Can I thank you all for your contributions to the forum. I am on holiday in Canada at the moment and it is nice to be able to keep in touch with the home patch. I had always considered warblers hard to photograph - though some of you manage superb shots - but humming birds are something else, not still for a second. Looks as if I am going to have to sit out in an area where I see one and hope it perches. Consolation is that a bald eagle regularly sits in a tree about 40ft from apartment window. Would include a photo but insert just keeps asking me to browse computer even thogh I have selected a pivture. maybe when I get home on te desktop.
Paul
Hi Paul,
Sounds like you're in an amazing spot, of course it's not Newport but the Humming Birds and Bald Eagle must offer some small consolation!
Regards,
John
Good to hear you're keeping in touch Paul, the wildlife sounds a bit more exotic than that at Newport Wetlands!
Popped into Natural History Museum yesterday (on way to see Dalai Lama in Albert Hall). Saw large case full of row upon tow of humming birds. Amazed how tiny some of them were, only an inch or so. (shame they were dead)
"He had softly and suddenly vanished away---For the Snark was a Boojum, you see." The Hunting of the Snark, Lewis Carroll
A real challenge to photograph. How the Victorians managed to catch and then stuff them is quite amazing. Though as you say it is a shamethat they did. Hope the Dalai Lama had more life in him.
Back home again and can't wait to get over wetlands to see what has changed while away, but son moving house so will have to wait awhile. Can now put up a few photos from Canada. Patience needed to get them and now as much needed to go through what I have and try to identify all that we saw.
Cedar waxwings
Rufous Humming bird
Bald Eagle
Absolutely amazing set of shots. Glad you had a good holiday and you've been able to bring back this fantastic record!
Fantastic photos ... I'm off to Madeira in September ... been there twice before, but this time I am going as a birder, I hope I can get some great shots like yours! ;o)
Ant
This was the first time we have been away with an interest in birds. It puts a whole new perspective on a holiday
Great photos :)
I'm in Phoenix for work for a couple of days. Saw ruby throated hummingbirds this morning in the hotel grounds and some black bird that the receptionist called a 'raven'.
I found it fascinating to watch the humming birds. This link takes you to quite a good identification site.
identify.whatbird.com/.../attrs.aspx
The black birds look like great tailed grackles to me - good website :)
I didn't see ruby-throated after all, they're Anna's hummingbirds in Phoenix :)