“The hummingbird is back”, my friend shared, totally out of the blue. “The last time I saw him was the last time you were here”. I turned and looked out the window at the feeder. Sure enough, it was one of the light brown hummingbird that migrates from Mexico. I was glad to see one, and even happier to know that fresh food was in the feeder. I’d known for a few weeks that they were near. The time was now.
Later that morning I returned to the ranch down the road, to the house I had been staying at while its owners were away. This beautiful country setting was a peaceful place to work on my writings. Later that day I made an excuse to drive into town. My true mission was to buy a feeder, I couldn’t find the one in storage at the house I was staying at, and the time for providing food was now. I filled my new feeder and hung it on a small cedar tree within sight.
It didn’t take long for this sweet treat to be discovered. In the morning I walked out on the patio to sand my drum ring before the Healing Drum Retreat weekend. It was dry, at least, and sunny off and on. The dog was delighted I was within reach, and I found a stick protruding through the middle of the drum with her sweet eyes saying, “play with me”. Sand the drum, throw the stick. Repeat.
Suddenly I heard the loudest whirling sound. I looked around, and saw a little figure swoop past the feeder and onto a nearby branch. After a minute the temptation was too much to bear, and he returned to the feeder for a drink.
Camera time, the drum can wait. Funny, I had the camera within reach of the door. I chose a chair closer to the feeder, and waited. Soon I heard those wild wings resonate like a loud buzzing as a sign of this hummingbird’s approach. Was this variety louder than the local hummingbird’s, or was it just a lot less noisy out here in the country? I was careful in my movement to avoid spooking this bird, after all we had just met. After a battery failure and change I managed four good pictures.
Later that day I noticed that we had not one but two birds visiting, and fighting over the feeder. Welcome back, little brown wonders!
