Tag: Anna’s Hummingbird

Green on Green

A Female Anna’s Hummingbird, Jamestown Beach

Typically, one goes to the beach to walk the shore, pick rocks or shells, or to see and listen to the waves crashing on the shore. But Jamestown Beach offers the best of the beach, as well as the woods, and this young female built her nest there.

Holding on to a branch she kept steady as I moved closer to her and surprisingly she didn’t blink an eye as I lifted my camera to focus to get this image. Those are times when I feel at one with nature and so eternally grateful for the solitude it provides.

Pretty in Pink

An Anna’s Humming Bird Feeding on Flowers

While photographing hummingbirds and songbirds at a friend’s house here in Sequim, I was told that planting Catmint is one of the best ways to attract these beauties. So if you hope to bring them to your backyard, consider adding this plant to your landscape.

And although I recently added Catmint, and planted any number of other flowering plants in an effort to increase my chances of attracting them, I find they’re more interested in my feeders than anything else.

So given that, I bring in my feeders when the plants are in bloom. That forces the hummers to look elsewhere and it helps increase the likelihood of me getting to photograph them on something other than a feeder.

And if you have a good way to attract them and you’re willing to share, please let us all know by making a comment.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

You were expecting a leprechaun, or maybe a rainbow with a pot of gold?

Sorry, but I have yet to photograph either, but to offer my wishes for the day, I did find this Anna’s Hummingbird who was beautifully dressed in what else but…GREEN! He’s about to sip on some sweet nectar, and some of you may be doing the same today to celebrate. If so, if you have any good corned beef recipes to share, please let me know!

Otherwise, cheers to the Irish and to all of you!

Hummingbird Habitat Mystery

Anna's Hummingbird

I’m not a fan of holly trees (other than their colorful berries) but this one served as a nice support for our hummingbirds over the past 6 years, and as a great spot for them to nest, regardless of their prickly leaves. Although the tree is in my neighbor’s backyard, I can reach it with my longest lens and get a nice portrait, as long as the bird cooperates.

But to my surprise, when I went to refresh my feeder the other day – the tree was gone – as if it had disappeared into thin air – and the bird, who dive-bombs me every time I fill the feeder was nowhere in sight.

As I found out later, my neighbor had the holly removed while we were out of town, without knowing its value from the hummer’s standpoint, and apparently not aware of it’s impact on my photography.

But the good news is, the hummer returned, I’m attempting to grow a new holly (in a pot that’s closer to my house), and I’m now getting to know the neighbor better – and he’s welcomed me to photograph his flowers.