As many of you might know, we have been experiencing unseasonably cold weather in Wisconsin and it's only been in the mid-60's during the day and the low 50's at night all week---burrr! Our garden has been doing ok, but plants like our cannas and other tropicals don't like it much. Today was supposed to be better, but it's about the same unfortunately.

We are primarily seeing hummingbirds at our Monarda 'Jacob Kline' and sometimes Salvia guarantica or greggii at dusk, but the sightings are really very fleeting at this time of the year. The feeders are mostly ignored for the flowers.

Last night we were shivering in the cold and watching for hummers when we saw a male Ruby-throat visit our Scrophularia marilandica (Kathi grew it from seed and the male that visits us seems to love this unusual native plant). Then we saw him fly over the Bee Balm and there was a female hummer feeding there. He chased her away and then we saw him do the U-shaped dive and heard almost a mechanical sound. Both hummers flew in the direction of the backyard and we saw them both silhouetted against the sky with the male performing the U-shaped dive once again and the female watching him. Given the horrible week we have experienced weatherwise, we felt very fortunate to witness this beautiful sight, especially right here in our urban yard. We thought it might be too late for nesting, but maybe that isn't the case up here in the frozen north.

This may not be a big deal for most of you, but this was one of the most exciting hummingbird sightings we have ever experienced in our yard.




Kathi and Michael Rock
Madison, Wisconsin
Zone 4/5

To me, any sighting is a special event. Even though I usually am guaranteed to see a hummer at the banding sight, to see one in my yard really excites me. We did witness a U-shaped dive a couple of weeks ago and it was awesome! I think in our situation it was more of a territorial thing, but can't know for sure.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Kathi and Michael
We are experiencing similar weather conditions here in western NY also. For me any siting right now is a thrill . I did see the display in early June but sitings now are so few and far between at both feeders and flowers. In fact I only saw a fleeting glimpse of a hummer check out one bee balm bloom and then he was off.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

The weather here in Ct has been the worst I have ever seen in June. No sun, rain almost every day, and COLD! I'm afraid that for hummers and many other birds as well it has been a failed nesting season to date. Therefore, I think many birds are trying again and I see evidence of this almost daily. Hopefully July will be reasonable, and many of the birds, hummers included, can make up for this terrible spring. Last year I found a hummer nest with nestlings in August, so there is a good chance for success.

Don

Don
Coventry, Ct zone 5/6

Kathi and Michael

We too are experiencing cool days and nights the last few days , but what a blessing after all those 90 plus days we had with high humidity too. I agree any sighting or U dance is fun to see I have been seeing the dance here lately too but I just assume its a show of power, but I also believe they can have more than one nesting even in the short time they are with us .

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Kathi and Michael,

What a beautiful sight that must have been.

Chris, I'm a Connecticut native too. The weather has been especially un-June like here. Kind of depressing when the sun does not shine for two weeks straight. Don't lose heart on the nesting season being a wash. I'm sure I've had some juvie's show up at the feeders just this week. And last year some females got either late or second broods in. Keep looking.

 

Linda V
Connecticut zone 6b

Kathi & Michael - that is just wonderful news! How exciting to see! My Jacob Cline bee balm is just now starting to bloom so am hoping it brings me a July hummingbird..

Don and Linda - I am in Milford Ct along the shoreline. I have always wondered if there could be late nesters here. I don't see any baby hummers till late August or September and its a long wait. Don if you did see a nest in August that is proof for sure!

I agree this has been the worst June that I can remember - so cold, rainy, stormy and windy. The first few days of July are nice - with some sun and not too much humidity. Hope it lasts...

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

We need to average out our weather woes!...here it has been hot and dry for most of June. I'm out sweating with sprinklers and hoses trying to keep everything in the garden happy. It's been a little better heat-wise the last few days, but still no rain.

On the plus side, my hummer population is picking up again!...there's rarely a time when I don't have a hummer perched on a feeder.

Zone 7B
North Carolina Piedmont