Ruby-throated Hummingbird flying near Petunias. Explored.

Hummingbird in flight, and not near a feeder!

Prescott, AZ

Honey Bee flying by a Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding on Salvia guaratica. Explored.

More cheer from the garden. This was one of my summer visitors, a male Black Chin Hummingbird flashing his magic wings. Black Chins spend the warmer months in our area of Northern California before migrating south in the fall.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird flying near Petunias. Explored.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding on Lantana.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird flying in the garden. Explored.

Colorado Springs, CO.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliope_Hummingbird

Male Ruby Throated Hummingbird feeding on Red Salvia.

Male Ruby Throated Hummingbird flying in the garden.

The red Cardinal Sage has been quite a lure in my garden this year for all the Hummingibrd activity. The most recent frosts have still left a few blooms about. This Anna's male was visiting the blossoms when I came across him in the garden. So intent was he on the nourishment that he didn't seem to mind me just feet away.

Was just happy to catch her moving! I believe this is an Anna Hummingbird. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

This is another beautiful hummingbird that can be seen in Costa Rica and western Panama. Not easy though.

For more on neotropical photography visit me www.juancarlosvindasphoto.com

Colorado Springs, CO - Our hummingbirds always arrive late in the summer and I can easily spend hours watching them once they get here and start buzzing around our trees, flowers, and feeders. This summer we seem to have a much larger variety of hummingbirds and this photograph of a male Calliope is among the first I've ever taken of this tiny bird (the smallest in the continental United States and smallest long-distance avian migrant in the world) ...

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Calliope_Hummingbird/id

This little lady is one of the Anna's Hummingbirds that have been frequenting my feeders. She tends to slip in whenever the male tyrant is occupied elsewhere. Although she dosen't have the brillant iridescent coloring on her head and throat of the male, she is still quite a jewel in her own right.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird leaping into flight. Explored.

Male Ruby Throated Hummingbird flying in the garden.

Tucson, Arizona

Juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird ready to launch into flight.

Rufous or Allen's hummingbird (male) near feeder.

I just started seeing this fellow in the past week or so. Although colorful, he is quite the bully, aggressively chasing other hummingbirds away from the feeders. [4-2854]

Strobist Info: SB-800 and SB-700 (ganged) at 1/8 through umbrella from camera right. Bare Canon 540EZ at 1/16 from above and behind subject, camera left. Phottix Strato II wireless trigger on SB-700 with sync cords to SB-800 and 540EZ. Background is the shaded interior of a cardboard box.

My other hummingbird photos can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/92747424@N05/albums/72157643388058603

Another hummingbird from the archives. I loved the transparency of the wings where the iridescent patterns were visisble underneathe.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird flying in the garden. Explored.

More spring arrivals.

Juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird behind a curtain of vines and flowers.

An amazing display of dexterity as this juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird preens one of the middle feathers of his wing. Fun to watch!

The colorful iridescence of the male Rufous Hummingbird will soon be brightening the garden as it migrates north to its breeding grounds. The activity becomes quite frenzied at times as these aggressive hummers defend their temporary feeding grounds. Our resident Anna's Hummingbirds sometimes go bill to bill with the Rufous, as if dueling swords will determine the victor. I very much look forward to their migratory trips north in the spring as well as their trips south in the fall for the sense of added adventure and entertainment they contribute to the garden!

For more on neo tropical photography and birding tours visit www.juancarlosvindasphoto.com

best viewed in lightbox

Two Ruby Throated Hummingbird socializing (LOL). I added a little Photoshop fliter to give it some action.

Anna's hummingbird (female or juvenile) near feeder. [4-0192]

Strobist Info: SB-800 at 1/8 through umbrella from camera right. SB-700 at 1/16 from camera left. Canon 540EZ at 1/16 onto background (garden foliage). Phottix Odin and Strato II wireless triggers.

Hummingbirds bring magic to my garden. Our area of California is host to the resident Anna's so we have hummingibrds year round. During the spring fall migration, we are graced with the feisty activity of the Rufous-rowdy little devils-as well as the beautiful Calliope (the smallest bird species in North America). The Black Chin is a summer resident. I never tire of their presence. They help me take pause as I work amongst the flowers--such little jewels flashing their iridescence in the sunlight on those magic wings.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird flying in the garden. Explored.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird in flight.

Rufous or Allen's hummingbird (female or juvenile) near feeder. [4-1802]

Strobist Info: SB-800 and SB-700 (ganged) at 1/16 through umbrella from camera left. Canon 540EZ at 1/16 onto background (garden foliage). Phottix Strato II wireless triggers.

This female is feeding on the flowers of Baja Fairy Duster. Tucson, Arizona.

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird flying near Lantana. The white bokeh is a small Japanese lantern. Explored.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird and Hibiscus flower. Joy in flight. Explored.

Juvenile Male www.facebook.com/paulinskillriverphotography

Anna's hummingbird (female or juvenile) near feeder.

Strobist Info: SB-800 at 1/2 in shoot-through umbrella from directly above subject. Aluminum foil reflector directly below subject. Phottix Strato II wireless trigger. Background (garden foliage) lit by ambient.

My other hummingbird photos can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/92747424@N05/albums/72157643388058603

Composite image of a juvenile Anna's hummingbird, hovering near a feeder. The two photos were taken about one second apart using a dark red fleece jacket as a backdrop.

Thank you to Brennan Mulrooney for confirming the identification!

My other hummingbird photos can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/92747424@N05/albums/72157643388058603

Strobist Info (both photos): Two Canon 540EZs at 1/16, ganged in shoot-through umbrella from slightly above subject, camera left. Silver reflectors below subject and to camera right, white foamcore reflector overhead. SB-800 at 1/16 (-1/3) onto backdrop (fleece jacket). Phottix Strato II wireless triggers on the 540EZs. SB-800 in optical slave mode.

Rufous or Allen's hummingbird (female or juvenile) at salvia plant placed near feeder.

Strobist Info: SB-800 at 1/16 (+1/3) in mini softbox from camera left. SB-700 at 1/8 through umbrella from camera right. Phottix Strato II wireless trigger on SB-700 with wired sync cord from trigger to SB-800.

My other hummingbird photos can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/92747424@N05/albums/72157643388058603

I normally photograph hummingbirds against a background of natural foliage, but my daughter brought some colorful artwork home from school and agreed to let me try using it as a backdrop.

Rufous or Allen's hummingbird (female or juvenile) near feeder. [4-2524]

Strobist Info: SB-800 at 1/16 through umbrella from above camera right. Snooted SB-700 at 1/32 from camera left. Canon 540EZ at 1/64 onto background. Phottix Strato II wireless triggers on SB-700 and 540EZ with sync cord from trigger to SB-800.

My other hummingbird photos can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/92747424@N05/albums/72157643388058603

Ruby-throated Hummingbird flying in front of a hanging basket of flowers.

First Hummingbird post of 2011. I got "rusty" over the Winter. It has taken me about three weeks to get a good shot or two. I thought this brilliantly colored male would be a good way to start the year off. So...here we go!