How about other folks out there in Texas, are you seeing the Ruby Throats yet?  If so, how many are you seeing?

Cedar Waxwings, for me, are not that uncommon around my backyard as I often hear their shrill.  Getting a picture of them, or actually having them visit a plant in my backyard, now that’s rare!

Flock Of Cedar Waxwings In Maple Tree

Sure enough, the male and female Bluebird flew down to eat some mealworms.

Shortly thereafter, the male Bluebird flew up to the Maple Tree, and I noticed an American Goldfinch sitting almost on the same branch.

I dash back inside to grab my camera, thinking surely one of them would fly off before I had my camera ready.

Luckily for me, neither one of the birds flew off.

It wasn’t until tonight when I was downloading the pictures, that I noticed there were actually 2 American Goldfinches along with the male Eastern Bluebird.  Since it was a cloudy, cold day, I guess they were all trying to conserve energy, and probably wait for me to put out more food!

Male Eastern Bluebird And Two American Goldfinches Sharing Tree Branches

Here’s a second picture.  Obviously these pictures won’t win any awards, but it was pretty neat to some 2 very pretty birds sitting almost side by side.

Male Eastern Bluebird And Two American Goldfinches Sharing Tree Limbs

Fortunately the Hummingbird did appear and Greg and I captured several pictures.  Greg felt 95% sure this was a female Rufous Hummingbird.  The even better news is that I now see the Hummingbird every day.  If she hangs around long enough for the Ruby Throatted Hummingbirds to appear, that could become very interesting.  She is very possessive of the Coral Honeysuckle and will not go to any of the Hummingbird Feeders.

Rufous Hummingbird Feeding

Rufous Hummingbird Feeding On Coral Honeysuckle

My first thought was it’s too early for the Ruby Throated Hummers to arrive so she’s seeing things, then I saw it as well.  It’s not a Ruby Throated Hummingbird.  In fact, I don’t know what kind of Hummingbird it is.  I sent a picture to one of my colleagues and he suggested it was an immature Buff Bellied Hummingbird.  I’m looking through all of my bird books, and I don’t see it, at least not yet.

The pictures are not that great, but I wanted to at least get some documentation of this visitor in case I never see it again.

It’s the tail throwing me off.  White tip, black, then brown.  It’s got a black bill, not red like a mature Buff Bellied.

Can anyone help my conclusively identify this Hummingbird?  Is it common for the Houston area?

Hopefully I can get some better pictures of it tomorrow if it hangs around.  I’ll update this post once this bird is conclusively identified.

Mystery Hummingbird Feeding On Coral Honeysuckle Showing Tail Feathers

Mystery Hummingbird Feeding On Coral Honeysuckle

I had forgotten how our Maple Tree is a source of nectar for Butterflies and Honeybees until I saw this Monarch feeding from one of the new blooms.  I say new blooms, but at the same time the Maple Tree is still shedding leaves for the Winter.  Only in Texas….:-).

Monarch Butterfly Getting Nectar From Maple Tree 2012

I’m assuming this one is a male since it made no attempt to visit the Passion Vine and instead spent its time eating nectar from Lantana and Zinnia.

Gulf Fritillary Feeding On Purple Flower

Gulf Fritillary Feeding On Orange Zinnia

One was a returning male Monarch that we had previously tagged. It was feeding in the early morning on the white flowers of the Butterfly Bush.

Male Monarch Butterfly On White Butterfly Bush Against Sky Background

The second one was one that we had not previously tagged and it was getting nectar from one of the yellow Zinnia flowers.

Untagged Monarch On Yellow Zinnia

The final Monarch Butterfly we saw today is one that emerged from our outdoor Butterfly enclosure.  I cheated on this picture because I intentionally placed it on the Shrimp plant while it was expanding and drying its wings.  I just wanted a different picture from what I’ve been taking.

Monarch Butterfly Inflating Wings On Shrimp Plant

I spotted the male Monarch on our pink Butterfly Bush (a Hummingbird and Butterfly favorite).  I couldn’t decide if I should try and tag him for his journey to Mexico or take a picture.  I decided on taking the picture in hopes that I could attach a tag to him later, but I never could catch him for that.

So how do I know this is a Monarch that has likely migrated from Canada on its way to Mexico?  Honestly I don’t know for sure, but there are a couple of signs.  One, he’s a little faded on the wings and has some scratch marks on there as well.  The second sign is he’s missing part of his lower left hind wing.  That hints that this guy has been on a long journey.

