Hummingbird just sittin’ around in Las Vegas – he enjoys a change of scenery

                My magnificent male Costa’s hummingbird has taken up residency in my backyard. I seldom see any other hummers at the west or south side feeders. Lesser goldfinches, house finches, verdins and mourning doves I have in abundance, but nary a hummingbird, except the male Costa’s.

Finches doubled by shadow

At first light, popular perch for birds

                When I come home at first light after walking the dogs, I hear him chattering in the bushes next to the house. Sometimes I see him hovering among the dense branches of the Texas sage outside my kitchen window. At other times I saw him perched on the gate at first light. I got one picture of him on the gate when it was really too dark to take a photo without flash, but, since I was taking it through the window, I had no choice. Photo editing made it usable, though not great. I thought I would get another chance later in the day. Alas, I never again saw him on the gate.

                Then I noticed he flew away when I went out on the patio. I wasn’t looking for him to be there so I didn’t spot where he was flying from. Of course, if I remembered to look first, he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Finally the day came when I saw his new perching place. He was sitting on the back of my green plastic patio chair.

Showing his colors

Showing the tip of his tongue

                I took a picture of him through the patio door, once I even got a shot as he flicked out his tongue out. When I went  to care for my patio plants, he didn’t move. Hmm, maybe he’d let me take a picture outside. I got my camera and went out. He just sat there

looking around. I perched myself on the storage container on the other end of the patio, not 10 feet away, and kept on taking pictures. Then I moved out onto the grass even closer to him. He patiently posed for me, only moving his head from side to side.

                When my dog came out, the hummer flew up to the wind chime above him and waited for the dog to go. Then he flew back down to the chair back.

Close-up on the wind chime

               

Sitting high on the wind chime

I hadn’t taken a picture of the hummer and chair from the distance, instead concentrating on close-ups. After he left, I realized I needed one to show how really tiny he is. I watched for him to return to the chair, the next morning at first light I spotted him on the chair, but it was too dark for a picture. I decided I had better be patient this time. All day long I watched for him to return, but no luck.

                When next I saw him he was on the wind chime, but this time sitting higher than I had ever seen him sit. I got several pictures of that. Finally that evening I saw him again on the back of the chair and took the photo I had been waiting for. Then I was ready to write my blog post.

The tiny spot on the back of the chair in my Costa's hummingbird

                What will my hummingbird do next time that is blog worthy? Only time will tell.