My Hummingbird Patio Garden

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

My patio belongs to the hummingbirds! I've put out so many flowering plants there's barely enough room for me to move around when watering them. The hummingbirds love it, though, and I've been enjoying their company all summer.

I'm not quite sure how many individual birds are coming to the flowers, but I've been able to recognize some of them by their behavior or markings. There's one that has a little piece of string stuck to one of her feet–she's been coming to my flowers since early June. She also likes to perch in the arborvitae right outside my bedroom window (pictured above). Some of the hummingbirds are pretty vocal and a bit frenetic when drawing nectar, while others seem more at ease and quiet. And there are females as well as males.

I've also observed recently hatched hummingbirds; they're a little less deliberate and more willing to experiment with the variety of flowers I've put out. While there are many possibilities for attracting hummingbirds to your garden, I thought I would take a moment to share what's been working stellar for me, well, really for the hummingbirds!


Hummingbird Magnet!


'Black and Blue' Salvia guaranitica 


'Furman's Red' Salvia greggii


'Hot Lips' Salvia microphylla 


Gartenmeister Fuchsia 


Trailing Verbena Vepita 


Pentas

All images © 2014 Mike McDowell

The Peacock Fly: Callopistromyia annulipes

I think these tiny picture-winged flies are pretty darn cool. And by tiny, I'm talking 4 to 6 millimeters in length. I first photographed a Peacock Fly a couple months ago. Stumbling upon them today at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, I learned two things: One, their wings reflect blue iridescence at a certain angle of light. Two, there's virtually no information about these amazing insects on the Internet!



They raise and flick their wings in courtship display to attract a mate.



Um, so, yeah, right. I'm not really sure what this one is doing.



They can look a little menacing...



But they're also kind of endearing.





Hey! Where's this one going?



Ah! Another Peacock Fly!



Hello! Wings up!



Well, well, well!



Only they know.



The Peacock Fly!


Green Sweat Bee Augochloropsis metallica


Laphria Robber Fly (possibly Laphria canid)



All images © 2014 Mike McDowell

Birds, Buds, and Bugs

I know it is one thing to go forth as a nature-lover, and quite another to go forth in a spirit of cold, calculating, exact science. I call myself a nature-lover and not a scientific naturalist. All that science has to tell me is welcome, is, indeed eagerly sought for. I must know as well as feel. I am not merely contented, like Wordsworth's poet, to enjoy what others understand. I must also; but above all things, I must enjoy.

~ John Burroughs


Solitary Sandpiper

Fall migration is underway. The two retention ponds at the prairie parcel of Pheasant Branch Conservancy are attracting Solitary Sandpipers, one of the first migrants to pass through southern Wisconsin (map). I saw six of them this morning. In their company was a single Spotted Sandpiper and Killdeer. A young Great Blue Heron also stopped by to catch a few small fish.


Solitary Sandpiper


Solitary Sandpiper


Great Blue Heron

The Sedge Wrens have settled in and I saw my first fledged Common Yellowthroats of the summer breeding season. Though I've been spending many hours birding and conducting nature photography at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, I haven't heard a peep out of the chats in a couple of weeks—perhaps they have left after all. There are fewer Orchard Orioles, Baltimore Orioles, and Yellow Warblers, too—birds are dispersing. A couple days ago saw a large flock of Cliff Swallows perched in the tall grass trying to keep out of the wind, but they were gone the following day. The yellowthroats and Indigo Buntings will still be with us for a while yet, but soon the prairie will begin to fade in sound and change in color.


Common Yellowthroat


Indigo Bunting


Bergamot

If you're in the Madison area, you really ought to check out Pope Farm Conservancy right now—it's as awesome and beautiful as I've ever witnessed it. Pope Farm is known locally for its large sunflower field, but they aren't open yet! Most of these wildflower photographs were taken there yesterday. Should you visit, consider becoming a member of the friends group!


Culver's Root


Mountain Mint


Blue Lobelia


Starry Campion


Nodding Onion


Red-legged Spittlebug

I've been pretty busy during the summer birding season. I may have an opportunity for one more July blog post. If not, my first August entry will include my fall field trip schedule. It looks like I'll be leading five field trips at Pheasant Branch Conservancy from August to October. I might take a brief break from blogging in preparation for fall migration. Naturally, if I find something really cool I will always post it here. However, if you're on Facebook, you might want to check out Wisconsin Birding and Wisconsin Naturalists.


Black Swallowtail caterpillar


Goldenrod Crab Spider


Viceroy


Robber Fly


Jumping Spider Phidippus clarus

Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Jul 27, 2014 6:15 AM - 10:00 AM
53 species

Mallard
Ring-necked Pheasant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Sedge Wren
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

All images © 2014 Mike McDowell

More Sedge Wrens!

Early morning at Pheasant Branch Conservancy

It was slightly hazy for a while this morning, but I appreciated the soft light. Mosquitoes were out but I escaped with only a few bites. Bird-wise, it was a fairly routine outing. Once again I did not detect the Yellow-breasted Chats or Dickcissels. However, one thing is becoming apparent: with each subsequent visit to the prairie the number of Sedge Wrens is increasing.


Yellow Goat's Beard

So, where did all these Sedge Wrens come from? Why now? Did they already nest elsewhere this year? If so, was it to the north or south? Did they stage? They're predictably unpredictable. They almost seem to be waiting nearby for the structure of the vegetation to appeal to their nesting senses ... or were they here all along? Some have proposed that birds arriving in May delay nesting until appropriate conditions are available. This Sedge Wren study states: "Warm-season grasses do not provide enough cover until late June in Illinois. Once the necessary height of about 1 meter has been reached the sedge wrens show up." They just show up, I guess! Assuming a second brood, I suspect these wrens disperse after their first brood in search for habitat that's just on the cusp of becoming suitable for breeding.


Sedge Wren

The dark background of this next image is actually the shady part of an oak tree about 100 yards away. I like the sharp contrast. Pausing for a brief moment, this Sedge Wren was exchanging songs with another male not too far away. I tallied 8 singing wrens, but there are likely more.


Sedge Wren

A few interesting macro subjects from the morning...


American Bellflower


Sphinx Caterpillar Paonias 


Crab Spider


Treehopper Telamona decorata


Leafhopper unidentified

Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Jul 20, 2014 6:30 AM - 10:00 AM
52 species

Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Pheasant
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Sedge Wren
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

All images © 2014 Mike McDowell