Hummingbird wars

[CC]

started at one of my feeders a couple weeks ago. So my camera has been on a tripod in the kitchen nook all ready to go, and stayed there. Has to move now though because we are ripping the kitchen out this week.

Day 1

Feeding time


Uh oh, I think there is an intruder.


Very short truce.


Poof a third showed up.


Of course I missed the two females taking off.


Day 2

Coming in for a landing.






Damn intruder is back.




Short truce. They are getting shorter each day.


Times up.


Sneaking another drink.


Finally chase her off...uh oh


He's back.


A few of the thousands of pics of these guys the last couple weeks. Most were not worth keeping. Next year I think I will get them used to the flash (and me) before the hummingbird wars start. I need better/more light than tree shade and a larger area of focus. And that is just to start.

[RevCheesehead]

1. These are stunning photos, CC!

You are so talented!

[CC]

3. Thanks Rev but a lot of it was

luck and repetition. Oh and good window-feeder placement.:rofl:

[livvy]

2. These pictures are awesome!

I love the second one and the second to last one. They are such cool birds. I love the sound they make, too.

[CC]

4. Hi livvy.

:hi:
I love watching them. Though they tend to buzz me when I am pulling weeds trying to chase me out of their territory.

[livvy]

5. I've only seen one this year so far.

It was zoning in on my trumpet vine.
Funny how some of the littlest birds can be the "fiercest". I have a wren nesting in the yard and she is fearless, gives me the business if I'm in her area.
I also used to have a chickadee that would come in the yard and raise hell until I'd get up to fill the feeder. It even landed on my head one time when I didn't move fast enough. When I'd go in the garage it would follow me in to supervise, and once landed on my back when I was bent over the seed bin. Loved that little bird!
Great job on the photos. You must be having a great time watching them!
:hi:

[CC]

7. These guys seem to love

the hummzinger mini feeder and it doesn't draw bees. I use sugar water in it. 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water though I add a tad of hummingbird food for the color right now. The birds have been going through about 2 refills a day lately so I can see when it is almost empty without disturbing them too much.
That chickadee sounds neat. You might of been able to get it to come to your hand. The paper had a pic of a kid with chickadees sitting on his hand eating. It took a long while and lots of patience to get them there though.
These hummers and the birds that hit the birdbath are turning me into a bird watcher. They are a bit of sanity in these insane days, and so fun to watch.

[DemReadingDU]

6. Awesome pics!

I love watching hummingbirds!

[Blue_In_AK]

8. They're so cute, CC...

I love the way their wings are just blurs. I've heard rumors that there are hummingbirds in Alaska, but I've never seen any.

[NV Whino]

9. I'm always amazed at the fierceness of these critters

They are beginning to come around to my deep blue agapanthus. I'm going to try to get some shots this year. But they are elusive little things.

I love that shot of the "don't mess with me" hummer stretched out like a dart.

[priller]

10. From what I've read, using flash

is key to taking hummingbird shots. Not only for the extra light, but since the flash is faster than the fastest shutter speed on your camera, you can use the flash to freeze motion instead of high shutter speed. Very interesting!

Here's a web site of a guy who seems to have spent way too much time thinking about hummingbird photos:

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/hummingbirdpictures.html

I've even seen a photo of another guy's setup (can't find the link at the moment) where he had at least 4 remotely controlled flashes setup around his hummingbird feeder. That's dedication.

BTW, love the last picture with the red-throated hummingbird. Beautiful.

[CC]

11. The link to where ever the

flash set up was is on here somewhere. I saw that too and his pics were so good I almost didn't post any of these. I will have to wait until next year to figure out where to put a feeder that would be safe for a flash set up. Though these guys seem to love that tree. They have very good hiding places to watch for any other hummers invading their territory. Plus that is such a convenient place for us, right out the kitchen nook window so you can sit and drink coffee and watch them. I also get to watch various other birds come take baths or get a drink of water. Right now these are so skittish that I don't want to scare them off or put an unnatural end to the war of the feeder. They do look fierce when going after each other but I notice they never touch each other, just loud buzzing and lots of chasing.

[Ms. Toad]

12. I'm jealous...

I've been patiently stalking hummingbirds this week - including for a solid hour just before I hopped online. All I got were shots of them sitting in branches laughing at me from about 6-10 feet. Every once in a while a couple of them who were squabbling would fly over my head, but too fast for me to snap their picture.

