By Mary Reid Barrow

Hummingbird photo by Gibbs Barrow

Hummingbird lovers from Pungo to the North End, from Bay Colony to Birdneck Point, Baycliff and Alanton are feeding the little birds this winter.

Hummers also are dining in Chic’s Beach, Thoroughgood, Lake Smith, Little Neck, Great Neck and more. I even heard that folks in Norfolk’s Bayview and Little Creek areas are on hummingbird duty this winter, keeping nectar fresh for what was once a very uncommon cold weather visitor.

These folks responded with emails after I asked in my last Nature Notes who had wintering hummingbirds. For me, it started when I realized my neighbor was feeding a couple and I pitched into help. Now we definitely have two and perhaps more.

I didn’t hear from anyone in Central Virginia Beach or the Kempsville area but I’m beginning to think that hummers are all over city this year.

The little birds already have established winter populations on the Outer Banks, I bet we are next.

With the Great Backyard Bird Count coming up, Feb.14-17, I’m thinking that it’s a great time for looking for and reporting these hummers. Wild Birds Unlimited at Hilltop has gotten numerous calls from folks about their winter visitors, and they are going to try and keep tabs on their neighborhoods too.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to know more?

In this latest cold spell, a cove in front of Brent James’ house on the Lynnhaven River almost froze over.

“Thicker ice than I’ve ever see,” said Brent who took the photo above.

The ice also covered his oyster bed, possibly killing oysters at the top of the inter-tidal reef that is exposed both to frigid air temperature at low tide as well as freezing river ice at high tide.

Brent, LRNow’s oyster restoration coordinator, said he doesn’t know how the oysters at the top of his reef fared because, if they are dead, they will stay closed until the weather warms up.

If they die, not all is in vain. Once open, the dead oysters will provide a good meal for hungry birds and racoons at low tide and when the tide rises, fish and other critters move in and get a good meal too.

A little box turtle popped out from the mess of ivy on my hill on a warmish, rainy morning last week.

Turtles don’t hibernate but “brumate.” They slow down and dig under the leaves and brush to survive the cold but may come out to dine and sun on warm days.

This little guy must have known the temperature would rise to 70 degrees later in the day.

I gave him a couple of blueberries and told him to enjoy the day but be prepared, it’s not spring quite yet!