I have been processing photos from my latest Yosemite trip all afternoon. I happen to see a larger bird flying away….definitely NOT a hummingbird. I figured it was our Orange-crowned Warbler again. I saw him once last year, but I never got a good picture of it. I wasn’t going to try again since feeders aren’t very photogenic!
A few hours later, I can see he’s landing on one of the branches I put under the feeder…cool!! Decided to take a break from processing and just watch for a while. As I was watching, I noticed a red-brown hummingbird. I’m used to seeing the Annas and Black-chinned Hummingbirds, but this guy was different. I grabbed my camera and waited by the porch.
Since all I wanted was a picture of the hummingbird for ID purposes, I didn’t bother with getting my flash. Honestly, I plain forgot! I got a few photos and realized I should get my tripod and flash.
Rufous Hummingbird, some what overexposed
Couldn’t manage to get another photo of the hummingbird, but did get my Orange-crowned Warbler that evening….
Orange-crowned Warbler
Mike Matenkosky is a Central Valley California landscape and nature photographer whose favorite locations include the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, Yosemite and the eastern Sierra. He is currently living in Atwater, CA.
The text and photographs are © Copyright Mike Matenkosky (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Mike Matenkosky.
Love these photos Mike, You never cease to amaze me. Do you know this lady http://littleredtent.net/LRTblog/
Thanks Rick. Yes, I actually met Edie in February photographing the Horsetail Falls at Sunset.
My website is looking for submissions of photos of different hummingbirds. http://www.hummingbird-guide.com. It must have been exciting to see one and it is a good picture. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Ruth, I’ll take a look at your site.