SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!

It was pouring hard today,we’re talking biblical! I got suspicious when I saw the animals beginning to pair up.

We have regular visitors staying during the winter.A handful of Anna’s hummingbirds winter over where I live.They like my spot because the feeder is out of the rain.So they can just hang out & chill when its pouring. They come from California.Why they hang out  here in the cold when they could be hanging out in a much warmer place is beyond me?

This is a adult male Anna’s.I think he just arrived because all the other hummers have been getting along just fine.They share the feeder with each other no problem.This guy however decided to park his butt on my bikes mirror & guard “his” feeder! If another hummer came by he’d fly up in a shot & ward them off.He’d than fly back to his mirror perch & continue to stand guard!

 

HOW TO GET A HUMMER TO LAND ON YOUR FINGER

I’ve noticed that the Hummers go into a feeding frenzy near sunset.I suspect they do it at sunrise too but I’m too lazy to find that out?

I wondered If I could get one them to land on my finger? Hummers have to be one of the most skittish creatures out there! The slightest movement can make them take off in a blur!

So I tried to think of a way I could get one these beautiful creatures to land on my finger?Holding ones arm out is difficult after a few minutes.So you need a brace for your arm.I used a monopod but you can use a tripod or a pole.

I’ve noticed over the last few nights that they go into a feeding frenzy around 7:45pm.So I set up some lights for filming earlier & waited.

Once I saw them starting to “flock”I turned on the camera & placed my finger near the feeding station. It took couple of minutes for one to land but was worth it.I could feel it’s little heart beating so fast! Their tiny talons are sharp but do not dig in. The hardest thing I found was the cold! Their wings are beating so fast that the breeze coming off chilled my hand!

The brown hummers with a dark throat patch are the male Rufous.The female are the ones with spots on their throat.

The Anna’s are the green ones.The males have a throat patch & the females have spots like the Rufous.The Anna’s are much larger than Rufous btw.

“SHORTY’S” BACK!

The “Anna’s” Hummingbirds are arriving for the winter. I recognized one that arrived yesterday.He likes to perch on my bike mirror.He’s also familiar with me.He doesn’t take off If I approach the sliding door. I call him “Shorty” because he looks smaller than normal.I’ve found when they are very relaxed with their surroundings,they relax their spines & so slump lower.Blue Herons do the same thing.When the head goes up straight like a periscope,thats when they are very attentive.

It was pouring here today.So “Shorty” likes to perch on my mirror.There is an overhang above,so the rain doesn’t come in.He likes to perch there & stay out of the rain.

He also keeps the other hummers from his food source.He’s staked his territory & is protecting it!

MY LITTLE FEATHERED FRIENDS

 

FROZEN FLIGHT

This is a male Anna’s Hummingbird. He’s been around all winter,but the Rufous are beginning to come back! Always a sure sign of Spring when they begin to buzz about my feeder!

MALE “ANNA’S” HUMMINGBIRD GUARDING HIS NECTAR

MY LITTLE FRIEND “CHIRPY”

‘LI’L CHIRPY” SHOWING HIS TRUE COLOURS

A WET MALE ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD

A WET “CHARLOTTE”

“SONNY JIM”

This is a immature male Anna’s Hummingbird. Basically a teenager & you know how much trouble they are!
Li’l Chirpy would chase him away sometimes. Not sure why he would than allow him sometimes?

INTRODUCING…………..”CHARLOTTE” (“LI’L CHIRPY’S” GIRLFRIEND)

Once again our winter weather prevented me from getting out on the water & land!
I saw “Charlotte” coming around for a drink & decided to set up my camera/tripod. I didn’t have to wait too long! Which is great because I’ve found my arms can go numb after 5 minutes. Holding my arms up will drain the blood from my arms.
If a hummer comes & my hands are down by my side,the hummer can get nervous & fly off if they see me moving to my camera! The trick is to move “slowly” or keep your hands on the camera. I prefer keeping my hands on the camera myself.
I’ve found if the hummingbird knows me,they are less apt to freak out & be more calm.
I’ve also found that if I move while they are drinking it’s better,than when they are just resting looking around.
Hummingbirds are a very sensitive lot!
Charlotte hardly flinched when I took my first shot. They can get scared when the flash goes off & they hear the mirror slap.
But like I say,”if” they get to know you they are calm enough to just keep drinking & not be bothered by the light & noise!
I sometimes just stand in the door opening & watch them. It’s not only cool to watch them come & go but also a great way of introducing myself to them.
I’ve found if I’m home,”Li’l Chirpy” will face towards my apartment so he can see me,but if I go out,I’ve found he’s facing outwards away from the apartment! As if he’s waiting for me to come home?

