Date: 10/09/2023

Number: 2

We currently have 2 Rubies. I am 99% certain at this point that all of our resident hummingbirds have headed south and we are now hosting travelers.

For the last few days, it appears that they are only feeding from the flowers and not the feeders. I'm also rather convinced that the flowers are what draws them in as they are passing through.

One of the 2 was very curious about both me and the water hose today and flew right up to me. No squeaking at me, as my resident birds do. I thought, perhaps, that she wanted to bathe in the stream as so many of mine do in the summer and I held it up for her, but she wasn't quite ready. I did run a sprinkler just a bit later, as it has been quite dry here and many of the birds, not just hummers, love to play in the sprinklers.

I'm now maintaining 6 feeders and we still have a lot of flowers that I'm keeping well watered so that they will last as long as possible. We got down to 39 degrees last night, but we'll be warming up again, for which I'm thankful for. I'm also still seeing some monarchs and a fair number of bumblebees. They don't like th chilly mornings and it's cute to watch them wake up on the flowers once the sunlight hits them.

I'm keeping a close watch out for our travelers and also for Raphy, our male Rufous that wintered with us last year. He showed up October 22nd, just a bit after the last of the Ruby throated stragglers passed through.

Please keep your feeders up, clean and fresh, through October at least, as there are still a decent number of travelers out there who need them. And as always, God speed to all our migrating friends. ❤️ Our Catbirds and even many of our Brown Thrashers have also headed south. I'm also on the lookout for our many feathered friends who spend the winter with us.

Kernersville, NC

Latitude: 36.1 Longitude: -80.1

Observed by: Sophie
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.