More Than Just Orchids

I think these hibiscus flowers rival the orchids of my previous posts for beauty.

These hibiscus are all growing at our neighbors' place, the currently out-of-operation SteppingStones Resort.

They have lush landscaping there and have generously given us permission to take cuttings.

We got some white hibiscus started, but could always use more.

We don't have any of this incredible apricot and ruby flowering hibiscus, though.

I think I will remedy that lack this week.  Now that the dry season is over, all I need to do is take some cuttings and stick them in the ground.  It doesn;t get easier than that.

Now, where are my little secateurs?

Hummingbird Update - Part Two

The lovely Cinnamon Hummingbird is the feature of today's post.  The Cinnamon was the first hummingbird I took a photo of at our place here in Belize.  It was just a fuzzy speck perched on a leafless twig atop a small tree, but the completely cinnamon-colored underside is not found on any other hummingbird around here.  
Over the last 7 years, the Cinnamon has been a continuous  year round resident that we see and hear feeding on the hibiscus flowers in front of our veranda.  They give a single cht before each flower visit, and a series of chts as it flies from bush to bush.  

You can just see a little pale tongue-tip sticking out. 

Before we started living here full-time December of 2012, the Cinnamon was easily spooked by us when we would try to get a better view of it.   Once we had been here for a while it got more used to us and, while still wary, didn't fly away if it saw us on the veranda.  Now that the feeders are up, it (they, actually) is (are) bolder still.  I took these photos of the Cinnamon at the back feeder on 3 different days.  I was only 15-20 feet away, with Max (the cat) at my side, and none of the hummers seemed deterred by our presence.

At 4.25 inches, the Cinnamon is noticeably larger than the 3.5 inch Ruby-throated. 

Notice the black-tipped red bill.

The tail is also cinnamon-colored from above and below, and is bordered with a dark charcoal band.

Still wary, but the allure of the feeder is too strong to resist.

The sexes are indistinguishable.

Its head and back are a shiny greenish-gold color.

From the back you can see the cinnamon-colored tail with tis darker border and the iridescent greenish-gold of the back and head.  Unmistakable and lovely.

Next up will be the dashing Rufous-tailed Hummingbird.

Hummingbird Update - Part One

I had a couple of posts a few months ago about the hummingbirds we have seen at the feeder we put out at the front of the cabana near the hibiscus where they feed (here and here).  

A hummingbird approaches the "ocean view" feeder just off the front veranda

We put up another feeder on the back deck in a more sheltered spot that just happens to be right outside our bedroom window.  :-)  Once the ruby-throated hummers started coming, it took about 2 weeks for the cinnamon hummingbirds, that feed on the hibiscus flowers year 'round, to realize that the feeder was also a good source of food.  Then the floodgates opened and we got 2 more species as regulars at the feeders - the green-breasted mango and the rufous-tailed hummingbirds.  Today's post is the first in a series and it highlights our old friends, the ruby-throated hummers.

You can see the post-ocular white spot that is characteristic of the ruby throats. Notice the drying laundry in the background.  :-)

As you can see, it is also adjacent to our clothes line, which makes for a handy perch at times.

They fan their tails out for aerial maneuvers and displays.

This female ruby-throated hummer is showing its characteristic outer three white-tipped tail feathers.

Nice profile view.

There are at least two other species of hummingbirds in Belize with similar looking females, but the ruby-throated is the only one with a totally black bill.  The others have black upper and red lower.  Whewwww - that saves me a tough session of keying out the other species.  Just in case you are wondering, the other 2 are the female white-bellied emerald (larger and with dingier greyish-white tips) and the female Canivet's emerald (smaller and with a post-occular white streak instead of spot).

Sometimes they take a quick sip without perching.

We have seen at least 2 immature males (photos in a previous post) and numerous females, but no adult males with their stunning ruby throats.  Not sure why that is.  The adult males have a slightly different migration schedule than the females and the immatures, so maybe they just haven't found our feeders listed on the hummingbird equivalent of Trip Advisor yet.  Surely we must have a good rating for abundant, fresh nectar, choice of ocean view or sheltered seating, and the featured local cuisine of hibiscus and flamboyant tree flowers!

And sometimes they sit and stay for a while.

We get lots of return business, too.

They always keep on alert for predators and competition at the feeders.  These birds may be small, but they are feisty.

Stay tuned for the next installment featuring the lovely cinnamon hummingbird.

Around the Cabana

As you approach our cabana by boat, you can't see it until you are almost directly in front of it.  The sea grape trees, noni bushes, and dwarf yellow palms shield it from view.

The cabana is behind the trees on the right.

This view of the cabana from the dock is always a welcome sight to our eyes each time we arrive.

This is the view looking out to sea from just in front of the cabana.  The hibiscus and cana lily flowers are a glowing red.  Amazing what grows here considering that the "soil" is just sand.

Some of the hibiscus flowers are doubles.  The hummingbirds and orioles love theses flowers.

The great tailed grackles like to perch in the cercropia trees.  Lots of birds enjoy the cercropia fruits.  You can see a few of the sausage-shaped immature fruits beneath the grackle.   Turns out these relatives of mulberries, so that may explain the interest to the birds.

This is the same plant that is in the header photo with that beautiful flower - shell ginger, Alpinia zerumbet.  The foliage is lush and lovely after an early morning rain.

  This  spider lily, also called a Crinum lily, grows wild in the jungle and is very tolerant of sea spray.  The locals consider them weeds!