Sunday, August 5, 2012

Flying Jewels




After a very slow start this year,

hummingbird activity has intensified lately.

Watching them can be quite mesmerizing.





As they jostle for position at the feeders and flowers,

the air is filled with the whirr of their wings and their squeaky chatter.

The pattern of their movements blurs into a rich tapestry of light and color.





 Like bright jewels, they they dart through the sky with lightning speed,

but they are impatient beauties,

battling each other without provocation,

using their long beaks as swords in combat.





However brief the victory, for the winners, there is a sweet moment...





...drinking in that energizing nectar.



But they'd better watch their backs.












The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird species in the Ozarks,

 and only the male has the distinctive red throat patch.





Thanks to Kim Klassen for her wonderful texture, Elevate.


Linking with Texture Tuesday
and Wild Bird Wednesday.