We have a couple hummingbird feeders unlike others often seen hanging about. They’re designed to be attached to one’s fingers, wrist, or cap for a close-up view of the hungry birds. We postponed using them for awhile, however.
Local hummingbirds had trumpet vine flowers, mimosa blossoms and, earlier in the season, bright red crocosmia flowers to drink from. With the summer’s resplendent trumpet flowers mostly gone, both the Rufous and Anna’s hummingbirds stuck around (albeit in reduced numbers), feasting on the diminishing supply of flowers around the yard.
It was time to introduce our untested feeders. The finger model was simply designed, was filled with a sugar water solution (1:4), and placed on a bench. The other feeder was more complex, consisting of a test tube integrated into a clever wire apparatus that attaches to one’s cap. Sooney introduced them by placing both near the few remaining blossoms so the birds could discover the sugar water and want more. Some bees were the first to be attracted, and would later prove to be more of an annoyance than a deterrent to hummingbirds and to those wearing the feeders.
For several days we watched through the window while both Rufous and Anna’s flew among the remaining flowers and would occasionally check out the feeders. Sooney then attached a feeder to a cap and set it out on a bench near some vines and flowers.
This morning, warm beverage in hand, we set up the shoot. I was using my long lens and sat about 20′ away. We then waited, entertained by a flock of Bushtits, our resident finches, a surprise visit by a Black-headed Grosbeak, and, of course, the ubiquitous jays making their presence ever-so evident. It was a lovely morning and, after 1½ hours, a Rufous Hummingbird finally showed up.
