Just a few minutes ago, I saw the coolest things! I was watching a Hummingbird!
Yup, I was, and still am, sitting in my darkening bedroom here in Port Townsend, when I noticed movement out in the Red-flowering Currant blooming just outside my window. It's a great wildlife plant - when in bloom it is much beloved by Hummers, and also by Bumblebees, and various other creatures.
A house can make a great viewing "blind" - creatures don't recognize house's (or cars) as a threat, thus allowing the snoopy animals inside, like me, super close looks at them. So I got to watch a bright male Rufous Hummingbird from about 6 feet away, through my super-dooper close- focusing binoculars, as it perched on a Currant branch after feeding.
As it sat there in the dimming light, it's gorget caught enough light to give out a bit of that laser-like flash that must be the brightest color you're ever gonna see around the gray ol' Pacific Northwest. That was great in itself, but then mister rusty stuck his tongue out! And then mister rusty flew up and snagged a tiny bug right out of the air! I have read about Hummingbirds having bugs as part of their diet, but until just now, never have actually seen them nab one.
Jeff Gibsonbird voyeur, inPort Townsend Wa