Friday, August 21, 2009

Backyard Hummingbirds

This first is just using the default close-up settings. You can tell this is a little Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, but not much else is clear. I decide to experiment with settings. This second fellow is a larger bird, but the little fellow doesn't mind mixing things up with this one. They fight all day, though the feeder has four perches. Silly birds.

My best hummingbird picture so far. I am standing inches away. They don't seem to mind me.

9 comments:

JBinford-Bell said...

Very nice picture. We are currently having the Rufus Hummingbird wars here. Beautiful copper colored buzzers that will guard the feeder from even their own mates.

I let a feeder run out and yesterday went to fill it. I have learned to take the mixture to the feeder rather than the reverse because the Rufus will even fight me for it.

Should I get hazardous duty pay?

Bekkieann said...

Yes, they are amazingly aggressive for such tiny creatures. I love to watch them take off after each other at speeds of, what, 100 mph? And suddenly stop on a dime, look around, and then take off again just as fast. It must be fun to be a hummingbird!

heatherbelle said...

beautiful shot...

I have never seen a hummingbird.
Our backyard visitors are of a different breed, noisy and boisterous like a lot of aussies...lol.

Anonymous said...

lovely pics! the first is great because it IS blurry - this gives an impression of movement. the second is remarkable because it is so still - the bird is just sitting in mid air

Bekkieann said...

Heatherbelle, it is so funny that I always think of Australia as the place of exotic animals, and I never thought there might be some small exotic thing here that you don't enjoy there.

Meredith, anything that turns out right with my photography is pure accident. I intend to learn more about my camera's many capabilities and maybe I can have more predictable results. Thank you for your sweet comments.

Michael said...

Great photos B and having humming birds in your yard seems so exotic to this Limey...smiling.

Bekkieann said...

I guess I thought hummingbirds were found everywhere. I do love these tiny birds. The blurry fellow is just over 3 inches. The other is maybe 4 inches or so. It tickles me to stand so close and they are not afraid of big me.

By the way, hummingbirds do not hum. They sort of whirrrr, when they fly by. But they also chirp and chatter almost squirrel-like. No singers that I've heard.

The Blog of Bee said...

Now I know why you are having lunches in your garden. Beautiful!

Bekkieann said...

It is a nice escape and especially nice when the weather is mild like it has been (mostly) this summer.