Author Archives: john

Late summer hummingbird report (update)

johngregsite Posted on by
Image hummingbird feeder

Since a week ago when a storm barreled through and knocked down our feeder and pole, the evidence of birds has been scant. The homemade syrup mix was re-freshed on Saturday. Since then, only one bird has been seen feeding. The usual volume of activity in the nearby wild flower weeds has also been minimal. I have seen a couple while walking in the woods. The level of syrup in the feeder has not materially changed this week. It is true that the amount of observation time has diminished with earlier sunsets and the bothersome requirement to go to work. (I have converted to a three-day work week now, so more objective data collection is more likely.) Weather has changed; we are now at 50s overnight. At the same time, the activity of the bees seems to have increased.

I have read that we should have activity at least through Sept. and usually into October. Have they started an early annual migration? Is my syrup this week not any good?

Text on hummingbird migration
From an unknown source via brother Tom
Image hummingbird at feeder
Today about noon!

We spotted a bird today at the feeder; this is the best shot I could get (Iphone). Based on the research that says the birds are probably starting to head south from our area but any birds that went to, say, Canada or Labrador! , they may be visiting us on their way south now?

Feathers in the meadow

johngregsite Posted on by
Image large dark feather

While on a patrol to the far bog last week or so, we found this large feather in a meadow near the bog. Some cursory research did not come up with any identity of the source specie.

Image feathers in the grass
Image feathers in the grass

Proceeding along the meadow, we came across this substantial collection of feathers indicating some fairly large bird ended up here, literally.

For scale, these are 9 inches or more in length. We have speculated they may be turkey but the volume and size of these feathers suggest at least a big bird, or more than one?

We did not examine the high grass underneath the feathers, or the surrounding area, for other remnants; the Murphy did not seem to think there was much here, aromatically speaking, I guess.