First Hummingbirds This Year

[terrib]

I've been watching these hummingbirds for several days and observing where they like to land before or after drinking from the feeder. I've shot hummers before but I've been amazed at how tolerant these this year are of my presence. I watched both morning and evening to find vantage points with the light behind me that had suitable backgrounds. The evening is the best because there is a distant Red-tipped Photinia behind them. In the morning, my house or a distant metal barn are predominant which are too bright but sometimes I was able to exclude those. I've also waited for a calm day as the limbs of the Desert Willow are so susceptible.

I prefer to work with the natural elements rather than setting up extra lighting or manufactured background and limbs. Beautiful stuff is created with those things but working with what I have helps train my eye to what to watch out for when I am out in the field without benefit of props. I did snip a few dead limbs that were intruding. Also, there is some minor cloning in some of the photos and they are all cropped a bit, mostly for composition but sometimes to help remove distracting elements.

Here are a few of my favorites so far.

The one morning shot with a good background.



Evening shots.

[davidedric]

Beautiful shots Terri. Number 4 is wonderfully sharp.

Dave

[terrib]

I've no idea how I managed to post my hummingbirds twice. Then when I deleted the duplicate, all it left was this kind reply by Dave showing that he started the post. Weird.

SORRY! And thanks Dave for your comment!

[Dave Humphries]

I've no idea how I managed to post my hummingbirds twice. Then when I deleted the duplicate, all it left was this kind reply by Dave showing that he started the post. Weird.

I found out how to undelete it

Nice shots Terri, esp. #4, as (the other) Dave says

[jamn4ex]

very nice

[Stagecoach]

Superb set Terri, great colours, compositions and angles.

Grahame

[Suzan J]

Hello Terri: I have been away from this site for too long, and upon my return, the first thing I see are these lovely hummingbirds. The detail and colours are gorgeous. How do you manage to get close enough for such great captures? Our bird season up here is only just starting. I likely won't see this guys until Victoria Day weekend. (later in May)

[Marie Hass]

Lovely series. Just delightful captures.

Like Suzan, I too, am awaiting the arrival of the hummers. We moved in November, so I will have to start all over again with establishing a feeder population.

Marie

[Stinky]

Stunning.

[terrib]

Thank you all for your generous comments. Also to Christina, Mike and Joe who I have not thanked in the duplicate of this thread. Didn't want to put it back into the stream again.

Suzan, hummingbirds do get used to your presence after a while but these were exceptionally tolerant. I was able to set my camera at 6 to 8 feet away and they were not deterred by my presence. The ones that visit me in Colorado take a lot longer to calm down or return once I have set up. These were shot at 400mm and still, they are all cropped.

[bnnrcn]

They are beautiful Terri

[terrib]

Thank you, Binnur!

[Scouse]

Well done Terri, well shot and the natural background setting works wonderfully.

We're lucky here in having a couple of families of Anna's humming birds that stay all year. At nights in winter I take the feeders in and put them on the warm air grill or they freeze up. With their metabolism I don't know how the little guys survive. There are about 30 on one feeder right now.

[Teton Chuck]

Terri, these are outstanding photos. You're getting really good.

Were these taken in Texas or Colorado?

[deetheturk]

Superb Terri,all stunning!

[chauncey]

Many years ago, before photography, we were on vacation in Durango, Colorado. I was seated in the patio area of the motel, drinking heavily sweetened morning coffee and solving crossword puzzles, when one of those flying critters helped himself to my morning coffee.

I often wonder if the morning jolt of caffeine made him more hyperactive.

[Bobobird]

Excellent set of pictures of some really beautiful birds.

One minor niggle - the branches are on the verge of blowing and drawing attention away from the birds.

[Wavelength]

O,whatta stunning shots........ my feelings of appreciations are beyond my vocabulary!!!!!!!!

[terrib]

Terri, these are outstanding photos. You're getting really good.

Were these taken in Texas or Colorado?

Thank you, Chuck! These were in Texas.

[terrib]

Thanks also to everyone else for your comments!

Bobo, I agree about the branches. Thanks!