If you haven’t visited Journey South recently (or haven’t visited their site before) I’d recommend you visit their site if you’re interested in the journey of the Monarch Butterflies.  In their latest update, there’s some concern about the Migration of Monarch Butterflies through Texas because of the extreme drought we’ve been experiencing.  If the Monarchs aren’t able to “fatten” up enough while migrating through Texas to make it through the Winter in Mexico, then this could affect their survival.  Simply put, the drought has made it tough on all plants, including the important nectar plants that these Butterflies need to survive.

Fall Migration 2011 Male Monarch On Butterfly Bush

This is an American Painted Lady on a Red Zinnia flower.

American Painted Lady Butterfly On Red Zinnia

Although I’ve seen them in the backyard before, I don’t believe I’ve ever taken a picture of the Red Admiral Butterfly.  This one was really drawn to the Lantana, and from the looks of the hind wings, it looks like it’s seen better days.

Red Admiral On Lantana

Red Admiral Butterfly On Old Purple Coneflower

Last, but not least is a Fiery Skipper Butterfly.  These things are always a challenge to photograph as they don’t stay in one place for very long.

Fiery Skipper Butterfly On Lantanta

For Fall 2011, we maybe had 10 total Ruby Throats, which has been about average the last couple of years.  Back before Hurricane Ike, we had close to 100 during the Fall, but haven’t had those high of numbers since then.

This particular female in the pictures below, likes to stand guard in the Pussy Willow tree.  I’m not sure if she is guarding the feeders, or just watching me take pictures of her.

Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird On Pussywillow Tree

Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird Looking Regal On Pussywillow Tree

One Of The Last Two Ruby Throated Hummingbirds Of Fall 2011

Ruby Throated Hummingbird Feeding On White Butterfly Bush

Let’s talk about here in Texas.  Next week they are forecasting more 100 degree temperatures.  I’m really starting to see the effects of the drought in my own backyard.  I’m only watering twice a week and now that’s not enough.  I could probably water all day long and it wouldn’t be enough.  I have brown patches throughout my yard (it’s just grass so I’m not distraught over that).  The trees, not only in my yard, but across Houston, are turning brown, or are already dead.  I read a news report that suggested this drought in Texas may last another year.  When I do water, it brings out every living creature as I’m sure they are dying of thirst.

I’ve never had Honeybees swarm my Hummingbird feeders and bird baths to get water.

Honeybees Drinking Sugar Water From Hummingbird Feeder

What will this mean for the Monarch Butterfly migration.  On Journey South’s posting this week, Dr. Lincoln Brower thinks that the Monarchs will have a really hard time building up their fat reserves once they enter Texas on their way to Mexico.  I can certainly see this.  I can almost guarantee you that other than from the concerned Butterfly gardeners, there will be little Milkweed and/or nectar plants in the wild that have done well during this drought.

What about the Ruby Throated Hummingbird migration?  Once again I’d be willing to bet that the Hummingbirds will have a tough time as well for the same reasons I mentioned above.

As I sit here and analyze myself, I guess this weather saddens me, and makes me angry.  When I go out the in backyard and see all those brown leaves, I get frustrated because I know at this point I simply can’t water enough (plus I’m trying to do my part to conserve).  My backyard has always been my little private sanctuary, and seeing how the plant and animal life is struggling is tough.  It’s worse driving around Houston.  You see these big giant Oak trees dying.  You can’t replace those, they are decades old.  Pine trees, so many are dead.  Lakes and ponds are completely dry.  Migrating birds this winter will have it tough.  I can’t imagine any gardener or wildlife lover enjoying what’s happening right now.  I realize some things you can’t control and this is certainly one of those “things”, but it’s driving me nuts.

Alright, venting over for the moment.  I’m starting to see more Ruby Throated Hummingbirds.  Those that choose to hang around my yard will have plenty of sugar water to drink.  One of the recent males that is visiting we are calling “Mr. Soul Patch.” We gave him that name because of that little speck of white on the bottom part of his beak (or is it bill)?

Mr. Soul Patch Male Ruby Throat

I’ve got to assume this drought is effecting the Butterflies.  I’m doing all I can to keep the nectar plants adequately watered.

Speaking of nectar plants, we pulled up the Indian Blanket Wildflowers.  Most of them had finished blooming, and they were starting to crowd out the other Wildflowers.  We planted some Zinnias in their place.

Texan Crescent Butterfly Stretching Wings On Black Eyed Susan

Today there was a large male Eastern Black Swallowtail that just couldn’t get away from this plant.  In this particular photo the male is on one of the pink colored flowers, but this plant we have has a mixture of colors including pink, white, and purple.

Male Eastern Black Swallowtail On Pink Butterfly Bush