I have been thrilled to see the hummingbirds each evening at the feeder. I think I have at least two different birds; one always approaches from the east, the other from the west. The one from the west looks like he/she has a small bald patch on his neck and I can’t tell if it is a ruby throat or a black chinned hummer. The one that seems to always approach from the east is a ruby throated hummingbird and will eat and pose and then flit to another portal and do the same thing.

I can count on seeing activity between 5:30 and 8 in the evening and I am completely fascinated by them. It tickles me that even though their approach to the feeder is always horizontal from one side or the other, when they are finished feeding they shoot straight up like a rocket being launched. I have multiple out of focus shots attesting to this but I captured the one immediately below just as he was about to launch. One of these days I will get the proper lens to do pictures of them justice; meanwhile, you will find me sitting for a couple of hours every evening by the open window where I have set up my camera gear because I can’t get enough of these extraordinary little birds.