I am an opportunistic bird photographer — I photograph them when I see them. That means that late spring, I take my camera with me everywhere. (My husband tells me that presents certain problems, but our marriage survives on the strength of the other 11 months, I guess.)

But that means that I had my camera at the breakfast table at oh-dawn-thirty this morning while I was watching our many feeders. And that means I got two quick shots of a female broad-tailed hummingbird gathering the dog hair I’d put out for the birds for nesting material.

This little female broad-tailed hummingbird nabbed a beak-full of dog hair about the same size as her! I’m impressed that it didn’t affect her flying.

It seems really early for the broad-taileds to be nesting, but Cornell’s Birds of the World says they are right on time.

“Overnight residency begins once birds find adequate energy supply locally. Previously banded philopatriots predominate in captures for the first two weeks.” — Cornell Birds of the World Broad-tailed Hummingbirds

I’d never heard the word “philopatriot” before, so I looked it up on the web. Nothing! Really????

Webster’s Dictionary Online does say that “The word patriot signifies a person who loves their country and is ready to boldly support and defend it” which would definitely describe a hummingbird.

But “philo-” means “lover of” too. So a “philopatriot” would be a “lover of lover of country”?

I am full of digressions this morning.

The hummingbirds have started their morning chores. I should too. Hope you see lots of birds today!