Monthly Archives: July 2008

Hummingbird activity

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The female Ruby-throated Hummingbird was in the backyard this morning nectaring on Swamp Milkweed. A second hummer flew in, either an immature male or another female. This means that there are at least three of them in the area. There was some aggression and chasing. I’m not sure which won the scuffle.

The cannas in the front yard have been blooming for several weeks, but I rarely monitor the front so don’t know whether those are being used for nectar. That should change, though, after I move them to the back (to accommodate the scaffolding that will be going up—tuckpointing, oh joy).

This is the first summer I’ve seen hummingbirds in the yard outside of migration. One showed up at the feeder in June, and there’s been one off and on (more off than on, but still…) since then. Very exciting.

A rainy day in late July

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As Chuck said in reply to my complaint that I had so much to do I didn’t know where to start, “Then it doesn’t matter where you start.” I’m not completely persuaded he’s right about that, but I guess that starting here after an eight-month hiatus is as good as anyplace.

I haven’t done much birding for quite a while, but have seen creatures of interest from the kitchen window and have had a couple of additions to the yard bird list. The most recent was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that flew over the yard and landed in the Silver Maple next door, as it happens, on a branch that overhangs our yard.

Yesterday evening we were treated to two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a male and a female, visiting the feeder and various garden blooms. They tolerated each other well, even to the extent of perching at the same time one the tomato cage nearest the feeder. It’s not too late for another brood…

The yard flora have gotten ridiculously out of hand—some of the Sweet Coneflower clumps are five-plus feet across, and the New England Aster, Swamp Milkweed, Common Milkwed, Wild Senna, and Sweet Coneflower are taller than I am.

There have been very few butterflies in the yard this year. Very few in Forest Park, too. I did manage to get a few photos of a spectacular dark Tiger Swallowtail female and of a battered Great Spangled Fritillary (a yard first)—you can visit my gallery at NABA St. Louis for a look.