My first hummingbird shot....what kind of h'bird is it?

[Maddy McCall]

UPDATED POST, SPIDER ADDED:






Thanks to the two DUers who offered advice on shutter speed--it helped me capture a motionless image of this beautiful bird!

Anyone want to guess what kind of hummingbird this is? Or what kind of spider that is?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. No image there just a blank screen

[Maddy McCall]

3. Really? You can't see it?

Look again, and if you can't see it again, post and let me know so I can go do some tweaking.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. definitely can't see it...I do admit I need glasses now

but not that bad :D I really want to see it too...I am a bird enthusiast.

[cprise]

13. It's blank

.

[trof]

2. Wow! You have captured on film a rare

albino ruby throated hummingbird.
But where are you that it's snowing so hard?
;-)

[trof]

4. OK, I can't see it either.

[Maddy McCall]

5. Really??? Is it a rare bird?

Wow, I might ask that that be my avatar...the "rare bird" LOL!

Tell me more about her! Should I try to get some more shots?

I am in south Mississippi, and it isn't snowing--rarely does--but has been raining off and on. The white you see that looks like snow actually is the sun beaming through the tree canopy in the background.

[amazona]

71. it is common, especially right now and esp. this year

I am in Southeast Louisiana, and I cannot believe the huge numbers migrating through my small yard this year. They also breed in this area but the birds coming through now are migrants. Keep your feeder up all winter. It is not unknown for Mississippi to catch some winter hummingbirds also.

On Edit-- not a "her." This is an adult male.

Adult females will have clean light or white looking throats and noticeable white spots on the tips of their tails.

Mostly adults moving through right now so I won't confuse the issue with immatures.

Most (if not all) hummingbirds you will see in Mississippi are Ruby-Throats but don't stop looking; several other species migrate from the west to the east for the winter. A few "winter" hummingbirds have already been seen in SE Louisiana, having arrived as early as August; most arrive October or later. I'm not on the Mississippi discussion group, so I'm not sure if they have any winter birds yet.

I wish I could figure out how to photograph some of my zillions of hummers. You did a fine job.

[deek]

6. tsk tsk

shame on you

[trof]

8. Well jeez

I didn't know.
Hey Julia. I was kidding.
I just saw a white screen.
Like a white hummingbird in a blizzard?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. ROFL!

I thought it was a portrait of Republican power brokers.

[Maddy McCall]

20. My friends admire my academic record but say that as far as real-world...

situations, I am an honorary blond. LOL!

But most of those of us who choose to reside in the fantastic world or academia are idealist eccentrics, right? That's why we CHOOSE to hang our hats here, instead of out there in the nasty real world.

[trof]

28. OK. I just gotta gotta do this.

Did you know the word "gullible" is NOT in the dictionary?

[Maddy McCall]

32. Yes it is...

I just went and checked. It's an adjective, and the thesaurus has the following synonyms listed:

innocent, green, simple, credulous,unsophisticated (gasp!), naive, unsuspecting, unwary, unsuspicious, wide-eyed, born-yesterday, inexperienced (definitely NOT me--hehe), immature.

Ok--ya had your fun, now move along...LOL!

:loveya: too, Trof.

[trof]

36. you are toooooo much

and a damned good sport.
Thanks for the grin.

[BlueJazz]

7. I don't see it either or...

...I'm making a fool out of myself!

[trof]

15. Maybe it's like the emperor's new clothes?

;-)

[roughsatori]

9. Just tried at 4:32 PM EST and still blank

but I bookmarked and will come back later. I like hummingbirds and photos.

[ForrestGump]

12. Maybe it's overexposed?

I'll be back to check, too...

It's the most anticipated hummer in DU history!

