[va-richmond-general] Re: Late Hummingbird

Naseem,

Hummingbirds seen this time of the year are frequently not
Ruby-throateds. Others that should be considered include female
Black-chinned, Calliope, etc. If it hangs around, get as many photos at
various angles that you can. I have a DSLR camera and would be glad to
come by and try for a few photos also. If it appears that it will be
staying around awhile, we can also try to arrange for a hummingbird
bander to come and check it out (if you agree). 

You might want to consider putting out a hummingbird feeder near a window
where you can take some close photos.

Give me a call if you would like to chat about it.

Larry
338-8300

Larry Lynch
Chesterfield Co.
birder6@xxxxxxxx

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On Wed, 7 Dec 2005 11:54:53 -0500 "Naseem Reza" <nreza@xxxxxxxxxxx>
writes:
Bird Lovers:

Yesterday at about 5 p.m. I was looking at the activity at the bird
feeder when suddenly a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird appeared at the
nearby Camellia shrubs and proceeded to visit each of the pink flowers in
bloom. I was so dumfounded by this visit that I proceeded to watch her
for a good 30 seconds before realizing that a Hummer with snow in the
background would  make an interesting picture. So off to another room to
get the digital Fuji S3000 camera out of its case, turned it on (it takes
a while before it is ready for action), ran back to the window  and the
hummer was still there. I managed to squeeze one quick shot with the
hummer in dead center of the focus ring before she flew off to the woods.
I have been watching for her return but hopefully she is on her way to
the Yucatan Peninsula.

The attached photo is the  one shot I got off but alas the bane of
digital point and shoot cameras, shutter lag, got the best of me. The
4/10 second lag resulted in a photo of the camellia without the bird.

Maybe some of you more experienced birders see hummers in the snow
routinely,  but it made a lasting impression on me. To avoid a repeat
photographic incident, I have contacted Santa in earnest for a digital
camera with minimal shutter lag (read DSLR) and just in case Santa is
overbooked, I am copying my wife.

For those of you who are plant lovers too, the camellia in bloom is
called Winter's Star. It is classified as a very cold hardy camellia (up
to zone 6) and it is a hybrid of Camellia oleifera and Camellia sasanqua.



Naseem Reza

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