It appears that Hummingbird season has ended here in our area of North Carolina. The feeder is still out for now, but we haven't seen Godot for about 2 weeks. Since then there have been a couple others, presumably stopping during their own migration. Their behavior was much different from that of Godot - a pair that flew along together in a leisurely manner. An alert reader asked how I can tell them apart, since, let's face it, they all look pretty similar. My answer was that they all hum different tunes, but in reality the appearance can differ due to male vs female (as with other birds) and adolescents. There was another hummer (never captured on camera) that sometimes chased Godot from the feeder; that one had a full ruby throat and was clearly an adult male. That left possibilities of Godot as actually a Mrs. Godot (or, Godot and Godon't ?) or an immature male, since he didn't have a ruby throat. Maybe the same bird will return next spring, and more observation will sort it out.
With the change of the seasons, other newcomers are showing up. This Brown Thrasher (actually a pair) returned, with their distinctive markings and eyes. The next video also shows this particular bird. Others have not been caught on camera, but include Rosy-Breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Towhee, and Cooper's Hawk (who chased the smaller birds into the cover of the shrubs to flush them out.
One morning, I saw this Red-Breasted Hawk on the fence and grabbed my camera to capture this less than stellar image in very low light and through the window glass and screen. Hoping for better luck next time!
The Cardinals are still numerous, and this next video shows how they can raise or lower their crest; something I've never really seen or noticed before.
We're looking forward to seeing what migrating customers we'll see in the fall and winter, but for now, it's farewell to Godot!
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