I always miss the hummingbirds when they head south for the winter but this year I’m going to have a harder time of it than usual.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is an older photo of a Rufous Hummingbird nectaring on Rocky Mountain Bee Plant on Antelope Island. I like this particular photo for a lot of reasons, including that it was taken from far enough away to give me sufficient depth of field to get both the entire bird and the entire large flower cluster completely sharp. With my photo gear and these fairly large flowers that doesn’t happen very often.
For reasons too many to list, photographing nectaring hummers in flight has become one of the true joys of my life and this photo illustrates one of them. You just never know what unexpected critter might be hanging out on or near the nectar-producing flowers. .
This time it was a tiny black beetle on top of one of the pink petals near the base of the flower’s pistil. For this biologist and nature lover such discoveries are an unexpected and far from trivial bonus.
Hummingbirds also feed on tiny arthropods so when I see something like this I always wonder how often they pick off these little insects and spiders while they’re nectaring and we don’t even notice it.
Readers know that until this year I’ve rarely posted photos of birds in my garden but this summer, largely because of wildfire smoke, I’ve been photographing hummers on or near my 11′ tall amaranth plants where they hang out in-between feeding bouts on garden flowers or at my feeder on the other side of my yard. On days when I don’t go shooting in the mountains or elsewhere I have what could almost be called my “hummingbird schedule”.
In the early mornings, with coffee in hand, I hang out in a chair in the shade on the east side of my garden and watch the hummer wars as they buzz around my amaranth and use it as elevated perches to guard my feeder on the other side of my yard. Mostly I get Black-chinned Hummingbirds and Rufous Hummingbirds. Sometimes I have my camera with me but often I don’t. I’m just there for my love of hummers. And for the entertainment.
In the evenings I hang out on the patio (which is now in the shade) near my feeder and watch the hummer wars from a different perspective. I’m only about 6′ from my feeder so it isn’t unusual for them to hover within 2′ of my face. When they do that I don’t know if they’re challenging me or just curious about me but either way I find such an intimate experience with wild birds to be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. During those evening interactions I nearly always have a pre-dinner cocktail in hand. After all, I wouldn’t want my hummer friends to drink alone…
I’ve become especially enamored with the Rufous Hummingbirds because of their oversized personalities. They’d been reliable for many weeks but it’s been at least five days since I’ve seen a single Rufous. They’re known to migrate early so I’m pretty sure they’re on their way south.
Recently I told my readers that “I’m gonna miss them when they’re gone”. I already do.
Ron
You had me at hummingbird and cocktail in hand❗️My hummingbird feeder is the highlight of my backyard. I’m lucky to have these guys around all year😁
“You had me at hummingbird and cocktail in hand”
A combination that can’t be beat!
“You had me at hummingbird and cocktail in hand”
A combination that can’t be beat! 🙂
Hung two additional feeders for the Rufous migration. Their numbers are still strong here in N. Az. Soooo feisty! Endless joy watching them.
Agreed.
Of course you will miss them. And look forward to their return. As I will from the other side of the world.
And, what a wonderful start and end to your day, even in these smoky times…
Here at the moment I am greeted with Crimson Rosellas at first light, frequently followed by Turquoise Parrots. At the other end of the day I delight in Sulphur Crested vandals/Cockatoos and Galahs. With a Corella or two thrown in. Pecking order isn’t an empty phrase.
EC, the birds you describe sound so very exotic to me but then you may feel the same way about our hummers.
I’m glad that we both can get our daily bird fix, both AM and PM.
I DO feel that your hummers (and so many other birds you feature) are exotic but am grateful that my daily bird fix comes from both sides of the world.
Wonderful shot this morning — the colors are a delight. I really like the close crop. If I look closely, there appears to be another supporting character hiding in the petal just in front of the hummer’s beak.
I would love to join you in your yard — with coffee or Bourbon in hand, as appropriate — and watch the hummers’ antics. I could use the restful scene after the kids out of control/classroom stress dream I had last night (Do they ever go away? It’s now the 3rd school year that is just a “year” for me.). I’ll have to settle for my own yard with the only blooms being a few spent roses.
Marty, based on my experience so far those dreams never go away. I’ve been retired for over 14 years now and I still have classroom dreams, some of them good to very good but others approaching the nightmare realm.
Last night was definite nightmare fuel! 😱
This is almost like sitting with you in the shade, preferably during the evening session sipping a Sazerac. The Rufous Hummers are like little fighter planes– their wings almost roar and they don’t take #@@! from anyone. We only had them in the fall in New Mexico and it was a sad day indeed when the left en masse. The resident Black-chins probably heave a sigh of relief and do stay a bit longer into Autumn.
Kenneth, I had to look “Sazerac” up. I’ve never tried one but it sounds like they might have a kick to them.
