There is a lot of squabbling going on!

There is a lot of chasing and squabbling going on in my garden!
For a change its not the kids or the dogs.

~The hummers are here~


August is prime time to see them in our garden because the males, females and juveniles are all here.

We have several ruby-throated hummingbirds that are racing, chasing and fiercely defending their food. Hands down the black and blue salvia is their favorite. 


Apparently, this branch is the best look out spot for the competition. 
(Note to gardener: do not to prune this dead branch!)


When they are still (which isn't for long) you can see how their feathers glisten in the sunshine. 
Are you talking about me?

It is exhausting business fending off the "enemy" all day long! 


Hey, what is that?
Oh, just a skipper butterfly (do you see it in the background?)

But the "enemy" can attack at anytime.


Get out of here! This is my spot!


I said, "go away" or I'll come after you!


Occasionally when the others are in the back garden or busy chasing each other around there is time for a quick shut eye.


Maybe even some preening time.

 But not for long...


And it is time to take off again.


They may be the tiniest birds on the planet but they have the biggest appetite.
They have the fastest metabolism in the animal kingdom, requiring them to eat 3 times their weight in nectar and insects a day. No wonder they are so protective of their food source. 

Linking with Camera Critters. Please stop over to see what other fun critters have been photographed.

Comments

  1. They're so beautiful - and what a high metabolism they have (but I suppose they do work harder than a lot of animals!). They must be amazing to watch :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are so fun to watch with all their aerial aerobatics! They are constantly on the go!

      Delete
  2. Fantastic pictures. You really did good. I can't imagine capturing shots like that.

    Cher Sunray Gardens

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the pictures. My hummers had a favorite dead pommegranate branch near my breakfast room window they liked to rest upon and I told my husband not to cut it. Did he listen? No. Sigh. Luckily there are other places for them to light so I can watch them. And the new feeders I bought have a ring around the bottom where they can alight to rest or feed. It is such fun to sit at the table having a meal and watching the birds flit in and out to feed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! I could sit and watch them for hours. It is better than a reality show!

      Delete
  4. I love watching the hummers. We have about 6 that are in the garden and at the feeders. In my garden they really love the coral honeysuckle.
    Super photos, they are such fun to see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Janet! It is interesting how they find a favorite spot and defend it with their life!

      Delete
  5. I wish we had those hummers too! They are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I adore hummers and make sure we leave lots of unpruned branches for them....they are still zipping around the garden here and will leave to move S sometime in Sept or Oct depending on the heat...still hot here...great shots Karin...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Donna! They do love to perch and guard their feeding spot and then dive-bomb anyone trying to move in. They remind me of young children fighting.

      Delete
  7. OMG...it's crazy watching them fight, isn't it! I swear, I can't go outside for more than a few minutes without seeing aerial combat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true! I've almost been hit a few times unknowingly walking right in their flight path.

      Delete
  8. This is a wonderful series as I see the same thing, but don't have the photos..they are such gutsy little birds..Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, incredible pictures! I don't usually actually see them fight in my garden - they're usually chasing each other so quickly that I can barely even make out that two hummingbirds just zipped by! I do often see them take sips of nectar from the cardinal flower, monarda, and butterfly bush one at a time though.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's so tiny. The salvia almost dwarfs it. Remarkable, I've never been able to get a good hummingbird photo.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Stunning shots, Karin! I don't think I've ever seen photos with the feathers splayed like that before! You should submit this series of photos to a contest! Seriously! A framed montage of this set would be an awesome addition to my living room wall. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nice to see it relaxing on a branch, they are always on the go. Nice capture of her taking a break. Black and blue in my garden was rarely a plant they would use to feed, I think because it was down at feral cat level. They do like to guard their food.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Stunning photos. Thank you for sharing these photos. I am enjoying watching the hummers in my area too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great photos! I love the one with one bird divebombing the other one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dawn! I wish that shot was sharper but I was focused on one hummer and the other one came in and they are just so fast!

      Delete
  15. I had trouble capturing mine this summer. And yes black and blue is the favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Fabulous series of photos! What a treat to have them in your yard...we have tried to attract them to our city home, but so far, only a passing one...love these!

    ReplyDelete
  17. wow! what a beautiful shots of the pretty bird :-) Dropping by from Camera Critters :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Karin these photos are wonderful! I love the hummers from your side of the world...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Fabulous shots- hummers are so fun to watch!

    ReplyDelete
  20. they are wonderful! we have about 20 swarming our feeders here in texas.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beautiful shots of the hummers. I will be sad to see the hummer leave soon. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm so bummed that we have no more hummers Sandy these are lovely

    ReplyDelete
  23. Awesome captures of these fine "jewels of the sky", well done!

    ReplyDelete
  24. What beautiful shots!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Excellent photos! You must have spent quite some time capturing those :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. you did an incredible job of shooting these ever-active hummers....love them

    ReplyDelete
  27. Truly, you should stop by and add this link [terrific hummer photos too, by the way...a favorite of mine] to the Saturday Birding Meme

    The Bird D'Pot.

    Texas State Bird

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great shots of the hummers! I love setting on the deck and watching them defend their turf :0)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Nice pictures you show of a hummingbird.
    Hanne Bente

    ReplyDelete
  30. Loved the post! What lovely pictures and thanks for sharing it with us!

    ReplyDelete
  31. ps...thanks for linking up this week...hope to see you again next time.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Fantastic little birds. Very jealous of you. Wish we had them in England.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow, those are some great pics of Hummers! We have a lot of Hummingbirds in our FL panhandle backyard as well! By the way, I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blog Award. Check out my post at www.floraseasons.com.

    ReplyDelete
  34. What gorgeous and fantastic shots of this hummer! I'm really out of words seeing these photos.

    ReplyDelete
  35. What gorgeous and fantastic shots of this hummer! I'm really out of words seeing these photos.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Karin, These are amazing pictures. What patience you must have. Hummers are fascinating birds.

    ReplyDelete
  37. just had to view this post again. so darn cute!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

One of my favorite things about blogging is the conversation with readers. Leave a comment and let's get talking. ~Karin

Popular Posts