Art With Art

Female Anna's Hummingbird

Here's the female Anna's Hummingbird.  It may be "winter" in Arizona but these year long residents visit our feeders often in Tucson.

If life imitates art, then perhaps this is a perfect example.

I was chatting with Kathie and waiting for her to get her tea all prepped for our trip.  And while she was getting everything all together, I saw her hummingbird feeder busy with activity.

It was surprising because I can never get the hummers to come to these glamorous feeders.  They tend to like the cheap ones, but the key here was that this was in the shade.  And that made all the difference in the world.

Get ready for some incredible fun coming up on Las Aventuras. Let's have a kiki!  December is just warming up. Let the festivities begin.....

Buggin Out

Orb Spider

Today was one of those days that we shouldn't have been on the trails.  In the back of my mind I questioned hiking in the Buenos Aires Wildlife Preserves because of the bugs.  It had gotten cooler so I thought it would be safer.  Wrong.  So this post is dedicated to all the critters who help manage the bugs:)

Kingbird getting that bug

It was a quick run and shoot around the 2 mile path.  The mosquitoes were out of control!  But I wanted that iconic "Kingbird getting the bug shot" so I stood still while 5 mosquitoes landed on me and sucked my blood.   But I got the shot:)  Again, there were many Kingbirds sitting on the tree tops swooping in half circles for the bugs.

Female Anna's Hummbird

And while most of the hummers have fled the state, several stick around like this female Anna's Hummingbird.  Residents of Southern Arizona all year.  Hummingbirds "hawk" for lots of bugs this time of year.

Say's Phoebe

A first photo debut for Las Aventuras, this Say's Phoebe also "hawks" for insects on low perches.

And then there is bug on bug action.  But while on the trails, we ran for our lives.  Above us circled this Turkey Vulture waiting for us to die from all the mosquito bites....well that was Pat's thought.  So while we had a quick jaunt on the boardwalk around the streams and small ponds, it was still a productive outing:)  More tomorrow....

Turkey Vulture

Anna's Hummingbird

Female Anna's Hummingbird

I wanted to share with you our hummingbird magic at El Presidio.  The hummingbirds have headed south except for our year round residents.  These were hummingbirds raised at El Presidio by their parents.  She sat and waited for me to get home and change the nectar.

I can stand literally inches away from her because I was with her when she hatched from that egg.....or during that crazy monsoon storm when they all hovered around me during my lightning photo shoot.  Her brother also flies near me and hangs around while I change the feeders.  He's not as trusting but he hangs in the air only inches away from my face sometimes:)  I always smile at their lack of patience.

If the feeder is low, they'll sit on the branches early in the morning and wait for me.

I'll be setting up a 3rd feeder again and I'm hoping no one steals this one.  Over the past year, we've had human attacks on 2 hummingbird feeders and one on the regular feeder in the courtyard.  A glass feeder was shattered, another stolen, and the regular seed feeder was yanked out of the ground.

But for the most part, these Anna's hummers have a nice life here on the property.  Protected.  Safe.  And secure up in their oak trees and other secret places that only their gardener friend knows about:)

This male Anna's was taken at Ramsey Canyon this summer but I wanted to show this guy again to help ID if you come and visit Arizona.  We have two males living on the property at El Presidio.  This past year, we had two active nests.  What will this year bring?

More to come....

Amar Es Compartir

I always have my camera ready near the birdfeeders because you never know what will go down on a day to day basis:)  Today I was finally able to capture the Verdin and Anna's Hummer together on the feeder!!!  Last time I tried to do this, there wasn't any memory card!  PS.  I'm still catching up with everyone, and I promise I'll be stopping by soon.  Love all your stories and pics but I have to give the eyes a rest each night and time to absorb all your experiences.

The Verdin flies in first.  And then several of our hummers see this guy and say, "Oooh heck no!"  But wait, "He's not a hummer.  I can't chase him off!"

And so "Sharing is loving."  or "Loving is sharing."  Either way, they were so cute on the feeder together.

And of course, lots more to come.  Until next time.....