Birds, Birding, and Hummingbirds (Colorado Springs, Pueblo: top, camera, fish)

[mtngigi]

So a few days ago, I had the pleasure of witnessing a hummingbird sitting perfectly still for quite some time on the perch of one of my feeders - I'm pretty sure it must have been taking a little nap. It was just so interesting and fun getting to watch a hummingbird at rest for more than half a second.

[rochester_veteran]

Originally Posted by mtngigi

So a few days ago, I had the pleasure of witnessing a hummingbird sitting perfectly still for quite some time on the perch of one of my feeders - I'm pretty sure it must have been taking a little nap. It was just so interesting and fun getting to watch a hummingbird at rest for more than half a second.

In my place back in the western Rochester, NY suburbs, my wife and I had a hummingbird feeder and so did our next door neighbor and she grew sunflowers. There was a woods in back of us and it was the perfect combination for attracting hummingbirds, goldfinches and bluebirds! The goldfinches would perch upside down on the sunflowers and feed on the seeds. Hummingbirds can get nasty with each other and the alphas dive bomb other hummingbirds near the feeders. One time my wife was sitting out in the backyard and an alpha dive bombed another hummingbird and it got knocked to the ground! My wife scooped up the downed hummingbird and held it in the palm of her hand, it was stunned but still alive. She laid it on the patio table and had to go inside for something. Shortly later when she checked on the hummingbird, it was gone and must have come to its senses and flew off. She said it was so cool holding that hummingbird in the palm of her hand!

[mtngigi]

Originally Posted by rochester_veteran

In my place back in the western Rochester, NY suburbs, my wife and I had a hummingbird feeder and so did our next door neighbor and she grew sunflowers. There was a woods in back of us and it was the perfect combination for attracting hummingbirds, goldfinches and bluebirds! The goldfinches would perch upside down on the sunflowers and feed on the seeds. Hummingbirds can get nasty with each other and the alphas dive bomb other hummingbirds near the feeders. One time my wife was sitting out in the backyard and an alpha dive bombed another hummingbird and it got knocked to the ground! My wife scooped up the downed hummingbird and held it in the palm of her hand, it was stunned but still alive. She laid it on the patio table and had to go inside for something. Shortly later when she checked on the hummingbird, it was gone and must have come to its senses and flew off. She said it was so cool holding that hummingbird in the palm of her hand!

I might have wanted to keep it as a pet ... just kidding. It would be fun to see one that up close.

I want to try one of those finger-ring feeders - supposedly they'll come right up to your hand to sip the nectar. Curious as to whether they'll really do that, but it would be fun to find out.

[rochester_veteran]

Originally Posted by mtngigi

I might have wanted to keep it as a pet ... just kidding. It would be fun to see one that up close.

I want to try one of those finger-ring feeders - supposedly they'll come right up to your hand to sip the nectar. Curious as to whether they'll really do that, but it would be fun to find out.

That hummingbird visited us again and again that summer and would hover in front of us under our sunshade!

[Techy02]

Colorado has boatloads of hummingbirds. They are like swarms of bees at times at my house

[beezle1]

Just heard and then spotted Sandhill Cranes flying over the Palmer Divide.

[mtngigi]

Originally Posted by beezle1

Just heard and then spotted Sandhill Cranes flying over the Palmer Divide.

Cool. I've never seen them en masse; saw one once, flying fairly low over Fountain Creek in Manitou.

Now I'm just really missing the hummingbirds that kept me entertained all summer.

[beezle1]

Originally Posted by mtngigi

Cool. I've never seen them en masse; saw one once, flying fairly low over Fountain Creek in Manitou.

I always hear them before I see them. They fly WAY up high and are hard to spot.

[mtngigi]

Originally Posted by beezle1

I always hear them before I see them. They fly WAY up high and are hard to spot.

It may have been an egret (heron) I saw. It definitely was flying low (and fast) over the creek.

[otowi]

Originally Posted by mtngigi

It may have been an egret (heron) I saw. It definitely was flying low (and fast) over the creek.

The Egrets we get here are white. If it was a grayish bird, it was likely a Great Blue Heron. But they're not usually noted for being 'fast'.