Too Hot

Gallery: AvianPosted July 10, 201175 views9 comments

This is the same hummingbird female from my previous "floating" hummer shot. She looks hot & tired to me. I observed her list her head to one side, & close her eyes for what seemed an inordinate amount of time..Unusual for these normally very active birds.
Moments after this frame she was down at the pond trying to make her way into the dark cool spaces in the rocks...Finally just easing herself onto the waters surface. The whole thing was a first for me, and I'm grateful I was able to record the event.
F/11, 1/800th, ISO 400 & cropped to 5.2MP
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=176351&CGISESSID=9b4d9e538c24c239e1ff16b0d7575690&u=20254

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on July 10, 2011 at 8:20 PM

The photo is nice and sharp with an interesting pose. Interesting story, hope she does well. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on July 10, 2011 at 9:18 PM

I know little about hummingbirds, Howard, and the little I know is about rufous hummers. Do you have a sugar water feeder about? Have you seen this bird feeding any time recent? That swelling above the eye, is that normal for any hummer that you have down your way? Do you fell she is in trouble healthwise?

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 10, 2011 at 9:27 PM

Charlie,
Yes, I keep a feeder out for the hummers and change/fill it every other day.
The swelling you mention isn't swelling, but rather its eye lid down a bit.
It's probably an older bird, and it seemed desperate to cool off as you know. The do have a very high metabolic rate, and the high temps seemed to have adversely affected it. The heat probably takes a toll on the older/weaker birds, and some probably don't make it I imagine. It's just nature's way..

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 10, 2011 at 9:33 PM

A cool shot with nice DOF and composition. Would be better if the eyelid weren't' down

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 11, 2011 at 12:16 AM

Interesting to see a hummer with such earthy coloration, not the usual bright spectrum we normally expect. I'm surprised you don't have the tail in sharper focus at f/11 and a crop; although the dof is just fine as is.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on July 11, 2011 at 10:01 AM

I really like the detail around the eye and head. Great background also.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 11, 2011 at 12:57 PM

Looks great in the larger version, Howard. For some reason it doesn't come through as well smaller-slightly different processing?
Nice job.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 11, 2011 at 9:14 PM

Nice work Howard, I like the colors of the background, looks like she's going to wing at you.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 12, 2011 at 6:31 PM

Nice and sharp where it needs to be with a good head turn to get some catch light. I am constantly amazed how the hummers in our area put up with the heat but some how they manage. Nice job in getting this shot Howard, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments