The Fourth of July here was most pleasant, not too warm, with a number of events worth grabbing the big camera for.
First off, sitting out on the back porch I was amazed at how many hummingbirds we currently have. I have two feeders up, plus all of the flowers that are in bloom, so there’s plenty of food for them. They’re tough to count since they’re zipping about like F-35s in a dogfight, but there are at least six or seven and it may be as many as nine or ten. Maybe more?
As always, Little Bastard was guarding “his” feeder. He’ll zip between a perch in the orange tree on the south side of the yard and one here in the big tree in the middle of the yard.
Whenever any other hummer gets near, he zips over drive them off. I do notice that the others seem to be working together, coming in pairs or trios with one serving as a decoy to be “driven off” while the others hit the feeder for a quick sip before Little Bastard can come back.
When Little Bastard’s neck feathers catch the sun, the bright red iridescence is gorgeous.
It’s quite the game they’ve got going, but it makes little sense to me. I keep both feeders supplied so there’s plenty for everyone, but I guess hummingbird senseless greed and territoriality doesn’t have to make any more sense than human senseless greed and territoriality.
It’s also always surprising just how stinking LOUD they can be when they’re buzzing by at full speed within arm’s length. It’s very cool.
We Love The Stars Too Fondly 