Hummingbirds In My Yard
A new pair of Anna's Hummingbirds (Calypte Anna) has moved into the Cherry tree in my yard. I pulled out the big iron for these shots: Nikon D750 and Tamron 150-600mm. Please click for a full-screen view.
Female
These are shots I just can't get with my little Olympus micro 4/3 camera as much as I love it.
These three shots were captured at 1/4000s f/6.3 ISO1100 600mm
I only managed to capture the female from the side and from behind, but I'm was glad she was flying, not just perched on the feeder.
Male
The male flew in and gave me a nice side view.
The male has beautiful purple spots on his head. If you look closely you can see his tongue in the final shot. It's been a while since I posted any new bird photos, so this was fun today. Thanks very much for taking a look!
Oh my goodness these are fantastic! It’s very interesting that they like your cheery tree!
Thank you! They built a nest at the top of the tree last year - I have pictures somewhere including the babies in the nest. This year we can't spot a nest but we can see the hummingbirds land at the top of the tree, and we can hear the little clicking sounds they make.
Here's a shot of a poor bird freezing in that tree - December 2016. See how she is all puffed up to stay warm!
Such an amazing capture you took..so beautiful..wings open ready for action!:)
Thank you so much!
Those are really great shots !
I just recently bought a new humming bird feeder. I had seen one flying around while I had no feeder here, so once I had hung it, it was no time before a brilliant emerald green one was there. I don't have a camera good enough to photograph it, but I do loving watching from my kitchen window.
Aren't they fun to watch? We only put the feeder out in the fall and winter. In the summer they like to drink nectar from our flowers. They really like Fuscia flowers it seems.. I wish I had a photo of that, which would look much more natural than the plastic feeder.
I almost said that it must have been hanging around here for my flowers before the feeder.
Late fall and winter are when I normally put out my regular feeders too. It will be a while yet for those.
Those purple feathers are lovely. Sweet to see his little feet latched on. That must be a nice break for him.
Thank you :) The little birds are having a problem with Hornets who have begun hanging out around the feeder like a gang of bullies on a street corner. The Hornets actually chase the Hummingbirds away! The poor dears are sometimes afraid to perch for a drink.... (but in-flight makes a better photo, and better yet would be to get that feeder out of frame.)
Crazy hornets. My daughter got stung by two recently. I never considered birds having to deal with them before.
Such a beautiful bird. Great captures, Keith:)
Thank you, I'm happy you liked them :)
Great photography @keithboone. It must be lovely to have humming birds in your garden. 😊
Thank you! Yes, it's lovely - we can sit outside and watch birds for hours. :)
Wonderful captures indeed @keithboone I was wondering how you were getting on with your new camera. I guess it is very helpful to have both cameras available, to use them to get the best results for the the type of photography you want to achieve.
Hummingbirds are just so cute.The little specks of pink on their faces is very beautiful. I'd love to have them in my back yard, but we have sacrificed having our own yard due to choosing unit living but we are fortunate to have a beach across the road instead. (U & R )
Thank you Trudee! I love my new little camera for convenience, but it does not compete with a full frame DSLR for image quality, focus speed, low light performance etc. I'm glad I kept my Nikon system for birds and nature photography and a few other things.... but that little Olympus is always with me when I go out! :)
With a beach across the road from you, all of outdoors is your yard! Thanks for stopping by Trudee :)
It's great that you can have a choice of cameras and with your new little one, it is easy to keep it handy. Don't you just hate it when you are without your camera and miss wonderful photographic opportunities?
Yes, I can't complain our back yard (or front yard) in this instance. The beach is not a big area so that it never gets overcrowded during the weekends and besides, there are quite a few other beaches on the perimeter of the Redcliffe Peninsula.
Thank you @pixresteemer!
These photos are wonderful, Keith. I've never seen hummingbirds in my life, you're so lucky to have them around!
Thank you! I'm surprised you've never seen hummingbirds, I thought they were world-wide but I guess not. (I know so little about birds, I just like taking pictures of them!)
Me too. But I guess they are not worldwide... at least I've never seen one in the places I've been so far!
Spectacular shots! Definitely good enough for National Geographic!
Thank you so much! And stop it... that's silly, they're not close :)
You are the best... And I don't see National Geographic stepping up to argue with me!
Haha! That must be them at the door! Thanks again Melinda :)