[CC]

17. Oh don't be jealous, my

camera has been on a tripod for at least a couple weeks in the nook window all set up (focused etc) and ready to go 24/7 to get pics. And then someone post a link that led to a link about flash and almost gave up until next year. I took literally hundreds of shots to get these few. Without digital I probably would of never tried. And hey I am just learning how to find them on branches. Though on the flying squabble not sure how anyone would get pics they are so fast. I got lucky in that these guys decided to do it at the feeder and stay in place for a couple of minutes.
Also the feeder sitting at eye level to a window and chair made it remotely possible.

[Ms. Toad]

22. I captured a couple

later Saturday. Once I get a few minutes free I'll add them to this thread....maybe next year sometime. Better bookmark the thread :)

[Ms. Toad]

24. Not such closeups....

But since there wasn't glass between us it was harder to get close:

[CC]

25. These are great.

I like them and you were with them. I keep hearing stories that hummers will get used to you and even let you hold them, but it hasn't even been a close thing for me. I would love to not have the glass there. I'd also love to be closer. I was using a 200 mm lens, that is why it looks like I am closer. And used manual focus (used the feeder to focus) since they move so much auto didn't know where to focus. I did notice they seemed to ignore me it I was in a dark shirt but vanished fast if I went to the camera in a light shirt.
It was so hot today I propped a hose in that tree and had a light mist going for all the birds. The hummers seemed to love it. It is suppose to be worse tomorrow so will probably do it again. Unfortunately we were insulating the nook today and hang drywall tomorrow so most likely won't get a chance to try to take pics.

[Ms. Toad]

27. In theory these let people hold them.

We didn't see that happen when we were visiting their residence, although they did let my daughter and nephew get closer than they let me (except when they were squabbling and buzzing through the patio, narrowly missing my head).

Back home now, where we get maybe one or two a year - rather than dozens a day.

I was pleased I finally got some closer pictures. I have lots of pictures of invisible hummingbirds (sitting on tree branches - I know where they are and can zoom in on them - but they're very hard to recognize.

[livvy]

13. Your pics inspired me.

I went out yesterday and bought a feeder like yours. I put it out late yesterday, and this morning while I was sipping coffee at the kitchen window, I had my first visitor. It was very early, just after dawn. Little sweetie came back for a sip about every ten minutes, staying just a bit longer each time. It hasn't perched yet, as far as I know, but seems to be really enjoying the "nectar".
I'm so glad you posted your pics. They got me motivated!
Give all your furpals a hug from me and mine!
livvy, the bouviers, the table cat, and my indoor birdies.

[CC]

16. Warning they can become addictive..

That is one the best compliments for pictures and the hummers will be better for it too. Giving you a link to a very good helpful site. www.hummingbirds.net I looked and you get different varieties of hummingbirds there so some might even share you feeder.
My wanting hummingbirds here started in Silverton, CO years ago. They had dozens of feeders all over town with lots of hummingbirds at every feeder. They also didn't run off when people walked by. It was so neat. The Zoo crew returning hugs to you and yours.

[livvy]

21. Nice site. Thanks! n/t

[Maestro]

14. Wow!

Great series. I love these types of hummers! :)

[Immad2]

15. Excellent shots, CC!! The last 2 are my favorites and the interaction of

these birds is amazing!!

[F.Gordon]

18. Ho..... Hum

:rofl:

Those are amazing. Hummingbirds? Those are the boids that move like really fast? And you moved your tripod just because you tore out your kitchen? Geez, your priorities are all screwed up.
:hi:

Saw a lot of hummingboids in Iowa but never saw any be so aggressive. Incredible series of photos.... but I have to ask because of the agression.... what are you putting in that feeder?

[Blue_In_AK]

19. Hummingbirds on steroids? Crack?

[F.Gordon]

20. I'm thinking Crack

On the phone as I type this reporting CC to the Audubon Society.

[TahitiNut]

23. Can you position some reflectors outside to shine on the feeder?

Even using cardboard covered in tin-foil or painted bright white, can you position reflectors in a way that throws sunshine so it converges on the feeder? In that way, you might eliminate the possible problem of using a flash through a window. It'd be energy-efficient, too.

I echo the applause - It's tough to do hummingbirds.

[CC]

26. That's an idea.

Though the feeder is under a tree in shade so not sure. The flash is mostly to stop motion so you can catch their wings. Though just a bit more light might gives me a bit more depth.