Hummingbird Wonderland

     I sat motionless among the flowers in the garden as the young and mature hummingbirds squeaked and fought over the vast choices of food.  As the mature birds claimed the best foods first, the juveniles sampled and claimed what was left.  The young birds, unaware of any dangers, danced among the flowers and sampled everything with color.  I could almost reach out and gently cup one of these precious little creatures in my hand.  Though tiny, their powerful little wings fanned little gusts of wind upon my face.
     There are few things in this world that bring such a smile to my face like experiencing a little hummingbird wonderland.  There's little that compares.  My biggest struggle is between wanting to sit and soak up the experience, and trying to capture every moment on camera.  Every time I try to just sit and enjoy those moments, the most precious opportunity makes me wish I had the camera ready to capture it.  And every time I'm focused and trying to capture the perfect opportunities, I realize just how much I'm missing outside the view of the lens. 
     If only I could transfer all the experiences in my head to picture. Between the moments locked in memory and the pictures digitally saved, I have more than a lifetime of wonderful memories. This is where I try my hardest to explain in the greatest detail to others of the incredible experiences I've had. I hope everyone can get at least a glimpse of what I've seen and felt, but in reality, you'd have to sit among the flowers to fully experience one of the greatest joys imaginable.
Juvenile Ruby Throat hummingbird. N.E. of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. August 6, 2018. 

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