Bird Notes | Warblers, buff-bellied hummingbirds making way to the Grand Strand

The progression of the fall season continues to bring feathery finds into and through our area.

Several warbler species have been observed of late, including American redstart, Cape May, black-throated blue, magnolia, yellow, palm and common yellowthroat. October is normally the peak month for various thrush species to pass through as they make their way to more tropical winter climes. A hermit thrush was observed recently, and Swainson's and gray-cheeked have also been reported. These reclusive birds are fond of thickets as well as fruits/berries, and often find their way into backyards planted with appropriate shrubs. Small flocks of American robins have also been noted making their way through our area.

Recently several folks have contacted me inquiring about small brown hummingbirds visiting their backyard flower plantings each day. These are not hummingbirds, but are various species of sphinx moths, sometimes called hawk or hummingbird moths. While a few species of these wonderful creatures are active during mid-day, most become active later in the day, from shortly before dusk through the evening hours. As pollinators, they visit a number of nectar-producing flower blooms just as butterflies and hummingbirds do. Occasionally one may even be seen feeding from a hummingbird feeder.

A number of hummingbirds continue to avail themselves of backyard flowers and feeders in our area. Last week, a buff-bellied hummingbird was banded in Winston-Salem, NC. This is the time of year that Western hummer species start to appear in the Southeast. Buff-bellied is a larger hummingbird that breeds from south Texas down through Mexico and into Central America, and increasing numbers of them have been spending winter along the Gulf Coast.

Our fair state has two records of the species, one of which spent winter at McClellanville. While most Western hummers likely wander awhile until they reach the Gulf Coast, some will opt to spend winter here in our area. In addition to Western hummer species, many ruby-throated hummers spend winter in our area. As well as hummingbirds, a number of other bird species will take advantage of hummer feeders, especially in winter. Most notably perhaps are Baltimore orioles, a number of which spend winter annually in our area. Ruby-crowned kinglets, orange-crowned and yellow-rumped warblers along with chickadees, titmouses and downy woodpeckers are also frequent visitors to my feeders here in Conway.

So keep your feeders clean and maintained with a solution of one part sugar to four parts water with no other additives, and let me know of the bird activity in your backyard.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 5:14 AM with the headline "Bird Notes | Warblers, buff-bellied hummingbirds making way to the Grand Strand."