[trof]

14. Hummingbird, hummingbird should be your name

Too restless to settle too wild to tame
Too restless to settle too wild to tame
Hummingbird, hummingbird should be your name

Hummingbird, hummingbird winging along
No tender young blossom can hold you for long
No tender young blossom can hold you for long
Hummingbird, hummingbird winging along

You'd hug me and kiss me like others I've known
You'd promise to love me and call me your own
Then all of my dreams would be shattered apart
By the hum hum of your hummingbird heart

Hummingbird, hummingbird, feathered so fine
If I clipped your wings it would not make you mind
If I clipped your wings it would not make you mind
Hummingbird, hummingbird, feathered so fine

Hummingbird, hummingbird, fly right on by
Some folks like to gamble but darling not I
Some folks like to gamble but darling not I
Hummingbird, hummingbird, fly right on by

I'd rather be lonely, I'd rather be blue
Yes, I'd rather spend my whole life without you
Then feather a nest to be shattered apart
By the hum hum of your hummingbird heart
By the hum hum of your hummingbird heart
;-)

[Maddy McCall]

16. OK, ENOUGH POKING FUN AT ME, YOU CADS, GO LOOK NOW!

I changed photo hosts. Look and see what you think now. If it doesn't work now, then eff it, I give up and mods can remove my thread, or not, since it turned out to be more humorous than I expected!

for picking on me! LOL!

[BurtWorm]

Relax, jchild. Those are beautiful shots!

The I guess the bird is a rubythroated hummingbird. Don't know about the spider. Is that a digital camera?

[Maddy McCall]

26. I was joking with my venomous retort...

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT! I :loveya: all my DU buddies!

I used a Canon G2 camera, set the aperture on 5.6 and the shutter speed on 1/1000--I think. And I put the camera in "macro" mode.

It is honestly a great little camera. I bought it on www.pictureline.com and would recommend this retailer to anyone interested in any kind of photo stuff, because they sell what you want and don't try to force accessories on you. If you are in the market for a new camera and want to know more about them, pm me and I can tell you about how pleasurable my experience with them was.

I ordered the camera on a Monday night and it was delivered the following Wednesday morning, and I didn't even have to pay overnight fees.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

43. Tell ya what..the pic is FUCKING PHENOMINAL!

I have a friend who works at a zoological institute and I'll bet she'd be interested in having it.

[Maddy McCall]

51. PM me with her email address and I'll send it to her...

or with your email addy and I'll email it to you in the huge format.

I sized it down for posting here, but even in its huge format, the detail is sooooo crisp.

Lemme know...

[Mz Pip]

17. I can see it just fine!

That must have been really fast shutter speed to get the wing frozen in mid flap like that. Great shot!

MzPip
:dem:

[trof]

18. Looks like a ruby throated.

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i4280id.html

on edit: male. The female doesn't have the red throat.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. I will double check...with the red tie on it's neck this may very well

be a Xantus hummingbird. They are most commonly found in Mexico, but I believe their most common home is the Gulf of Mexico so it would make sense that it may have migrated to where you are.

on edit: The thing that is throwing me is that Xantus usually have a bit more green, less brown and the red extends further to the chest.

[trof]

22. Ruby throats are fairly common down here.

So that's my guess.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. Upon further contemplation and a brief browse at my Petersen's guide

I concede the point :D

[trof]

27. It ain't like I'm an expert.

I don't think I could name another variety of hummingbird. I know we get others besides ruby throats at our feeders, but I sure couldn't tell you what kind.
Besides, it takes one redneck to recognize another.
hee

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. *snicker*

prolly why I got it wrong.

[ForrestGump]

41. You've got a Peter Sin's Guide?

Anything in it that I might not have tried yet? :D

[ForrestGump]

21. Nice shot! Shots, actually.

My first ID for the bird would be ruby-throated, but I don't know them too well. I'll join the others in searching for a definitive match.

I've seen the spider - have taken photos of the same species - but can't remember its name. I think it's one of the 'silk spiders.' I'll see about that, too...

