OMG! Squeeee!

I was just refilling my hummingbird feeders and was in the process of walking the smaller of the two outside when Suddenly!

There was a hummer! Hovering! I was about to swirl the fluid down and then hang it up, but the hummer was way too impatient for that, so I froze. I held as still as I could make myself in a somewhat awkward position.

It came closer and I felt the wind from its wings passing over my hands. Heard the fluttering. It hovered above the feeding ports and then finally came to a rest and started drinking. It would pause and look around from time to time and then resume drinking. No other hummers came by to chase it off or to check me out while this was occurring. I desperately wanted to see if Eric had noticed, but couldn't call out to him (He missed the whole thing!). Instead I inspected my tiny friend minutely. It had a tiny spot of ruby red at it's throat, along with little dots on either side, so I thought it was a juvenile male, except that it didn't make a buzzing noise as it flew. So was it this same one, or was it another? Do females have colored spots in their gorget, too?

It was as long as my index finger, not super tiny like others I've seen. It was an awesome experience! Totally made the wait for hummers until July worth it. All the plants, all the sugar water, all the time spent trying to attract them: totally worth it!

I think tomorrow morning I'm going to sit out there with a saucer filled with sugar water.

Squeeee! A hummingbird within reach!

Gush! Faint!