Hummer Flying in the Lawn (1 Viewer)

[SueO]

Has anyone else seen hummingbirds seemingly feeding off the ground? I was at the Central Park in Huntington Beach, California yesterday and saw a Rufous/Allen’s flying in the lawn. It seemed to be putting it’s bill down through the grass. My first thought was that it was foraging. For what---bugs? After thinking about it for awhile, I thought it must have been bathing or getting a drink because a heavy mist was in the air and the grass was damp. But, then why wouldn’t it just perch on a bare branch and bathe in the mist? Thinking again, I saw it repeatedly put it’s bill down into the grass; it didn’t appear to be bathing. In Panama, I observed two hummer species that flew low in the shrubs (one along the banks of a creek), but I’ve never seen a hummer put it’s bill to the ground. I wondered if anyone else had seen this or if anyone knows what the bird was doing?
Here are a few terrible shots--too distant and the grass got in the way making focus hard.

 

[Chris D]

Female Anna's gather ashes (from my wood stove) - from the ground.

 

[SueO]

Female Anna's gather ashes (from my wood stove) - from the ground.

Hi Chris,
How weird is that? What for? Do they use ash in nest building? Wood ash has potassium, if I remember right. Maybe she's getting nutrients? Why only females?

My husband has turned into Dr. Strangebrew...in love with the Torpedo.3
Sue

 

[Chris D]

I've only seen females doing it. Always have a pile for them.

Indeed - the Torpedo is quite popular. There's another brewery already producing in North Carolina now.

 

[SueO]

Indeed - the Torpedo is quite popular. There's another brewery already producing in North Carolina now.

That's great, if Gene uses up all the California stock, they can import.

 

[Bird_Bill]

Hi Sue, Seen Ruby-Throated close to ash bin used for outdoor wood burner here, always assumed they were gleaning small insects. Noticed yesterday evening, assuming the same. Female contributes 100% of natal care to the brood. They have to be depleted after all the effort. Potassium playing such a role as an antioxidant in muscles, in regard to lactic accumulation, it's compelling to wonder if depletion or seasonal movements, or whatever is a factor.

 

[SueO]

Hi Sue, Seen Ruby-Throated close to ash bin used for outdoor wood burner here, always assumed they were gleaning small insects. Noticed yesterday evening, assuming the same. Female contributes 100% of natal care to the brood. They have to be depleted after all the effort. Potassium playing such a role as an antioxidant in muscles, in regard to lactic accumulation, it's compelling to wonder if depletion or seasonal movements, or whatever is a factor.

The ash thing is interesting, and I think you make a good point mentioning the female being sole caretaker; maybe she is getting potassium or ?. I think I'll do some ash research. I wonder if anyone has ever noted an unusual amount of Hummers at burn sites (sort of like the kites in Oz hung out at the edge of a fire--for a different reason of course). Yosemite would be a good stop over this year:-C. I wonder if the hummer I saw was feasting on a particular bug, something fatty.
I have posted my observation on What Bird (American birding site) also. Here is a link in case anyone is interested--not much said so far.

http://www.whatbird.com/forum/index.php?/topic/106365-hummer-in-the-grass/

 

[SueO]

I found quite a few mentions of the wood ash eating:

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com...rd I saw was getting minerals from the earth.

 

[Gretchen]

I had surely never heard of this - very interesting!

I guess it says they eat dirt, but I don't know if your hummer would have found dirt in that rather lush looking grass - I mean there might be other places it would be more easily accessible. I assume it wasn't after the fertilizer someone put on the grass :eek!:

 

[SueO]

I had surely never heard of this - very interesting!

I guess it says they eat dirt, but I don't know if your hummer would have found dirt in that rather lush looking grass - I mean there might be other places it would be more easily accessible. I assume it wasn't after the fertilizer someone put on the grass :eek!:

You're right Gretchen, there was lots of mud and sand available8-P. So I'll go back to the special insect treat/drink theory. There was water available too, but the dew on the grass may have been less intimidating to get than the pond.

