Didn’t forget the Hummingbirds!

More wee things!

My love of hummingbirds continues and why not? I didn’t do as much photography with them as I have in the past, but if the light is good and I’m on the deck, the camera is usually to hand. Probably these are mostly photos of the same bird, but I know there are a couple of females around. They fight and chase each other all the time so it’s sometimes chaotic up there in the flowers.

Even though I might have some additional shots that are good and in focus and all that, I try to find different poses and aspects since they are pretty bendy and change shape a lot while they hover and flit.

Sadly none of the shots of the males worked at all. Blurry or bad poses or something that just made me toss them. And since they don’t seem to either stick around as long or visit the flowers as much, I didn’t get as many opportunities with them as the girls. I did get some testing out the other types of flowers on offer though. Mostly it’s the new fledglings that try out everything as they learn what to eat and what they really like, so this might be a youngster here –

And check out this spider bailing out from a hummingbird attack!

Hummies eat a fair amount of spiders and insects, not just nectar. Gnats are among the bugs they go after and I’m happy they do. Gnats are so horrible and maddening. Get to eating little birds!

Here’s another possible juvenile trying out this deep purple annual. Not sure if it was to taste, but I love that I got one in a slightly different environment.

So that’s it for my Ruby-throats this year. No actual ruby throats on display, but maybe next year I’ll get lucky with the boys. Am writing this just after Labor Day so no doubt they are putting on fat reserves for the long migration to Mexico, Panama and other parts south! They usually go when the flowers start fading, the nights get cold and the insects die off. Temporary visitors whose stay is short, but so, so welcome.