SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

BAM! That was the elusive clue I needed. Referance: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-279122-2.html#4709813
Shot with my 55-200mm kit lens. (Yeah, a crappy lens)
BIF... Back Button Focus... settings trial.
Nikon D3300, Nikkor Lens: AF-S, 55-200mm, 1:4-5.6G ED VR
Camera Settings: AF-C, 3D, Center weighted metering, 134.5mm focal length, Aperture Priority AE, 1/2000 sec, F-5.

It was a tad under exposed, so lightened slightly in Adobe Elements 12. Otherwise as shot.
Not a fantastic capture, but good for me. Handheld, VR-on, Programmed Mode.

One of our Male Hummers...

(Download)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Very nice!!!!!!

What would Floyd Davidson have to say about this? :):):):)

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

:thumbup:
Wish we still had hummers around here Sonny!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Oh, probably make me buy the beers. :lol:

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Well, if you guys ever get out this way you are welcome to come spend some time shooting them. I tried using a flash late this afternoon. Not sure what I did wrong. The exposure time was way off. I'll try again tomorrow.
But the flash really brightened up the males neck colors, and the body feathers. But bad focus issues. :-P

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

I see you stay away from that red prepackaged nectar too... good deal. :thumbup:

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Oh absolutely. I mix my own nectar for them. C&H Sugar by the 25 # bag, and RO filtered water. 32 ounces of sugar to a gallon of water. Or a 1:4 ratio (roughly). (One quart of sugar, 4 quarts water = 5 parts total). I tend to be a little heavier by about a half cup or so.

My wife buys so much sugar at Costco, they bring it out by the pallet. :shock: Not really. :lol: But she has said she has never bought so much sugar in her life! I don't really keep track, but probably 50 pounds a month during the summer. The sugar water is the little guys energy, tiny bugs are their protein. And they need a LOT of the nectar.

One day I was sitting out in the sunshine watching them come and go and joust over territorial issues. I noticed one was very busy at one of the patio cover timbers, I thought it very odd behavior. So I began sneaking over. It was working at a spiders web. It was a hatching of baby spiders and this bird was making a feast out of them! I just let nature take its course and observe. But the wife was happy to hear that spiders were on the menu for our little jeweled flyers. I grow organically, no pesticides. So natural spider control is welcomed.

Now that I am finally approaching the images I was struggling to capture, I hope to try using my flash to help POP the males colors like the sun does.
They didn't seem to mind it much this afternoon. But I'm still wary about eyes and the effects of a powerful flash. :?

IShootEverything Loc: TN

The picture still could have been a little more cropped or closer. The bird is really small. Just saying.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Me take is that you've never seen a humming bird.
They weigh .6 ounces, or less.
Some bugs are bigger than they are.

Maybe a side trip will enlighten you?
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/hummingbird
This is a most excellent web site.

And because they are so very tiny, and very fast, they are a nice challenge to capture in the camera. ;)

Say... are you aware that if you click the "Download" link below the picture it will open up bigger?
Then move your cursor over the part you'd like to see enlarged and click. Makes it big. :shock:
Don't worry, click your back button to get out of it. Or just click the picture again.
And don't be alarmed, those wings beat up to 600 times a minute, 10 beats a second.

Better?

(Download)

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

I mix my own as well and also give them a bit more sugar. Started with the prepackaged mix, did not have any that we saw, but read some that their may be issues with the mix - can cause illness in the birds - no proof either way, but why take a chance - chucked the mix and roll my own now ;)

Use the same ratio, just make smaller batches as needed. I would love to see us end up with more birds than we have had so far, but it can take a few years to get them I suppose.

Amazing some are no bigger than my thumb. Nice hobby!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Yep. I never did use the packaged mix.
First, I was trying to save the injured one. I only needed ounces in a syringe to feed her. (No, no needle) I'd gentle hold her and let her drink from the nectar.
But the next day I ran to Lowe's between feedings and got the first pancake, and two 2 ounce hanging feeders.
Then things grew from there... :-o :shock:
The big hanging ones are 28 ounce, 6 flower feeders.
We live on a migration route.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

So kool.... I am hoping we see last years come back and maybe attract a few more. Will have my feeders out on time for sure!

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Curious, did she make out OK?

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

No.
She died about 36 hours after we rescued her out front.
But we tried, brother did we ever try.
One of her main wing feathers was injured and she could not fly.

IShootEverything Loc: TN

Much better. And yes I know all about the little humming birds. Have taken hours of classes and will take more classes on the little guys.
And again, just saying.