Venus and Mars

For much of the past week our nectar feeder has been visited by a tandem of Ruby Throated Hummingbirds. She is the "owner", a bird that established her territorial jurisdiction many weeks ago. He is a recent interloper, possibly the resident male, possibly another bird altogether. He's as much male hummer as I have seen all summer and he's intent on getting plenty of nectar time. They do spar, or at least She swoops in and chases Him out. But He keeps coming back. Perhaps he's felt the instinct to bulk up in preparation for migration. It is getting very close to that time. For what time we have, the spat has been entertaining!