Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Hummingbirds in the Fall Garden
I replenished the feeders a few days ago and have been watching the hummingbirds from a distance ever since.
But today I had some work to do outside, so I grabbed my camera and positioned myself incognito in the shed. I think they knew I was there, but I still managed to get a few close-ups of these handsome birds.
“Anna’s Hummingbirds are among the most common hummingbirds along the Pacific Coast, yet they’re anything but common in appearance. With their iridescent emerald feathers and sparkling rose-pink throats, they are more like flying jewelry than birds. Though no larger than a ping-pong ball and no heavier than a nickel, Anna’s Hummingbirds make a strong impression. In their thrilling courtship displays, males climb up to 130 feet into the air and then swoop to the ground with a curious burst of noise that they produce through their tail feathers.”
Cornell Labs – All About Birds
I love to see them hover, zip around forward and backwards. Did you know they’re the only bird that can fly backwards? Well now you do.
I’m so glad these flying jewels live here year-round. I’ll have to step my care over the winter.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
I envy you when you say the hummingbirds stay all winter. I love your pictures of them, Susanne.
Thanks, Don. ☺️
Beautiful photos!
Thanks, John! I love my hummingbirds!
Beautiful. I am in Massachusetts so ours left over a month ago.
Thank you. I love having them year-round!
Those hummers are great. I always wondered how they get through the winter if people don’t put out feeders.
I understand they go into torpor to drop their body temperature during cold spells and can find insects in tree bark. But I’m extra attentive to them when we have snow and a long cold spell and make sure they have water and feeders that are thawed out.
Thanks for that. Most interesting.
They are beautiful! I’m just amazed that you are able to get such great photos of them!
Thank you! My Lumix camera has a long zoom and works great for birding in my backyard!
Always a joy to see the hummingbirds, especially up close like this.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. I love seeing them, too!
The pink throat colouring is especially gorgeous, as if they were wearing sequin scarves! And I love that description of them as ‘flying jewellery’ 😀
Yes indeed! I never get tired of seeing them!