downylover on Jun 14, 2015 19:47:02 GMT -5
We have lots of gnats and skeeters too. I love sitting outside in the evening but its so irritating when there's a lot of them. A fan helps a lot. I plug a small one in and blow it towards me.
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Post by naturelover on Jun 15, 2015 11:56:44 GMT -5
I think we'd need a horde of dragonflies to eat all the skeeters and gnats here...maybe TWO hordes! Dang, they're awful!! Wish there was something that took care of ticks. Getting really old having to pick them off all the dogs, and me, after walks! Due to summer heat/humidity (heat index near 105) our walks are very short and no ticks noted then. I find them on hubby or on the floor/furniture where they have dropped off his clothes. I'd really like to have an environmentally safe tick control available instead of the toxic ones available now. We have lots of gnats and skeeters too. I love sitting outside in the evening but its so irritating when there's a lot of them. A fan helps a lot. A fan is good but doesn't help while walking the dog. They're really attracted to her but I'm easier to bite because she has a dense coat!
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