I like to think my images reflect such things as solitude, peaceful moments, or a pause in this busy world.
My state of mind at this moment, the shutter snaps, and the pixels are being formed and written on the digital card within my camera. Later, I write words to accompany the photos to remind myself and my readers of what I experienced while making the photograph. It works as an exercise of “emptying my mind” of thoughts and simply being prepared for the next one.
This fast-paced bird, the hummingbird, thrives well along the Pacific coast. On this particular day, inside the Bolsa Chica reserve, was hot! I had walked a five-mile clay trail up and down cliffs and scaled over fallen debris along the path.
I heard him behind me. His wing movement creates an unusual sound, a melody of nature.
I turned around to see him when he stopped midair just long enough for me to make this image.
The Bolsa Chica Reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the ever-elusive hummingbird. These little birds are often seen as something of a mystery, and indeed they can be quite hard to spot.
The species of hummingbird that is most commonly seen at Bolsa Chica Reserve is Anna’s Hummingbird. This species is known for its reddish-brown feathers and distinctive call. Anna’s Hummingbird is also the largest species of hummingbird found in California.
Another common species at the reserve is the Costa Hummingbird. This bird is smaller than Anna’s Hummingbird and has iridescent green feathers. The Costa’s Hummingbird is also known for its long beak, which it uses to reach deep into flowers to collect nectar.
The last common species of hummingbird at Bolsa Chica Reserve is the Allen’s Hummingbird. This bird can be distinguished from other species by its orange-red throat patch. The Allen’s Hummingbird is known for being one of the fastest flyers in the avian world and can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.
Talk about a fleeting moment…
Dash and Zoom says
That little guy was looking right at the camera! Nice shot!