[Maddy McCall]

23. Thanks Forrest and LeftPeopleFinishFirst for the advice on

camera settings. I was REALLY impressed that the wings were motionless in the photo. Thanks again for the wonderful advice! It is my first attempt at setting the camera myself and not relying on autopilot!

:loveya: thanks again!

[ForrestGump]

29. You did a great job!!!

That's really impressive - it can be tough to get pictures of these little beasties, even with a telephoto lens. *highfive*

[Maddy McCall]

35. *high five* back atcha n/t

[ForrestGump]

25. Gotta be ruby-throated....

http://www.gardenmosaic.com/ruby_throated_hummingbird.htm

This page lists all 17 North American hummingbird species,a nd the only similar one is the broad-tailed hummingbird, though its range is all wrong:

http://www.gardenmosaic.com/north_american_hummingbirds.htm

[trof]

30. Raise your hand if you thought

a post about hummingbirds would generate 30 replies.
<my hand is down>
Well done j.
;-)

[Maddy McCall]

38. LOL! Considering most of the posts weren't about hummingbirds...

but were about my naive responses to the first few responses...LOL! And I deserved all the fun-spirited jabs, and even laughed at myself...I was so deserving.

:loveya: all for taking the time to look at the photos and to brighten my day with your funny responses...I have been alone for three days with my leg propped up, so it is great to have you guys to talk to.

:loveya: DUers!

[trof]

39. jeez, I forgot.

How's the knee?
All better, I hope?

[Maddy McCall]

47. Much better...and the nausea stopped...

The Dr. thinks I got so sick, not from the pain pills, but from the morphine they shot me up with in recovery. Don't mean to gross you out, but I threw up for two days and had a booming headache, but woke up fine this morning. So, since it appears I had an allergic reaction to morphine, I guess demerol will be the drug of choice if I ever have surgery again--knocking on wood that I won't, though!

I feel so much better today---well enough to crouch by the window with the camera to take photos of the beautiful bird. It took about 30 minutes of me being there, and her buzzing by, before she became trustful enough to go to the feeder. Once she got used to me being there and saw that I wouldn't hurt her, she came and went at leisure.

Thanks for responding to this thread and playin' with me! I really needed these laughs to pull me out of the blue funk I have been in since surgery.

DUers are the greatest people on earth!

[ForrestGump]

50. Demerol's the stuff

:D

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better, too. And spending a bit of time with Nature definitely provides a good dose of healing power, for sure.

[Maddy McCall]

52. That's exactly how I felt...

healing power of nature...I agree with you on that!

I may make some photos of the deer in my fields and put them in the same album and post a link on DU...we don't allow anyone to hunt our property, so it is like a refuge to deer. It's not uncommon to see twenty of them together in the front field!

[trof]

54. Well, that's good to know.

Mrs. t. used to get racing heart and palpitations at the dentist. She thought everybody did. Found out she has a violent reaction to epinephren (sp?) which I think they put in the xylocane or whatever to reduce bleeding. Now the dentist doesn't use it and all is mo betta.

Our h'birds are so used to us they'll whack into you if you're too close to a feeder. Very territorial little flits.
Take care. Gotta go get ready for guests. I'm tending bar.
:hi:

[Maddy McCall]

56. Well send a cosmopolitan vibe my way...

would love to have a big cosmo sitting RIGHT by me right now, but can't drink until I am off the painkillers.

Have fun...:hi:

[trof]

59. Here ya go

Got a reprieve. Thought I needed to go for ice. Helen's been giving it to the roofers all day. Next door neighbor says his machine is full. Let's see, they arrive at 6, I shower at 5:30. No sweat.

[ForrestGump]

31. The spider is....

the black and yellow garden spider aka the yellow garden spider aka the black and yellow argiope aka the writing spider aka golden orb weaver (a name shared by others). Anyway, it's scientific name is Argiope aurantia.


http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/argiope/a._aurantia$narrative.html

[trof]

33. Oddly enough

there is one in the sago palm outside my window right now.

