The day dawned bright and sunny, blue skies long overdue but the perfect antidote to the day-before-school blues.
Sadly, the glare of the light deceived a number of the feathered guests who visit our various feeding stations and this little one took a dive to the window and ricocheted on to the deck.
Selasphorus rufus, the rufous hummingbird, so named because of the brick-red feathers on its back and sides.
It lay on its side for a few seconds and we thought its end might be nigh. Of primary importance, however, was keeping the feathered one protected from the furry ones who are keenly attracted to avian creatures which cannot become airborne. Dogs 9, chickens 2.
But given a little pat as we enjoyed a too-rare opportunity to stroke the feathers of a hummingbird, the creature suddenly righted itself and while unsteady, managed to remain upright.
And I guess we got a little annoying with our paparazzi moment and the little guy flew upwards. Unsteady however, it steered itself directly at the leaf-green structure directly ahead and then dropped down for a respite.
Some solid attempts at taking flight…
… and it managed to get itself over to another finger, until…
Not airborne for very long nor for very far but somewhere sheltered and green.
If it looks like a tree and feels like a tree…
And that’s how they sat for the next half-hour: Homeboy in the sun, reading his homework, the little one relaxing in the warmth and safety of the leaf-green nesting spot.
A more perfect day before school could barely be imagined.
The Country Mice 