LITTLE CHIRPY!

It poured here today,so there was no way I was gong out in my boat or even the beach!
I saw “Li’l Chirpy” perched outside my door & thought I’d take a few shots.When it’s pouring out,he likes to perch out of the rain & chill. He believes that my feeder is his & defends it from any other hummer!
So I was pleasantly surprised to see a second hummer drinking away & “Li’l Chirpy” not only didn’t mind but chased away a interloper! I tried to take some shots of the this second hummer but unfortunately none of them turned out sharp.(the light was getting low)
However,I could see that this second hummer was a female! So it looks like “Li’l Chirpy” has a girlfriend!

“Li’l CHIRPY”

I’ve got three Anna’s Hummingbirds coming to my feeder so far! They come & go all day long! So,today was rather blustery! We are having our first big wind storm of the season! This hummer was very content just to sit out of the rain & wind today. I have a covered feeding area. Many times the birds will just hang out resting & try to stay dry!

ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD

I got my birthday wish today! The weather has been poor for so long I thought I’d never be able to get out! It would appear the powers that be, granted me a birthday wish & made the weather perfect!
I dressed warmly because of the cooler temperatures. Remember that I have no wind shield,so being warm is the critical ingredient!
I know that all the bears have gone to bed so no point in looking for any of my furry friends.
I did find that the Trumpeter Swans had arrived however! The K-19 gang were in their normal bay close to Tsapee Narrows. Too a few shots & continued on my way.
I went down to Rankin Rocks to see if any birds/seals were hanging around? Turns out nobody was home on the rocks. They like this spot because no ground predators can get at them. I did find a few Harbour Seals hauled out near by however.
I than headed from Tranquil Inlet to Cannery Bay. I thought I’d see if any Sea Lions had arrived yet? They come & stay in Cannery Bay for the winter.The Lions are usually around by now……….. but it would appear not. That means their food source can’t be either. If it stays that way they may not show up at all?
Headed back to town. Stopped off at Tsapee Narrows. The Daredevil came over to wish me well,but couldn’t see Delilah anywhere?
The suns angle is so far south now! Only three more weeks & it’ll start to swing back further north!
Said goodbye to the Daredevil & went to visit Maggie on Morpheus island. Right on cue,she flew out to greet me! She’s always a sweetheart!
Took some shots of my girlfriend but noticed the sun was minutes way from setting! Said goodnight to Maggie & headed over to Deadman island to visit with Romeo/Juliette. Romeo did come over to wish me a Happy Birthday!
He posed for me on his rocky throne & than went back over to the island. When he does this I know he’s not coming back & I have to follow him over to the island.
Juliette came over as well to wish me well! Took a few more sunset shots & that was it for my birthday sun!

Being able to get out on my birthday was the best gift I could of gotten today!

ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD

This is a male Anna’s Hummingbird. The vast majority of hummers coming my way are Rufous. There are several Anna’s male Hummingbirds & one female still hanging around. They have been with me since January. They will be leaving soon for the far north. The Anna’s are much larger than the Rufous! Their wings are very different as well.

MY LITTLE FRIENDS & LITTLE OLD ME HANGING OUT,HAVING A DRINK!

My little friends have become familiar with me! They have accepted me into their flight zone! A great honour for me personally!
The hardest thing was holding my camera in my right hand (with flash attached) for so long! I soon realized if I adjusted my Mono Pod at just the right eighth for my elbow,that I could make it much easier on me!
They have such sharp little talons but they are very gentle souls! The air was cold & their wings created such a strong breeze! It made my finger very cold!
I so enjoy the time with my little friends & am very happy that they have trusted me so! They must realize that I not only do not mean them any harm but that they have accepted me into their flight zone!

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIENDS!

