When they first arrive it’s all prettiness and fun and games...

They’ll even accept a family member at the table...

But when one gets in too close?

The gloves come off!

And the birds take their fight into the air...

Even trying for advantage while upside down.

Their beaks are flexible, but that has just got to hurt!

And as serious as it looks like they are getting...

When the bellies are empty, the past becomes just that: The past. Time for a repast!

Please: Keep your feeders clean and stocked with fresh nectar. I wash mine under hot water using a dedicated toothbrush. No cleaners other than elbow grease. During the summer I change out the nectar every three days, sooner when the temperature soars. One quarter cup of beet sugar to one cup of boiling water. The newly arrived Rufouses are contending with the Annas that winter over, and our flowers are not yet in bloom so we are getting a great deal of activity at our feeders.

To learn more about how I photograph hummingbirds, see my Box Model article from a year ago.

Also, please respect copyright: Photographs actually receive copyright protection the moment the shutter is released and the image is recorded. Using my photographs without my consent will result in my billing you at a premium rate.