[ForrestGump]

37. Now you know how to speak to it in Latin, at least

:-)

[Maddy McCall]

42. Forrest, thanks for all the info on the spider...

when my bug man came to spray a couple of weeks ago, he told me he was headed out to spray the back porch. I told him not to go near the spider because I have enjoyed watching her...she has been with us for a month and a half now! He said that he never sprays them unless a client asks him to, and then he educates them on the value of having them around and tries to talk them out of killing them.

I think she is beautiful. She is as big as the palm of my hand, and when she sits on her web she is facing in through the window toward our den. We call he Charlotte, and she has kind of become a family pet. We will miss her when she is gone.

Thanks again for looking up all the great info!

[Maddy McCall]

44. And she has THREE MALES protecting 8 egg sacks on the borders...

of her three-foot by two-foot web. That is sooooo cool!

[ForrestGump]

48. I'm alerting Jerry Falwell! That's just wrong!!

Polygamous spiders - next Geraldo.

[Maddy McCall]

55. LOL! And they are tending to the babies while SHE brings home the

bacon--er--bug guts. Faux is sure to want to opine on THIS matter!

Maybe she's a reverse mormon spider? Or a Tibetan spider? LOL!

[ForrestGump]

68. I think Jerry's head just imploded...

Not that that's a bad thing... :-)

[ForrestGump]

45. No problem!

I'm the same way with big spiders that have lived around me (the most impressive so far being the massive and elegant golden silk spider, whose silk is the strongest known material on Earth and being studied as a replacement for Kevlar). Little spiders, too. The only ones I'll execute are black widows, because I don't appreciate them hiding in my clothes and the like, but I'll even spare them if I can capture them alive.

Spiders are our friends!

[Maddy McCall]

49. I live in the Deep South....

and I have my house sprayed preventatively for roaches, because once those boogers get in, you can't get rid of them!

Thank goodness we don't have any--but it's worth the 15 bucks a month to keep it that way. I ocassionally have a spider or two in the house, but not to the point of nuissance. The ones outside don't bother me, because (I like to believe) they kill mosquitoes, of which we have PLENTY!

Again, thanks for participating in this fun thread! (By the way, did you see Selma on David Letterman this week? Have you gone to see the new movie yet? I bet you will be first in line! LOL!)

[ForrestGump]

67. Yep, cockroaches are not my favorite things

...though, even when I've lived in areas where they're particularly prolific, I'll 'transport' them for their transgressions rather than terminate them with extreme prejudice. I'm decidedly less buddha-like when it comes to cockroaches and, of course, the only good mosquito is a dead mosquito.

And I missed Salma! She might even have been worth turning the TV on for, too. :-) New movie? Man, I really am out of touch.

She never calls me any more.... :-(

[Maddy McCall]

78. LOL! Well here's a link for you, Salma Lover:

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/onceuponatimeinmexico/index.html



By the way, she said on Letterman that she did ALL of her own stunts, because Antonio ragged her so badly about her "being a woman" and you know "girls can't do stunts."

I have never appreciated her until the Letterman show night before last (I think) but she is a sharp witted, nice lady!

Good choice, Forrest. I'll sing at your wedding no doubt?

[ForrestGump]

83. Cool!

I wonder how Antonio noticed that she's a woman? :-)

It looks like rather a cool movie, too. I've heard that "Desperado" was good (the second in this trilogy) and so I should probably catch that one, too - it helps that I think Antonio Banderas is supercool, too.

Yes, indeedy, Salma's always seemed very intelligent and down-to-earth, and those are attractive qualities in anybody. I'll make sure you're on the invitation list. :D

Thanks!

[Maddy McCall]

85. Uh, no, I am SINGING...write that down..."jchild is singing at my wedding"

LOL!

[ForrestGump]

87. Okay...done!

Is it too early to request specific songs? :-)

[Maddy McCall]

88. No, I will choose the songs....

the first will be Debbie Boone's "You light up my life" followed by Simon and Garfunkel's "Like a bridge over troubled water."


http://www.geocities.com/ystradband/bridge.html


Then, at the reception, I will finish it up with Hank Jr.s "Whiskey bent and hell bound."

