Wednesday 9 May 2012: Beak of beaded drops

There is no easy way to bathe a hummingbird.
- Kehlog Albran

Oh, I beg to differ, he and I had a good soaking during this shot. Missed the oriole, the wren wouldn't cooperate, so it's Sharpie again with beak of beaded drops.

He's feeding heavily today, sampling all my feeders and tucking himself on an old suet feeder under the barn roof overhang.

With the exception of insects, hummingbirds while in flight have the highest metabolism of all animals, a necessity in order to support the rapid beating of their wings. Their heart rate can reach as high as 1,260 beats per minute, a rate once measured in a Blue-throated Hummingbird. They also consume more than their own weight in nectar each day, and to do so they must visit hundreds of flowers daily. Hummingbirds are continuously hours away from starving to death, and are able to store just enough energy to survive overnight.

For the Record,
This day came in with a soaking rain. Might clear a bit later, but not much.

I just spotted the first female of the season and so did he. He's been doing his fancy arc dance over the back patio for her.
Hummingbird behavior

• NIKON D90:
• f/5.6:
• 1/200":
• 420.0mm:
• ISO 200

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