Well,thereeeeeeeeee back!
In force too I might add! I’ve been watching them the last few nights? I open my sliding door & just lean up against it. The feeder is only 2 feet away at eye level from that point. As long as I don’t move,they buzz,hum & chirp their way along merrily! They always come in droves (actually the collective noun for Hummingbirds is a “Charm”) around sunset. Sort of like having a last drink before going to bed. Because there are only 6 feeding stations & anywhere between twenty/thirty Hummers trying to get a night cap,a line up begins to form! I’ve noticed they sit side by side & take turns going in for a drink. They kind of look like a little pumping machine going up & down! If that weren’t enough,a third one will come along & fly above them both trying to get in as well!
So I decided to think of a better solution for my little friends. I went to the local nursery,(OCN) & found that I could buy more of those little plastic flowers! I came home,took the feeder down & drilled 6 more holes.I put the flowers in & refilled. I could hear them chirping away outside! When they chirp,they are upset! It’s their way of complaining. So I hurried back & rehung it. They were in such a hurry that two of them landed instantly while I was still holding onto the feeder! I froze & watched them! They are getting to know me! I’m always flattered when a animal allows me to get close. It means that they have accepted me into their flight zone. They only do that after becoming familiar with you!
So I hung it & immediately noticed that the new flowers were leaking! It appears the new holes I drilled were a hair too big! I brought the feeder back & had a look at it again. By this time the chirping was getting louder & louder outside!
I had to make the hole a hair smaller? Than I came up with one of those brilliant ideas! I put a small piece of Masking tape over the holes. I than pushed the flowerette through the tape. It worked perfectly! The tape was acting like a thin gasket!
So now I probably have the only 12 station feeder in the world?
It appears that they are drinking about 1/2 litre per day. They are mostly Rufous Hummers with a few of the larger Anna’s still around.

I always take great delight in being fascinated by the largest birds (Eagles) & the smallest!

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!

I now have 4 Hummingbirds coming to my feeder! While the majority of North America is in a deep freeze,I have 4 new feathered friends visiting me!
I shot this one today. It’s a female Anna’s Hummingbird. They like my feeder because it’s got cover from the rain & wind! She was just sitting there contently watching it pouring!

WINTER HUMMERS!

I originally shot this on January 9th,2012. I have two Hummingbirds coming to my feeder in the dead of Winter! They are both “ANNA”S” hummingbirds. All the way from California! I will try & get some shots of them?
This link will be be able to better describe them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna%27s_Hummingbird

HUMMERS

I tried something alittle different for these shots.
Normally I shoot with a 300 or 400 mm lens. This allows me not to disturb them.(as much)
I used my 100mm lens tonight! That means I had to get much closer!
They didn’t like that & were chirping (protesting) like crazy! To piss them off even more I put tape over all the feeding station but two,which forces them into the ideal position.
The reason why I used this lens was because the depth of field is far greater with the 100mm! Trying to get them in focus is the hardest part! They move so fast & never stay still.(unless their perched) I prefer to shoot them hovering & try not to get the feeders body in the shot.
It seems like a good idea,but I have to put up my black background. The background is distracting for me & I found the focus was searching!
Learning curve!

“SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIENDS”!!

It was really windy today,so going out in the boat wasn’t in the cards!
Decided to take a few shots of my little feathered friends! Funny how my two favorite birds are the largest & smallest! Eagles & Hummers!
It’s very hard to get good shots of them both! They’re just so dam fast!!
Tomorrow looks better for being able to get out.

RUFOUS HUMMER

PERCHED

This Hummer likes to perch on my bikes mirror! It can rest & keep a eye on my feeder. He has declared this particular feeder as his & wards of others! Rufous are very fast & maneuverable!
That red spot is a cars rear tail light. It was dark when I was looking at it but when the flash went off for the Hummer,the light appears to off been accumulated by the tail light & reflected straight back at me!
Just what they are designed to do!

LI’L RED

I now have two Rufous coming to my feeder & as per usual,they fight! I hate that he’s coming so late in the day! I find that trying to get the focus is much harder in low light.
Soon there will be many coming when the background will be brighter!

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

Looks like I must of spooked that Anna’s Hummingbird & this Rufous took it’s ticket!
This is a male Rufous. Rofous are known as the F-18 of Hummingbirds! They are very fast & maneuverable!

ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD

This little guy showed up a week ago! It’s a male Anna’s Hummingbird all the way up from California! Well that general area down south at least. They basically are along the west coast.
It appears that they have been spreading further north now for many years! They are the only Hummingbird tough enough to be able to withstand the northern cold. They have been even spotted in Alaska,as well as Newfoundland! They can lower their metabolic rate & enter into a “Torpor” state. This helps them survive during cold periods or when they are low on body fat.
It is estimated that there are 1.5 million of these very territorial birds.

HUMMERS

The cloud was doing it’s usual tricks today so I wasn’t able to get out at all! I could of gone yes,but with poor light……….”why should I”?
So,I stayed home today & took a few shots of my little feathered friends. I got a new lens & wanted to know how it reacted to something fast? I was very happy to find that the lens is even faster than my Hummingbird friends & sharp too!
The weather doesn’t look very good for the next two days either!

HUMMERS

It was & still is at the moment,very windy! No way I’m going out in that slop!
So I stayed in today & decided to take a few shots of the Hummers coming to my feeder! I love the largest (eagles) & the smallest birds!
The Rofous Hummingbirds are the F-18 of Hummers! Very fast & maneuverable! I noticed that there are no males coming by? I wonder why?
Just a few Hummers for you folks tonight.

