Patience required. . . . . . . .

 . . . . . . to photograph a hummingbird as, bleary-eyed, you stand at the window sipping

 your first wake-up mug of coffee!

I know you're getting tired of fig stories so now I'm bombarding you with bird photos.

Figs, hummingbirds-------------hummingbirds, figs, whatever, you have to admit both

exude beauty of the summertime season, and when they are right outside your window,

 all the better.

 Ms. Hummer is still here, alone. This morning she was busy on the porch, 

darting from the feeder to the morning glories, dipping in non-stop for no more 

than 10 seconds, flying off in a whirr, then returning in a few minutes for more nectar. 

I wish a male would come too - I would love a photo of his ruby throat.

Today I was lucky enough to have my old Olympus at hand - it's slow but has a much 

better setting for capturing birds than the small point and shoot. I should get my DSLR 

out too, then I might get some really sharp photos to share. It took me ages to get

these - those birds are so quick and don't hang around or pose for you, and don't forget

 I took them through the dining room window, which requires a good clean!

Waiting for birds, just another pastime of retired people, haha!

I tidied these pix up a bit but I did not add the bokeh effect - that just came naturally.

At least here you can see a little of the beautiful green and blue feathers on her 

back and head, and get a feeling of those fast fluttering wings.

I'm happy to see that hummingbirds like blue as well as red flowers - and of 

course they do prefer trumpet-shaped blooms so I guess these produce the nectar 

they enjoy early morning prior to the petals rolling up and dying. Tomorrow 

morning there will be more blooms and I'll be looking for Ms. Hummer. She actually 

flew right up to me at the window today - now if only I could have caught that view of 

such a tiny garden beauty.

Morning Glory - Heavenly Blue

Note the one delicate strand of a spider's web - I just couldn't bring myself to remove it!

Just humming along. . . . . . . . . .

I've been trying to get photos from the dining window daily, thankfully this morning 

I was just in time, and a camera was within my grasp!

She has been visiting for a week now, one lone female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. 

Only the male has the brilliant throat patch that reflects ruby red in the sunlight.

No other bird is as tiny, just 3" long, weighing in at 2-3 grams.

Able to hover and fly up and down, it is the only bird to fly backward.

They do not sing but will chatter or buzz to communicate.

The wings create a humming sound, flapping 50-60 times per second, 

even faster during chasing flights.

The heart of this minuscule bird beats at an incredible 1,260 times a minute, 

and it breathes 250 times a minute.

The Ruby-Throated is the only hummingbird that breeds in the eastern USA.

They range from southern Canada in Summer to Panama in Winter.

The female builds a cup-shaped nest constructed of plant material 

and spider webs, gluing bits of lichen on the outside for camouflage.

She has 1-2 broods a year, laying 2 tiny white unmarked eggs. 

She also incubates for 12-14 days, then feeds her young for another 

14-18 days.

So what the heck are those colorful males doing during all that time. . . . . . . guess 

we all know!

Hummingbirds are attracted to red tubular-shaped flowers for their diet of nectar 

and insects. I, like most people, help out a bit by hanging a feeder on my 

porch each Summer. I have very few flowers blooming right now.

Meanwhile, the garden struggles along through the heat of Summer - but each day

brings tiny miracles if you take time and look carefully.