August 2021
~Hummingbirds
Tag Archives: Hummingbirds
~Hummingbirds…
~Loveland, CO, July, 2018
Photos taken July 29th and 30th. I believe these are Rufous Hummingbirds.
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
I was experimenting with using Shutter priority on my Canon 70D, with a Tamron lens. I mostly always leave the camera setting on Aperture priority. I have a lot to learn about taking Hummingbird photos; it is enjoyable and a challenge.
~Safe Travels Little Ones
~Loveland, CO, October 6, 2017
Wednesday was the last time we saw the two Hummingbirds that have been with us for a long time. Drinking coffee yesterday morning we commented that “they must be gone”. During the day we kept watching for them, and when we didn’t see them again this morning we knew they must have begun their long journey south. I am glad, but sad.
I truly miss seeing them! They provided us with lots of entertainment this season.
This photo was taken back in April at South Llano River State Park.
“Travel safe, and I truly hope you make it to your destination.”
~Fun at home yesterday with my camera!
~Loveland, Colorado, August, 2017
During the last few days, some hummingbirds have found their way back to our yard. I made a batch of Hummingbird syrup (4 cups of water, 1 cup of sugar) and hung the feeder. Didn’t take long for them to start their display fights over this source of food.
This behavior of fighting over the feeder is fun to watch and provides great opportunities for photos; however it is also bewildering to me. Why do they spend so much of their energy chasing each other away when all they have to do is share?
~Rufous-Hummingbird (female)
~Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Always looking for in-coming rivals!
Enjoying some syrup without being harassed by bees!
The elusive male. I will capture a better photo of you, I promise. I wasn’t fast enough to focus on him. He seems to hide on the far side of the feeder, zips in to take a few sips then zips away. He never lights on a tree branch in the yard. Just wanted to show you – he is here.
~Western Swallowtail Butterfly
I put a little syrup in the top of the Hummingbird feeder to try and keep the Wasps and Yellow Jackets from drinking from the holes below. They harass the Hummers and were harassing this beautiful Swallowtail. It appears, from the photo below, that they are trying to sting the butterfly. Dam them!
I haven’t seen a butterfly drink from a Hummer feeder before.
Not a real sharp shot, but it is interesting. It decided to move down to drink from the holes, perhaps trying to get away from the bees. Notice how it is holding on to the feeder.
Notice the bee below the Swallowtail.
Something strange was happening over night. I put syrup in the feeder early each morning and the next morning it would be ALL gone. Not a drop left. I have the feeder hanging on a medal rod, which is suspended many feet off the ground. There is no way that it can be reached from the ground.
At first we thought Raccoons were somehow getting to the feeder from out deck, but since nothing else is disturbed and all the liquid is gone we now think it might be bats drinking from the feeder. That would be cool to see. We now take the feeder down every night.
~Western Cottontail
This photo speaks, peace, to me…
The last couple of years have been good to the rabbits in our area. I think their natural predators, because of increased building in the surrounding areas, have moved out. We use to see coyotes and fox passing through, but haven’t in awhile. However, we do have black bear and bob cats, which causes us to put the garbage can in the garage each night. Maybe they don’t like rabbit!
Header photo: Enjoying a moment at dusk.
A fun few hours taking photos in my yard. I hope you enjoyed them.
~Humm
Humm-ing-birds…
I believe, after much studying, that this beautiful little lady is a Rufous. I could be wrong, sometimes the only different between the females are tail length
Broad-tailed, notice the eye ring and the spotted cheeks.
“You talking to me.”
“Until next time, please keep putting food out for us migrating little beauties.”