How's THAT sound? :toast: LOL!

[ForrestGump]

91. That sounds like quite the shindig!

Yee-hah!




Gosh....maybe I should meet her first, though... :D

[Maddy McCall]

40. Gotta camera? Go take a pic...

I bet my spider's bigger than your spider! LOL! And she's feasting on a little bug right now...I might get a shot of that and post later.

[trof]

46. got no digital

and no scanner, but my spider looks just like yours. We call them banana spiders. Just went out for a closer look and there are also some tiny black spiders with minute reddish orange dots on back and end. Looks like everybody's chowing down.

[carpetbagger]

53. Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The red gorget (ruby throat) is the most obvious, but the black cheeks, overall color, gorget-breast interface and gorget feather pattern, tail color (as much as can be seen) and pattern of the white marks around the eye exclude a different hummingbird. Black-chinned Hummingbirds, a close western relative, winter in small numbers in the central Gulf states, but usually the color is more purple-amethyst, and then only at a more direct angle. At that angle I'd expect that bird to have a black-appearing chin, like a Ruby-throated at a more oblique angle. Even at that, RT is much more likely in Mississippi.

I'm positive it's a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

[Maddy McCall]

57. Thanks for affirming what I suspected...

I thought she was a ruby throated...and even bought into the earlier poster's theory that she was albino! LOL!

[carpetbagger]

66. He.

It's a he.

P.S. Albino and leucistic ("subalbino") hummingbirds are usually pretty, well, white, like these...

http://www.hummingbirds.net/albino.html

[rasputin1952]

58. Excellent shots!...

Although I am not a "spider person", this is a great shot. Question:
was there a storm coming, or at least a pretty stiff breeze? It looks to me like she 'anchored' her legs for some potent weather. I'm curious, because most garden spiders will bee pretty 'free' so they can move in on the vibrations relatively quickly, don't want to go hungry iof you can avoid it!

As for the Hummingbird. I am no ornithologist, but I would go with Ruby-throated, a common species, and female because of the somewhat bland coloring. Generally, in the bird world, the males are the more colorful, to attract mates; but the female is more bland, to avoid predators. Males are somewhat expendable, females keep the balance, if they are subject to predation, end of species. Can you find a nest? should be pretty small, with eggs smaller than half a pinky nail. If you do find the nest, try not to actually touch it, the birds may sense a threat if they detect your scent and abandon it.

In any case......Excellent pic's!!!

[Maddy McCall]

60. The spider was anchored in because...

I opened the window to take the photo, and she immediately began vibrating her web so that it was kind of trampolining in and out.

In the article that ForrestGump linked somewhere in the above posts, the author states that this is common behavior for these spiders when they feel threatened.

Anyway, I made several shots of her--I mean REALLY close ones with the lens only a few inches from her body--and she didn't feel threatened enough to drop to the ground...she stood her place.

Right now she is feasting...eating bugs.

As for the hummingbirds, I would love to see the nest, but am recuperating from knee surgery, so I can't go out. We have nuthatches here, though, and they build nests on our front porch--indeed, one built a nest inside the wreath on my front door once. I moved the wreath with the nest in it to a spot beside the door, and the mama nuthatch continued to construct it, laid and sat on her eggs, and soon we had baby nuthatches bounding everywhere.

We also have indigo buntings, orioles, mockingbirds, bluebirds, blue jays, cardinals, doves, pheasants, and all kinds of birds here on our place.

I am not a bird-watcher--just very casually watch them--but am considering becoming more serious in developing this as a hobby. Birds are cool little creatures!

Thanks for the post, rasputin!

[catzies]

72. Wow, you are blessed with birds all right!

You're lucky to be in the Deep South with all that nature to enjoy! I miss that.

