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Thursday, August 25, 2022

Hummingbirds, Yellow Jackets and a Pig Roast

Our single nectar feeder has been unusually busy with adult female and immature hummingbirds. The adult males have presumably migrated to the south and the others are storing energy for the long flight before they depart in the coming  weeks:


A few days ago, Yellow  Jacket wasps suddenly took over the feeder and were driving away any hummingbirds that wished to sip the sugar water. The sight of only a single wasp may discourage a hungry hummer. Wasps do sting hummingbirds. I could not substantiate claims that they have even killed them (** REF below). A wasp can attack suddenly and very accurately:

The feeder has very small feeding holes located some distance above the surface of the nectar, which is supposed to make it impossible for bees and wasps to reach it. However, the wind rocks the feeder and I think the hummingbirds themselves spill some nectar around the holes. Smaller wasps sometimes manage to get through, only to drown in the nectar.

Flowers have faded and the ground is parched. In any event, the thirsty wasps have taken over. Indeed, as soon as I walk out to hang the feeder after replenishing it, a wasp may land on it just as I step out the door:


This wasp trap has somewhat reduced the threat, but they still visit the feeder:

I took this slow motion video to show how quickly the wasps attack and disrupt the hummingbirds: 

My back yard list of bird species remains stalled at a total of 66 species, though I was able to shift the Indigo Bunting from "heard only" to "photographed on site" when one landed on the back fence on July 31, raising this subset to 51 species. It was a poor shot from a distance:

The birds are very quiet. Some migrants have already disappeared and others are completing their  post-breeding molt and storing energy for the long flight.  I was surprised to hear the plaintive whistle of an Eastern Wood-Pewee which was perching on a treetop against the gray sky, a photographic challenge:

An immature Red-shouldered Hawk permitted some through-the-window photos as it rested on the back fence:


A White-tailed Deer fawn joined his mother to browse on the Sow Thistle in the cleared area back of the home. I think it is a male because it has small antler knobs which square off the top of its head. Females usually have rather smooth dome-shaped crowns:

The doe kept watching me but they were still feasting peacefully as I crept away from the top of the cliff which overlooks the clear-cut:


A highlight this past weekend was a pig roast, which our daughter and son-in-law hosted for relatives, friends and neighbors. Our SIL emigrated from Cuba at twelve years of age and grew up in nearby Hartford. His new job allowed him to live anywhere in the NE states. His parents and a brother reside quite close by. Over seventy guests attended. No other homes are visible from their property, so we were pleased to meet several of our neighbors for the first time.  

The pig was slowly cooked in a "caja china," which is Spanish for "Chinese box."  It is a roasting box which is often said to have been used in Cuba in the mid-1800s by Chinese laborers. However, in Cuba it is called "caja asador" (cooking box) and may have gotten its name "china" because anything foreign or exotic can be called "chinese" by Latin American Spanish speakers-- analogous to the way English speakers may say "it is Greek to me" about anything difficult to understand.

The yard was all set up before guests arrived:

The partygoers enjoyed a beautiful sunset:


**Of interest: 10 Common Things That Kill Hummingbirds

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Linking to:



Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World
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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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19 comments:

  1. You have such a beautiful home! I enjoyed seeing the hummingbirds, along with the other birds and deer.

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  2. That's a glorious sunset. Your hummingbird feeder is incredibly active. Thanks for sharing the video!

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  3. I love the photos of the birds and the backstory on humminbirds and wasps.

    That box the pig was cooked in reminded me of the boxes that the Cajuns of south Louisiana use for their get togethers.

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  4. It's amazing how aggressive the wasps can be to protect "their" food source. The Hummers need to hire that Pewee for some protection.

    Looks like it was a wonderful party! Now I'm hungry for smoked pork butt and swamp cabbage.

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  5. Piękne zdjęcia kolibrów. Dla mnie to egzotyka. znam je tylko z filmów przyrodniczych.
    Miła impreza w pięknym miejscu.

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  6. I just saw two hummingbirds fly by while hanging out laundry. One stopped in mid air and waiting for its mate. No camera, of course. I am hooked reading your blog weekly. The sky cooperated with the party of 70 people. It didn't rain. Love how the pig was cooked in that very strange container. Looks like you enjoyed the family get together.

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  7. Hello,
    I just love your hummingbird photos. It is neat to see more than one at the feeder. The male hummingbird here chases away any other birds that comes close. The deer are so cute, adorable photos. I have not seen many Indigo Buntings this summer, they are MIA. The party looks like a fun time, a great chance to meet your new neighbors. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  8. Everything looks picture perfect for the pig roast! How nice to be able to invite so many and meet neighbors and friends. The sunset is gorgeous. And you are seeing a lot of birds there too. We still have a hummingbird feeder up but no birds this week.

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  9. Hummingbirds are amazing. Excellent shots!

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  10. That hawk on the fence line is a stunner!! I read another blog just the other day about how busy the hummers are (up north)...time again to prepare for their long journey!!
    Once again,thanks for taking time to link in and sharing your blog with us at I'd Rather B Birdin'

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  11. I was wrong. I thought the males migrated after the females! Oh, well. Glad I know differently now. I'm expecting the hummers to go through any moment now for about a week. They like the phlox and jewelweed here. The video was clear about how wary they are of wasps. I don't keep feeders anymore. We've been told not to by the state this year, anyhow, because of avian flu.

    I used to bike through Glastonbury back in the day. I'd take the ferry at Rocky Hill, bike about, and go home through the meadows in Wethersfield.

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  12. Beautiful post ! I love hummingbirds and those fawns are adorable . Thanks for sharing with Garden Affair.

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  13. Hello, :=) The wasps sure were a nuisance, and aggressive to the young Hummingbirds. It was nice to see so many hummers at the small feeder, but once the wasps find a way to get to the sweet nectar, you have a problem. It's the same when we are outside in the garden having lunch. The carnivorous wasps land on our plates, and the best way to deal with this is to cut a small piece of meat and leave it at the side of the plate, for them to carry away, without any fuss flailing of arms etc.I have never been stung, but it must have been very painful for the hummingbirds with their small frame. Beautiful shots of the Red-shouldered Hawk, and the deer. The close up portrait of the doe is lovely. The cooking box is new to me, I hope you enjoyed the pork cooked inside it. You took some lovely shots of the outdoor party, and the gorgeous sunset . I enjoyed your most entertaining post.
    All the best.

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  14. Great shots! Yellow jackets are a pain!

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  15. Although Indigo Buntings are suppose to be abundant here, I've only seen one, and that was on a trip in Kentucky. Striking blue. Didn't realize Yellow Jackets were such pests at hummingbird feeders, but it makes sense. I remember as a child, picnicking in Nevada and being constantly pestered by them landing on the food we were trying to eat. The party looked wonderful with a lovely sunset.

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  16. I could do without the yellow jackets! One close and personal experience with them stuck in my hair and under my shirt is plenty!!!
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2022/08/classics.html

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