Ruby Throated Hummingbirds
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A couple of summer posts for weekend seem especially warranted by the strong winds, blowing snow and bleakness of our second day in December.
Tilden Botanic Garden, Berkeley, CA
I was at the Botanic Garden with my wife, who was doing an extended bird survey of the Garden with three of her fellow docents. It was a pleasant spring morning weather. This handsome male was preening himself extensively on a branch by the pond, displaying the largest ruby crown that any of us had ever seen (not quite captured in this picture). He was also vocalizing and calling actively now and then.
Early spring arrival to Southern Ontario. These are restless, acrobatic birds that move quickly through foliage, typically at lower and middle levels. They flick their wings almost constantly as they go. This makes them very difficult to photograph. (Cornell Lab)
It is such a pleasure to see hummingbirds zooming, chasing and performing other aerobatics in your yard.
Nikon D500, Sigma 60-600mm Sports lens, 600mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 800. Juvenile male and a bug. View Large.
I love these little sweeties with their lovely delicate singing. Never remaining still definitely makes them not easy to photograph.
Thank you for all views, faves, and comments.
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny bird that lays a very large clutch of eggs—there can be up to 12 in a single nest. Although the eggs themselves weigh only about a fiftieth of an ounce, an entire clutch can weigh as much as the female herself.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets seem nervous as they flit through the foliage, flicking their wings nearly constantly. Keeping an eye out for this habit can be a useful aid to identifying kinglets.
Metabolic studies on Ruby-crowned Kinglets suggest that these tiny birds use only about 10 calories (technically, kilocalories) per day.
The oldest known Ruby-crowned Kinglet was a female, and at least 8 years, 8 months old, when she was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Texas in 2017. She was banded in the same state in 2008.
Black and Bloom Salvia perennials proved to be strong hummingbird plants. I hope that they will attract clearwing moths and butterfiles too next year.
I spotted this ruby crowned kinglet flitting around in a bush. It kept moving until it took a good look at me, then moved away into the woods.
They have a highly audible song for such a small bird. It took several minutes before I could locate him as he sang a few phrases from one place, and then started again in another location. Luckily for me, he flew down to an open perch very close where he sang and raised his crown.
It was a bright overcast backlight situation. I was close enough to get detail though, and I really like the way those red crown feathers were lighted from behind.
If you have never heard its song, Check the link below.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/sounds
Beaumaris Lake. Edmonton, Alberta.
Finally after close to a month of trips to go see her, The chicks make an appearance. They can't be more then a couple days old. Might be the first time I shot anything above 5.6. It was very tough to get focus, A fill flash was used
This is Ruby. One of the pair I have been following for some time now. Ruby is a bit cautious around this time, probably pregnant.
Image shot as it is on Nikon series E 1:4 F=70-210mm
Brighton 🇬🇧
March 2021
I caught this juvenile taking nectar from a Scarlet Runner in Peter Stahl's flower garden.
Isle Lake. Parkland County, Alberta.
Female hummingbird enjoying some Turk's Cap flowers while spending a few days in my area on its Fall Migration South. Richmond, Texas (Archilochus colubris)
This one was feeding between the raised beds and gave me a clean background. Very nice of it. 😉
Kent County, Michigan
Regulus calendula - LOVES suet and mealworms - Migratory - I have many that stay the winter but they leave in the spring.