Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/08/26

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Subject: [Leica] IMG: Hummingbirds
From: wildlightphoto at earthlink.net (Doug Herr)
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 12:20:36 -0700 (GMT-07:00)

The fall hummingbird migration has begun.  In addition to the resident 
Anna's Hummingbirds and summer's Black-chinned Hummingbirds, a visitor from 
the north appeared at my feeder yesterday, a Rufous Hummingbird, the first 
I've seen in my yard:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/selasphorus/ruhumm02.html

Hummingbirds feed throughout the day but dawn and dusk see the most action 
by far.  They wake up hungry all want to feed at the same time, and they use 
the last daylight to top off the fuel tank for the night.  Hummingbirds 
being what they are this results in bickering, jockeying for position and 
aerial battles.  I suspect that by providing fewer than one feeder per bird 
I've in inadvertently contributed to the warfare (think The Gods Must be 
Crazy).  OTOH, hummingbirds being what they are it probably makes no 
difference.

A half-dozen hummingbirds (three species) at dawn simultaneously defending 
their claims to the feeders is chaos; the alliances in the middle east are 
easier to understand.  Tiny feathered mites of fury posture, squeak their 
annoyance and dogfight at the least provocation.  I can't show the dogfights 
but here's some of the posturing:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm13.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm14.html

compare with a chillaxin' hummingbird:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm11.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/calypte/anhumm12.html

technical stuff: R8/DMR, 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R, tripod.  No blind needed, 
they'll take a sip from the feeder while I'm holding it.  All comments 
welcome.


Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com




Replies: Reply from grduprey at mchsi.com (grduprey at mchsi.com) ([Leica] IMG: Hummingbirds)
Reply from leica at jayburleson.com (Jay Burleson) ([Leica] IMG: Hummingbirds)
Reply from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] IMG: Hummingbirds)