thanks Fella, have been admiring yours too. Guess we are "neighbours", as we're just across the border between WA state and BC. Have been to Bellingham many times over the years, altho not for sometime, due to the weakness of our CDN dollar : )

thanks Alex, - guess they chase around so much here that they have to take a break : ) I heard their legs are very "under developed", as they don't use them that much, due to being able to hover from place to place without having to "walk". Neat little birds

thankyou Karen and Grahame, happy you like it. About the type of hummer, Grahame -- well, that's a good question, perhaps we'll just settle for your suggestion : )

- seriously, have been checking the "bird guide" lately out of curiosity myself, and am none the wiser. According to that, it's almost impossible to tell the difference between the females and immature males of the Rufous and Allen's hummers.

Earlier today, we had 3 of them zooming around our front patio area, not sure if they were playing or defending their territory, - it seemed to be something to do with the red Crocosmia plant, as that's where it kept reverting back to. It's really incredible the speeds they move at, and how they change direction "just like that", it looked as if they would get tangled up, as the 3 were sooo close at times, at such speeds. Hopeless to try to get a pic of the 3 of them -- really it's so incredible that it's all you can do to actually "watch" the aerial display : )

You've done it again! Beautiful!