A Day Full of Backyard Critters
Posted: May 13, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Gulf Coast gardening, nature photography, Hummingbird, Box Turtles, Brown Anole, backkyard critters 7 Comments
I came upon my turtle friend on my morning round through the yard. We had a nice little chat and the turtle is comfortable enough with me that it doesn’t retreat into its shell.
The hummingbird was taking turns feeding from the sugar water and flowers.
A brown Cuban anole enjoyed the day sunning on some yard art.
The best part of the day came during my afternoon tour of the yard. I found a baby box turtle scurrying away from me.
I could not resist picking up the little cutie and getting some photos wondering if my turtle friend could be its mother.
As much as I wanted to keep the baby turtle, I knew it would be better to let it go. I put it back where I found it and prayed that the baby turtle would be safe in this treacherous world.
All is Right in the World
Posted: April 22, 2024 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Amaryllis, Automatic Gardening, Caterpillar, Gulf Coast gardening, Hummingbird, Southern Gardening, Subtropical Gardening 18 Comments
At last, the garden beds are full and bursting with color.
Many of these flowers would have been blooming earlier but were knocked back by freezing weather.
Thankfully, the Amaryrillias bulb did not turn to mush and it put on a beautiful display. A second stem with buds is coming up.
A variety of caterpillars have hatched.
And the hummingbirds have come back. All is right in my backyard world.
Around the Garden
Posted: October 2, 2023 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Gulf Coast gardening, Hummingbird, nature photography, Southern Leopard Frog, Turks cap 11 Comments
Another heat thriver that I didn’t put in my last post is Turk’s Cap, which is prolifically blooming and has spread a bit.
A few short showers stimulated mushrooms to pop up.
I never paid much attention to this oak tree, but I happened to brush against a branch and found it loaded with acorns. There are going to be some very happy squirrels.
A Southern Leopard Frog parked on my back porch plant stand for a spell.
The hummingbirds are still hanging out. I thought they would be heading further south by now, but maybe the heat is keeping them here. The temperatures are still in the 90s.
Ready For My Close-up
Posted: February 28, 2022 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Backyard Critters, Hummingbird, My Kitchen Window, nature photography, Rufous Hummingbird 23 Comments
As I mentioned in my post Around the Winter Garden, a female Rufous Hummingbird has been visiting the feeder, but would not pose for photos. It has been several weeks and the little bird has gotten used to seeing me and not flying away when I am around. She was finally ready for her close-up.
First, she gave a coy glance at the camera.
Next, she hovered for a perfect profile.
And then back to the feeder and the photoshoot was over.
Busiest Bush on the Block
Posted: October 20, 2019 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, bees, coffee plants, Gardening, Green Anole, Gulf Coast gardening, Hamelia paten, Hummingbird, hummingbird bush, hummingbird moth, My Kitchen Window, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening 13 Comments
The Hummingbird Bush was literally buzzing.
There were many kinds of bees,
hummingbirds and
in the evening, Hummingbird Moths.
A Green Anole was getting into the action, hoping for a bug snack. In the Fall, the birds will eat the ripened berries.
Hamelia paten, named after Frenchman Henri Hamel, is a large shrub/small tree that is native to Mexico. It has many common names including, firebush, scarlet bush, Mexican firebush, Mexican firecracker, Texas firebush and in Mayan, Ix Canaan. In this area, we call it Hummingbird Bush. All of these names give us a good reason to learn botanical names.
The Hamelia paten is related to coffee plants and in Mexico, the fruits are fermented into a drink.
It is certainly a versatile plant that feeds many and produces bright red flowers for humans to enjoy.
Hummingbird Competition
Posted: October 5, 2018 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, Gulf Coast gardening, Hummingbird, hummingbird moth, Mournful Sphinx Moth, My Kitchen Window, nature photography, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 15 Comments________
Unbelievably, the gang of Hummingbirds are still visiting my feeders. I have never had this many Hummers for this amount of time. At times, there are up to twelve birds fighting for the sugar water. I’ve been spending my days observing the tiny birds and was watching them from my kitchen window, when an interesting scenario began playing out. I grabbed my camera and started shooting through the window.
