Tag Archives: Allen’s Hummingbird

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Ron Bolander was talking with a friend, his camera in hand, when this small hummingbird landed in a bush bathed in sunlight. Quickly Ron took this picture of the extremely handsome male Allen's Hummingbird.

Such beauty! Their calls, however, are buzzy and they make a sound like a bumblebee with their feathers. You can listen to their calls here, at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Allens_Hummingbird/sounds

Here's a fun fact from the Cornell site:

"Like other birds, Allen's Hummingbirds use their feet to help control their body temperature. When it's cold outside they tuck their feet up against their bellies while flying, but when temperatures soar, they let their feet dangle to cool down."

I think we might need binoculars to see their tiny feet in flight!

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share  his photo with you here.

Very foggy today at the coast though the fog is lifting in the afternoon.

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To celebrate the first day of May, here is a photo alive with color. The sun shone on this little hummingbird and Ron Bolander was ready with his camera - a beautiful male Allen's Hummingbird in full display.

Allen's Hummingbirds migrate up the California Coast and about halfway up the Oregon Coast to mate. The female will then choose her nesting site and raise her chicks. Some might choose the Mendonoma Coast!

Here's a fun fact from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: "Allen's Hummingbirds use their feet to help control their body temperature. When it's cold outside they tuck their feet up against their bellies while flying, but when temperatures soar, they let their feet dangle to cool down."

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Windy here again today, but a trifle less. Warm too, temps in the low 70's.

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Michael Reinhart trained his camera on a beautiful male Anna's Hummingbird. As the sunlight shone on the little bird, the iridescent colors were revealed.

Mike also photographed a male Allen's Hummingbird, the feisty cousin of the Anna's.

Allen's Hummingbirds numbers are in decline, whereas the Anna's seem to be thriving.

Thanks to Mike for giving us these close-up views of these vibrant hummers.

A beautiful, sunny day on the Mendonoma coast today. Windy on the bluffs with lots of white caps on the ocean. Mary Heibel met me at the Point Arena Lighthouse gates and showed me a wildflower I hadn't seen before, Wallflowers. More on them in another post!

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Paul Brewer trained his camera on a Allen's Hummingbird feeding on his Pride of Madeira plant. Allen's Hummingbirds are migrating through our area.

Paul also photographed our year-round hummingbird, an Anna's Hummingbird. I believe there is a drop of nectar on this hummer's beak.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share these photos with you  here. It's not easy to photograph hummingbirds as their wings beat so fast! To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

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Grace O'Malley captured this charming sight, an Allen's Hummingbird with yellow pollen on her beak.

Grace O’Malley wrote, “I learned something fun in the Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior – ‘Each flower species deposits pollen in a specific place on a Hummingbird’s head to increase the chance that birds visiting the same species of flower will cross-pollinate the flowers.’ In the case of this little hummer, our Mexican Sage deposited yellow pollen on the top of her bill.”

Here are two more photos Grace took of this feisty hummingbird who migrates through the Mendonoma coast in the spring and again in the autumn.

Thanks to Grace for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

We are having a warm, clear day here on the coast. Perfect for whatever nature experiences call to you!