Birds Hummer comes down to visit

-ST-

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ST
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I've seen this little guy every day for over a month, always in the same tree, always seven or eight meters up. It usually just sits there while I hold the camera up for what feels like an eternity. It doesn't usually move until after I've lowered the camera. I've never caught it in flight.

Today, it flew down to a bush at eye level and let me get within three meters (just at the edge of the minimum focus distance of the lens). It was dark, dreary, and raining.

It's fascinating how the colours change depending on the way the light hits.

A1_08859.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 1250


A1_08860.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 4000
A1_08861.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 4000
A1_08863.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 4000
A1_08869.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 4000
 
Last edited:
I've seen this little guy every day for over a month, always in the same tree, always seven or eight meters up. It usually just sits there while I hold the camera up for what feels like an eternity. It doesn't usually move until after I've lowered the camera. I've never caught it in flight.

Today, it flew down to a bush at eye level and let me get within three meters (just at the edge of the minimum focus distance of the lens). It was dark, dreary, and raining.

It's fascinating how the colours change depending on the way the light hits.

View attachment 34843

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Nice ST... (y) ... Yes humming birds, like many of the colorful birds i shoot in the middle east and eastwards, have iridescent feathers which change color dramatically under high and low light conditions to the point many often look completely different.
 
We had a visit from a rufous hummer this past week, gone by the time I reached a camera. A fine bright streak of orange gold!
 
Great to see the dramatic change the lighting makes! Patience rewarded!
 
Anna's Hummingbird
A1_03201.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 2X Teleconverter
  • 1,200.0 mm
  • ƒ/13
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 16000

A1_03205.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 2X Teleconverter
  • 1,200.0 mm
  • ƒ/13
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 16000

Rufous Hummingbird (first time I've seen one)
A1_04494.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 2X Teleconverter
  • 1,200.0 mm
  • ƒ/13
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 2500

A1_04509.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 2X Teleconverter
  • 1,200.0 mm
  • ƒ/13
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 1250
 
Back on home turf today, I saw this Anna's Hummingbird about 6 metres up, catching little insects.
A1_04667.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 200.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 500

A1_04676.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 200.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 500

A1_04723.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 640
 
Anna's Hummingbird in the shade.
A1_09184.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/4000 sec
  • ISO 10000

I tried a few shots at 1/2000 sec, but the wings were blurry.
Here's another one a few feet away.
A1_09234.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/4000 sec
  • ISO 16000
 
Nice shots ST....Yes i think i commented in the forum on Hummers wing speed some time ago.

4000 as you have used, and found in your shooting is nearer the mark for wing freeze.... (y)
 
Catch of the day.
A1_01061.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 2X Teleconverter
  • 1,200.0 mm
  • ƒ/13
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 8000

A1_00970.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 2X Teleconverter
  • 1,200.0 mm
  • ƒ/13
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 10000
 
Du hast meine Hummer gestolen...
 
I was looking down at a coyote burrow and nearly walked into this little fellow. It was dark and dreary in the rain, and this flash of colour when he turned to face me, was a delight.
A1_01928.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2)
  • 200.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/2000 sec
  • ISO 16000
 
So many colours!
A1_06539.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2) + 2X Teleconverter (SEL20TC)
  • 400.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/4000 sec
  • ISO 1250
 
I don't often get to see this brilliant green on the back of an Anna's Hummingbird.

A1_06835_1.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 400
 
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