Hummingbird on Mimosa

Anna's Hummingbird, Mountain View, California, USA

Knowing that the head feathers of Anna’s Hummingbirds glow fluorescent red in sunlight, I setup my camera when I saw one feeding from this Mimosa tree flower and waited for it to return.

In my experience photographing hummingbirds, I have learned that patience is a virtue. However, this hummingbird returned within the hour, but not to this flower. Ten hours later the Hummingbird flew back to the flower, and fed for three seconds as the tree swayed gently in the breeze.

Catching the wings with some motion, and partly obscured by the fern-like leaves of the Mimosa tree, the sharp black eye of the hummingbird watched the massive glass eye of the lens taking a photograph from below. California has many types of hummingbirds including the redheaded Anna's, spotted throat Costa's and red feathered Rufous.