Anna’s hummingbird

Nesting season begins anew

There’s an abandoned hummingbird nest in the giant fuchsia out front. Cupped inside, a pearlescent egg that never hatched.

I swallow hard whenever I see it, remind myself, “It’s nature’s way.” But for a brief moment yesterday, I thought about pruning the branch that holds it in place. Out of sight, out of mind? Hardly. But I thought it might clear the space for possibilities.

But then again, our Thanksgiving guests might enjoy seeing this architectural wonder, equal parts spider silk and cottony magic. No longer camouflaged by leaves and flowers, It bears silent witness to the hatchlings it once housed, and to the fledglings who took to the skies during last year’s nesting season.

Left to the elements, the nest will eventually disintegrate. More likely, the fluff ‘n stuff will be recycled  by mama hummingbirds-to-be. Like this one, who was sipping nectar in our backyard at sunrise.

Nesting season is almost upon us again–maybe as soon as next week, if we’re lucky!

Hope, that thing with feathers…

What do you see when you look up?

Again with the hummingbirds…I know! But hey, I’ve got something really cool to show you.

Look how shiny this little guy’s gorget gets, when he lifts his beak toward the sun! Hot stuff, and if you were an Anna’s female, you’d be all over that.

Male Anna's Hummingbird, flashing his gorget

Male Anna’s Hummingbird, flashing his gorget

And oh, those fancy flight maneuvers! While I was snapping pictures, this guy was dive-bombing a potential mate, as they do. Again and again, he reversed directions– tiny wings whirring at 200 beats per second –like a fighter pilot, but minus any special equipment to help resist the forces of gravity. I’m not sure how irresistible those aerobatic feats proved to that beleaguered female. But if they didn’t hook up, it wasn’t for his lack of trying.

hummingbird_AugustBreak2015

Absent the magical effects of sunlight, his gorget feathers are black.

 

Day 18 of the #AugustBreak2015 photography challenge. Today’s prompt is looking up.

Hummingbirds as Talismans

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Anna’s Hummingbird, male

Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. Hummingbirds open our eyes to the wonder of the world and inspire us to open our hearts to loved ones and friends. Like a hummingbird, we aspire to hover and to savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. The hummingbird’s delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation. —Papyrus

It’s difficult to capture their shimmery wings in flight; harder, still, to frame their magical essence. But when handed the challenge word talisman, hummingbirds came instantly to mind. Take a look at the word cloud to the right of my blog entries–it’s among the most prominent topics of conversation here, by far!

I snapped this photo at a backyard BBQ, last night. It’s not my best hummingbird image to-date, but the wonderful thing about creative challenges is they encourage you to work with what you have, instead of chasing down that elusive (if not impossible) thing we call perfection. (#AugustBreak2015, Day 10)