Hummingbirds and others

[Wilma]

No, Howard is not the big city.  My big city is Wichita and we have a couple of favorite book stores that we patronize.

My caterpiller was all black with black spikes and a single line of red dots down it's back.  The blue swallowtail butterfly larvae that I found a picture of had orange spikes and orange spots.  But, as I said, it is possible that my caterpiller was in a different stage of development than the pictures.

While on the subject, I want to thank the people that have done research on this to try to help me.  I really appreciate it as my eyes have a tendency to quit on me after a little bit of concentrated studying of the computer screen.

[Diane Amberg]

Ok one more try as I'm watching the weather channel. Looks very bad.
I'm sure you know what;s up including injuries with some of the storm chasers...at the fair ground right now.Anyway, if you do Google,look up Pipevine butterflies, scroll down and look on the right.They have the same caterpillar photo as my book.

[Wilma]

Do you all still have your hummingbirds?  I still have as many as three, but I expect them to be gone any day now.

[Judy Harder]

My hummers keep me entertained each day. I am sure they are the migrating ones. But, all the flowers are still blooming and until it frosts, etc, I am sure they will still be coming. I am seeing more of the winter/fall birds coming into the area. Still got a few weeks left of summerish days. (I hope! I am in no hurry for winter!)

[Wilma]

We counted five birds this morning and later there was a praying mantis on the hook holding the feeder.  The little birds tried to get  him to leave, but I think he was feasting on the ants that find their way up the hook to the sweet stuff.  I took my little camera and camped as close to the feeder as I could.  Needless to say, the little birds were unhappy with me, too.  I was buzzed numeous times while I snapped away hoping for at least one good picture.  Here is the best that I got.  The mantis is on the hook directly below the red dot.  The sun hadn't reached this spot yet or the pictures would have been better.  One of the little birds had a tiny red spot on his breast that when the sun reached it, flashed like a tiny ruby stick pin.

[Judy Harder]

Wilma, most years I am blessed with a family of praying mantis.......this year I haven't seen them.
If you watch they are famous for sitting near a hummingbird feeder hoping to catch a hummer.....yes, they are catchers of hummingbirds. There is a site on internet about this with pictures to match.

Don't know how to post it here in forum....but last year 2 of them camped out on or near my feeder. My birds know I stand out there a lot a usually ignore me. If I stand still. I did get a picture of one under the feeder while the bird was on the perch. The bird made sure he was on the opposite side of where the bug was.

I watched them for several days. Like I said, they are my entertainment.

[Wilma]

I took this picture today, then I moved one of them to some flowers.  I didn't know that they would catch hummingbirds.  Maybe I should go move the other one, too.

[Judy Harder]

I like that the praying mantis' keep the ants and fly's under control.

Another thing about hummingbirds, the spiders catch them in the spider webs. Each critter has a preditor and I find
it fasinating to read and watch them at work. (you know part of a hummingbirds nest is spider webs.)

I am not ready for winter. Don't feel I have had a long enough summer.
Guess I better start planning putting plastic on windows. Sure wish I had a kid (or hubby) to help. Maybe I can talk someone at church to help. Not today........Going to start with a nice walk.

[Diane Amberg]

I think our hummers will leave on the next north wind. They are really fat little sausages now. I'll really miss their antics.

[Wilma]

I haven't seen a hummingbird for three days now and it definitely feels like fall here.