Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Chuparosa Challenge-Cool Blue

Hey hey hey!  I'm back with another Chuparosa update.  Soon the hummingbird season will be over.  By mid October, most of our summer migrants will be gone.  But before they do leave us, I thought I'd share with you the Blue Throated Hummingbird.
This hummingbird is a giant in the world of hummers.  When I look at this particular bird, two thoughts come to my mind.  One.  The body is shaped in an awkward fashion. and Two.  When we think of hummingbird flight patterns, this is the species we tradionally think of when a hummingbird flies.  It definitely moves much more differently than its peers. 
During this photo shoot search, I spotted this hummer in all canyons along the running streams of the Huachuca mountains.  If there aren't streams nearby, you may have a difficult time spotting this particular hummer.  Today's photos are from the CAS at Beatty's Orchards in Miller Canyon.
Lots of people will sometimes get excited at seeing a blue throated hummingbird and incorrectly label the juvenile male Broad Bill hummer as a Blue Throat Hummer. 
But the markings are very clear and the bird is rather large compared to its counterparts.  I spotted this bird during the last week of August. I had never been to the CAS at Miller Canyon so it was a real treat to sit there and watch the amazing numbers of hummers fly around us.   There was a running stream nearby the hill as we climbed to the top and sat on the bleachers.  Very cool.
It can be difficult picking out hummers at times with the flight frenzy that goes on, but this hummer is easy to pick out.  But be careful not to confuse the Magnificent hummers with this guy.  They are about the same size.
I love how this one curves to the side as it hovers. The shot below captures that movement as it backs away from the feeders.
This bird had been difficult for me to find.  I knew it was definitely at Beatty's but I had old tires on my car that had to be replaced making it difficult for me to get to the top of the canyon on that rocky dirt road.  Once they were replaced, it was the first place with went. 
On this particular rainy day, we'd find them in Carr, Miller, and Ramsey. I have one more surprise for everyone and then a stat update with each hummingbird found featured.  But on this particular day, a trek up Miller Canyon would also prove exciting thanks to a bird tip from a hiker.  Hint.  It has to do with the header of Las Aventuras. More tomorrow....

30 comments:

  1. Superb images. I'll miss them when they go.

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  2. Bardzo bym chciała te śliczne ptaszki, wszystkie, mniejsze i większe oglądać w naturze. Szkoda, że to niemożliwe u nas. Pozdrawiam.
    I'd love to these beautiful birds, all of them, small and large seen in nature. Too bad it's not with us. Yours.

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  3. You don't say the actual size of the Blue-throated Hummer Chris but I can tell from your photographs it's a lot chunkier than others. I guess with hummmers even a large one is still on the samll size relative to other bird species. It's hard to appreciate how many hummers you have over there when we don't get any at all.

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  4. Buenos días!!!.. estos ya me son como de la familia.. Que suerte poderlos contemplar son una preciosidad.. Enhorabuena y un saludo desde España...

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  5. Wow, the Blue-throated Hummer is gorgeous. I would like to visit this Beatty's guest ranch. Is it like a B&B? Great photos and I have been enjoying your owl header shot. Have a great day!

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  6. Great pictures - I find it hard to believe that you get birds like this is your garden!

    Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW.

    Stewart M - Melbourne

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  7. They are beautiful. We only have ruby throats here. It's exciting to see the other varieties - just a bit jealous :)

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  8. Oh Wow -- these are really awesome! I especially LOVE the in flight shots you captured! Excellent!

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  9. Beautiful shots Chris. I never tire of seeing photos of the different hummingbirds. We don't have all of the different species in Illinois.

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  10. Nice work Chris!! This guy is one of my favorites and not an easy subject to photograph. Well done!

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  11. I think I need to someday visit Tucson just to photograph the hummingbirds. What a fabulous diversity you have there!

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  12. That blue throat hummer...WOW! Nice thing is that you are not too far from Ramsey Canyon or that other one in the Santa Rita Mtns! Don't more over-winter there? You are so right about water...one was quite ticked at me taking sunrise pics today by it's fountain...the only water around!

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  13. Oh my, what a beautiful color. I don't think we've seen those here.

    You are getting some great shots of these beauties.

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  14. Marvellous shots Chris, I love that I get to see these little lovelies here, because I'm guessing Its the only way I am going to see them. What a dreadful thing to happen, it's hard to get your head around things like this, hang in there.

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  15. That is a particularly magnificent humming bird, really enjoyed seeing it.

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  16. What a great find! I've never seen most of the hummingbirds you have featured this summer, so it's a real treat for me :) I like the way you keep leaving with a teaser at the end of your post, "to be revealed..."

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  17. I've never seen a hummingbird of any kind in real life but they sure are beautiful birds. You got some really lovely pics here. :)

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  18. We don't have hummingbirds here in Australia and they always look absolutely gorgeous to me! I didn't even know that there was one as big as the one you have pictured. That blue throat is beautiful.

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  19. What an amazing patch of blue. Looks very sleek too.

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  20. The pictures in sequence are like a dance.

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  21. I surely agree with GOSS on the amazing blue. Geez, I've never even heard of this kind of hummer. Shows how little I know. I now need to get to the west more than ever! Great captures. Can't wait to hear about the owl.

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  22. Looking at these pictures, I feel ready to fly too but won't try...

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  23. Fantastic photographs, beautiful birds. I am greeting

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  24. Never seen one of these blue-throated beauties. The body curve reminds me of ballet.

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  25. wow...what gorgeous colors!!
    so, the hummer season is almost over?? then take LOTS of pic's so you can throw some in from time to time...for that hummer-fix!!

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  26. Now that it's fall, I want to do more. The Canyons are calling to me. Your blog has been a huge help in that regard! I would LOVE to see this lovely blue-throated! Your photos are wonderful, as always!

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Thanks for stopping by!