Rofous Hummers

I decided to take a few shots of the Hummers while waiting to go out. I do not go out now until 6pm! The sun is setting later & later!
Unfortunately the clouds moved in by the time I wanted to go out! Because tomorrows weather was calling for windy conditions,I decided to “dam the torpedoes”& head out anyways! Normally I wouldn’t of gone out with poor lighting conditions,but I thought It might be the last kick at the can this week?
I went up into Fortune Channel for bears & sure enough I came across not one but three!
It was Queenie & her two cubs “Humpty” & “Dumpty”! I was pleasantly surprised!
The tide was coming in so I was in the best conditions! If the tide was dropping,I have to be careful not to get stuck on the bottom! Very easy when your consumed taking shots of these beautiful creatures! If I ever did get stuck,all I have to do is put my wheels down & pull the boat to deeper water. However,that doesn’t mean that the bottom isn’t muddy & my boots won’t come off from being stuck in the mud! More a pain in the butt than a threat.
I also do not like the thought of not being able to back away from the bears when I want!

After leaving Queenie & the gang,I went straight into town to visit with Romeo & Juliette. I saw a thinning of that cloud cover near the horizon & knew the sun would “briefly” pop out just before sunset! However,I also knew that I would have to wait awhile for the sun to descend into that “thin” gap!
It did come out for a few minutes & Romeo did a few grabs! He’s such a beautiful creature to watch up close!! I feel very lucky that he has accepted me!
It wasn’t a normal shoot today but still worth getting out because of Queenie & Romeo!

RUFOUS HUMMERS

To kill some time while I waited to go out in the boat. I decided to take some shots of the Hummers coming to my feeder.
With the sun setting so late,I do not go out until 6pm now. I always chase the golden light!
I popped my flash on & waited for them to come to the feeder. I put small pieces of tape on all the feeding holes except one. This forces them to hoover in the best spot to shoot. They move so fast that just trying to get a good shot is difficult!
Beautiful creatures!

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS

The Rufous are back!
Rufous Hummingbirds are the F-18’s of the Hummingbird world! I’ve had the feeder out all Winter for those two Anna’s Hummingbirds.
They’ve both since left. It looks like the feeder is owned by the Rufous gang again!

Annie

I finally got a shot of her! I found she doesn’t like to pose for me. A bit skittish.
Annie has been coming to my feeder for about a month now.She has the entire feeder to her self! Annie is a Anna’s Hummingbird and is from California.
I found it strange that a bird would head north to cold Canada during the winter from a warm California? I asked a good friend of mine, who is a leading bird expert (Adrian Dorst) why something so odd like this could happen?
He told me that the birds have been migrating north because of humans planting flowering plants! The more flowers (winter flowering) we plant,the more we encourage them to travel north.
I’d like to throw my 2 cents in. When Hummingbirds go north,I think they realize there is little if no competition for nectar sources!
That means they can relax more.
Still weird if you ask me!

As far as Annie goes,all I know is that she likes my feeder and I’m going to make sure she has some good rich nectar to slurp up!

That Frontal system approached Tofino this afternoon and passed over us at sunset. I anticipated this and headed out to the beach for sunset.
It actually arrived a hour too late. The sun set before we could get any good light. The sky did “go” but not to any great degree.
Tomorrow should be sunny and I plan on going to see my furry friends (the Lions) down the Inlet! I can’t wait to see what they’ve been up to?

A Bouquet of Hummers

The light today was poor ,so I didn’t get out.
However,I did take a shot of all the Hummingbirds going nuts all around my feeder!
They have gone through one liter of nectar in a 24 hour period! Thats alot of slurping!
They have a thin tongue that looks like a thick hair. They jab it into the nectar and pull it back quickly.
The tongue is coated with nectar. They basically are drinking the nectar the same way a dog laps water.

I found out that a bunch of Hummingbirds can be called a “Bouquet,Glittering,Hover,Shimmer,Tune” and my personal favorite……a “Charm”!
All the males are gone. Only the females and the young are around and around they are!
My feeder has 8 stations and can hold a liter of nectar. They are going crazy right now!
Their drinking like sailors with a weekend pass!

Baby Rufous Hummingbird

This baby will be leaving soon for Mexico and will not only be able to migrate all the way back next year but also remember the exact spot of this feeding station!
I’ve seen them start to arrive in the Spring and look for the feeder. Thats my cue to put it back out.
The only thing they don’t do is knock on the glass and ask for the feeder to be put out!