It was early in the evening when the feeding frenzy really ramps up and a new visitor appeared. The reddish brown creature is a Hummingbird Moth, which many mistake as a baby hummingbird. I had an entomologist identify one before and its proper name is Mournful Sphinx Moth (Enyo lugbris).
At first the moth couldn’t quite figure out how the feeder worked.
Before long it found the feeder’s hole. Needless to say, the Hummingbird was not happy and it actually poked the moth. The little Hummingbird Moth was not bothered and fed until it was full.
I took a chance, went outside and managed to get a photo before the moth took off to work on the flowers.
Click on the photo and scroll down to click on full size for a better look.
Hummers Part II
Posted: September 17, 2018 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Backyard Critters, Green Anole, Gulf Coast gardening, Hummingbird, My Kitchen Window, nature photography, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate 19 Comments
A new day and the feeding frenzy has escalated. Seven or more hummingbirds have descended on the garden. Another hummer has claimed the second feeder leaving the others to fight for it.
I was watching from a window and saw the hummingbirds acting differently and went out to see what was going on. It turns out that hummers aren’t the only ones interested in the sugar water. A green anole was blocking their access.
And the birds were not happy.
The anole eventually climbed up on the stand and encroached on the hummingbird’s perch. The bird tried going after the lizard with its needle-like bill.
The anole was steadfast.
The hummingbird was not amused.
The hummer sat on its perch for a few minutes trying not to look at the lizard, while the anole may have been wondering if it could swallow the little bird.
In the end, the anole outlasted the hummers who finally met their match.
There’s Always One
Posted: September 16, 2018 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Backyard Critters, cigar plant, Cuphea ignea, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Hamelia paten, Hummingbird, hummingbird bush, nature photography, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 12 Comments
There is always one hummingbird that decides it will be the bully and guard of the food source. Hummingbirds seem like such cute little birds, but they can be very vicious to each other and even to large birds. This little bird is spending its days chasing away any creature that comes near the feeders or flowers.
Right now there are 3 to 4 hummers in the garden. That works out well when the dominate bird chases another away, the third one can grab some nectar.
My garden is filled with hummingbird friendly flowers, such as this Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea)…
and a Hummingbird Bush (Hamelia patens). Plus beds filled with nectar producing flowers in the back and front yards. Yet, it is an endless fight all day long with the bully attacking and knocking the other hummers away.
And does the bully feel bad about this at all? Ppptttthhh, the hummingbird just sticks out its tongue and continues its reign of terror.
Birding at Twilight
Posted: April 30, 2018 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: American Crow, Backyard Critters, Bald Eagle, Birdwatching, Eagle, Hummingbird, nature photography, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Summer Tanager 17 Comments
We were sitting on our patio at the end of the day, when the action started. First, a Hummingbird slap down occurred right in front of us. I swear I saw tiny feathers fly. The Hummer that hit the ground backed off to the safety of a low branch.
Then I heard a call that I haven’t heard in the backyard for awhile. I was very pleased that I recognized it was a Summer Tanager. Tanagers are not seed feeders and are harder to find in the trees. I used a trick that I learned in a birding class to lure him out. I turned on the Summer Tanager call on my bird app. Soon the bird started coming closer and buzzing us as he flew over. I managed to snap a photo, which is not great in the dimming light, but I did identify him with my binoculars. After teasing the Tanager for awhile with the bird call, we started feeling bad for the poor guy looking for another of his kind and stopped.
While all that was going on, an American Crow was having quite a fit in a neighboring yard. Usually, this means that a predator is near. I finally spotted the raptor and could make out a white head. I was hoping it was an Eagle, but it flew away quickly through the trees in the twilight with the Crow in pursuit and I couldn’t get a good look.
All in all, it was a very entertaining evening.
It’s Cold
Posted: January 3, 2018 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Automatic Gardening, Gardening, Gulf Coast gardening, Hummingbird, ice, Southern Gardening, subtropical climate, Subtropical Gardening, Year-round gardening 19 Comments
Well, what we near the Gulf Coast call cold. We had a hard freeze and I was surprised to see the hummingbird feeder frozen… complete with a drip.
Apparently, we also had sleet/freezing rain. But not to worry, it is going to be 70 degrees by Sunday.
Automatic Gardening & Real Gluten Free Food 