Bravo, Ron! What a stunning photo! The enlargement shows the amazing clarity of your picture and detail of the hummer’s feathers. The tiny beetle would indeed be a tasty treat for the bird. Would that I were a guest in your garden to share with you the hummer wars and the wonderful curiosity that hummingbirds exhibit when they discover a human in their midst. I firmly believe that the hummers know that we provide their feeders and are expressing their gratitude or telling us that the feeder is in need of replenishing when they hover near our faces!
Melanie, it would be interesting to know if you’re right about their motivation(s) for hovering so close to us.
Wonderful photos.I’d still like to capture one as nice as yours. Yes, I too have been reveling in the abundant hummingbirds in the yard. Although I cheat somewhat since this year I have weathered and released 18 black-chinned and broad-tailed from our rehab center. I had more migrating rufous this year than I have for several past years. I was worried about my juvenile releases this year because of so many aggressive rufous. I put up 2 more feeders than my usual 4. I can usually tell my rehab releases for a few days but soon they start to look and act like the rest. Often the releases will stay multiple weeks til they migrate. I still have a few migrating rufous, but mostly rehab release juveniles and one black-chinned adult male that was a release early this spring. He stayed in my yard all summer. I have 6 hummingbird feeders scattered around my back yard and two shallow fountains/bird baths the hummingbirds love. I have to fill my one cup feeders about every other to every third day, when it is hot I change out the sugar water even if full. I will miss them but not the worry I have for my releases. I have a deep feeling of responsibility for the little lives I give a second chance at being wild.
I’m amazed that you can keep such close track of that many individual birds for so long, April. I really am!
But then if anyone could do it, it would be you.
Sensational shots Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
I love the way you bookend your day with birds, much like we do at the dining room table. Whoever said “stop and smell the roses” might have added “and pause and find joy in the birds”. Wonderful it would be to take wing and fly south with them. And it would be a great way to lose some weight, which a lot of us could do.
Lyle, I’m among those who should lose some weight. I’ve gained nearly 10 pounds during the pandemic and I’m having a helluva time getting rid of it. A bad back doesn’t help with that either.
I’ve done the sit out back thing with the cup of coffee and the camera ready. Great fun. I was not aware till an earlier column that they eat anthropods in addition to taking in the nectar. This is the time of the year that I start to see them showing up here so would not be surprised if some from your area stop here on their way south.
I wouldn’t be surprised either, Everett. If you see any of ‘mine” tell them hello for me. And that next year they should hang around here a little longer.
I understand exactly where you are coming from. I used to live in Colorado and always spent time in the fall watching the hummingbird wars as I knew they birds would soon be gone. I now live in Tucson and we are fortunate to have them year round. If you need a winter hummingbird fix let me know and I’ll hook you up.
Thanks for the offer, Stephen!
I just heard from a friend who said there’s still a “few” Rufous around. Not in my yard though.
I enjoy it when you “ramble on”—it’s nice to get a glimpse of the interesting
person behind that big lens, and to understand a little of his life and motivations! All of your subjects are fascinating and beautiful/handsome ( I
was just thinking of the Turkey Vultures ), but they’re not talkative– a quality
which is a mixed bag with most humans– but I welcome it from YOU.
Much appreciated, Kris.
I used to do a lot of talking when I was teaching of course but back then I could read the faces of my audience and pretty much tell what they thought of my presentation – and make adjustments accordingly.
Here I don’t have that luxury.
I always admire your photos. These are beautiful. But it was that special story that really did it for me today. When I finished reading, I said out loud…..”That was such a nice story” …. Thanks for a beautiful way to start my day here on the sweltering East Coast.
I appreciate your comment very much, Lynnette. When I tell stories like that I’m always afraid I ramble on too much.
Here in central Illinois we have the ruby throated hummingbird. Mine are still here and will begin to leave around Labor Day. I, too, will miss them.
Cindy, my Black-chinned are still here too. I’m going to enjoy them while I can.
Lovely shot of the Rufus. 🙂 They ARE fun to watch tho can startle a bit when they “get in your face”. 😉 None for us this year so far and getting “late”. The “surprises” in photos are always fun. I’ve picked up insects in Water Lilies I was photographing as well as a surprise fish lurking underneath. 🙂
Smoky again but not as hot which helps!
Thanks, Judy. That fishy surprise must have been fun.
I love this picture. It feels like the flower and the Hummer are equal co-stars in the presentation. Leaning in toward each other.
With the tiny beetle as a supporting actor!
You and Ron are funny 🙂 thx for the chuckles this morning!
Good to know, Terri. Thanks.
Porcupine, It’s surprising how another ‘actor’ in a photo can add another dimension, even when it’s tiny.