Nature Photo Challenge #23

Denzil Nature posted a challenge about the important side of nature concerning the things we call pests – Flies. If you have not seen his site, do check it out for some amazing photos. For my addition to this post, I am including flies and other things that buzz in my yard – some louder than others.

I do have in my yard a similar fly, possibly a bottle fly, that I was surprised that they hovered around my flowers…instead of something less pleasant.

But I also have other things that fly, maybe hoping to catch a less cautious bottle fly.

Then there are many swirling bees enjoying the nectar of my sunflowers. proof that bees don’t care if the petals are bright yellow, light yellow or no petals at all.

But my favorite flyer is not an insect, although he is not much bigger than some insects. And I don’t really have the equipment to capture him properly in photos, but still, he is a favorite – the hummingbird.

All of nature is important and has a purpose in being, so enjoy it often. And as always I remind you of another beauty in nature – kindness. For if all of us can show kindness to all of nature, kindness will continue to grow.

Hummer…Not a Hummer

Today was a day of much needed rain, a good slow soaker. So not much activity at the feeder. But yesterday…

***Hello. I am Harry Hummer. I am resting on the peanut feeder keeping guard over “My” feeder***

But there was another visitor to the sugar water feeder…

***Crafty little creature***, **Little** ***George.***

I could not figure out why he chose to be there, so I did a little research on what mantis eat. This must be the season they are really coming out or maybe they are just extra hungry. Below is a big one that visited the church.

My research tells me they eat all kinds of insects, grubs and even the occasional small bird. Small bird…a hummer is a small bird. Well maybe Big George, but surely not Littler George. Still I am not taking chances.

***Little George getting more into attack position***

Research said they eat things bigger than themselves….okay, not having that. So I went outside and shooed him off. I didn’t hurt him, just made him leave that spot. I enjoy my hummers way more than any bug.

I close with a reminder to always being kind. Even a smile can take the hardness out of someone’s day.

New Feeder

I recently bought a new humming bird feeder because the others kept leaking. I was using my phone camera for these, but they did come out kind of neat. Hope you enjoy them. I need to buy a lens for my camera that do closeups better.

They are such cool little creatures. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. remember to be kind.

Share Your Desktop

Clare’s Cosmos has a fun challenge I will play with today, even though my pictures are not as clear as they should be. It is a memory that was fascinating to me. I had three hummers fighting over the feeder, zooming and zipping through the air, chattering that I could hear through the window.

Even though these birds were not being kind, we need to remember the beauty in being kind.

A Finch’s Confusion

I see the little guys swoop all around this water thing. They drink from it through those tiny holes. My beak won’t fit so maybe I can drink from the center. Nope too shallow. Everybody is over at the bath getting water. Too crowded for me. So I will just rest in the shade.

What are you doing here? This is no place for you. Got to the bath with the big guys. This is for us little guys.

I am not bothering you I am just resting.

Then go rest on your feeder. This one is ours.

This cant be a feeder, there are no seeds. This is clear like water. And I was thirsty, less bodies are here.

We don’t eat seeds, we eat nectar from flowers. That’s is why my beak is thin to drink from flowers or here and yours is thick to crush seeds. Go to your seeds.

The young ones just don’t get it sometimes. Can you believe that guy!

As we watch and laugh at the things of nature that amuse us, you can’t help but put words to what seems silly. These two birds watched each other for a good ten minutes before the finch decided to go to the large bird bath with his friends. I know the pictures are not real clear but I think you can still enjoy the silliness of the situation they created.

And as always, I remind you of the power of kindness. Even though they were totally different species of bird, they were kind and sharing of the space…for a short spell.

No Professional, But Fun

There are many novice photographers better than me, but I would venture to say I at least will tie with someone who has the most fun trying. Since retiring a few years ago(I retired when I was very young, Ha) I have developed a love of bird watching and tie that into my love for photography and you have mostly fun photographs.

I work part time at the church and have also placed bird feeder there so today is a sample of birds at home as well as at church. Most of the pictures are new but some are favorites. I have become fascinated with the hummingbirds of the area and most from the church were taken today as the phone were very quiet.

These two seem to fight over the feeder or at least like to play chase. I know the pictures are not real clear but I did not have my telephoto lens with me today, so we are zooming way in per the computer.

They seem to have no tail feathers when they sit as their wings are longer and cover them when they rest. But when they fly, it is amazing how they move those for balance and direction.

I love this picture even though the hummer is not real clear. But his reflection shows up in the water as do the flowers below. And you can see how he spreads his tail feathers.

Both of these birds seem to be females as they males have that legendary red throat. I have a male one at my home that guards that feeder.

I need to learn how to work with the shutter speed on my camera to see if I can catch the wings clearer. Below are some other pictures I took today and a few of my favorites of my bigger birds. The cardinals are beginning their molt so they are looking real sad as they lose old before the new arrives.