@orchidgal Elfie, I had problems attracting hummingbirds for years ... at first I though maybe it was because I had so many seed feeders out and that the hummers didn't like all the activity of the other birds. I also would put out three or four nectar feeders for the hummers and there were always numerous flowers in bloom but nada hummers came to visit. When I began inquiring about what type of feeders folks were using and someone mentioned the Humzinger like in my photo and Meridith's photo above ... my husband bought me 2 at amazon.com and the hummingbirds have been coming ever since! I still have four other types of hummer feeders but they don't touch them so I finally took them down ... they love the Humzinger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CSH7VA/

Meridith, Wow ... there sure was a hummingbird war at that feeder on Friday, loved the video!

@orchidgal I use the Hummzinger feeder also. And a couple of weeks may not be enough time for them to find you. You may need to give it more time. It is a bit of a commitment but so worth it....IMO!

This juvie oriole was enjoying some blueberries that I put out for the birds.

Yes, you have to give them time.

Blue Jay


Hummingbirds

I wish we had Blue Jay's in Tucson. Beautiful photo, Lin. Of the Hummingbirds as well!

Yes, I really love that blue jay photo too Lin. Not that the hummies are shabby but there's just a certain something about the jay.

Lin - Great shots! Love that hummer! I haven't seen mine since the first sighting. My guess is that I am just missing seeing her.

The Blue Jay was laying on it's side in the leaf debris ... not sure why birds do that but I've seen it before. I did learn a number of years ago about birds flailing around in the sand (sand bath) to rid their feathers of mites etc. but I don't know why this one was in the leaves ... it appeared to be a juvenile Jay so maybe it's still learning.

I've seen birds do it too. They must be doing the same as chickens. We call it 'anting' when the chickens will lay on or in the ground with their feathers spread. Like you said Lin, they do it to get rid of mites or whatever bugs. It is a strange thing to see, sometimes my chickens will do the same thing on the hot cement, like sun bathers. lol!

American Crow .......................................... Hummingbird


Anhinga perched on a tree stump in a neighbors yard, preening it's feathers

plantladylin said:The Blue Jay was laying on it's side in the leaf debris ... not sure why birds do that but I've seen it before. I did learn a number of years ago about birds flailing around in the sand (sand bath) to rid their feathers of mites etc. but I don't know why this one was in the leaves ... it appeared to be a juvenile Jay so maybe it's still learning.

Margaret has some photos (great photos) of her Stellar's Jays laying out like that. She knows what they're doing but I forgot what she said.
@mcash70

Oh good ... I was hoping someone would know why wild birds would do such a thing. The first time I saw it happen was @ 12 years ago at our other house and I thought the bird was sick and possibly dying but like the Jay yesterday, once I walked towards it, it took off up into the tree.

I let the dog out a few minutes ago and when he took off out the door he startled a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers that were in a Palm Tree in the yard. One took off while the other flew to the Cypress tree. I see and hear these big WP's quite often but they rarely hang out long enough for me to get photos. This one stayed long enough for me to get at least get one picture.

for your Pileated!

Dark gloomy and rain for 2 days now....but got these as bad as they are!

Hummingbird....I tried to determine if the right eye is injured on this one.





Another hummer


Red- bellied Woodpeckers






Gray Catbirds...boy we have of catbirds this year!!


Not a bird, but our neighborhood doe....she ate almost all of my lily buds. But I forgive her. I am standing out on my front porch

Pretty sure I see the eye there Claudia. Love the catbirds!! Pretty doe, she looks quite healthy.

Great shots Claudia! My eyes aren't very good anymore and I've been having vision issues lately but that little hummingbird looks to have an injured/damaged eye to me too, it looks like it's eye is sunken in. Love those Red-bellied's, that juvenile in your second shot is adorable! I'd love to have the Gray Catbirds visit here year round but we only see them in the winter and spring. the Doe ... she is sooo pretty!

Ducks on a state park lake near here...

@mellielong ...(Thanks for the heads up Mellie)

Oh, and pretty ducks they are too!

I've noticed quite a few juvenile birdies around here lately. The Mockingbirds always build nests in the shrubbery in my next door neighbors yard and the adult Mockers seem to be constantly chasing crows from the area lately.

Northern Mockingbird, juvenile ............... Northern Cardinal, juvenile:

These are from a few days ago. Did not get the camera focused real good!




I have very small tomato cages surrounding my phlox. The deer was eating it and had it down to about 6 inches! So I put the cages around to discourage her. The phlox is recovering & the hummers perch on them from time to time.

So I wonder who lives here? I have never seen any birds go in or out but as I passed it today I could hear the little ones softly cheeping. Someone has been nesting here.