Invasion of the Hummers!

[Basil]

I have never - NEVER seen this many Humming birds! I am not exaggerating when I say there must have been 50-60, maybe more, humming birds flying around our back yard this morning. I went out on the deck and took a bunch of photos of just a few of them this morning (video with more pics to be posted shortly)

 

[Gliderman8]

Cool pics. My wife got a humming bird feeder but I have yet to hang it. Your pics just motivated me to get it done.

 

[Basil]

Cool pics. My wife got a humming bird feeder but I have yet to hang it. Your pics just motivated me to get it done.

We have 5 feeders and we don't use store-bought food - we make our own, which they seem to like better.

 

[Gliderman8]

We have 5 feeders and we don't use store-bought food - we make our own, which they seem to like better.

What is your recipe for the food?

 

[Basil]

What is your recipe for the food?

I cup sugar, 4 cups water. Boil for a few minutes, then let cool. Optionally you can add a few drops of food coloring to make it look pretty. We store it in old plastic coke bottles till ready to use.

 

[Gliderman8]

Thanks bas.

 

[Basil]

I took a bunch of pictures of our humming birds this morning (a few pics are from an earlier shoot) and made a video.

Before you play the video click the little gear at the bottom-right of the YouTube video window and select 1080p for quality if it’s not already selected. Then click the little “Full-screen” icon at the bottom right of the video window. Also make sure sound is on


https://youtu.be/7H0jQxYu2qg < Click me




Enjoy.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

We have 'em here as well. But they are more territorial than the ones you pictured; mean little devils won't let another one near the feeder without chasing them off, sometimes flying right into them and you can hear them crash into each other!

 

[Basil]

We have 'em here as well. But they are more territorial than the ones you pictured; mean little devils won't let another one near the feeder without chasing them off, sometimes flying right into them and you can hear them crash into each other!

The Rufus in the first picture is the biggest bully of the group! He thinks he owns all five feeders!

 

[DavidApp]

We use the same recipe but never add red colouring as I have heard that it can harm them. The lack of red colour does not seem to slow them down. This year we have not had the numbers that er had a few years ago.
Great fun to watch.

David

I cup sugar, 4 cups water. Boil for a few minutes, then let cool. Optionally you can add a few drops of food coloring to make it look pretty. We store it in old plastic coke bottles till ready to use.

 

[DrEntropy]

Great photos!

 

[GeezerJarhead]

We have the same phenonenom here in east Texas..tons of hummers. They seem to have appeared in the last few days. The old cruddy feeder seems do be the favorite.

 

[Basil]

We have the same phenonenom here in east Texas..tons of hummers

Have they been unusually high numbers this year where you are? We have them every year, but this year seems to be more intense. (Wonder if the filers in the west / CA have anything to do with it).

 

[Mickey Richaud]

They're a bit fewer here this year, and they showed up a bit later than usual. Not sure why on either account. Guess you got 'em all...

 

[GeezerJarhead]

Those are marvelous photos...you are good. I did not expect to obtain all this entertainment when I joined the forum!! To hot to work on the TR3 in the barn today.

 

[Basil]

Those are marvelous photos...you are good. I did not expect to obtain all this entertainment when I joined the forum!! To hot to work on the TR3 in the barn today.

Thank you sir! Photography is a fun hobby (like I needed another hobby) :stupid:

 

[DrEntropy]

I did not expect to obtain all this entertainment when I joined the forum!!

y'ain't seen nothin' yet! :welcoming:

 

[Mickey Richaud]

y'ain't seen nothin' yet! :welcoming:

An' ain't DAT the trut'!

 

[DavidApp]

At 1.24 in the video it looked like a very bemused Robbin.

David

 

[pdplot]

Look like Rufous Hummingbirds. A very few show up here in the east every fall. I took my feeder down. Saw one hummer with what looked like fungus on its bill. In hot weather, you have to change the sugar water almost every day to avoid mold and fermentation. I skipped a couple of days.