Ruler of the feeder

It's hummingbird season again.  The males are staking their territory and chasing off anyone who dares eat from their feeder.  

 

Hmmmmm

We're starting to see hummingbirds back at the feeders.  This little lady kept one eye on me while she was checking out the feeder.

 

Sunbathing

 I took this a few weeks ago before the hummingbirds all left on their migration.  It looks like the bird is hurt, but it's sunbathing.  They lie on the ground with their wings out looking dead in the hot sun.  Then they just get up and fly away.  We've seen other birds-robins, cardinals, brown thrashers doing this but this was the only time we saw a little hummingbird sunbathing.

Hummer

This little hummingbird was checking out each spire of lobelia.

 

Protector

 This little girl is the guard for our hummingbird feeder.  She watches and chases off any other hummers.  She's very vigilant.

Hummer

She didn't have a red throat, but I'm pretty sure she's a Ruby Throated hummingbird.

She was very curious about us, and hovered and watched for quite a while.

Hummer

This little hummingbird was checking me out, or maybe posing for the picture.

Ruby Throat

We left our hummingbird feeder out for a long time before we got any visitors.  And then this little guy decided it belonged to him.  He sat in the tree and guarded it from any other hummers.  Late summer, he left and all the lady hummingbirds took over.