Yesterday morning in the Wasatch Mountains I spent a long time with a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird who was intent on protecting his patch from other hummingbirds. I only saw him feeding on the flowers below him once, briefly. He spent most of the rest of his time on several high perches watching his patch for intruding hummingbirds.
Whenever he spotted one, which was fairly often, he gave furious chase.
1/6400, f/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
When he landed here it took me a couple of seconds to lock focus on him. As is my habit with hummers, I fired off a quick, short burst as soon as I had him in focus. This is shot #1 in the burst and it just so happened that he’d already spotted an intruder and was about to take off after it. I didn’t see the trespasser because I was looking through my lens, but I heard it fly fast from my left to my right.
Less than 1/10th of a second after this shot was taken he was already in hot pursuit.
1/6400, f/5.6, ISO 1000, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I adore his takeoff posture as seen mostly from his dorsal side but still with good light on his face and a catch light in his eye. The forward sweep of his wings is an indicator of his intention to accelerate quickly as he chases the intruder. His open bill suggests that he was chirping, as they usually during chases.
I’ve captured this hummingbird takeoff posture from this angle a time or two in the past but never in a high quality photo with plenty of detail and a sharp bird. So yes, I was tickled to get it.
Ron
After a late night I am late to the party this morning. What a glorious start to the day. His alertness and determination are so very evident in that first photo and then he exploded into (beautiful) action.
I hope I can find some of his energy today.
Thanks, EC. I hope you can too.
Nice Mr. D! Beautiful.
Thank you, Brian. The “Mr. D” made me smile.
Wonderful photos , and as always it was fun to run into you, sorry I missed Loren and the bluebird.
Thanks, April. I enjoyed our visit. I told Loren where you were but he said he had to leave right away so he didn’t head in your direction. In fact, he followed me out – well, he followed and then I followed, it was back and forth.
Wow, great shots AND … a catchlight both times. Lovely, Ron!
Thank you, Ellen.
Spicy hummingbird! “Danged kids — get off my flowers!” These two shots remind me of the old Warner Bros cartoons where the character (Bugs, Daffy, etc.) is moving very fast and suddenly is morphed into a rocket ship or something similar by the animator. (I’m looking for a clip to illustrate what I’m trying to describe, but not succeeding.) In the second shot, this little hummingbird morphs into a fighter jet!
No clip required, Marty. I know exactly what you mean. I think I watched too many of those cartoons!
Thereās no such thing as ātoo manyā classic cartoons. š
Wow! I’ve never seen a photo of a hummer from that view! Love it!
Thank you.
Scrolling back and forth between the two, trying to get a sense of what 1/10th of a second is, trying to understand how you can stop the action so beautifully, how you can convey this little guy’s story in such gorgeous detail. Impossible, just have to accept it’s done, here are two perfect photos to prove it. Thank you for starting my day with such wonder!
Carolyn, a shutter speed of 1/6400 second played a huge part in “stopping the action”. Thanks very much.
Just finished The glitter in the green by Jon Dunn. It is the story of his journey to see hummingbirds from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego: an engrossing tale about some incredible hummingbirds, the wonderful people working to save them and the rapid habitat loss caused by the rest of humanity.
Sounds like an interesting read, Catherine.
P.s. the color detail I the second photo is wonderful. Love The dabs of color on his tail and outer wings
Thank you for mentioning the book. I will have to read it.
That is an excellent photo. Color, light, action, etc. First thing this morning when I opened the back window coverings an Anna’s was flying right in front of me looking in through the window.
Thanks, Everett. What a wonderful way to greet the day you had with that hummer.
Wonderful shots! Congratulations!
Thanks, Kathryn.
The bokeh couldn’t be more complementary. Youāre narrative really adds to the photos, as well.
It does seem they would rather play king of the mountain than feed.
“It does seem they would rather play king of the mountain than feed.”
That was certainly his priority at the time, Lyle.
Unbelievable how you can get such a photo. Congrats!
Thanks, Kent.
SCORE ! Everything about that takeoff shot is just extraordinary, right
down to the russet edging on the tail feathers– I think it’s the most dynamic
hummingbird capture I’ve yet seen–congrats !
It’s certainly “the most dynamic capture” in a hummer photo of mine. Thanks, Kris.
BRAVO! Hummers are a HUGE challenge to capture! š 2nd shot is stunning – love the colors……
Thanks, Judy.
Oh my gourd! That’s the very definition of lust! I could have died a happy birder after an experience like that. No, that’s wrong. I wouldn’t have been able to die happy without processing those and sharing the experience. Wow! Love the posture and the detail but, as usual the icing on the cake is the description of the behaviour. What a morning !
“Oh my gourd! ” š
I’m delighted that you enjoyed to description too, Granny Pat. Thanks.
Iām also tickled to see the in-focus, powerful takeoff. Iām tickled most mornings to read your delightful, informative photo essays. Thank you.
Double tickled! Glad to hear that, Marcia. Thanks.
These are amazingly fast birds and their scale in the lens is practically impossible to track. Bravo on you photos this is a very nice job. Your skills and patience paid off. Thank you for sharing your pix.
Much appreciated, Deb.
Outstanding photos Ron! Incredible to think the two shots are a fraction of a second apart and you captured both beautifully.
Thank you, Mark.