I got a clear one this year that I prefer it over my others , you can keep an eye on the nectar better , see if it is cloudy or something is floating in it.

Margaret and Ann, I never would have thought about using a mascara brush for cleaning the ports of the feeder; great idea and at only a buck from the dollar store ... great tip!

Kurt: That looks like a nice port and bee guard brush, nice length and I see a brush at both ends.

Margaret, I hadn't heard of Dr JB's feeders, looks very interesting and I think I might just order one to try it along with my Hummzingers. I really like the idea that it can be put in the dishwasher! http://www.drjbs.com/ This appears to be an old write up about the Dr JB's feeder but very interesting: http://www.hummingbirds.net/dr...

Lin, the humzingers can be put in the D/W too. I did mine a few times but really, I find it just as easy to wash them by hand & get them right back out there rather than wait an hour on the dishwasher.

Ann, thanks for telling me that; I was afraid to put the plastic Hummzinger in the dishwasher because I was worried that maybe the heat would melt it and make a big mess.

I was out with the dogs a little while ago and spotted a Red-shouldered Hawk in a pine tree down the road but around 8 O'clock this morning I heard the loud calls of the Sandhill Cranes and grabbed my camera to go out front to see if I could spot them. There was a pair just turning the corner at a neighbors house and both were making their loud rattling calls (you can hear it on this page: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/...). I had no idea that their lifespan was up to 20 years! http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabit...

Finally !!! I actually caught something eating from the up side down suet feeder I made. (not counting the 3 starling I saw when I had it hanging right side up or the little woodpecker I scared off by accident yesterday which wasn't actually on it ) it has been hanging up since july 29th and they have already eaten 1 suet cake , the starlings ate a 1/3 of that before I turned it up side down again.

Oh, I love your upside down suet feeder and what a cute little Carolina Wren!

Here's a few more from me today. I've screwed up my camera settings again .. either that or my cataracts are getting worse, which I know they are ... I really need to quit procrastinating and make an appointment to get them removed. I took pictures anyway and will upload those that aren't so bad. With the site changes, we currently can't click and go from picture to picture but Dave will eventually be fixing that feature so it works again.

The hawks were around again this afternoon ... appeared to be a juvenile that perched in one tree while an adult was flying around and eventually landed in another pine. The juvenile sat on the branch for over an hour, calling and calling.

Red-shouldered Hawk
[

Northern Cardinal


Mourning Dove

not only did he come back today , he was chasing a 2nd hummer away a couple times. He even considered chasing his own reflection in the french doors away twice. so I hung a feeder out front again for the 2nd hummer.

I don't know why, but every time I am around a kookaburra, I am glad I am not smaller than it.

I would remove the little port tips if you put your hummmzinger in the dishwasher. It just takes me a few minutes to clean mine up. Not a big deal. I also have 3. The benefit for me was the raccoons can't drain them. Every other feeder I tried the raccoons emptied them every night or tore them apart.

I only saw one hummer yesterday. Have not seen one yet today. I usually leave one up until November for any late travelers.

And now I have the kookaburra song in my head.

No wonder kookaburras are merry merry kings of the bushes...be. Very cool bird.

Glen, your kookaburra is masterful!

Kurt, beautiful shots of the hummer!!

Gleni, That Kookaburra is so cute!

Kookaburra is imposing looking. I would be very afraid if I were smaller than it!

Kurt the hummie photos are great.

Lin, I can't see where the settings were messed up; your photos are great as always.

He does have a strong looking beak and on top of that, a punk hairdo, too. How big are they actually, Glen?

Great photo, btw. He really was checking you out with the beady eyes!

from the Maryland Zoo in 2007

Cool pictures, Kurt.

They are very big, Elaine, 19 inches.

Gleni said:Cool pictures, Kurt.

They are very big, Elaine, 19 inches.

Kurt.

WOW! 19 inches??!!! WOW!