Southern California where I am, is quite different. If you've seen one tumbleweed, you've seen them all!

But we have hummingbirds that come up from Mexico, and one of these little guys has staked his claim on the feeder in the back yard and chases away all comers. For such tiny little things, hummingbirds are quite fierce.

[rasputin1952]

89. Thanks for the reply...

and you have quite the bird population out there!

Most of what are around here, are Robins, Starlings and Grackles.
There are a few Cardinals, but they are pretty rare. Pheasants and turkeys abound in the netherlands; as well as the usual nuthatches, finches and swallows.

I got into bird watching, when I had a swallow build a nest under one of the eaves of the house. Man, as coola s adult swallows are, those chicks put a whole new meaning to Ugly!

If you get a chance, or if you already have them, get the binoculars that you are comfortable with, and you will see things that will amaze you. I saw movement in some grass, got out the binocs, and saw a deer fawn that couldn't have been more than a few hours old! Mama was about 10 yards from the fawn keeping watch, but it took me 5 minutes to find her! They are really good at find camoflauge.

BTW, isn't the natural world just way too cool?!

Hope your knee gets better quickly!

:hi:

[Oilwellian]

61. Wanna see a teeny tiny hummingbird nest w/eggs?

Check out this website:
http://community-2.webtv.net/hotmail.com/verle33/HummingBirdNest/

That's a gorgeous shot of a ruby-throated hummingbird jchild. I just love the little creatures and continually feed them throughout the summer.

[Maddy McCall]

63. Wow...isn't the photo of her sitting on the nest just adorable?

I would LOVE to capture that with my own camera! What a once-in-a-lifetime shot!

[Oilwellian]

75. Did you also see....

the little babies in the nest on the next page? Awwww. :D

[Maddy McCall]

77. Tiny little things...

How does she ever keep up with them???

[nuxvomica]

62. That humminbird shot is unreal

Bravo! Notify National Geographic.

[Maddy McCall]

64. I don't know about natgeo, but I thought about...

submitting it to our local newspaper. Do you think that's crazy? REally, honest opinion...please?

[ForrestGump]

69. Nope - I think it'd brighten up the front page as a color shot (or,

indeed, anywhere within even as a monochrome). They should pay, at least a bit, but if you don't want to navigate the treacherous waters involved in exploring that issue, at least make sure that they give you a photographer's credit.

Could be an interesting secondary career coming on here, you never know! :-)

[Maddy McCall]

76. WOW! Thanks for the kudos!

I have always loved taking photos, and my ideal side-line occupation would be making portraits of children.

But, alas, one of my dear friends is a local photographer who struggles to make ends meet, and I certainly would not want to play any role in harming his business.

Again, thanks for the esteem booster, FG!

:loveya:

[ForrestGump]

82. You never know, maybe you can HELP his business!

You're obviously a good writer, so if you can come up with article ideas that coincide with his photographic portfolio (or potential easily-shot subjects) you two could collaborate and pitch a few to magazines. The worst that can happen is that the article would be rejected (then you just pitch it somewhere else) and, as an academic professional, I'm sure that you're used to rejection! (let me clarify here: I mean of peer-reviewed manuscripts, grants, and the like :-) )

And if you want to get your own photos into print, writing an article to carry them is the best way. Good news for you, too - it's all digital these days, anyway. Oh, and I have a friend who produces great portraits of children (and children with parents) - it's a very lucrative sideline and he also really enjoys it!

[nuxvomica]

96. Yes. That would be a good shot for your local paper.

I would submit it to them but retain all the rights. :thumbsup:

[alfredo]

65. The Ruby throated is the only Hummingbird east of the

Mississippi, unless some have started migrating east. that happens with some species. I made a positive ID on a Flicker unknown in Kentucky. So maybe there is a chance other western birds including hummingbird find their way east.

the Garden Spider is beautiful.

