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This is Hummy. (Isobel chose the name.) A few weeks ago we noticed this hummingbird hanging around our yard and frequently landing on the string of fairy lights on our patio, just inches away from our dining room windows. Then we noticed the nest. It’s hardly larger than the cap of an acorn and it’s made of bits of leaves and spiderweb silk. She came to sit on it everyday and we realized: she’s hatching her eggs.
Our patio roof is pretty low, and when Jacob came over to help with the garden he nearly bumped into Hummy’s nest with this head. He thinks Hummy is probably an Anna’s Hummingbird based on coloration and commonality in our location. According to an article I read, they lay two eggs per clutch and yesterday we noticed Hummy feeding a little beak poking out of the top of the nest! We can only see one little head so far, so either the other one hasn’t hatched, or isn’t visible, or, sadly didn’t make it. Sometime soon I’m going to go out there with a ladder and my telephoto lens and see if I can get shots of the baby. We feel so honored she made her nest here!
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Yay hummingbird post! Your silhouette photos are especially lovely :) We have a number of hummingbirds which frequent our feeder and I’m sure there are tiny little nests nearby, but there are far too many trees and branches to ever find one unless they happened to build one right on the porch (which they have not done, despite my wishes). So I will live vicariously through your photos of the happy little hummingbird family! :)
Thank you so much, Sarah! It was kind of a challenge to shoot. I used to put food out of the birds all the time when our cats were indoor-only, but now that they go back and forth, and Jupey is such an accomplished murderer, I figure it would be cruel to lure them here. Hummingbirds are the only bird he hasn’t been able to nab. I’m not sure why Hummy picked us, exactly, but I’m so happy she did!
We have a beautiful little hummingbird as well who has been coming around, feeding from our hummingbird feeder (highly recommend) and being there – right in front of us! I love them.
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I’ve often thought about getting a feeder, but we have so many cats I was worried about their safety. This has been a magical experience.