A Hummingbird of a Different Color?

Is it just me, or does this hummingbird look different?

I suppose it could be a trick of the light -- this was taken in the late afternoon and the sun was starting to go down.  You can click on the photo to see a larger version.

We usually get Ruby-throated hummingbirds, although apparently this area also gets Rufous hummingbirds.  I had never seen one before, but could it be a Rufous?

Below is one of our more traditional visitors.  Our sprawling Turk's Cap plant has been a bit hit with them this year.

Not wonderful photos, but taken from the patio, about 30 feet away, so about the best I can expect, I suppose. 

In addition to watching the hummingbirds, I've been casting a critical eye around my garden, looking back in my Garden Journal and taking stock of what has worked, what hasn't, and making plans for next year.  I will share that in my next blog post.

I'm sharing today's post with Camera Critters. Please stop by and see what other critter photos bloggers are sharing.

Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.

Happy Labor Day!

 I hope you have enjoyed your Labor Day weekend.

I'm keeping this post short and sweet today, as I overdid it a bit, moving desks and shelving units around in my office/studio.  I just thought I would share this photo I took of a Gulf Fritillary earlier in the week.

I'll try and get back to my regular blogging schedule next week, and I'll show you how my office/studio turned out :-)



Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.

In the Company of Hummingbirds

Here I go again, not posting in weeks. I keep telling myself I'm going to post regularly and then, things happen and the blog goes untouched.

The reason is really two-fold.  Firstly, I've been busy at work, which has been rather draining, physically and emotionally.  But secondly, the garden is just ticking along and nothing much has changed.

Photos I took of the island beds last weekend looked very much like the photos I took of the island bed several weeks ago.  Except perhaps there are more weeds. 

What am I saying?  I KNOW there are more weeds!

But things are perking up a bit.  For a start we've been getting regular visits from some hummingbirds.  Usually my photos are taken out of the window, looking at the hummingbird with the sky behind, so they end up almost being silhouettes.

But I was out in the garden with my camera when I heard that familiar bzzzzzz and when I turned, this female hummingbird was approaching the feeder on the patio.

I was about 10 feet away, so I raised my camera to my eye and started taking photos.  I think these are the closest, clearest photos of a hummingbird I have ever managed to get.  If you click on them, you can see them at a larger size.

She stayed quite a few minutes before heading back to her perch on the Vitex tree.

She reminded me that I needed to make some fresh nectar, which I did.  She and a male have been swooping around the garden and enjoying the feeders all week.

I just made more fresh nectar this evening.  I'm waiting for it to cool and will fill the feeders tomorrow.

We have a long weekend coming up.  I hope to be spending it In the Company of Hummingbirds


Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.