First Hummers

Gallery: AvianPosted April 17, 2014162 views13 comments

The first hummers of the season arrived about two weeks ago here in Central Texas.
This is the Ruby-throated male, & I usually only see two species here.
The Black-chinned & Ruby-throated predominate, with sightings of other species very rare for me.
F/7.1, 1/3200th, ISO 640, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x at the inside minimum focusing distance. 10:48am & clear/sunny with fill.
Shot date 04-15-2014

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 17, 2014 at 10:13 AM

Excellent, Howard. Wonderful detail and just enough blur in the wings.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on April 17, 2014 at 11:24 AM

Nice pose, you pressed the shutter at the right time ! Congrats, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 17, 2014 at 11:36 AM

Nice sharpness and good flight position.

After 20 years in AZ it is hard to imagine not having hummers around every day.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on April 17, 2014 at 11:55 AM

Great mid flight stop action take on this little guy, Howard. The larger version supplies amazing detail throughout. Wonderful natural colors and overall tone here too.

I think my avatar says a lot about my love for these little guys. Like you Howard we typically only get two species here in So Cal. That being Anna's and Ruby-throated. Although we had a few hang on all winter, such as it was this year, we're starting to see more and more on a weekly basis. I keep a large feeder going year around, but during summer have two up full time and need to fill them ever day......

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on April 17, 2014 at 12:29 PM

Nice shot -- great detail in the body and head -- spent a lot of time trying to get these birds right in Arizona where we have the hummers year round -- so great to see one done well -- good job

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on April 17, 2014 at 1:22 PM

Great shot, Howard. Our hummers start to show up as soon as tha penstmen begin to bloom . We have quite a few around now and I have yet to get a decent shot. Nice work.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 17, 2014 at 2:38 PM

Perfectly caught, Howard! The hummer is tack sharp, with just enough blur in the wings to indicate hovering movement.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on April 17, 2014 at 5:10 PM

Nice position and super sharp.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 18, 2014 at 11:22 PM

Nice work on this one Howard. I like the SS showing a touch of blur in the wings.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 19, 2014 at 12:34 PM

Great job getting him sharp in the air like this and nice look at the gorget Howard, I think ideally the right wing wouldn't obscure part of the head,

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on April 19, 2014 at 6:42 PM

What a beautiful, little creature

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 19, 2014 at 11:46 PM

This is great Howard. I really like the position that you have captured. Very nice detail in this little guy.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 21, 2014 at 8:47 AM

Nice and sharp Howard

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments