Dusk on the deck

The twins are sleeping. The kitchen has been cleaned...well enough. Eric is off fixing something.

And I?

I am sitting on the back deck, still as a statue, laying in wait for hummingbirds. I have a feeder in my hand and a saucer of sugar water on the table in front of me. I am utterly still.

A dozen Nighthawks flit through the air high above me, intent on snatching insects out of the air. They swoop and glide, instantly changing direction in pursuit of prey. I track their movements mostly with my eyes. I don't want to move my head too much and scare of my prey.

Just a few minutes ago, I walked out onto the deck with this plan in mind. I stopped within five feet of the feeder when I saw there was a hummer on it sipping delicately. I watched and waited. Suddenly, a second hummingbird flew up and started to check me out.

Minutely.

It got really close to my face. So close, in fact, that I became a little worried about my eyes. It hovered there and watched me. When I blinked, it reversed away from me by a few more inches. When I stopped blinking, it came in even closer. The sound of its wings was very loud that close to my face.

Goosebumps popped up all over my arms and legs.

My little friend then started moving sideways, going towards the back of my head and getting even closer to my ear. I was squinting at this point, the buzzing sound is sort of tickly and freaky, but I was still trying not to move anything and frighten off the hummer. Next thing I knew, the first hummer (Remember him? The one on the feeder.) suddenly realized there was another male horning in on his territory (Apparently I'm included.) and came zipping over.

Right at my face!

I could hear them arguing by my ear and felt the vibrating burr of two sets of wings. My goosebumps got goosebumps.

The two took off, straight up. The one that was intently watching me was chased off. My hummingbird stationed himself in my tree, resting for a moment, but ever vigilant.

That's when I grabbed the feeder and sat down to wait.

Unfortunately for me, I think he was on to me and my plan. He fed from the flowers right next to me and even looked around for the feeder, but didn't come any closer. Phooey!

Have I mentioned how much I love summer?! Woo!