Tags
Backyard Birding, Beauty, Bird feeder, birds, creation, hillside beach manitoba, Hummingbird, nature, photography, Ruby-throated Hummingbird
A couple of Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds have been buzzing our deck. They liked a lantern that has a picture of a hummingbird on the side. So, despite the danger of attracting bears, we decided to put up a humming-bird feeder.
Within a very short time we had some interesting territorial arguments and overhead skirmishes. Later things settled down and two females even shared the feeder at the same time. So just a few shots of these lovely and intriguing hummers.
Next time, the young JustRod looks for work.
You get such wonderful pictures, Rod!
We had two wonderful hummingbirds flitting under our pergola, diving in and out of the hanging baskets of flowers. They were a delight to watch but darted off before I could get a clear picture, so I’m really enjoying yours.
Glad you like the pics. Hummers are so much fun to watch.
Rod, these are excellent photos of the hummers. I like the different backgound colors. What lens and camera did you use for these and did not use a filter on your lens?
It’s an Olympus 500 dslr with a 300 mm zoom lens. I really need to upgrade to a 400 mm telephoto lens.
I played around with different aperture settings.
A friend and her husband years ago, said the Olympus was the best camera for the money. Your 300mm is doing a good job but a 400mm would really bring a subject in closer and of course you would not have to be quite as near to get a good shot. Thanks for the info.
I forgot to write that if you take the feeder down late afternoon- not dark that will deter the bears somewhat since I reckon they browse around at night more than in the daytime. You can hang the feeder back up in the mornings. I think that might be a partial or total way to keep the bears at bay. 🙂
Thanks for the bear advice Yvonne. It’s worth a try. Although our bears seem quite active in the mid-afternoon. That’s when our friend used to come for his daily dip in our pond.
But the bears may be more likely to come close to the cabin during the night. So we will give it a try.
Yes, it would be nice to have a 400 mm lens, but its not on the priority list at this point. Too many other ‘necessary’ things. 🙂
Ps. No filters used. Just a tiny bit of post editing
Superb photos, Rod.Your challenge for today, if you should choose to accept it, is to get the hummers in mid air without the feeder in the picture. I shall drop by tomorrow to see whether you have taken up the gauntlet.
Oh dear, I should have loved the challenge. Alas, we are back in the city and not near the hummers.
I think the challenge will be beyond my current capacity when I get back to the country. Really need the 400 tele. You should know it took four hours of hanging about with the tripod set up before the birds would light with me by the camera. They are not blind and I don’t have one 🙂
Very nice work, Rod. I have never even attempted photographing hummingbirds even though we also have a feeder. Small blinds are not terribly expensive and comfortable enough.
I’ll have to check out small blinds and find where we can get them locally. That would make a huge difference.
This is where I got mine but it is online. http://www.naturescapes.net/store/_search.php?page=1&q=blind The Walkstool Comfort is very handy in or out of a blind. 🙂
I believe Walmart also carries outhouse blinds.
Thank you again Steve. That’s my Christmas and birthday wish list taken care of.
I hope someone who ‘must be obeyed’ is reading this comment…
We are lucky to have a rich variety of birds to watch in our garden – but not humming birds – these little fellows seem so exotic to us Brits! Lovely captures, Rod, thank you.
WP is acting funny again
We are lucky to have a variety of birds to enjoy watching in our garden – but not humming birds – they seem so exotic to us Brits! Wonderful captures Rod, thank you.
Thanks Jenny: I’ve been over here 47 years now and they still seem exotic to me. Especially when they buzz past your ear and hover in front of you and stare with a very long sharp bill pointing straight at you.
WOWSERS! these are great photos Rod. I haven’t seen hummingbirds for years. They are such delightful creatures, it must be a joy to have them in the garden and be able to watch them.I loved yours and Yvonne’s comments about the bears – hummingbirds and bears, what an exotic combo 🙂 It’s starting to make Indonesia seem rather tame!
Thanks Lottie. We do love seeing the hummers and bears, deer, skunks, chipmunks, foxes, coyotes etc all wandering around and not to bothered by our presence. But I cannot imagine Indonesia seeming tame in comparison.
The only snakes we have are Garter Snakes, totally harmless. No scorpions or dangerous spiders
The most dangerous species is tics. Some carry nasty diseases and one variety of mosquito carries the West Nile virus. But apart from that its about as un-exotic as you can get.
Pingback: A Humdinger of a Challenge | Reflections in Puddles