consworld

hummingbirds

The transition to autumn has begun. Late summer wildflowers are fewer and smaller, many have gone all to seed with no blooms left. Aspens leaves are turning golden yellow and contrast beautifully with the greens of the conifers. The broadtail hummingbirds are leaving the area and will be remembered fondly until next spring. Their rival, rufous, is long gone. Nights are very cool and mid-days warm. I want to write that it’s my favorite time of year, but in January I may contradict that when I proclaim my love for winter.

hummingbirds, wildflowers

Beautiful little rufous arrives in July and the property disputes begin as he tries to claim ownership of all the feeders, flowers, and the good lookout perches. The Broadtails give way to him and sneak in to sip when he’s not watching. The smallest of our bird community, Rufous is only here to rest and feed for a bit on his long migration south, so the broadtails who stay all summer only have to put up with Rufous ruling for part of their time here. I’ve read Rufous is the faster and more agile flier and my natural light shutter speeds confirm this.

Birds, hummingbirds

hummingbirds

Broadtail cleans his beak by scraping on aspen twig.

hummingbirds

A hummingbird sips nectar from a wild currant flower amid the multitude of tiny pink flowers covering the bushes. Too dark a day for wing stopping shutter speeds, I opt for a wing blurring speed and find the resulting transparency of the wing make this a favorite image of recent days.

hummingbirds

hummingbirds

hummingbirds

hummingbirds