Trumpet vine is also called hummingbird vine, for good reason.
I have a huge, 18′ tall trumpet vine climbing up my brick fireplace on the east side of my house. Trumpet vines love hot weather so this summer that thing has gone crazy with blooms and the hummingbirds in my area, including the hummers that have been nesting in my neighbor Shane Smith’s yard, are beginning to take full advantage.
So yesterday morning I decided to take ‘full advantage’ myself by pulling up a chair, sitting on my deck with my photo gear on my tripod in front of me, and seeing if I might get lucky.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I got quite a few shots I like, even though the shooting conditions were more difficult than I anticipated. Most of the flowers are facing the sun so when hummers are feeding on their nectar the birds usually have their backs to me. And man, are those flowers ever bright in direct sunlight, to the point that the intensity of their color can overwhelm the hummers feeding on them, especially the less colorful females like this Black-chinned Hummingbird (I think).
Light causes another problem. During the early morning a different neighbor’s very large elm tree intermittently blocks the sun so I also have to get lucky with timing. A hummer has to show up on those occasions when I have good light on the trumpet vine.
Considering the conditions and my preferences I think this shot turned out pretty well. The flowers aren’t as bright as they often are, hummer and flowers have the dark background (trees on the other side of the street) that appeals to me, I have very good separation between the bird and the blooms and I like the bird’s posture and wing position.
I’m thinking (hoping) that if I begin my photo sessions at the trumpet vine a little closer to sunrise in the future the color intensity of the flowers won’t be quite as bright as it is in many of the photos I took yesterday.
We’ll see how that turns out.
Ron
Note: Yes, I know that trumpet vines can be destructive to the structures they climb on. In my case the vine won’t hurt the brick of the fireplace but I have to keep a watchful eye on the vines that spread to adjacent parts of my house. Hopefully this fall I’ll feel safe on a ladder again after surgery so I can do some pruning.
I always learn something new from you! Thanks for camera settings❤️❤️
I’l take it! 🙂 Apears it’s just hanging there rather than flying…..
103 at the moment – missing that tree big time! Also a bit of smoke – an annoyance I’m hoping will disaapear for a morning while Mike is here so we can fly over/along the Chinese Wall.
Judy, I’ve seen some of the pics Mike has been posting. Very impressive, especially from that elevation.
That is a wonderful photo Ron in spite of the various difficulties with too much brightness as well as shade etc, but good for you to take a morning off from your long haul photo trips and enjoy the backyard.
Thanks, Everett.
Love Love Love!!! Feel so fortunate to be in the Rufous migration path here in N Arizona. Watching two Allens fighting off 15 Rufous at the feeder provides all-day entertainment! Only lasts a couple of weeks … SO Much Fun 😄
Kathleen, I’m disappointed that I still haven’t seen a Rufous this year.
They arrived at least 2 weeks later than last year. Not sure why – no rain? High temps? Hopefully they will teach you soon!
Teach = reach
What a beauty. I am sure that I would spend a lot of my time at home revelling in their presence.
Perhaps you could however think about hiring someone to do your pruning. Ladders are dangerous places. Himself’s relatives have had several trips to hospital (more than one each) after clambering up them (though admittedly there were older than you are.
It may come to that, EC. I’m pretty chicken on ladders anyway.
Might be a female Anna’s hummingbird
Charles, we’re out of range for Anna’s in northern Utah.
Might be an immature male black chin. srieson throat and maybe very little white on the third (?) retrix.
She’s ballerina of the air… and the soft-focus trumpet vine blossoms make a nice contrast to her sharp muted colors. Great moment!
Thank you, Elise.
Beautiful photo! I have a hummer visiting and I wasn’t sure if it was one or two (never saw two together) so I started taking photos with the idea I could identify two different birds. My photos are not sharp like yours. I am hand holding a canon with a 300 mm lens. And the bird is only about 10 feet away. Maybe there is just no hope. But I will increase my shutter speed on a bright sunny day and maybe that will help?
Jo, I’m sure a fast shutter speed will help significantly.
Really nice composition. It is so much easier when the birds come to you!
It sure is, Bruce. Cheaper too – it saves me a lot on gas money.
Exquisite photo! Merci beaucoup!! Do you sell prints?
Thanks, Mary. Occasionally.
Nice catch! This photo came together for all the reasons you have stated. My favorite part is the clarity of the wing feathers. You captured the wing beat at what most certainly was the the apex of the upswing; that millisecond pause before the downstroke.
Thanks, Michael. 1/5000 sec shutter speed didn’t hurt in capturing that wing position.
So Beautiful!! Kudos!
Thanks, Joanne.