Hummers Mating (Page 3): I see you're using a Z9 and a 500 mm lens. How far away did you have to be so as not to disturb them?

Markag

I see you're using a Z9 and a 500 mm lens.
How far away did you have to be so as not to disturb them?

artesdecobo

Markag wrote:

I see you're using a Z9 and a 500 mm lens.
How far away did you have to be so as not to disturb them?

Around 15-20 feet subject distance, Mark.

Bubba

Papacliff Loc: West Lafayette, Indiana

artesdecobo wrote:

I had never witnessed hummers mating before, much less capture it in photos. The first two shots are the pair going through a courtship flight display before they "tumbled" onto my deck. I thought they were fighting, but then recognized what was really going on. They were partly hidden from me by deck railing pickets, but I managed a few shots. I hope you enjoy these images.

Bubba

These are wonderful! Humming birds are amazing and so much fun to watch. Your skill and unmistakeable patience are admirable. Thank you for sharing them. It is about now that our humming birds will be leaving for their trip South. Makes me sad to see the that the birds are gone and that its time to bring the feeders in for the winter.

PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

artesdecobo wrote:

Thank you so much, Patty. I am on North Padre Island, Texas. My research suggests that when they mate, the female will have already made a nest nearby and the eggs will be laid within two weeks. This would strongly suggest that the female and her offspring might be here at least through the fall. Like you, I was surprised this happened in September. They are incredible fun to observe.

Bubba

That's interesting. I hope the little ones do okay. Up where I live (NW Illinois), the male hummers leave first, followed by the females. I haven't seen any in about 3 weeks, at least not in my backyard. We had the joy of watching a youngster who fell out of the nest, being cared for by it's mama. We gently put it in a fushia hanging basket, which was nearby where the little one fell out. My husband named it "Zeus", because he was small and mighty! We didn't get anything done, other than watch, worry, and photograph him over the next 5 days until he fledged! Best 5 days ever!!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Hey Bubba, this ain't no porn site.

Great set

artesdecobo

Papacliff wrote:

These are wonderful! Humming birds are amazing and so much fun to watch. Your skill and unmistakeable patience are admirable. Thank you for sharing them. It is about now that our humming birds will be leaving for their trip South. Makes me sad to see the that the birds are gone and that its time to bring the feeders in for the winter.

Thank you for your kind remarks, Papacliff. I too hate to see them go as most don't winter here either, but it is something to look forward to in the spring.

Bubba

artesdecobo

PattyW60 wrote:

That's interesting. I hope the little ones do oka... (show quote)

Great story, Patty. Amazing Zeus survived thanks to your efforts.

Bubba

artesdecobo

Curmudgeon wrote:

Hey Bubba, this ain't no porn site.

Great set

I know, Jack, and I usually refrain from posting shots of this nature. But this circumstance was pretty unique.

Bubba

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

Terrific captures!

artesdecobo

raymondh wrote:

Terrific captures!

Thank you very much, Raymond.

Bubba

merrytexan Loc: georgia

artesdecobo wrote:

I had never witnessed hummers mating before, much less capture it in photos. The first two shots are the pair going through a courtship flight display before they "tumbled" onto my deck. I thought they were fighting, but then recognized what was really going on. They were partly hidden from me by deck railing pickets, but I managed a few shots. I hope you enjoy these images.

Bubba

Wow..how awesome to see that and get such amazing shots of it, bubba...excellent job!

RMcIntyre

Very nice.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Very unusual catch Bubba!

Don

artesdecobo

merrytexan wrote:

Wow..how awesome to see that and get such amazing shots of it, bubba...excellent job!

Thank you so much for commenting, MT.

Bubba

artesdecobo

RMcIntyre wrote:

Very nice.

Thank you, RMcIntyre.

Bubba