Hummies are here!

They are back in full force. We have swarms of very demanding hummingbirds zooming all over the yard. A few have been here since early June, but now that the day lilies are in full bloom, they are flying everywhere. I'm going through about a whole feeder every day. We've set up one near the barn door to lure the silly ones out when they get stuck in the barn. So far, it's worked and nobody's been hurt inside.

wow....i've never seen more than one at a time! (in fact,i've only seen ONE hummingbird i my life!) i never thought they'd get stuck in the barn and not know how to get out! i guess they can smell the sugar or whatever is in the feeder?

Brad reported the hummers were back here about a month ago, but I've yet to spot one this year so far. I've never seen more than one at a time either.

I haven't seen any this year either...

i think they're all over there visiting the horses:) maybe when they're done with their barn vacation they'll come flit over to the rest of us;)

I haven't seen any here yet either.

They must be hiding here. Swarms I tell you. They are going to the Rose of Sharon plants and the day lilies. They go to the feeders and then hide in the crepe myrtle trees. Maybe there are so many because we have so many yummy plants. My yard is just bursting with giant orange/red day lilies. The Rose of Sharon and crepe myrtle are deep pink. Hummies love those colors. It's also very quiet here with very few things to chase them away. I hardly ever saw any when I lived in town. It was a miracle if I saw one in the summer.

You are so lucky to have so many lil hummers to watch right outside your window! I envy you!

One was right next to me. I was standing at the barn door, and a little boy bird was humming at the feeder. He didn't seem to mind that I was there. I just stayed still while he ate and then I moved after he left.

I had alot finally at the last house and have not seen any this year- I will set up the feeders next spring and see what happens I miss them much

Not too late to set up feeders this year. I think the babies have hatched and fledged around us and that's why I'm seeing so many now. The earlier summer wasn't as active. Now, they are having the feeder battles. The males chase each other all over just to come back and share all 4 or 5 holes at the feeder. They are fun to watch.

Well, I just got home from work (came home sick with a doggone summer cold), let the dogs out the back door, and scared away my very first hummer of the year. That means that they are back now though, so I'm going to make up a fresh batch of nectar and hope to see more over the next few days.

I'm sure that hummer will be back if you had a feeder in the yard, it will just make sure the dogs are not outside in the yard for their first few visits. After that I don't think the dogs will bother them, they'll have figured out they can't reach them up there at the feeder.

I made sure to fill the seed feeders with fresh stuff too, so that they will see the activity of the other birds there. My mom and brother also saw their first hummer yesterday, so they must just be late in arriving this year.

Maybe they were hanging around in Becky's yard and barn a bit until our weather cleared up!

I'll bet they've been up there for a while. They tend to be reclusive while they build their nests and have their babies. Once the babies are fledged (and the flowers are in full bloom), the hummies attack! I'll bet you see more in your yard Fisshy. They are brave. Doggies won't scare them for long.

For their size they sure are bold!

Fisshy wrote:I had alot finally at the last house and have not seen any this year- I will set up the feeders next spring and see what happens I miss them much

the day I wrote that hubby saw one come up to the empty feeder- so I made a batch and havent seen one LOL

maybe that one hit some flowers but will be back once he finds out you've got stuff in your feeder:)

It sure doesn't take them long to find a full feeder. Mine were cheeping at the window today because they had drained one of the feeders. Once I filled it, they were swarming around. They have been ignoring the one by the barn. I put that there in case somebody gets stuck in the barn. They fly to the feeder, which is right outside the door. Then, they are free. We haven't had any tragic trappings since we set up this way.

There is a big Rose of Sharon right outside the kitchen window here, and that's where I have seen our hummies this year. They have to compete with the bumblebees there, though.

I have yet to spot one though some people I know have said they've seen them.

I think Rose of Sharon is one of hummies' favorite flowers. Ours are almost finished blooming. The crepe myrtle is still out, and seems to be a second choice. The feeders are definitely getting a workout.

Do you have a feeder out, Fiff?

I am not getting anyone at my feeder, I am bummed

No feeder, but there are several at my mom's building and I've yet to spot one there either. That's where Brad said he saw one last month. He hasn't seen one since but we know they're around, the feeder keeps getting emptied.

I didn't know hummie's cheeped, I've never heard a sound from them except that loud hum from their wings.