Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Close Encounters.....

......with hummingbirds!

I took this photo on May 11th.
The little guy just sat there and let me get really close. It was the neatest thing.
I love the way they're so unafraid.They seem as curious about us as we are of them.





I took the next three photos this afternoon.






There were two males chasing each other at the front feeder. They would almost collide with my head as they zoomed about. They're so loud as they buzz by my ear!





We only have the ruby throated hummingbirds here in the Northeast. I've seen a female at the feeders too.
The light has to hit the bright red throat just right for it to show up.
I am so awed by these tiny little birds.
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We finally have our sun back after reverting to winter over the past several days. The cold was very hard to take after a nice taste of warm temperatures.
Thank the Lord for sunshine and warmth!

29 comments:

FRIDAY'S CHILD said...[Reply]

I don't think they would mind you taking pictures of them as they are too beautiful not to be seen.
Besides they owe you for giving them free meals. (Lol)

TUFFENUF said...[Reply]

How facinating, they are very tiny and so beautiful. Good photos, I really thought that photos of hummingbirds were difficult to get because they are so fast!

Sigruns German Garden said...[Reply]

Wonderful pictures. You have luck!

Sigrun

Susie said...[Reply]

These are beautiful Kerri.
We had a hummingbird fly right into our new slider yesterday afternoon. I was sure it wasn't going to make it...
But I kept going back and checking it and it finally got up after about 30 mins and flew away. I was so relieved!

Motherkitty said...[Reply]

Wonderful pictures. You must have a fabulous camera to take such great pictures. We have ruby-throated hummers too, but my sister in Las Vegas is visited by larger grey-looking hummers. Not as pretty as ours. In the summer, as we sit on the back deck, I love how they will practically fly right up in your face and will buzz you as they fly around and around the house from one feeder to the other. They are my absolutely favorite bird.

clairesgarden said...[Reply]

they are so gorgeous, what is in the feeder?

Tanya said...[Reply]

Fabulous pics. I have often missed hummingbirds since leaving Canada many (12) years ago. Here, we just have sunbirds, which are slightly bigger, but don't do the hovering that hummingbirds do.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Those are just wonderful pictures. I just put out a hummingbird feeder. So far not one spotted yet. I put it on my hanging basket of geraniums. I was told they like that flower.

Take care,
Connie

Jellyhead said...[Reply]

Wow, that hummingbird in flight - what a photo!! Thanks for showing us these snazzy snaps!

TJ said...[Reply]

I am very jealous...I watch my feeder every day and nothing yet...I have a pot of fucshia hanging next to it...I heard they are atracted to that plant...do you know if this is true?

David (Snappy) said...[Reply]

totally amazing pics.you take wanderful nature shots and they love that feeder!

RusticateGirl said...[Reply]

Great photos, especially the first one. Makes me want to get a hummingbird feeder now, though usually the flowers do eventually draw them in.

Alice said...[Reply]

Kerri - they are beautiful photos. How wonderful to be able to get so close. Can you actually hear a humming sound when they flutter their wings so quickly?

Carole Burant said...[Reply]

I always have hummingbirds coming to my feeder also and I love watching them...the feeder is hanging right outside my kitchen window so I get to see them close up:-) Isn't it unbelievable the sound their wings can make, considering they're such tiny creatures? lol

micki said...[Reply]

That third shot down is a real winner...picture perfect!

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...[Reply]

Those little hummers are so cute and those are the same kind that we have, although we have not seen any yet this year.

I had the absolute PLEASURE of having a little hummingbird sit on my shoulder and then another one on my arm, when I was in Colorado. I tried to quietly get my husbands attention so he could take my camera from my hand and take my picture, but...you know how that goes? No picture. But I'll never forget the moment.

Thanks for sharing your lovely humingbird pictures.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Your photos are just great! We get hummingbirds in our garden, but never have taken a decent picture of one. We have a different kind, called the black-chinned hummingbird, here in Austin. When I stood too close to some tall Black & Blue salvia this morning, one zoomed right at me, telling me to go to another part of the yard for awhile.

Annie in Austin

Val said...[Reply]

Cannot believe how good those photos are. What camera do you use, Kerri? And to have the patience to wait for the right moment and the skill to choose that moment like you obviously do... fantastic!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Kerri,
Your beautiful photos bring back so many memories. I have a raku wall plate showing a humming bird -made by a potter on Vancouver Island. They seem to be so much a part of North American nature lovers' lives.
"Jellyma"

Naturegirl said...[Reply]

Be still my heart!! We are waiting for ours perhaps I had better get their feeders out...thanks for reminding me!!
The photos spectacular!! The one with flapping wings...I can hear the sound from here..that ever so soft hummmmm!!:)

Philosophical Karen said...[Reply]

How beautiful! I don't often see hummingbirds, but when I do it's very special. I love these photos. You are so lucky to have such "close encounters".

WendyAs said...[Reply]

Karri
It is really difficult to catch hummingbirds. Well done. The wings aren't even blurred. I have yet to see any in Tassie. Wonder if there are any. Thanks for the lovely shots.

sonia a. mascaro said...[Reply]

Amazing pictures! I agree with Wendy, it's really difficult to photograph hummingbirds. They don't still.
Love hummingbirds, they are beautiful!

Boxwood Cottage said...[Reply]

Awww first class hummingbird photos Kerri! Well done!

I just wish that we would have hummingbirds here in Germany as well

Kali said...[Reply]

Spectacular shots ~ so clear and the colours so vivid!

Urban Agrarian said...[Reply]

Those are great photos you took. I think you are inspiring me to buy a hummingbird feeder or better yet, to get one of my kids to give me one for my up-coming birthday.

earlysnowdrop said...[Reply]

I have hummingbirds in my garden, too. I cannot believe what great photos you were about to create. Good work.

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...[Reply]

I came back to say hello and to look at those cute hummingbirds again. Your camera is so good...it takes such great pictures.

On second thought...YOU take great pictures!

John Cowart said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri,
Just visiting via your comment to Jellyhead.
Your photos are terriffic!
My wife and I have a digital camera but we've never been able to capture such crisp images.
Masterfully done!