REAL NECTAR, MAYBE A BETTER TASTE?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the phlox

As already reported I was out in the yard last weekend and tried to capture the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in flight, while they hover at a blossom or just near a hummingbird feeder. We feed a clear sugar-water solution, with the recommended mix of 1:4, and our feeders have been very popular all summer long. The metabolism of these tiny birds is just incredible and we go through quite a bit of liquid. But beside that we have lots of garden and wildflowers in our yard and their nectar has maybe even a better taste, who knows? While shooting near a feeder is more predictable, because the birds use them more often, but including a flower in the frame is more desirable for the photographer. Bee balm and the purple coneflowers have been a favorite in July and early August but they are almost all gone now. The wild growing phlox is still plentiful and has nectar as well. The hummers stick their bill deep into the blossoms in order to get the nutritious meal with their long tongue. The light was fading away already a bit at 7pm. With a hint of flash, softened with the Quickbox Micro softbox and a dome diffuser in front of the speed light, the colors of the hummingbird and the phlox blossoms had still a chance to shine.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon FTZ adapter, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, Nikon SB 800 speed light, Impact Quikbox Micro Softbox,    @ 600 mm, 1/800 s, f/8, ISO 6400,

LAST DAYS WITH THE HUMMINGBIRDS

Ready for a “dog fight’ with the competition. Even during migration the young hummingbirds still battle for the best feeding source.

Even if I don’t have time to watch the hummingbirds frequently during the day, I know that most of them have started their fall migration to Central America. The best indicator is the level of liquid in our hummingbird feeders. We have four feeders hanging from the porch or in the front yard and during peak times in August, when the new generation is buzzing around, we cook about 1.7 liters each day of the 1:4 sugar / water mixture. The demand has dropped considerably during the last couple weeks. The birds we see at the moment are most likely different ones every day. The last hummer is usually seen at the end of September or sometimes during first week in October. They need a lot of energy to make the long journey south. Many of them cross the gulf of Mexico in a single flight. That is amazing! For almost seven long months we will be without them. Next year, at the end of April we expect them back as always.

I photographed this young male earlier this month and I’m always wondering if the birds ever come back to the same place again. I guess I’ll never know…

WATCHING THE AIR SPACE ABOVE

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

This young hummingbird didn’t pay much attention to my presence. His attention was occupied by more than a dozen other “hummers”, who all fight for the dominance at the bird feeders that hang from our roof. I love the gesture of their little heads, tilted slightly to the side for having an eye on the air space above.

BEE BALM, HUMMERS LOVE THEM!

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a Bee Balm

Maybe I have a few days to make a photo like this, maybe not. With flowers you never can predict one hundred percent how long they last. A heavy thunderstorm can bring a quick end to their beauty. The Bee Balm is blooming right now in our front yard and it seems we have more flowers than ever before. Bee Balm is a favorite of the hummingbirds and making a good click while they hover around the flower or drink nectar from its blossom is always a great challenge but also a lot of fun. It takes some patience to be successful. This evening I had periods of time when no bird showed up for 10-15 minutes, instead they preferred one of the hummingbird feeders hanging from the roof of the porch. This is understandable because the resources of each flower are obviously limited. I tried a little trick I learned from other wildlife photographers and sprayed some hummingbird food into the blossom, but I don’t think that has increased the frequency of their visits to a particular blossom. It is the same mixture (4 parts water + 1 part sugar) that we use for our feeders.

This evening I experimented a lot with different settings for exposure and flash compensation and even with some higher ISO settings than I usually apply. Yes, it is a little easier to freeze the action of a hummingbird with a higher ISO setting (today up to 1250) and therefor much faster shutter speed, but I still like the rendering of details much better if the ISO value stays low (100-400).

Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, Nikon SB 800 speed light, MAGMOD MagBeam flash extender,  @ 600 mm, 1/400 s, f/6.3, ISO 1250,