Hummingbird Adventures # 13

Time for a new page on this thread. We had some interesting photos and stories to share on the last page of this thread. If you've just discovered this thread or you missed any of the "back story", I encourage you to follow the links back to the beginning.

This is where we came from: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1002745/

This thread is meant for hummer lovers to share their stories and photos, and comments. We don't mind the blurry photos, we do love the attempt. Some of us, (not me), have great cameras, and bless their hearts, they share. I have been able to get some decent photos with my little point and click camera, but I've got to be honest and say that there are days when I'm just happy to get a flash of color. Faster than a speeding bullet, hummers are!
Everyone has fun, and we like to chat too! Feel free to share your photos, and experiences. Everyone is welcome!
(My second photo of a Black Chinned Hummer (BCH), on the 22nd.)

Walk In Beauty!
SingingWolf

I really like your h.bird/oriole feeder photo. The oriole was pretty too, KC.
The little BCH made it to the feeder. Whew! Zippy didn't want to let him use it. Ha ha!

Sweetie Pie, was being shy, but I still like this photo.

Zippy doesn't look happy.

Do believe that this is Zoom, even if his head looks black. I am basing this on his markings. I also remember him cussing me out that day.

Another of Zippy.

The BCH came back.

He was followed by Zoom, see the markings on his head? There is some color too! : )

Here he is feeding.

The "I own the feeder perch!" pose.

Sweetie Pie?

Got one of Zippy, not covering her face with her wing! You have no idea how many I delete because of the wings covering their faces. Sigh! : )

A BCH sneaks in for a quick meal.

This hummer spent most of the day flying back and forth at the top of the gh. The rest of the time, it was pretending to be a lightbulb. Or hiding from me behind it. Not this time though!

Two critters sharing the feeder. Hummer keeps distance from the wasp.

I noticed that Zippy was working the small crevice between the feeder and the flower. You know, when the cleaning the feeder, that is where I find really small bugs. I am thinking she was eating really small bugs in this photo.

Different photo, but same activity.

Still imitating a lightbulb, this one was taken from outside the gh. You can clearly see how they have entered and exited the gh through this frozen open vent. Incredible!

Love this photo!

This one came out pretty too!

Feeding.

Twofer!

They decided to get along and share. : )

I like this one of Zoom, because you can see a bead of nectar on his beak.

Much better photo of Zoom.

Odd photo.
After discovering that they were using the skewer I was using to "plug" one of the feeder holes for a perch and half the nectar on the concrete the next day, I made it too short for them to use as a perch. Besides they were perched (as this photo shows) to hide from me. I do remove the plug when not taking photos.

Another photo of Zoom.

Back to collecting gnats.

Got lucky. Color!
Faster than a speeding bullet! LOL!

Last one for now.
I saved the best for last. : )
More later on today or tomorrow.
WIB,
SW

Nice to see your little family sitting down to a meal together, SW!

BTW, my windows are as dirty as can be. It just doesn't show up on the photos, I assume because of the depth of field. They need cleaning badly - just think, my photos might improve! The screen gets horribly dirty because I keep the window open and with our birds preening all the time, the dust collects on them - you have NO idea! LOL!!

Don't have any pictures, but I'm watching!! What fun!

Surely you jest, KC. I live on a farm. Sometimes I think our best crop is the dust. It collects all over everything. I warn people not to wear white here, because it will go home dirty. I have dust devils go through my house, no joke! I know dirty windows and yours are a lot cleaner than mine.
What is a little critter dander on the screen, just vacuum it off. No big. That's how Barbara used to handle it.
If you have the energy to clean the windows, don't use ammonia spray (not around the birds), use white vinegar and newspaper. Go side to side on one side when drying with the news paper and up and down on the other side of the window. Then we'll be able to see how much your photos improve! (You know I'm teasing you, right?) : )
Sally, sometimes like today I just watch them. Actually both yesterday and today, I forgot where I left my camera and then it was too late or I got distracted. Didn't stop me from enjoying them anyway.
I tried to get my act together and take photos of hummers today, but worked on other things instead. I guess it means you got to wait until tomorrow. Here's the only decent photo I got today.
Trickster.
WIB,
SW

Yep, haven't dumped my camera yet, going to put a new card in it tomorrow. hahaha I changed the feeders today, so have to wait now til they settle down. I was watching today (in passing) and one of them let me know I needed to fill the feeder. LOL

SW, your photos are great!! You should feel proud of yourself on getting some really great photos. It's so hard to get the wings stopped long enough to see them and you've been doing just that. Pat yourself on the back girl!!

Thanks for the attagirl, duc. I take hundreds of photos sometimes. Then I trash most of them. Sometimes I keep one if it's shape appeals to me, even if blurry.
I have been trying to get out and take photos, but you know how life is. Some days all you can do is watch them. Today, when it was too dark to take photos I saw a couple of the BCH's. I watched them fly through the open vents in the gh because Spirit (my pup), moved. It was funny.
Noticed a lot of activity around the h.bird plants in the front yard. Have to figure out a good blind so I can get photos. They crack me up.
You hear the hum or Zoom of their wings sometimes they remind me of swordfighters sparring with their beaks. They fly up, and back and forward, then down and crosswise. I've watched them start their battle in the front yard with them ducking and weaving through the plants then up and over the roof of the house. Before I can blink, they are jetting back at a lower level along the side of the house and back out to the front. They do this several times. Eventually one gets tired and hides in the strawberry bush/tree.
I'm waiting for a chance to get another photo of them eating from the flowers and not the feeders. Really liked your photo of the hummer feeding on the torch(?).
Sally, I hope we are both lucky enough to get photos of hummers tomorrow. It's supposed to be really hot here, so I'll have to turn on the mister. They like that. : )
Hope you have a great weekend and your hummer friends show up and pose nicely for their photos! LOL!
Maybe some of our lurkers will post their photos. That would be nice too! : )
WIB,
SW

Had a couple of visitors this evening, so I stopped doing dishes and ran for the camera. Luckily 1 of them was really hungry!!

Stayed for quite a while.

This is the one that ran it off. It was fun watching the duel going on all around the yard.

Great shots, Sally---love the one with the shadow!
I was out yesterday morning when one of the little girls decided she just HAD to belly up to the bar, and it was OK that I was 2 feet away. I couldn't breathe, let alone run for the camera! She sat there and noshed and looked at me for about a full minute. LOVE when that happens. Just wish I could have had an out of body experience, and gotten photos....LOL!!