Thursday, September 17, 2009

Space Invaders

There are only a few weeks left with the backyard warriors. I’m compelled to offer them here again before they leave.


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Waiting for a space invader.

Can anyone get enough hummingbird drama? I can’t. I could sit for hours every day and watch them rule their galaxies and tangle and clack their beaks in a mid-air spiral that sends shivers up my spine when I hear the combat.

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Invade my space? Surely you jest, but bring it on.

Oh my, what a lovely fighter pilot you are, young lad. Delicate. Sweet.

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Now you see me…

In flight, watch them in reverse and make a u-turn in a nanosecond. Watch intently to see them turn into a blur and disappear with lightning speed, headed for a precise and safe landing on the same twig as before… So predictable. And I smile.

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Guarding their feeders,

watching their space,

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and agitating and inviting their invaders,

fearlessly,

from hidden places.

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Hummer puffs up and retracts its neck before an ambush.

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Sweets for the Sweet

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Watch out! Incoming!

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They are their own special galaxy.

Bright spots.

My daytime Milky Way.

31 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What a delightful array of hummingbird photos. A story unto themselves.

Beth said...

What incredible photos, Mare. Love them. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Beth

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

I love your hummer photos almost as much as I love you May.

Villas Girl said...

WOW! Amazing photos as always.
Now that they are migrating, my sightings are getting far and few between. Oh how I already miss the chitter-chat, the guarding of the feeders, the amazing aerodynamics...
Lisa

Susan Gets Native said...

Oh, Mary. You and all hummingbirds are so intertwined with me.
When my hummingbirds leave for the Winter, I get sad for YOU.

Carol Michel said...

We ought to call you Hummingbird Mary! Great pictures of a hard to photograph bird.

Robin's Nesting Place said...

AMAZING pictures! I'm not seeing them here anymore, I miss them already!

KGMom said...

Wow, Mary, such wonderful photos. You must sit there waiting.
I had a couple of hummers buzz by this summer--but not one stayed around. I am not a hummer magnet.

BirdingMom said...

What amazing photos! I can watch my hummers all day. It always makes me wonder why they make feeders with four-six perches ... when they NEVER share with others!

Susan Ellis said...

Incredible shots, and the accompanying text is pretty incredible too!

Anonymous said...

Love your humming bird photo's Mary!

You are not kidding about the drama. I was in my in laws backyard a few weeks back and witnessed a humming bird chasing and attacking a squirrel as it ran the entire length of the fence (some 80-100 feet)The squirrel appeared to be running for it's life! LOL

Gaelen

Tricia Ryder said...

Amazing pictures of a wonderful bird. We don't have anything like your hummers over hre in the UK!

Jayne said...

As always Mary, just gorgeous photos of your jeweled friends!

Anonymous said...

These are beautiful! I watch those fascinating creatures every day but you've shown me more about them that I could ever see with naked eye.

Those tiny little feet. . . !

Glad to see you clicking away again. No pressure...but I've missed you.

Still chuckling about Bella the hoola hooper.

jane augenstein said...

Excellent pictures of the hummers! Love the last one, the expression on the face if great! Beautiful shots of beautiful birds.
Thanks Mary!!

A New England Life said...

Okay, give it up, how do you get such amazing shots on Hummingbirds Mary? Maybe they're friendlier in the south, or you disguise yourself as a Hummer!

Such sturdy, tough little birds! I miss them already : (

Susan Humeston said...

Beautiful, just beautiful. I live in South Florida - on the east coast area - and last year I had my first Ruby Throated Hummingbird. I was not ready - I was laying on the ground, belly down, reading a book, and heard an unusual clicking sound. I know my backyard birds and this was different. I looked up - and not 5 feet from me, in the Cape Honeysuckle bush, was a RB Hummingbird male. My jaw dropped, literally - and I couldn't move. I did manage to get a few bad photos of him before he left, but I'm hoping for this year - and I'll be keeping my eyes open all the time....

Dawn Fine said...

Gor Gee Us! Love them...daytime milky ways!

jason said...

These are beautiful, Mary! Stunning! I've seen more and more hummers coming through on migration (along with other birds and countless monarch butterflies), so it's definitely feeling like autumn--even if the weather doesn't agree. Glad to see you're still enjoying their shenanigans.

bobbie said...

Mary, these are so beautiful! These guys may invade my space any day of the week!

Balisha said...

What amazing photos. How do you do it?

eileeninmd said...

You have amazing photos of the hummingbirds. I will be sorry to see mine leave here soon. Right now I am still seeing a few females or juvies.

Peg Silloway said...

Spectacular, Mary. Your love of hummingbirds shows your photos. I think they know, and make sure you get great shots.

Shelly Cox said...

Gorgeous photos, hummingbirds are so lovely, your pictures made them even more so.

Kathie Brown said...

Mary, I'm with you, I could watch them all day and frequently do, which means I don't get other things done, including blogging!

RuthieJ said...

oh Mary, I loved this post and esp. the pictures! I still have 2 feisty little hummers hanging around my feeders here in Minnesota. I treasure every moment at this time of year because now it's only a matter of days and they'll be gone until next April.

Anonymous said...

What spectacular photos Mary !! Incredible detail. I also love watching the hummingbirds and will miss seeing them very shortly. I live in southwest lower Michigan.
Thanks for sharing.

Wendy said...

What striking photos! And the commentary is fun. They do have their own little personalities, don't they? I will miss them. Ours are gone already and the geese are leaving too.
Happy autumn!

Q said...

Dear Mary,
Your hummers are the best!
I too will miss them.
Sherry

dugfresh said...

what incredibly awesome photos. and i love the stories that you put with them. entertaining, as well as amazing.

glad you're back.

Anonymous said...

WOW your hummingbird photos are exquisite!