First ruby-throated hummingbird

My gardening companion first spotted a male ruby-throated hummingbird on the feeder on Friday evening (April 1).  We saw him yesterday visiting the feeder, too. 

Today, I saw him (I'm assuming it was the same bird) 'hawking' insects from a perch on the big Southern Red Oak near the house.

It's hard not to think that somehow this is a fellow that remembers our feeder.  But he's probably taking a rest and fueling up for more traveling north.  (Hummingbirds often return the same site, but it's pretty early for that -- this is normally early male scout time).

We have red buckeyes (Aesculus pavia) and coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) in full flower now, so there's nectar available, too.

I just saw a swallowtail (probably a black morph tiger swallowtail) visiting the Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) out my study window.  Lots of Tiger Swallowtails are out now.

First hummingbird of the season

Hummingbirds have been seen for weeks around us, but not one had stopped by our feeder until today.

Perhaps we missed early scouts simply by being at work or elsewhere, but it was great to hear the familiar chhirring-chip of a hummingbird this evening.

It almost seemed like he/she (I didn't get a good look) was looking for the feeder that normally hangs on the crepe myrtle near the potting bench, but that's probably fanciful thinking.

Shortly thereafter, I saw him/her visiting the porch feeder, just before flying up to perch in the big oak, a favorite hummingbird circuit.

The photo posted above was taken last summer at the venerable Campsis radicans-covered arbor that overlooks the terrace at Biltmore House, in Asheville, NC.