More hummingbirds

There are at least three, maybe four, hummingbirds whizzing around the garden right now. They're all females, but they still fuss over the feeders and delight us with their chirps and buzzes. They'll probably be around a bit longer, and their brethren will be coming through until early October.

Nectar is an important part of their diet, but equally important are the small insects they glean. The leaves of the old Southern red oaks near the house, which harbor lots of such insects, are a favorite foraging ground.

Ruby-throated hummingbird and Campsis flowers

Campsis radicans (featured in yesterday's post) is a particularly important source of nectar here in the Eastern U.S. Perfectly adapted to its primary pollinator, it depends on frequent visitation (by ruby-throated hummingbirds) for pollination and good seed set.