When the feeder was replenished, the hummingbirds moved in, and so did I with my regular camera. The next day, in better light, I got out my longer lens and tripod. But by then these little beauties were wise to me, and came not at all.
So I got what I got that first day. A good reminder to do what I can, when I can, rather than waiting for perfect.
My favourite? The photo-bombing hummingbird . . .
On our hummingbird feeders, the wasps attack the hummingbirds and drive them away. I’m a firm believer in live-and-let-live, but if I have to choose between wasps and hummingbirds, I will apply wasp spray any day.
Jim T
Jim – I also have shots of wasps slurping the splash off hummingbird feeders, and have seen them swarmed around the outlet. I wonder if any large-insect-eating birds have learned that those feeders offer them a convenient buffet?
I have so rarely seen these birds still, with folded wings, that I especially appreciate these shots that are not just whirr and blur.
Laurna – I, of course, want to freeze their wing detail in motion, but I understand that I’d need a flash unit to get enough light to do that. I’m thrilled when I get reasonably sharp and detailed photos – ones in which the feathers show, at least a bit. But I’d need to hang around feeders a lot more than I do to get them accustomed to me, I think.
Isabel – with respect to the hummers getting wise to you and not appearing the following day, I seem to remember that you made fun of me when I told you my theory on photography is and will continue to be, “Take the picture and hope for the best.”
However, I will admit that that theory is much easier to follow with a digital camera and zero picture development costs.
John – Well, “made fun” might be strong. Maybe I gently suggested that “hoping for the best” was not the sort of planning I expected from Army officers, active or retired. 🙂
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