Hummer + Chicks

Gallery: AvianPosted May 3, 2011263 views12 comments

Anna's female feeding chicks
Baylands Preserve in Palo Alto, CA last weekend (totally wild, not captive or aviary)

D300s
500mm
1/25 sec, f/8
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
ISO: 200
AF mode: MANUAL
White balance: AUTO
Flash: Off
Tripod, remote, mirror lock-up
Almost full frame

2.5 hours standing in the hot sun, unmoving, to get a dozen decent images from about 100 total, through a small opening in the pines. For most of the time, mom came in (every 15-20 minutes) and perched with her back to me. Then the babies wiggled around a little in the nest, and she had to perch in this great position to feed them. If nature photography has taught me anything, it is PATIENCE.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 3, 2011 at 9:05 PM

Way to go Sandy, this is excellent! I've looked for hummer nests here, haven't found one yet..
Like everything about it, no nits here - Very well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Karcz on May 3, 2011 at 9:33 PM

Well Done- Great Capture!

Registered on November 8, 2009, 25 Posts, 43 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 3, 2011 at 9:36 PM

Cool image. Great find.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on May 3, 2011 at 9:58 PM

Rather amazing. I don't think I've ever seen a hummingbird nest. I have Anna and Rufus coming to my feeder now. I might need to look more carefully around my neighborhood. Neat shot and more amazing that you used a tripod!

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 3, 2011 at 10:52 PM

Good timing here Sandy. Exposure and sharpness are very good. Wonderful!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 3, 2011 at 11:47 PM

Great find and beautifully captured, Sandy. The detail is excellent, as is the pose of the mother. Your patience paid off handsomely.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on May 4, 2011 at 1:04 AM

An amazing moment captured here Sandy! Congrats!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on May 4, 2011 at 5:06 AM

Totally amazing Sandy, a great reward for your investment in time :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on May 4, 2011 at 8:31 AM

Sandy,

Well done! Your patience really paid off with a terrific photo. These types of images are so tough to get and you did very well. Thanks for sharing this amazing shot!

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 4, 2011 at 4:15 PM

Very cool Sandy, your patience paid off, very hard to find a hummer's nest with babies, I have only seen this once out in the wild. I like the intimate moment you got with her feeding, excellent job in getting this, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 4, 2011 at 8:59 PM

It's actually not too hard this time of year to find active nests. Watch for female hummers going into bushes and trees, then coming out a few minutes later. They generally use the same route each time.
That is where the nests are.

I've also never just come across a hummer's nest by accident - you have to know when and how to look.

There are 3 in our large back yard right now, each with 2 babies, but all are in heavy bushes with no chance at all of photos.

Anyone near Palo Alto who wants to know where this nest is - email me. It's in the pines near the Ranger station. The Rangers know too.
You can get a lens on it without disturbing the mom at all - obviously - she would never be coming in regularly to feed the babies if she was worried at all.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on May 8, 2011 at 12:15 AM

Your patience has most definitely paid off here Sandy, great work!

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments