Hummingbird – Eat and Run

I’m not just a bird lover, bird feeder, or bird watcher, I’m what’d have to be called a bird fanatic. I even keep a “Bird Journal,” detailing the birds I see at our feeders (or excursions) each day – what they did, their behavior, etc.

Bird Nerd, for sure.

My journal had a lot of entries a few days ago. Some of the most exciting times of the year, for me, are when I see the much-anticipated arrival of particular feathered friends.  That first hummingbird sighting, for example, always comes with a bevy of exclamation points. I saw my first one earlier this week, though I suspect they’d been visiting the feeder before then. Fortunately I was in the front yard (camera in hand) at the time.

The only problem, for me, is that when I’m photographing birds, wildlife, or pets, I’m too busy wanting to WATCH to really focus on the picture!

Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are uncommonly fascinating and so ridiculously beautiful.  All birds are – each in their own way. That’s why I can never say which bird is my absolute favorite. Instead, when asked, I say, “Goldfinches are my favorite today,” “Hummingbirds are my favorite today,” “Cardinals are my favorite today,” “Mockingbirds are my favorite today,” “Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks are my favorite today,” “Blue Jays…”

Oh, you get the idea!

The more time you spend with birds, the more you appreciate each one’s distinct personality and characteristic behaviors. Take mockinbirds, for example… these guys are hilarious!  Our mockingbirds love to hang out near our patio. A favorite perch is an iron hanging plant holder – it’s located near a few cat food dishes, which the mockingbirds feel for certain is their own personal buffet.

Mockingbird 

I love how determined a mockingbird always looks – they’re beautiful and I’m crazy about their “Look at me! I’m the Captain!” attitude.

Before the hummingbird showed up at the hummingbird feeder, I actually saw something I’d never seen before, a goldfinch flew right up, sat on the perch and drank his fill.

Goldfinch says, “Don’t mind if I do…”

The goldfinch is another bird I could watch all day. They’re such colorful little beauties.

Goldfinch 

I’ll add more bird pictures this weekend – I got some extra fun pictures of a female cardinal. For about three days now, my favorite bird of the day has been the “female cardinal.”  If you ever stop and really look at a female cardinal, you’ll realize that she is uncommonly beautiful – just as beautiful as her show-off male counterpart.

Just don’t tell him that – his ego is out of this world.