Hummingbird Hunter

The hummingbird was visiting the feeder hanging from our front porch last night. I ran into the office and grabbed my camera and flash. When I got onto the porch, the hummingbird was not there. I set up my flash in a hanging basket of flowers pointed at the feeder. I sat on the bench holding my camera and started to wait.

I continued waiting.


The sun was almost out of sight and I continued to wait.

Then I heard familiar short chirps that I knew to be a hummingbird. I sat up and studied the tree across from me. Last year, that tree was a popular spot for the birds to observe the feeder from.
Then I spotted him. Sitting across from me in that tree, he turned his head, revealing his location to me. This wasn't the shot I was ready for. I slowly put the zoom lens on my camera and put the camera to my face.

Then he flew off. QUICKLY.

He made a brief 1/4 second appearance at the feeder and then was gone again without eating. I went inside to express my frustration to Cari. I couldn't find her in the house, so I went back to my spot on the porch. Now, I couldn't even hear the hummingbird. I felt like he had gone for the night.

As I packed up my equipment, Cari came out to the porch. "Where were you?", I asked.
"I filled the humming bird feeder in the back yard." she said. "I came out to tell you there was a bird on it."

"Why would you fill the back feeder when I am trying to stalk the birds on the front one? You just gave them an option to escape me."

She answered with a smile.

My stuff was already packed up, so I picked up and went inside. The sun was completely down and it was too dark to get the shot I wanted. I peered out the back window at the feeder Cari had filled. One hummingbird was finishing his meal as I stood there, then quickly flew off toward some trees. He may have escaped me tonight.

Next time will be a different story.