Al Hansen
Well-known member
While out very early in the morning, yesterday, I saw this female black-chinned hummer. By the time I was finished photographing her I decided to call her the "pollinator". Her head and beak was covered with pollen. In one of the pics you will see how she flat dove into one of the orange trumpet flowers----head first. It was fun to witness.
Shortly after the hummer left, I had close to 30 quail come to the pond for their morning drinks. There were two coveys in this large group and from the looks of them about a week separated them in hatching time. We have had a good year in our area for the Gambel's quail. They seem to have done well.
In most of these shots the only adult you will see is one of the males. The other male along with the two females saw me and took some of the youngsters with them into the brush.
Later in the morning around 9:00, Bev and I loaded the Mule and headed west for 20 minutes. I decided to look for a spot to cut firewood. We ended up spotting a black bear, which in turn made us take another route. While out there the clouds came rolling in (it is our monsoon season) and we left post haste. At that altitude, 7,500 to 8,000 feet where we were, it is way too dangerous.
When we got home I took this shot of the area we had just left. It had already started to rain---actually it was pouring in that region.
Mt. Baldy is that peak on the left of the area where it is raining. Four scientists were driving down from the Magdalena Ridge Observatory when they encountered a mud slide that closed down the road. They said on the news last night that hopefully by Monday everything would be cleaned up.
In the evening I decided to try and take some shots of the Rufous hummingbird. The males leave first, just like bluewing teal, and head south. These little guys have been in the northern parts of our continent including southeastern Alaska and Canada. In the spring they migrate north along the Pacific Ocean. In the late summer they migrate south on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.
It has taken this male exactly one day to commandeer one of our feeders. He will allow no other hummer to drink from it. I guess we have about 50 hummers now and the three feeders are beginning to be used. For those of you who have only the Ruby-throated hummingbird, the Rufous is much like them. "VERY" territorial!
We will have these guys for about a month before they take off for Mexico and Central America. In about two weeks the females and youngsters will begin showing up.
What a brilliant orange gorget it has.
I have to admit that Bev and I sure had allot of fun yesterday. Glad I took a nap!
Al
Shortly after the hummer left, I had close to 30 quail come to the pond for their morning drinks. There were two coveys in this large group and from the looks of them about a week separated them in hatching time. We have had a good year in our area for the Gambel's quail. They seem to have done well.
In most of these shots the only adult you will see is one of the males. The other male along with the two females saw me and took some of the youngsters with them into the brush.
Later in the morning around 9:00, Bev and I loaded the Mule and headed west for 20 minutes. I decided to look for a spot to cut firewood. We ended up spotting a black bear, which in turn made us take another route. While out there the clouds came rolling in (it is our monsoon season) and we left post haste. At that altitude, 7,500 to 8,000 feet where we were, it is way too dangerous.
When we got home I took this shot of the area we had just left. It had already started to rain---actually it was pouring in that region.
Mt. Baldy is that peak on the left of the area where it is raining. Four scientists were driving down from the Magdalena Ridge Observatory when they encountered a mud slide that closed down the road. They said on the news last night that hopefully by Monday everything would be cleaned up.
In the evening I decided to try and take some shots of the Rufous hummingbird. The males leave first, just like bluewing teal, and head south. These little guys have been in the northern parts of our continent including southeastern Alaska and Canada. In the spring they migrate north along the Pacific Ocean. In the late summer they migrate south on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.
It has taken this male exactly one day to commandeer one of our feeders. He will allow no other hummer to drink from it. I guess we have about 50 hummers now and the three feeders are beginning to be used. For those of you who have only the Ruby-throated hummingbird, the Rufous is much like them. "VERY" territorial!
We will have these guys for about a month before they take off for Mexico and Central America. In about two weeks the females and youngsters will begin showing up.
What a brilliant orange gorget it has.
I have to admit that Bev and I sure had allot of fun yesterday. Glad I took a nap!
Al