Rufous Hummingbird

I took a few shots of the Hummingbirds outside my door. They are drinking like drunken sailors!
I think the young have joined the adults and are both competing at the same food sources.
This a female,they have green on their backs and the males have red iridescence around their throat.

Hummer

I find it amusing that I am drawn to the very smallest and the very largest birds in the area!
Hummingbirds and Eagles. The smallest and the largest.
I wonder how many hummingbirds would equal a Eagle’s weight? Eagles weigh in around 13 lbs for the female and 9 for the males. I guess I need to find out how heavy the average Hummer is?(not like a “Henway”)
No matter how you look at it………it’s a whole whack of Hummers!
UPDATE:You know I just had to figure out how many Hummers equal one Eagle……..don’t you!
Given that a female Eagle weighs in at 13 lbs (with the average male tilting the scales at a puny 9 lbs) and the average weight of a male Hummer is 3.22 grams and 3.41 grams for the female.
That would make one eagle’s weight equal to 1833 male Rufous Hummingbirds or 1731 females!(roughly)
Looks like the females are larger in the Hummingbird world as they are in the Eagle world!

Rufous Hummingbird

Hummer

Stunned Hummingbird

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I found this Rufous Hummingbird on the ground! I didn’t see it initially and had been walking around there a few minutes before. Good thing I didn’t step on the poor thing!
It flew into the window I assume and just lay there stunned! I very gently picked it up and put it onto this spot(good light) and like a good photographer………. grabbed my camera!
It flew off after a few minutes but stayed still on that tree limb for awhile!

The wind was up today so I couldn’t go out!
I just hung around the Harbour and watched for things to happen?

Hummers

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Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

What Ya Looking At?

You can see how I corral the Hummingbirds here!
I put small pieces of masking tape on all the feeder stations but one!
That way they have to come to the one that is best to photograph!
The female (green) is looking over at a male(red) . I think the male wanted his turn at the faucet?

Rufous Hummingbird

This is a mature male Rufous Hummingbird.
They spend their winters in Mexico (like most of us) and have the longest migration of any other Hummingbird in the Americas!
The females are larger than the males. Rufous are the F-18’s of the Hummingbird world and can out fly/maneuver any other hummer bar none!

Rufous Hummingbirds

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Thierrrrrrrrrrr backkkkkkkk!
My little friends are back and zipping about!
Shooting these guys takes alittle patience.
You need to have a feeder that they already know about firstly. Than lower it a few feet,so that when you sit in a comfortable chair ,it’s at eye level.
You’ll need a tripod, a 400 mm lens and a flash! Set up about 15 feet away. Get the focus on the feeder and wait.
Then put a piece of tape on every opening of the feeder, except the one that has the best angle for you to shoot him!
You need to set it up so that you’ll be very comfortable In that chair. You will have to keep your hands on the tripod and shutter button all the time.
If you try to move while it’s there,he’ll spook and zip away!
Unfortunately the blood will start to drain from your arms and you’ll have to rest after awhile. Thats usually when they come around! If you try to go for the camera they’ll book it!
Use centre focus only and try to have a bright background.
They have a habit of going into the feeder and than backout. I time my shots to shoot him when he backs off!

Rufous Hummingbird

He was right out in front of my door. He didn’t like the rain either I guess!

Rufous Hummingbird

This is a male Rufous Hummingbird and he belongs to the second largest grouping of birds. He has over 343 cousin Hummingbirds and they have the largest brain of any bird!(4.2%)
They also can vary their wing beat from 80-200 beats per second. It’s during a mating session that their beats are so fast. The heart beat can go to an amazing 1260 times per minute! They can however place themselves into a state of rest (Torpor) and lower their heart rate to 1/15th of their normal rate.They can go into a dive and achieve a downward speed of 90 Klicks(thats 60 mph for the unenlightened with metric)
They also have no sense of smell and are the smallest creature with a spine.
As you already know,they can hover and fly up,down,backwards,and forward. Amazing creatures!

Rufous Hummingbird

These guys are fast and the only way your going to get a shot is to be clever.
Put a piece of tape on three of the four feeding stations. This way he/she has to go to the one that your focusing on. use a tripod and flash. You will need to keep very still and that means your going to have to keep your hands up on the camera. If he/she comes by and you have your hands by your side and you move your hands up to your camera……he’s long gone before you ever touch your camera. If you want to get comfy,lower the feeder so that it’s on a better angle with you sitting down. This way you can last longer. The blood does drain from your arms and you just know it’s going to come by just when you lower your

Rufous Hummingbird

I got the green wallpaper by hanging the feeder lower and getting a lower angle.
You’ll have alot of bad shots with these guys. One out of ten is about right.