Tag: hummingbirds

Spring Hummingbirds

I am continuing to fine tune my hummingbird garden and have planted some early blooming flowers. This is the second year I have had this pink bloomer in the garden. I can’t remember what it is called but the Hummingbirds are loving it. Some of my plants didn’t make it through the winter so this one with plentiful pink bells is providing the only flower nectar at this time. I have feeders out to help the birds, but I am not keen on photos of birds and unnatural feeders.

August is the best month with the multitude of the Rufous variety that migrate through here. At this time and into mid-summer I have to work harder and wait longer to get photos of the locals, Anna’s and Black-chinned hummers.

Hummingbirds use spider webs along with other material to build their nests. This is the first time I have caught them gathering the sticky web stuff.

Timing…

I wait all year for the 10 days of peak hummingbird activity in my backyard. Starting in May I have a few Anna’s and Black chinned Hummingbirds visiting my feeders and the early blooming flowers I’ve planted. They visit everyday but they are intermittent and hard to catch especially on flowers. I get the occasional photo but it’s nothing like that first week in August. At that time, in addition to the locals, the Rufous Hummingbirds migrate through, and the fireworks are on full display. Lots of hummingbirds, lots of aerobatic territorial fighting, several varieties of hummingbirds at the same time; in short, a hummingbird nerd’s idea of heaven.

This year wouldn’t you know it I called for Jury Duty and had to report on Monday. I prayed that I would get winnowed out through the selection process. But no, I unfortunately passed each hurdle and was seated on the jury for a trial that lasted all week. Not that I am not willing to do my civic duty, but I couldn’t help thinking not this week of all weeks. So, I missed this year’s peak week and sat in a windowless courtroom and Jury room for the entire week. I have still managed to get some captures I am happy with and there is always next summer.

and I am grateful for my freedom.

Hummingbird Fountain

I bought this fountain 3 years ago as people said hummingbirds found it attractive and would use it to bathe. Finches love it and use it often to drink and bathe in. I have only seen hummingbirds show rare interest in it and never when I had my camera. Finally I was sitting with my camera nearby when one drank from the bubbling top part of the fountain.

Jewels of the Garden

Hummingbird Feeding on Red Agastache

Hummingbirds are called the Jewels of the Garden or Jewels of the sky. It is easy to see why. As they flit through the colorful flowers the sun catches their brilliant, iridescent feathers giving them a gem like appearance.

Hummingbird and Pink Agastache

These birds are some of my favorite photo subjects. I have turned my backyard into a hummingbird, or pollinator garden as I have written about in the past. I love being able to hang out in my own space, no driving, complete privacy and unlimited time to devote to these tiny subjects.

Pollinator Heaven in Pink

I don’t know what impacted my flowers this year, but I have very few great photos of the Hummers with beautiful flowers. This is one I like. The flowers seemed to be stressed by the heat and bloomed early and faded fast. I still had a good showing of birds but just not the number of pretty flower and bird opportunities I’ve had in the past.

Hummingbird with Faded Monarda

Hummingbirds at Rest

When we think of hummingbirds we tend to think of perpetual motion, speed and agility. It may come as a surprise to read that they actually spend quite a bit of time perched and at rest. I hung two perches designed for Hummingbirds near a couple of the feeders I have in the backyard and they use them regularly.

Using the Perch

Hummingbirds are fiercely territorial so perching near food sources is common. They also conserve energy by doing this.

Perching on a Branch

The birds use a variety of perches around my backyard. Any bare branch is attractive to them. They also perch on dead flower stems.

Rufous on Flower Stem
Hummingbird on Dead Headed Bee Balm

I have several sculpture objects around the yard that are Hummingbird related and it is especially amusing to me when they perch on those.

Hungry Hummingbirds

I have been impatiently waiting for the migration of Rufous Hummingbirds to start. Finally on Saturday the birds seem to have arrived. I don’t know if climate change is affecting their timing but the last two years they have shown up about 10 days later then I am accustomed to seeing them and they have definitely been hanging around later in the fall until I am forced to take down freezing feeders. I think these Rufous make their way north in the spring up through California. We don’t see too many of them at that time.

We have locals, Black Chinned Hummingbirds, that quietly hang out in the backyard helping themselves to the feeders and early blooming flowers in spring and early summer. Then in August it gets wild with high numbers of Rufous battling over blooms and the feeders.

Rufous with Astagache Glowing Embers

It is challenging and fun to try to capture all the action with the camera. The birds soon become used to your presence if you sit quietly. They are apt to fly right up to your face and examine you at close range. I have read that they recognize people and learn to trust you.

Rufous with Desert Solstice Astagache

One of the challenges to getting a good photo is they are always chasing each other off the flowers. They are fiercely territorial and even though I am offering them a huge banquet of flowers and feeder choices they are quite protective of their food sources.

Hummingbird defending against attack from above
Pretty Pose

Better late than never. Enjoying the annual show these tiny titans are putting on.