Red is the color of spring across the desert southwest. Hummingbirds migrating north find nourishment in the nectar of desert flowers like the Ocotillo flame there on the left, and the poppy on the right.
I remember hiking in the desert some ten years ago, wearing a red baseball cap. An Anna's Hummingbird appeared out of nowhere and hovered directly in front of my face, perhaps 12 inches from the brim of the cap. She darted left and stopped the same distance from me, getting a different perspective. Then she darted right. It was as if she was trying to figure out if the hat was edible. She followed me for a quarter of a mile.
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I have had one dash close for seconds when I was in red, but never stay for any length of time. What an amazing story. I love the hummers. We have a feeder at work and watch them do battle every summer.
Hi Mike!
I love red in a flower bed...sprinkle in a little white and your really have something! The reason I am telling you this?....I want some of those!!!! ;o)
Nice pictures! I'm amazed that a hummingbird would follow you. We even look sideways and they are out of here.
Mike, gorgeous photo of the desert plants and wild story about the humming bird.
~ Life is Good
Beautiful, Mike. We're not seeing a lot of color yet.. unless you count white as a color. :)
Beautiful - rather timely with the hummingbird story...sitting on my parents' back porch we were commenting on the hummingbirds coming out this evening!
Beautifule as usual. Brian loves hummingbirds. This spring I am going to attempt to captures some macros of the beauty around. ~Rita
Hi Mike - Beautiful photography. You always have such interesting stories that accompany your stunning photos. Have a very Happy Easter!
Marlene,
Life is interesting! Happy Easter to you and yours.
Rita,
I don't know how many different varieties we have here, but it's a lot. Back in Jersey, where we hailed from, we had only the Ruby-throated Hummer.
Tucson Kent,
I'm glad to see you're back in NM for the holiday! We'll get together when you return.
Jesse,
Spring just takes a little longer to wend its way north to Fairbanks... :)
Roy,
It would disappear for a bit, and then make its appearance again, like an avian puppy!
Marchel,
We have a feeder outside the kitchen window with a perch above it made of a coathanger. We get an earful of squeaking chatter when it's empty.
Paula,
I'm sure you can get the poppies. The ocotillo won't grow outside the Arizona-Sonoran desert. Thanks for commenting!
Tammy,
Thanks for being the first to comment! Our hummers do battle with the bees from the desert until we get our first rains. Nature provides such drama.
Mike in Tucson
Hi Mike - Hummingbirds are remarkable creatures! I can just sit and watch them. Great photography!
Mary
Mike, Happy Easter! Yes, around here I have to be careful wearing red caps too - same problem...
~~Michael in Nashville
Mike,
Very nice photo sir and I am glad to see that those thorns have flowers. BTW, do you still have the red baseball cap?
We have a feeder right outside my officewindow and I do enjoy watching them feed. Once in a while one will stop at the window and look in.
They are just starting to even show up here in SC. It wont be long before I put out the feeders for them. Happy Easter!
Wow, Mike, those are beautiful! There is something about a red bloom ... it stirs something visually for me. I'll have to ponder the reasons why ...
Hummingbirds are so much fun! I had a similar experience hiking in the Colorado mountains a few years ago. I had a bright red day pack and the hummingbirds just wouldn't leave me alone!
Happy Easter,
Mike
Absolutely stunning..the reds are so vivid!!!Thank you for sharing.
Love those red poppies! Hummingbirds love that red color. Thanks for the great pics, spring will be here soon ..... maybe!
Good reminder to get our hummingbird feeders out of winter storage.
Mike I am sure you haven't worn the red cap hiking ever since. I once had a bull charged at me because I was in red, the horn got caught in a tree, that was a close encounter.
The red flower must make the desert a great place to visit. Your photos gives me a greater appreciation of the desert.
Hi Mike: If your only 1/2 as good a loan officer as you are a photographer . . .
:)
GOOD MORNING MIKE! I'll look for these colors on my run this morning - and I just changed my hat - the color I am wearing now is white! -- Gab
Mike As a NM gal your site is a regular visit home, Karen
Hi Mike, This reminds me of back in the early 90's, a bunch of us went hiking every Sunday after church. My hair was permed and I used a sweet smelling gel on it. I tied it up on top of my head and the bees buzzed around me like it was a big flower. (not a good idea these days, we have killer bees here now)
Whoa!
This'll teach me to get to a computer more than once in 24 hours! Thanks, all, for your comments and stories. I think the comments are often better than the post! We had a wonderful Easter. Hope each of you did as well. I'll see you on your blogs.
Mike in Tucson
Mike - I suspect that Hummingbird was checking out your aura:-) I love that red poppy. My grandmother grew many of those when I was a kid. . .It reminds me of my childhood.
Mike,
I just went though several of your posts, just to look at the photos. Always a good treat.
Thanks,
Richard