Coffee with Hummingbirds

66 Comments by David Central America

Three Years ago today I launched IncidentalNaturalist.com with a post about my encounter with Hummingbirds in San Francisco. Today I am revisiting these sparkling sprites, but this time my encounter occurred in the wildlife wonderland that is Panama.

We wound our way through narrow roads, up into the highlands, through the charming little town of Boquette and on, turning off the main road into the picturesque coffee plantation of Finca Lerida. I was plunged into a metallic supernova, with air that vibrated with the electric buzz of hummingbirds. I gathered myself over a sumptuous shot of plantation coffee, and set off for a walk around the sprawling grounds in the last of the afternoon sun.

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Lesser violet-eared Hummingbird

The bushes were coruscating with hummers, each defending their own branch or patch of flowers. My 200-500 mm camera lens was cumbersome. It felt like I was trying to swat a mosquito with a bazooka. Finally a Lesser violet-eared settled and I was able fire a shot (above). Then it seemed, with a blink, they were all gone. I walked on, through the plantation, heading for the higher ground. Rain had started falling and the gloom was gathering. As I climbed higher, spectacular flowers gave way to the dark green leaves of coffee bushes. A buzz tickled my ear as a tiny hummer shaved my cheek.  It is always the case with hummers; they fly past the largest, most ornate flowers, preferring to visit leafy bushes decorated with wax droplet flowers that designed themselves entirely to fit the probing beak of hummingbirds. The female Purple-throated mountain-gem dipped her drinking straw into the tiny, blushing flowers beside me.

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Female Purple-throated Mountain-gem

There are 59 recorded species of hummingbird living in Panama. I was faced with the overwhelming prospect of trying to identify each different species that I spotted. This is a challenge with any bird that I’m not familiar with, but when they were the size of a lip balm and move like lightning cracks the challenge is doubled! This is why I need the camera. If I can freeze the action, even if it is a little blurred, I have a chance of making an identification.

I walked back down the slope towards the ornamental gardens. It didn’t take long for the air to come alive around me again. An electric flash arced around me and I was able to freeze a Lesser violet-eared in flight. Then a Snowy-bellied feeding in the same area.

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Lesser Violet-eared Hummingbird fly-by
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Snowy-bellied Hummingbird

I walked along a path decorated with a golden flower that surely presented itself  as a champagne flute to a thirsty hummer. Just for a moment the clouds yawned open and the last of the honey sun trickled down. In this splinter of time I was regaled by a shimmering supernova of Lesser violet-eared hummingbirds. My camera machine-gunned as the hummers hummed and finally I had the photographs that I desired.

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Lesser Violet-eared Hummingbird

The following morning I was up and out at first light. I only had an hour before I had to check-out of Finca Lerida. It was gloomy and a misty drizzle hung in the air. My camera was not going to enjoy the morning. Suddenly the gloom was torn open as a Violet sabrewing bust incandescently from a tree, crackling across a hedge adorned with pink flowers. The bird was fast, angry and in no mood to pose for photos. He was intent on keeping the first ooze of morning nectar to himself, and he was ready to fight for it.

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Violet Sabrewing

I dearly wanted to capture a wall-worthy photograph of this ultraviolet sprite, but Mother Nature wasn’t ready to give me that blessing. But she did give me a few precious moments in the presence of exquisite beauty, and a few photographs to help me remember the encounter.

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An American gentleman walked passed me and said “you’ll be lucky to catch the sabrewing this morning. There is a Magnificent beside you, though. good luck!”. Sure enough, a Magnificent hummingbird sat beside me, patiently waiting for its turn to drink.

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Magnificent Hummingbird

I left Finca Lerida behind for the smoldering heat of Bocas Del Toro, and on to the heat and energy of Panama City. During a visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre on the outskirts of Panama City I encountered a hummingbird feeder that was exploding with life. The weather was miserable, with heavy rain in danger of washing away my once-in-a-lifetime chance to walk the birding Mecca, Pipeline Road. I waited under a canopy for the rain to ease, watching the different varieties of hummingbirds fight for position on the feeder. The sun hadn’t made it up and was showing little signs of doing so. I took the video below using my iPhone on SLO-MO mode. The quality is questionable but the chance to capture the speed and wing movement of these aerobatic White-necked Jacobin, in real time and slow motion, was unmissable!

 

By the end of my trip to Panama I had seen 15 of the 59 species of hummingbird. These were incidental encounters. All birds spotted and photographed during a family holiday touring the country. I can’t pick a favourite species because they were all so different, each with their own qualities. I can say that the encounters with the Violet sabrewing and the Lesser violet-eared were the highlights.

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Lesser Violet-eared Hummingbird

With so much beauty in the world it is difficult to say for sure that I have a favourite bird. There are so many extraordinary species to choose from. I can say for sure that there is no species that I like more than hummingbirds. Their electric flight, iridescent feathers and feisty attitude make them a joy to behold. Someday I hope to get back to Finca Lerida. After all, what better way to pass time than with exquisite coffee, a sticky slice of Passion fruit cake, and the company of hummingbirds?

 

 Join the conversation below. Have you encountered hummingbirds? Do you feed them in the garden? Perhaps you have trekked to remote places looking for a rare species?

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Categories: Central AmericaTags: , , , , , , , ,

David

I am a wildlife blogger and traveler, using images & stories to inspire wild connections.

66 Comments

  5. Keith R
    Keith R Reply

    Visions of my childhood in Vermont. I felt singled out one entire summer by a Ruby-Throated who seemed to get great pleasure darting at me and hovering a few feet away intent on making eye contact. Friend or foe?
    He terrified me actually. As a five year old, I knew and the bird knew he was the Alpha in that relationship.
    Love the pictures David.
    Keith

    Liked by 2 people

    • David Reply

      😂 that is great, Keith! I can see how that could happen. My son is five and as much as he adores wildlife I know that an angry hummer taking him on every morning would have him in all kinds of trouble! I watched a tiny hummer take on a Roadside hawk and win while I was in Panama.

      Like

    • David Reply

      Oh your family have been to Finca Lerida? That is wonderful. Such a beautiful place. I adored Panamá and you will certainly see many more wildlife stories from my trip over the coming months. Thanks for the kinds words! 😊

      Like

  19. Heide
    Heide Reply

    What a treasure this post is, both for your narrative and your beautiful photos. I feel as if I’d been right there with you! Thank you for letting me (virtually) tag along.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. MamaMickTerry Reply

    Love hummingbirds – that buzz is the best. Sometimes they fly into my garage and can’t get out. I’ve managed to get them to land on a broom so I can carry them outside. I even named one of my businesses “Hummingbird Press.”
    Your photos and writing are captivating – thank you for taking us with you!

    Liked by 1 person

    • David Reply

      Well done you for carrying them out on a broom. I imagine that took a bit of time. I’m not a sci-fi kind of guy but I’m the right age to have seen the first Star Wars movie. I always think a close to ear fly-by sounds like the sound effect used for a light saber swishing through the air 😁 Thanks for the kind comment, Michelle. It was a pleasure to have you come along!

      Liked by 1 person

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