Watching the little hummingbirds come to sit and sip at the feeder I put out among the flowers has given me no small amount of pleasure during this past summer. I love their tiny size and the intensity of their color. I love the way their wings move in a blur of speed. I love their dainty long beaks made especially for sipping nectar. I even felt like their protector at times, such as the day I caught the praying mantis sitting as still as death on the feeder, waiting for one of my pretties to come by to be his next meal.
The weather has been getting noticeably cooler here and leaves have started to change color. With the changing seasons, I knew it was time for the hummingbirds to migrate south. Since this is the last week of September I knew they would been packing their bags for their southward journey most any day. Because of the cooler weather, when I saw the feeder was empty on Friday I thought little of it.
Saturday morning as I leisurely sipped my coffee and scanned Pinterest at the kitchen counter, I heard a tap, tap, tapping at the window. Turning to see who or what needed my attention outside, I was amazed to see one of my elusive friends tapping on the window. Because this had never happened before, I can only assume the little bird wanted to let me know the feeder just outside the window was empty. Maybe these birds aren’t so shy after all, maybe being speedy is just their nature, or perhaps they have always flown away from me quickly because they don’t like being photographed.
I immediately went out and filled the feeder and the hummingbirds came for a sweet treat. Could be they were needing breakfast before they started on their long journey. Or maybe they just wanted to say goodbye after a wonderful summer.
I love my hummingbirds, too, but I've never had one communicate with me. Cute post.
Lillian
We live a bit over 3,300 feet elevation in northern Arizona. All summer we have plenty of hummingbird visitors and each winter we have one that winters over. Snow, cold, no matter what it stays. I keep a feeder out all winter and bring out the support feeders in the spring and summer months. They can get a bit nasty when they vie for feeder space so it seems to keep peace among them.
Oh how sweet! I've giggled with delight reading your post Anita – what a special 'connection' you must have made with these special creations of God. I'm sure they'll know where to go to get fed when they return 'home' again. Get hunkered down…winter is on its way, but oh how I love the changing colors too, for now.
JMD – That's amazing! I'll keep my feeder out just in case I have a winter guest.
You've gone to the birds" and what a delightful bird to join groups with. I say every year that I am going to start feeding those little birds but I have yet to do it. I think that little guy wanted a good breakfast before leaving town, but he will be back next year. I love feeding the birds and enjoy watching them from a couple of windows in the house. Hope you foot is doing better and you are up and about very soon. Just spent a week in Houston Ms Morgan got married. Loved the weather but all the other northern folks were ready to leave the heat and humidity. I froze all day yesterday Its getting "cold" in Maine in the early morning hours. Have a great day Andi
That will be great, we can see ours sit on the bare branches. We think he is the welcoming party for those that come in the spring. Each year it is a different hummingbird that stays through the winter. Be sure and post if one does winter, when I lived in Oregon we had one that stayed all winter also. Eh? Who knew?
I loved reading about your little tap, tap, tap hummingbird. Am thinking that my little hummingbirds have moved on for the season, as I haven't seen any of them in the past couple of weeks. I will be planting zinnias for them again next year. They are such a joy to watch.
I love humming birds, however, I have some that come to a bush right by my porch and get very close to my ear. Scare me to death!
Anita, this is so sweet. I love to watch "my" birds, so this was very meaningful to me. I love that you got a little visitor to remind you, "Hello, we're needin' some breakfast out here!" Priceless.
I don't get as many hummingbirds as I do cardinals, mockingbirds, and robins. This is kind of off-topic, but watching birds made me thing of how much I love to watch fireflies in the spring…or as we used to call them, lightnin' bugs. 🙂
Love, Joy
Yesterfood
Congratulations.. I saw that your chili won first prize at Miz Helen's country Cottage!