The Prettiest Sight in Our Back Yard by Weezilou

The Prettiest Sight in Our Back Yard

Or: "Levitating while sipping a drink through a straw"!

Meet "Mama"... I hung the feeder near our back door so I can see her more frequently & I noticed her returning to the nesting area. Sure enough, she was on her nest this afternoon! Her timing is pretty good in that the working began in ernest in her corner as the babies flew off. If she's on eggs, the workmen should be done by the time the eggs hatch.

We've been seeing two hummers in the yard and they're quite fearless, coming to the back door when they see us standing there! All I did was tap on the bottom of the feeder (releasing the air bubbles) and she arrived in a minute. It's late in the day, so I'm hoping for "more" and "better" in the future, but it's unlikely to happen during the day with the workmen out there. Stay tuned...

PS...We haven't seen Frosty, but she had babies this time last year and I'm hoping that's where she is at present... We'll have great digs *for all of us* when this project is done!
Excellent capture of Mama and love the bokeh!
April 2nd, 2015  
@joysfocus As I posted this I was thinking of how exceptionally gorgeous *your* hummingbird photo was, but I'll take what I can get and keep working at it! So thanks for coming by Joy!
April 2nd, 2015  
Love the bokeh! Great capture!
April 2nd, 2015  
@lsanderson55 Thanks Leigh Anne! It helps that we have a wide ban k of tree across the back of the yard!
April 2nd, 2015  
Lovely shot of that hummer!
April 2nd, 2015  
This is lovely..... The little guy and the feeder front and center against that background of green. Really nice, Louise. (I've been wondering about Frosty.)
April 2nd, 2015  
Beautiful
April 2nd, 2015  
You really captured this so well. Love this shot.
April 2nd, 2015  
Awesome capture
April 2nd, 2015  
@seattle Thanks for the vote of confidence, Constance! I'd love to work at this when the light is brighter...I seem to have no trouble getting her to come around :)
April 2nd, 2015  
Fantastic timing! I can never get a shot of the little hummer that feeds in my yard. He's too quick for me! I keep trying but no success so far
April 2nd, 2015  
wish we had these here!
April 2nd, 2015  
Oh, what a lovely sight! Wonderful timing - I love these dainty, industrious birds.
April 2nd, 2015  
@jamibann Industrious AND intrepid! Ken always says it's good they're not any bigger than they are as they run off bigger birds from their feeder and have no fear about flying in close to us!
April 2nd, 2015  
@shepherdmanswife My first thought was, "But you've got elephants..." but that's Sally!
April 2nd, 2015  
@redy4et Elizabeth, after a few shots, I set my camera on "burst mode" taking about 5 photos in rapid succession. In about 8 minutes the bird came to the feeder at least three times, so I had plenty to select one from. Good luck!
April 2nd, 2015  
Oh how I would love this at my back door! Looking forward to lots more great shots, and hopefully Frosty and family too :)
April 2nd, 2015  
@gilbertwood Thanks Denise... As long as I'm sequestered in Orange County, you'll see a lot of photos in my yard! (If you saw the LA freeway photo, you'll understand why!)
April 2nd, 2015  
Such a pretty bird and a fabulous capture.
April 2nd, 2015  
Good capture. Can't wait for it to be warm enough to hang ours.
April 2nd, 2015  
How wonderful to have these in your garden and to know you are probably providing for a mummy. I've never seen one for real so loving the humming bird photos here.
April 2nd, 2015  
I am going to try again this year to attract some in our back yard. So far I haven't had much luck at all. Every so often I will be outback and one pops in, and I never have my camera at that moment.
April 2nd, 2015  
Wonderful!
April 2nd, 2015  
Beautiful capture Louise! Lovely detail, color and bokeh. Looking forward to when ours return here.
April 2nd, 2015  
@linah ...and when I return there, send some of yours over to me! I hang out the food but seldom see any takers...
April 2nd, 2015  
Amazing shot! Fav
April 2nd, 2015  
Lovely capture, great motion in her wings
April 2nd, 2015  
Absolutely marvellous capture.
April 2nd, 2015  
such a wonderful capture and beautiful green bokeh background
April 2nd, 2015  
I'm currently living in Mississippi and these have just started coming to our feeder. Trying to take a photo of one is near impossible as they come and go so fast. So, well done!
April 2nd, 2015  
@lizmason Hi Elizabeth...did you read the reply to the other Elizabeth above? It's my good fortune that this one lives in a tree in our yard, so I see her often, but all hummers are fast! When I'd like to see her (or them as we seem to have two), I go out and, taking a shoe (for instance) I tap the bottom of the feeder...the air bubbles rise and I think it fills the little cups with more liquid. I think they must watch as, within a minute they're back at the feeder to drink. Then take "burst shots". Good luck and when you get one, do share the information and photo with us!
April 2nd, 2015  
Thanks @Weezilou that's great advice. I'm so excited as I've never seen them before. I'm from England but living in Mississippi so enjoying all the new wildlife. I'll try the tapping thing, and the burst shots and keep my camera nearby. Fingers crossed.
April 3rd, 2015  
@lizmason I'd be so delighted for you if an assist would bring you success! Perhaps another feeder closer to a window in your house would also bring you some success... The one here is just outside my kitchen window, and around the corner I can see the activity from another window where I sit at my computer. Keep encouraging them... There's a marvelous youtube video of a lodge up north where the hummers will drink nectar right from people's hands! They're very brave and almost fearless when they come to trust you!
April 3rd, 2015  
@lizmason PS...now I'm probably sounding like a fanatic, but do change the water *at least* twice a week and keep it out of the sun... Success will be yours!
April 3rd, 2015  
time to open the nursery.
April 3rd, 2015  
Love this...those wings must go a hundred MPH or more!! Great action shot!! Beautifully composed and love that background.
April 3rd, 2015  
@eyesmile Thanks so much Gena! I used burst shots as there was no way to anticipate where she might move next! To my amazement, every photo was a different pose! They're just remarkable little birds!
April 3rd, 2015  
Wonderful !! Can't wait to see these little ones. I could imagine they will be late this year, we still have 2 feet and more of snow. Damn winter just don't wanta leave.
April 3rd, 2015  
this is so beautiful, well timed
fav
April 4th, 2015  
Fabulous capture! Love the movement in her wings! I do hope Frosty comes around.
April 9th, 2015  
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