Because...

I haven't written a blog post for awhile because I've been waiting for an ending to a story I want to share.   That's (hopefully) coming soon.

So, I guess I'll post more hummingbirds and some butterflies instead.

Because I love them and maybe you do, too.

Monarch on Tithonia

And because if you aren't friends with me on Facebook you haven't seen the next photo, which I think is too cute too miss.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Coleus

Because, if you aren't on the "PA Birders-Photography" Facebook group, then you haven't seen my photo of a Yellow-bellied Hummingbird.  (Not really, it's a Ruby-throat with the sunshine reflecting the yellow from the zinnia).

If you aren't on the "Worst Bird Photographs Ever" Facebook group, you haven't seen my contribution of a "blurd" with a really crispy-focused twig.  Which, of course, was what I was trying to capture (NOT)!

Although, I did get the shot awhile later:

(It's good that hummingbirds are creatures of habit and often sit in the same place).

Because... the garden may be waning as far as the condition of the flowers, but the hummingbirds and butterflies don't mind.

Because even though I've shown you hummingbirds on coleus flowers, like this...

... I haven't shown them to you on my Butterfly Bush

or on the Tithonia.

Although zinnias still seem to be their favorites.

They are even occasionally a good spot for a rest.

Because I also achieved a goal I had of capturing in the same photo both a hummingbird and a Monarch butterfly! I got some shots but in the excitement of the moment I may have not gotten the best focus!  However, here they are:

They were both peacefully feeding... but then the hummingbird noticed the butterfly...

"Hey, what are YOU doing here?"  (It was a tense situation for a second or two!)  Then I guess the bird decided there were enough flowers for both of them and went back to sipping.  (Surprisingly enough!)

That's one flower which doesn't look so pretty anymore, but there's still nectar in the florets!

Well, that was exciting and I thought I should share it with you.

But, wait... what's going on behind me?

"Gizmo?  Are you finding this boring?"

"Grammy, I do not know why you stand there so long taking pictures of those things when there are chipmunks on the other side of the house.  I think I'm going to take a nap."

"I'm sorry, Gizmo."  

I hope I didn't put any of the rest of you to sleep. 

Hummingbirds and Books

I'm not feeling very inspired with writing ideas today.  I've written about hummingbirds quite a few times on the blog before and I just couldn't come up with anything new.  Maybe I used all my creativity writing the cinquains in my last post.  

But I'm still taking hummingbird photos and I've got to do something with them! So finally I did have an idea.  Instead of writing about them myself, I'll share where you can read about hummingbirds.  

I love to read and I love birds.... so of course I read a lot of books about birds.  

The two books on the left both have very interesting chapters about hummingbirds and the one on the right is completely focused on hummingbirds.  Here's a peek inside:

I'm not going to say more than that, except that I enjoyed them and you will, too, if you like to read about birds.  While I have all three of these on my own bookshelf, I want to put in a plug for your local library!  Even if they don't have a particular book you are looking for, they may be able to get it for you if you ask.  (If you live in PA they can get any book in the state library system thru "Access PA").  If you are looking for more suggestions for books go my post titled "From My Bookshelf" by clicking here.

Now, on with the hummingbird photos!

Hummingbird on Coleus flower

A bit of flower stuck to its bill.

Every year I plant scarlet runner beans on our garden fence for the hummingbirds.

Can you find the hummingbird in this photo?  Look in the next photo for a hint!

Hummingbirds don't often perch (except on feeders) to eat, but this one and the next one did.

Even if humans didn't plant special flowers for them or put up sugar-water feeders, the ruby-throats would be fine.  There are natural sources of food for them... such as the jewelweed flowers in the next photo.

One of the hardest things to capture in photos of male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds is their red gorgets.  The next two are the best photos I've taken showing that.  Guess I'll have to keep trying!

Soaking Up Summer and Hummers

Yesterday was Sunday, a day of rest.  It was also August 9th... how did it get to be August already?  I said to my husband, "It still seems like it should be June."  Well, it isn't.  So, you and I both know what is coming.  That's why I decided on a day of rest to just soak in the beautiful summer day.  I didn't even go for a hike, I just stayed in my yard.  I wanted to soak up the sunshine, the flowers, and most of all, the hummers.

First, let me say not all of these photos were taken yesterday.  But all have been taken in the last few days.  So, come join me in our yard and enjoy the hummingbirds.

First we'll sit on the kitchen deck by the pots of Geraniums 'Vancouver Centennial'.  We won't have to wait long until a hummingbird appears, because they love these flowers.

I can think of many words to describe watching a hummingbird as it goes from flower to flower within a few feet of me.  Awesome, wonderful, fantastic... even breath-taking.

They are like tiny 'jets'... with amazing flying abilities. 

That one is going to have to go perch for awhile and clean its bill!

Yes, they do perch, in between chasing each other around the yard.  I've been seeing 3 at once, flying 'formation', like miniature jet fighters.  Sometimes they fly within almost striking distance of me.  

Other times, they sit... but they are always watching... and guarding 'their' feeders and flowers.

This male sat one way, with the sun lighting up his ruby-throat for awhile, then turned.  Out of the bright rays of the sun, he should be called a black-throated hummingbird.

The immature ones and females have white throats.

They all love the sugar water feeders.  We can watch them at the feeder hanging under our apple tree...

or the one on the kitchen window.

 

Even having two feeders does not keep them from fighting over the territory.  Neither does having lots of flowers.  I guess they are just 'angry birds'.  

 You can see the hanging feeder on the left and the window mounted feeder on the right, just above the chair, and the Geraniums 'Vancouver Centennial' in between.  From here, we can also watch them as they go to the flowerbed.

They like the sweet-smelling Garden Phlox.

And, even though they are not the typical tubular-shaped flowers you know hummers like, they do like my Zinnias!

Zinnias also make a nice perch.

They don't care what color the Zinnias are, either!

Those photos were taken from our front deck, looking down into the flowerbed.  We can also see hummers very close up while sitting there, as they like the red Calibrachoa flowers and pink and white Geranuims in the deck boxes.

When I wrote about our trip to Columbia, South America, I somewhat facetiously asked why God only gave us one kind of hummingbirds (click here to read that post), compared to Columbia's over a hundred.  But, you know, I have to say ours are so beautiful and amazing that I'm very thankful for them!   I am enjoying them immensely and I hope you enjoyed a little visit with me to watch them in my garden.

No hummers in this last photo, just flowers.  Thanks for visiting!