Siegfried Matull couldn't believe his eyes. He was photographing a Bumblebee feeding at one of his hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water when an Allen's Hummingbird flew up and joined the Bumblebee!
Sometimes there is peace on earth, if only for a moment at a feeder! Thanks to Siegfried for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Allen's and Rufous Hummingbirds look so similar that sometimes even the most experienced birder can't tell one from the other. I've been advised to just call them Selasphorus Hummingbirds and I'll always be right. Siegfried Matull recently photographed what he believes is an Allen's Hummingbird. Whatever you call them, they sure are beautiful!
These feisty, slightly smaller Hummingbirds migrate through the Mendonoma Coast in the spring and again in fall. They fight with our year round Anna's Hummingbirds, darting here and there like kamakazi pilots. When my chives are in bloom, one of these beauties likes to feed on the purple blossoms.
Thanks to Siegfried for allowing me to share his photo with you here.
Yes, it is nearly impossible to tell an Allen's Hummingbird from a Rufous Hummingbird. I've been advised to say it's a Selasphorus and then I can't go wrong. Paul Brewer photographed one of these beauties feeding on a Pride of Madera bush at his Gualala home.
Hummingbirds - they are living jewels that visit our gardens. Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his exquisite photos with you here.
Beth Petit caught it with her camera otherwise I'm not sure I would have believed it! Our year 'round Anna's Hummingbirds have been fighting off the migrant Allen's and Rufous Hummingbirds that have been coming through the Mendonoma Coast recently. But Beth caught an Allen's and an Anna's sharing a feeder.
But it looks like in this second photo that the Anna's just might have noticed there was an intruder at "his" feeder. Watch out, little Allen's Hummer!
Thanks to Beth for allowing me to share her photos with you here.