‘I’m fascinated by my little hummers, and I sit here waiting, camera in hand...’
It’s another lake ritual, once I get settled in after opening up the cabin at the lake, I mix up a batch of liquid food for the hummingbird feeder. I can’t wait to have my little birds zip by to feed. A few years back we hung up a metal hanger off the upper deck, and that is where I hang the hummingbird feeder when I am in residence. It is near to my round table that is placed at the front corner of my cabin deck. When I’m outside the cabin that table is where you can often find me, if it’s not too hot that is. The sun comes to that table in the mornings as soon as it clears the hill and the trees and remains there all day until it sets over the mountains to the West. Most mornings you can find me at the table after my morning swim, enjoying the sun, and, if it’s hair wash day, drying my hair. With no electrify to blow dry my shoulder-length hair, that is where I sit until I’m damp-dry.
I face directly towards my little feeder, and so am blessed with seeing my little birds within a mere 4 feet, and they always come. I often hear the little squeaky noises they make as they verbalize, or I just here that high-speed hum of their wings and they swoop in.
I have named my hummingbirds Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, and I think of them 9in my own mind) as the girl bird and a boy, but who knows? I just decided that one day, and there you have it. So, every year I greet them with those silly names. I never see more than two at any given time so it works for me. I can’t even exactly tell you what type they are, as I have seen the orange ones, but also the delightful, almost luminescent green-backed ones. We could have up to 4 species here, and so I am not exactly sure. It is the one department I have failed for the learning curve, as I usually research and get to know my species of animals, reptiles, and birds here. I do know these little birds move incredibly fast, as I am sure, you are well aware. I have gratefully managed to capture them in photos, and they will pose for me sometimes on the nearby tree branches.
One year I had an actual hummingbird nest in the cedar tree adjacent to the back stairs. From the deck, and we could see into the tiny nest and were able to see tiny little eggs. We avoided using those stairs while the nest was in use, just to give the little birds some space, with no human interference. I never was there when any littles ones hatched, unfortunately. That would have been incredible to witness and enjoy. We come and go, back and forth, from the city so our timing that summer didn’t work to see the new little-ones hatch. Oh, well, c’est la vie! I am delighted to share some photos with you, but I am well aware that these little birds are drawn to our cities, and so it might not be a rare sighting for you. For me, it is just one of the little delights I enjoy more at the lake.
I must say though, that I have confused the little birds on occasion, because I do have some silk flowers that I put out at the lake, with not being in residence for any length of time, and not being able to maintain any sort of baskets or flowers. I generally use cut greens in my vases, and I use some silk flowers on my deck. That does confuse the heck out of the hummingbirds now and then, and I am sure they are not happy with me. I have fooled the odd bee as well. It is just the way it is here. I may have a lake, but no watering systems, and I do have lots of bushes and trees, but not too many flowers to speak of, not saying I haven’t tried to plant a few over the years. I just enjoy what grows wild here. I will throw out a funny story for you though...one time, during happy hour, and after a few drinks, someone said to me, “I see you have some nice bright flowers over in that garden by the ramp, are they hardy?” To which I immediately replied, “they sure are! Why they pretty much stay blooming all summer!” It took a several moments to sink in before the guest said, “they aren’t real flowers are they?” I just nodded and we both laughed. And with that, please enjoy some pictures of Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, my little lake hummingbirds!
