Hummer Obsessed

Ho hum, another hummingbird at the feeder picture. I'm afraid I'm a bit obsessed with trying to get "the" picture of the hummer. Summer is almost over and soon the feeders will have to be taken away. I bought a new beautiful glass feeder, but the hummingbirds won't go near it.

I like the sharpness of this one and I think the pictures are improving... I really love this shot (but it's still not the one). I really like the curve of her back; almost like a swan dive.

For the photography buffs, the camera is on a tripod, the focus is pre-set and I am using a remote control to take the picture, so as not to scare the birds. I used the 70-300 mm lens and was shooting at 270mm, f/5.6 and ISO was 320. Shutter speed was 1/1,250 sec; and that still didn't freeze the wings!

Sugar Wars

The end of August brings wasps. They have taken over the hummingbird feeder and are very aggressive about protecting their sugar supply.The little hummers are quick to dodge the wasps, but this looked like a close call!
We have about four hummingbirds around this feeder, and not only do they battle the wasps, but they chase each other away as well. It is a very active place. Stand off...but the wasp got to it first. The hummingbirds will always let the wasps do what they wish.
The female finally able to have a drink.

July 9: At the feeders

It was a perfect day weather wise; comfortable temperature and beautiful sunshine, a rarity this summer. I decided to take a break from mowing the lawn and I saw what I thought was a baby woodpecker sitting on the branch above our bird feeder.

I took out the camera with the 500 mm lens and snapped some pictures. It was a baby, but I didn't know what kind of bird it was. He sat there snoozing for a long time, while goldfinches came and went to the feeder. He wasn't bothered by them, he was perfectly content.

Soon his father showed up, and the mystery to his identity was solved...a Rose-breasted Grosbeak! Pete had told me they were around and showed them to me in a bird book a few days ago. While they are supposedly common, I'd never seen one before. He was a beauty.

He would eat the seeds and then go over and feed the baby, who by now was awake and hungry!
I'm still trying to get a shot of the hummer that captures the red on the throat, crisp detail and the wings stopped. Didn't get it this time, but not for lack of trying...

They are so cute! I love seeing them on a branch, or on the hydro wires...they are so small (this was taken the other day when I was out with 'Mayer').

Canada Day

We've had a busy day watching the birds...a beautiful hummingbird. The robin waiting for us to leave so it can care for its babies. Beat it!
The baby robins have grown! The parents are working around the clock to feed them.
Kind of scary looking! This shot was early this morning through the window. Pete then set me up with a tripod and remote shutter so I could take pictures of the nest while in the house and not disturb the parents....waiting

Big worm, no wonder they are growing so fast!

More please!
We were treated to a sighting of the fawn! This is the first time we've seen it this year.

Meanwhile we aren't to thrilled with Canada's national animal. The beaver took care of a pretty sizeable tree down by the creek the other day, and we'd just been talking about wrapping it in wire mesh.

Happy Canada Day!