The Fascination Continues

I've been so busy with work that I haven't had opportunity to stop and check how my new hummingbird feeder is working for our tiniest of neighbors.  However, today when I got home I noticed there were quite a few hummers in the neighborhood, all vying for a place at the watering hole.  I took a minute (actually, a FEW) to capture the moment...it REALLY does take a lot of patience to catch these beautiful creatures on camera!

In my experience and observation, hummers don't feed together very well...they buzz at each other and shoo away those who may be feeding to get their spot.  Who knows why, but this evening there were several hovering near, and none seemed to be in a fighting mood...they shared space and allowed me to capture action I've not been able to before now.

So enjoy the photos, and my apologies if I'm boring my readers with my love for hummers. By far they are one of God's most interesting creations to me and I so love to watch them!

 

 

Hummers3

Not to bore anyone, but here are more captures of my little hummers who are now visiting the feeder more frequently. It's definitely an art in patience to wait on these small creatures to arrive to feed!  If I am ever fortunate enough to get a zoom lens, it will certainly be easier!

Such a Diva

She's my baby. I chose her when she was only 6 weeks old and got her when she was 8 weeks old. The choice I had to make between her and her siblings wasn't difficult. She immediately hovered around my feet, growling in her puppy voice to warn the siblings to stay away. She claimed me, I guess, first and foremost.

I have spoiled her, no doubt. She loves attention and affection and demands it on a second by second basis. She is persistent to a fault and never takes no for an answer. She is constantly in motion, circling clockwise and running...unless it's first thing in the morning. Then, and only then, is she quiet and still as she snuggles beneath the bed covers. Eyes peeking out as I get dressed, she watches me and makes no move to get up until I am almost finished and I ask the magic question..."Want to go outside?"  Then she springs into action, tail wriggling so fast it makes her back end shake. 

Such a doll...such a baby.  My Zoe Girl.

Appreciate Little Things

Yesterday was our student graduation.  After weeks of preparation, and hours spent pulling all the elements of the ceremony together, I was really spent. I have ached so badly from the physical labor that went into this I just haven't been able to sleep well...but today it was worth it to see the kids have a nice ceremony and enjoy their special day.

We didn't get home until around 5 PM since we had the meet and greet sessions through lunch, a cake reception, and post-graduation meetings with our president...exhaustion was upon us both.  While Allan walked our girls, I checked emails and tried to unwind a bit. When he returned, he brought a simple, tiny, daisy wildflower to me and laid it on my desk...it was so sweet! It also inspired a quick photo session, even as tired as I was, to remember the moment.

I have a wonderful husband!

A Feeder By Any Other Name

I think birds are interesting creatures. What goes on in such a tiny little brain? How can they know when to fly, how to fly, where to look for food, and other such stuff? And isn't it even more interesting that we feel compelled to help them with food and shelter? 

 

I used to have a birdfeeder in a previous life...had to fight the squirrels to keep it filled with plump, delicious seeds for the birds. I loved watching each tiny bird as it swooped in to take a peck or two at the array of seeds that seemed so appealing.  Just so awesome to watch their activities!

So this little birdhouse caught my attention and just absolutely begged me to see it from my camera's point of view...which, of course, I did. I think I need to get another feeder and help those littlest of creatures in their efforts to live in this tough old world. 

Hummers 2

Update to my "Hummers" post...I now have my own feeder and I'm patiently staking out the territory to capture these incredibly interesting birds. The feeder went up late yesterday afternoon, so I really didn't have a good chance until today to start shooting.  Patience is, of course, the name of this game.  Here are a couple takes for today:

Hummers!!

All my life I've been fascinated with humming birds! So tiny, with wings that wave faster than the eye can see and such delicate precision to their eating!

Our neighbor has a hummingbird feeder and today I had the opportunity to stand and watch until I could capture a hummer on camera. Patience, focusing on the one spot in which this particular one kept hovering, waiting until it drank and then "stepped back" for a moment before diving in again...it was several minutes of trial and error to capture it. (ah-humm...NOW would be a great time for that Canon L series telephoto lens I've wanted for a lifetime!) There was a second hummer that kept barging in, and the two kept swapping swats with each other for food space.  They buzzed right by me, their wings singing loudly in a buzzy kind of way...awesome.

I'm going to get myself a feeder.  I need to be closer to these birds (since I don't have a telephoto lens) and I want to fine tune my capture of them on camera.  This will be a fun project!