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reflectionsofnature | all galleries >> Birds >> Hummingbirds > Ruby-throated Hummingbird (male)
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13-MAY-2011

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (male)

This male is one of three male hummingbirds that I have seen fighting for a space at my hummingbird feeder. I have never seen multiple males like this at my feeders, females yes, but not multiple males. I don't often see male hummingbirds at my feeders at all.
 
I photographed this hummingbird shortly after I photographed the Lincoln's Sparrow. The Lincoln's Sparrow was in the shade and I had to set my camera to ISO 800 to get a high enough shutter speed to handhold my lens. I forgot to lower the ISO setting when I turned to photograph the hummingbird in the direct late afternoon sun, which would normally be a mistake (but not fatal), but in this case it turned out to be a good mistake because the extra high shutter speed nicely froze the wing. If I had lowered the ISO setting back to 400 (my normal maximum) as I always do when I am conscious that my ISO setting is higher than 400, then the wing wouldn't be frozen like this.
 
This year has now set a record for the best year ever for birds in my backyard. Today a very soggy Lincoln's Sparrow is still present and now an Indigo Bunting has shown up. I get Indigo Buntings at my feeders ever year during spring migration but they never stick around for long. Six Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a mixed bag of 13 White-crowned & White-throated Sparrows, 9 American Goldfinches, 3 Baltimore Orioles, 2 Chipping Sparrows, and one lone Junco are also present today. Chickadees are confirmed nesting in one of my bird houses. Their eggs are only about 1.3 cm long!


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Linda & Pär Johansson15-May-2011 07:08
Unbelievable! V++
Hank Vander Velde14-May-2011 23:35
Super image and great visitors to your backyard Chris. I have yet to see a Hummingbird at my feeders this year.
Jim Coffman14-May-2011 21:21
These are so pretty! We have them here all summer. Nice capture,Chris!
Ghislaine et Réal Boulet14-May-2011 19:46
Wow superb picture.
goelsamuel14-May-2011 19:18
Beautiful capture! Well done! V++
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