Saturday, June 26, 2010

Birds big and small

I was able to capture this picture of the hummingbird's wings in flight (click to enlarge) last week when he came to check out my flowers. I  believe this is a rufous hummer (although I could be wrong), and he's the same one who came within inches of my face while checking me out. He flew away when I introduced myself.

There is something about the flight characteristics of hummingbirds that reminds me of a giant mosquito, although far more lovely and plus they don't bite. One of my Flickr friends got a picture of a hummer with his incredibly long tongue sticking out. They really do have amazingly long tongues. I snagged this picture off the Castellow Hammock Nature Center.
See what I mean? This gives them the ability to reach WAY down inside those flowers for the nectar as they hover. I love these guys, and they do indeed brighten my days, watching for them as I gaze out the window at my usual visitors, the goldfinches, nuthatches, chickadees, towhees, and yes, even the sparrows.
This is a recent picture, taken this week by boonibarb on Flickr, of my little eaglet nicknamed "Phoenix." We watched him (her?) hatch at the end of April on the Hornby Eagle web cam. He is peering over the edge of the nest in this picture, wondering when Mom or Dad will be bringing some food. This young eaglet will fledge in a few more weeks. Right now he stretches his incredible wings daily and hops up and down, getting ready for the big day. I am just about ready to stop watching the site, because I've become very attached to this little guy, and fledging is a very intense time when a young eaglet doesn't always make it.

When he strays too close to the edge, I want to stop him, or if his parents make him wait a little too long for his dinner, I get stressed out. I'm not alone; there is a chat room and I listen to (actually read) what the others have to say, and I realize that we are all watching this saga closely. Last year I stopped watching another eagle cam at about this time, because the three eaglets had become way too important to me. One hatched a week later than the others and was nicknamed "Tink" by the eagle cam addicts. You realize very quickly that you are not watching a Disney movie but real life, when anything can happen.

But, that said, I truly enjoy my excursions into the life of the birds, large and small, and I even love the hawk that sometimes comes over to dine on my well-fed little birdies. I posted this picture a while back of an immature Cooper's Hawk, taken through the bedroom window with my telephoto lens.
Enjoy your weekend! I hope the weather is wonderful in your part of the world, and that you have some feathered friends to keep you company, too.
:-)

16 comments:

  1. Gracious, you are very good at photography. I wish I could make good pictures but I seldom get the lighting right, and I have tremors that sometimes make it difficult to keep the camera still for anything but a point and shoot picture. Very nice, I enjoyed seeing the birds.

    On my walk the other day I came across some children that looked to be first or second graders. A bird nest had fallen to the ground and 3 of the children were holding baby birds that soon would be able to fly. One even had hers perched on a stick. They were not mistreating the birds, but never the less, it's doubtful the birds survived.

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  2. You and I are definitely for the birds! I still watch the eaglet and like you when the wing flapping and stomping up and down start, it makes me nervous. Why is that? Those huge wings will support the eaglet, right? Anyway, your photo of the hummingbird is awesome, how did you ever get such a great shot?

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  3. I've been watching Phoenix, thanks to you. Yeah, I get a little nervous when she/he gets near the edge. This is my first experience to watch one but read up somewhere on what can happen. I've also two hummingbirds defending the same trumpet vine which both think belongs to them alone. Been thinking of getting camera close by to grab when I see them.

    Right now we are on the second hatching of barn swallows. Our weather has not been as hot as most Junes' and saw 5 babies pearing over the nest at me yesterday. I hope they make it. It was so hot last year that I don't think even one batch made it.

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  4. It is overcast and drizzling in Honolulu right now. I see the same old birds eating left over cat food in my patio. They are very skittish and fly away when I move next to the window, so I can't take pictures of them.

    David and I plan to see KNIGHT AND DAY, starring Tom Cruise, this afternoon. Expect to have a nice time with my hubby...

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  5. You have some wonderful pictures here! I agree about the little eagle! I would get so attached! I have a hard time watching all the Earth videos because they are so real. It's hard for me not to swoon in sympathy when nature takes its course.

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  6. Great shot DJ! I haven't seen a hummingbird in real life, only in pictures and I don't think we have it here, but maybe in some parts of the country. Thanks for showing me a nice picture of the hummingbird.

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  7. Hi, what a beautiful blog: I love bird photos, and yours are great !

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  8. I enjoy watching all the birds too DJan, even the hawks that search our field. The wrens are my favorite, they bounce around my porch like it were their's, even sleeping in the blinds at night!
    ♥...Wanda

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  9. I am enjoying me featherd friends here in our yard. I do love watching them, from hummers to crows. We apparently have a second batch of chicks in the bush tit nest!

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  10. Love your photos of the hummer DJan, I have only seen one or two from a distance here so far this summer. I have been watching Phoenix on and off and it does get a little dramatic at time but that's what nature is all about.

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  11. I know just what you mean about the attachment to the eagles. I have that attachment too, can't bear to see wildlife hurt, attacked or eaten. We haven't got any humming birds in Knoxville yet but I live in hope of seeing some soon. I go back to England in ten days time and would love to see some before I go.
    The pictures are extraordinary D-Jan.
    Blessings, Star

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  12. Your bird pictures are really good. I watched a hummingbird at the botanic garden last week but he kept going behind leaves and I could never get a good picture. I did catch a rabbit though and was able to take pictures of it. That eaglet is so sweet – I hope he can make it.

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  13. Those were all incredible shots..I have fallen in love with birds since retiring and really watching them and photographing them.

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  14. Such stunning photos. I like to photograph birds too, but getting a good shot is more luck than anything for me.

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  15. That Hummingbird photo is spectacular, dear DJ!! You are more than phenomenal!!! And I love your final photo as well!! Such a terrific post!! But then, I say that about all your posts...and you know what? I can. Because they are! Love, Janine XO

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  16. Wow! Amazing shot of that hummingbird! You are really lucky to have such interesting visitors in your back yard! :o)

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