[amazona]

74. not so, many hummingbirds migrate west to east for winter

Prior to 1970, it was commonly believed that Ruby-Throat Hummingbird was the only hummingbird to occur east of the Mississippi, with only a few occasional incursions by Rufous.

There are at least 8 other species now proven to occur east of the Mississippi. They do not breed here. They come to the Gulf Coast area for their winter holidays. They are very well documented in Louisiana and Alabama, where there are many expert hummingbird banders. But Mississippi gets them as well. Hell, New York gets winter hummingbirds, for that matter! If people do not leave their feeders up, they are not going to see them, because the birds will go to sapsucker wells in rotten trees in forested areas. If you want winter hummingbirds, put out plants that flower in winter and put out feeders for them. If you do, they will come. I have already hosted Calliope Hummingbird in my yard, the smallest U.S. hummingbird which I previously had to visit Arizona to see!

Many people in northern states harass their winter hummingbirds by capturing them and bringing them indoors for the winter. In days gone by, people even tried to arrange to ship the hummingbirds south. No. Do not interfere with your winter hummingbirds. They know what they are doing. A certain number in any given species appear to have "explorer" genes which allow them to seek out new territories and which will likely make it easier for them to adapt to climate change.

That said, I am confident that this bird is an adult male Ruby-Throat.

P.S. Keep in mind, "winter" starts in August for hummingbirds, in fact, this year's first "winter" hummingbird in south Louisiana arrived in July. But...most "winter" birds will be seen in October or later.

[catzies]

90. Our California hummingbirds due in the fall came early too!! July!!

Critters' systems are very sensitive to their environmental changes and this is how it manifests. :scared:

[Maddy McCall]

79. Really? I have seen four different kinds at my feeder. n/t

[amazona]

70. it's an adult male Ruby-Throat

I can't help you on the spider. We have some around here too. I suspect they are hoping to catch some of the Ruby-THroat hordes currently migrating through.

[Maddy McCall]

80. LOL! Could be so...A link about the spider in one of ForrestGump's post..

said that they can trap and eat things many times their own size.

Let's hope the spider and the bird never shall meet. :-)

[ForrestGump]

84. I don't know if it's true of the golden silk spider that I've

lived around (I think they may be in your area, too - they're gigantic and they weave massive, 3D webs of coppery-gold silk that's incredibly thick and strong) but at least one species of Australian silk spider routinely traps small birds in its web and dispatches them accordingly.

Yep, let's hope the little hummingbird doesn't make a wrong turn, just in case.

[ForrestGump]

86. Some sites claim that the golden silk spider can catch birds

but I do know that their Australian sibling species can. Here's a nice page of info if anyone's interested. They think that the species' silk has massive potential for ultra-lightweight bulletproof clothing (becoming more and more useful I'm afraid), surgical materials, construction materials, etc:

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/nephila/n._clavipes$narrative.html

And this link gives a really nice picture:

http://www.abnc.org/Gallery/POW062303.htm

I find these animals pretty fascinating. Wouldn't want to have one walking about in my hair, mind you, but, still...

[SPICYHOT]

73. the bird i know how its called

in spanish: colibri, picaflor, its mean that it goes from flower to another. We call picaflor to the guys that like to have a lot of girlfriends. About the spider, ask spiderman

[Maddy McCall]

81. I guess Forrest is spiderman, because he identified it...

some fabu research skills on his part, I might add! :-)

[Skip Intro]

92. beautiful bird, scary a** spider

I am in awe of and love with the creatures of this earth, with a few exceptions. Spiders are one, two and three.

[Kat45]

93. Those are beautiful photos.

I'm particularly partial to the one of the bird--I love birds, only tolerate spiders.

[PittPoliSci]

94. its a beautiful hummingbird!

don't know the specifics, but great shot!

[Maddy McCall]

95. Thanks...

the concensus is that it is a ruby throated hummingbird. Sounds good to me! Don't know if it's a mama or a papa though.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

97. I am glad to have helped

:)