So the reason I don't try to photograph hummingbirds is because I had every expectation of my pix turning out like this:
See the single leaf hanging off to the right on the bare branch almost dead center in the picture? Yup, it's a hummingbird. Or a silhouette of one, anyways. (Click on the image to enlarge: then the splotch will indeed be bird shaped.)
However, after I sent a picture of the hummingbird moth (scroll down to pix 4 & 5) to f2tY's Japanese father, he reminded me that ‘hachidori’ is the Nihongo word for hummingbird. I felt bad that I couldn't[1] show him the actual bird in my garden[2] .
But with a little luck I actually managed a recognizable photo! Since I use a center spot focus in my camera, when I'm shooting rapidly the object of interest will always be in the center of the image;)
Here's a 100% crop of the crittur.
I don't have any telephoto lenses, and as a rule I prefer to photograph things that stay put, like beads (and even then, I anchor them with handy-tac and the like.) So trying to capture a hummingbird is pretty much out of my regular skill set.
In fact, I managed two more or less acceptable snapshots.
What I do have, however, is a lot of red monarda, which they love. So does my next door neighbor, which means our adjacent yards are primo hummingbird territory: sometimes one will try to sneak in & sup nectar, only to be driven away by the residents.
100% crop. This one shows the beautiful iridescent feathers better.
So with a bit of patience and some luck (and a hundred plus bad shots) I managed some snapshots—not great photos, but adequate documentation to my assertion that yes, I do get hummingbirds in my garden:)
Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.
