Sunday, July 18, 2010

Thirty Minutes of This Morning


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It’s been almost three months. There are several dozen photographs waiting for show and tell and at least eight stories to write. I haven’t had enough time to compose and share any of it here. Poor, poor Mary’s View. I wasn't planning on being here today, either.

This morning, early, before drink, food, toothbrush, cleanser on my face or a comb through my hair, a story was written in my mind as it happened. Not an adventure, not exciting. Simple and fun for me. It only took thirty minutes outside to know it was time to nudge this blog and I also knew this post would jump ahead in line before the rest.

The sunrise was searing hot and the humidity kept everything wet from overnight rain. Ignoring all that, I browsed near the pond and surveyed the work that still needed to be done. Man, it’s been too damned hot to drip sweat so furiously as I have for so long.

In the privacy of my back yard, I had a conversation.

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I heard a hum near my head, turned to the right, and there he was.

“Hello. Where have you been? You’re late! Stay. Please. I need to find my camera and its battery…”

For a few months, I wondered if I would ever see an adult female. There were plenty of males defending but I rarely saw a female.

Obviously now, two weeks late, I see the ladies and gents have been getting it on.

Without our cameras and lenses, how would we see the emerald green, ruby red, and all of the tiny details?

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“May I take one step closer to you or maybe two?”

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“You’re already sleepy. Is that mean old man wearing you out?


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He has claimed this branch of the Wax Crepe Myrtle where he has a clear view of all feeders. It’s his throne where he spends most of his awake time.

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I wonder how these baby birds learn to get their protein and sugar

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and I wonder how they learn the benefits of spider webs and lichen.

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Who shows them where the bugs are?


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He wore me out.

Cicadas, hot, no breeze.

Only 8 in the morning.

More sweat.

Chloe and Bella found shade.

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Amazing. I'll never lose interest or become bored with these little gems.

Since I wasn't expecting a crowd this year, I'm so glad to hear the bickering.

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Back to his branch for a minute of preening.

I could have reached out and touched him.

I wouldn’t dare!

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He needs to beware.

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“Did someone stab you in the back?

Did that mean old man get you?”



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Tiny bastardly thing

and very cute!

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW Mary!! Fantastic post and pictures!! Just WOW!!

Angie in SC

Caroline said...

So delightful to see your photos again, Mary! All I can say is jealous, jealous, jealous! I would love to get even one of those hummer pictures.

Barb said...

Mary, these photos are truly gems! Glad you were out and about early in the humidity to capture them! The"action shots" are marvelous!

Anonymous said...

What amazing pictures Mary! Glad to have you back. Missed your posts.
Lynda in Michgan.

A New England Life said...

I don't understand Mary, how do you get so close? Are they just not afraid? Do you have a lot of Hummers?

Mostly all I've seen are males. I think I saw a female once, that's it. My next door neighbor found one in her driveway, run over : (

Your photos are so wonderful! It's always nice to see you in the blogging world!

John said...

Excellent in every way. Very impressive.

Susan Gets Native said...

What you did in thirty minutes is more than what some people experience in a month. Aren't we lucky to know birds?
P.S. I owe you an email. A big one.

Murr Brewster said...

And I don't understand how you get pictures like that. And does your lantana last all year? It would almost be worth moving for...until I reread the heat comments.

The Quacks of Life said...

welcome back. lovely photos!

Jayne said...

My goodness.... you leave for a few months and become the hummer whisperer! Gorgeous!

Tricia Ryder said...

Wow - what wonderful detail and great the you could get so close. What beauties..

Angie said...

Awesome photos, woman!!! And I am SOOOOOO glad to see you back on this blog---some of us out here in the blue yonder really really miss you, girl!!!

Peg Silloway said...

No matter how long it is between posts, your words and incredible photos are always worth the waiting. Thanks, Mary, for brightening my day with your iridescent friends.

Sarah Knight said...

Wow! We have ruby-throated hummingbirds, and usually there are two pairs fighting over the two feeders at any given time. Summer is always punctuated with the sound of squeaking and squawking out on the patio... and buzzing in your ear if you dare sit too close to the feeder... silly humans.

Appalachian Lady said...

Great photos. Nice to see your post again too.

Mike B. said...

Great shots! It is amazing how they can look so gray and drab, and then the sun hits them at just the right angle and they explode with colors.

Wendy said...

Put a smile on my face. Love to see those sweet little hummers - and in such detail!

Heather said...

Thank you for sharing these 30 special minutes with us, Mary. What an endearing, precious little story. -Heather of the Hills

Kathie Brown said...

Mary, see, you are gone for 3 months and right away you have 18 comments! People wait for you to post! And what a nice post it is! I tried not to like hummingbirds also but they won me over. I just couldn't resist with all these beauties down here! You captured such wonderful details in your shots and as always your sense of humor shines through!

Dawn Fine said...

ohh weee.. cool..that little devil of a bird.
Welcome back..

Q said...

So fun to read and see a Hummer post!
The little ones are so tiny! wonderful photos!
It is hot here too.
Stay cool and drink lots of water...best cosmetic in my house!
Sherry

Rose said...

So glad you're back, Mary! I stopped in here the morning you posted this, but the photos wouldn't come up for me, and I'm just now getting back. No one captures hummers like you, Mary--amazing photos!

Minerva said...

Glad to see you're back, and with such great pictures of your little green gems.

Mary said...

Thanks, old friends. There's loads to share. More to come but don't know when...

:)

Dawn Fine said...

Hey Mary...
Did you just call us OLD? :)

Mary said...

Dawn, yes, I did! "Old", in a wonderful way.

gretchen said...

So happy to have you back! And so relieved to read that you mention Bella and Chloe ( I was getting a little worried that maybe something had happened to one of them and your absence was because you couldn't bring yourself to tell us) So not only am I thrilled to see that you are back and that the girls are both still with us, but I am in total AWE of these gorgeous, spectacular photos. Good things are well worth waiting for!
hugs,
gretchen

JeanMac said...

Happy, happy, happy that you're back!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I'm so glad I checked! I'd decided you weren't going to post this summer. Are you working the hideous hours again?

This is lovely! No one takes pictures like you do.

I looked in my backyard today and there was a beautiful owl sitting on the grass! I don't know what kind it was--pale grey, beautiful, fluffily framed eyes. Maybe it thought I'd put out a hit on the damnsquirrels. I was afraid it was hurt, but it flew up in the magnolia tree. What do you think?

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for letting me visit these beautiful little jewels even as I sit in my no-windows office!

Robin's Nesting Place said...

What delightful pictures of the hummers! I'm so glad you took the time to share!

Kimberley Wakelin said...

Wow! Amazing series of photos!

Gail said...

Your captures are so fantastic Mary...gail

Vickie said...

Good heavens, Mary. Your photos look like digiscoped images! Gorgeous. I wonder all the same things. How do they learn all they have to know before they migrate?

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