 

[Bird_Bill]

Found another article (below) that vaguely mentions subject.....
http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/hummingbirdfood.htm

Live not far from feature that was formed by buffalo walking down to the Missouri river to drink water, after they visited a salt lick. Seen black bear, deer, coyote, smaller mammals and some birds take both natural and road salt. Never consciously thought about hummers doing the same, or similar. Will take the lead Chris offers and leave a little pile of ash more accessible to them.

Couple years ago, caught this Ruby-Throated female with an arboreal orb weaving spider. That bird was on a nest, and that spider is largest I've seen one take. Seen hummers snatch bugs from spider webs also. Very important source of vitamins and minerals.
(blew the shot of it having spider in the bill)
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=397359&nocache=1

 

[SueO]

LOL, I the words orb weaving spider and largest took me immediately back to Panama where I used to cringe when I felt a spider web hit me on a narrow trail. The Golden Orb Spider there is huge and I thought the Hummer would more likely be the prey than the spider. I was almost afraid to look at the photo! That really is a big bite for a hummer, very surprising. I have seen them eat small insects many times, but I've never seen them eat from the ground.
I will follow you and Chris and leave ash out also. I plan to make a sanctuary of my acreage in San Diego for the local flora and fauna and also be a comfortable stop for migrating birds. I wonder which kind of wood ash they like the most. Maybe I can make an Ash Bar. A little oak, euc, sycamore.... Seriously, this could really help them, I'm glad to have learned about this. Thanks for the contributions everybody.

A blog post of mine regarding spiders: http://thetwitchingsailor.blogspot.com/2012/08/creepy-crawlies-and-slitherers.html

 

[Chris D]

Been leaving ash out for 20 years. I think the rain might dilute it a bit too. Always on the side of a hill. Have had female Anna's then come to my feeder with the evidence on their snout.

All hummers at my place catch small flying insects. I would assume ones (not on the wing) also. In this part of California lawn grass cut (then put in a small pile) will produce a small cloud of buzzing midge-like flies within a day. Dragonflies rake through the bunch also.

 

[Bird_Bill]

I apologize Sue, should have included...hummingbird-won, spider-0
Have a bit of ash and small pieces of partially burnt black walnut out, no takers yet, that I've seen. This evening, the juvenile male below, was chasing a hatch what ever that is on its chin. Would then visit the feeder. Caught few a shots of it, and noticed the ruby colored gorget is already starting to come in. (arrow is pointing at)

 

[SueO]

Been leaving ash out for 20 years. I think the rain might dilute it a bit too. Always on the side of a hill. Have had female Anna's then come to my feeder with the evidence on their snout.

All hummers at my place catch small flying insects. I would assume ones (not on the wing) also. In this part of California lawn grass cut (then put in a small pile) will produce a small cloud of buzzing midge-like flies within a day. Dragonflies rake through the bunch also.

I wouldn't have thought the grazing in the grass was too weird if I had seen gnats, but I didn't see anything flying where the hummer was. It just seemed so strange, but I haven't spent time watching the hummers here. I can't wait to be home for good and be able to spend some quality observation time at my own place. I have only been able to get out there for a day trip (been at my parent's in OC taking care of my very sick Dad). I was overjoyed to see a California Thrasher. I used to have one that hung out on my dining room patio. He would eat dog food out of the dog's dish. In 2007, we had a devastating fire (Harris Fire) and the thrasher was gone (along with most of the canyon). My son has kept an eye out and this summer is the first seen since then.

 

[SueO]

I apologize Sue, should have included...hummingbird-won, spider-0
Have a bit of ash and small pieces of partially burnt black walnut out, no takers yet, that I've seen. This evening, the juvenile male below, was chasing a hatch what ever that is on its chin. Would then visit the feeder. Caught few a shots of it, and noticed the ruby colored gorget is already starting to come in. (arrow is pointing at)

Looks a bit like a termite? I have seen clouds of them before!