Costa’s Hummingbirds return to feeders in Las Vegas NV – drought and heat make it better in town

I heard that familiar high-pitched whistle. It was May 20, 2014. I was standing in my kitchen. Since the weather was still mild the window was open. I heard a faint whistle. I stopped and listened. It was repeated. I could tell it wasn’t close.

Then in the evening of May 23, 2014 I was sitting outside enjoying the peaceful quiet and watching the feeders. I have installed yet a fourth feeder. This one is on the south side of my house, close to the block wall covered with Cat’s Claw Vine. I had my camera ready.

Hummingbirds are constantly at my feeders now. Friends report that hummers with nests near their homes have already fledged out this year’s first clutch and started on the second. I am now seeing females, males and immatures at my feeders. I knew I would need my camera.

As I sat there I heard a hummer coming to the south side feeder. I aimed my camera and got an image of it. When I looked at the results I could see it was a male Costa’s hummingbird. So I was right about hearing his whistle earlier.

Costa's male hovering next to my new feeder.

Then a female, or immature, I don’t know which, came to the feeder on the west side and I was able to snap a picture of her as well. I can see a little color on the throat, but I can’t be sure as to its ID.

This morning, as I was coming home from walking my dogs at 6 a.m., I heard the Costa’s whistle. This time it was loud and clear and only a short distance away. He repeated it again and again. I wonder if he’s planning to take over the place again.

I have not seen as many species this year as I did last spring. Again, I can only wonder. Is it because I had my feeders up all winter?  I may have a group of resident hummers that have made my house part of their feeding territory, not leaving room for the migrants. Or is it just because I am not seeing all the birds that come to the feeders?

I can’t tell. I can only watch and keep my camera handy.

Hummer at the west side feeder.

I did have one visitor that I hadn’t seen before. This was a second-year male Scott’s Oriole. He came to my new feeder for two days. I heard his sweet song once. I didn’t get a picture of him then, but I thought I would have plenty of opportunities. Wrong. He left and I haven’t seen him since. I can only wonder if, as a non-breeding male, he was just wandering through, checking out the territory to see if it might be a good spot to settle in next year. I still hope to see him again, only this time I will grab the camera fast!

Brave Hummingbird in Las Vegas NV –checking out the whole place with great care

                She is one brave hummer without a doubt. The first time I was aware of her she was hovering six inches from my face just looking at me. I was standing at the open door of the patio when this little female hummer, not an Anna’s since she had not drop of color on her throat, flew up to me and just hovered there looking at me. She moved slight from one side to the other to get a better look. I was rooted to the spot acting like a mannequin so as not to frighten her away. Then she flew off and went about her business. If I’d just had Google glass I could have recorded it all!

                That was earlier in the week. Hummers have been far more prevalent at my feeder since the first of May. I believe the summer residents are moving back. I have not been able to get a good enough look at the new males to identify the species, but some of them appear much larger than our Anna’s.

                This one female, I can only assume it’s the same one, seems to be fascinated by my place. This morning I watched her checking out the patio again. I have all my plants out now, as the weather is warmer, and she was looking around at them. I wondered if she was searching for the small flying insects attracted to the green foliage. She didn’t seem to mind that I was standing at the open door watching her. She just flew from one spot to another looking here and looking there. Then off she went.

When she first landed on the wind chime at the front door she was facing out.

                Early afternoon, about 2, I was sitting in the living room reading when I heard a bird chattering close by. The front door was open to let the fresh breezes in through the locked security door. I grabbed the binoculars and went to see if I could spot the bird. I found I didn’t need them. It was a female hummer, probably they same one, checking out my front door. Then she landed on the wind chime that I have outside the door. I quickly went back and exchanged the binoculars for the camera, hoping she‘d stay for awhile.

Then the wind blew the chime around and now she had a different perspective on the entry way.

                When I got back to the door she was still sitting there. The wind was turning the wind chime from one angle to another, but it didn’t bother her. She just sat there and observed the world around her from the different vantage points offered by the wind. I was able to take five pictures of her in one minute. They were all through the mesh of the screen, but fortunately only once did the camera try focusing on the screen rather than the hummer.

A girl still needs to watch for her opportunity, an insect may fly by at any time.

                Since this is a female, I can’t help but wonder if she plans to nest in the neighborhood. Or at least stay around until the more aggressive hummers come back for the summer. Whatever, I am just delighted to have her visiting with such interest. It’s always good to entertain a welcome visitor.

My front entry form outside looking in, without the addition of the hummer.