The Unforgettable

I was out walking in the woods one quiet, spring morning soaking in the life unfolding around me. I heard a hummingbird buzz past me and it caught my attention. Hummingbirds are incredible creatures, part bird and almost part bug. They are also creatures of habit. They eat, they fight, and they guard their food sources. This one was out in the old conifers and big leaf maples. It made me curious where it was going way out there. It landed and seemed to be watching me. I decided to move on and look at something else that had interested me. While I was turned away I could hear that little bird fly a bit closer to me and I peaked over. It landed over my head about 15 feed away. I couldn’t believe was I was seeing. I changed lenses to my 300mm to get a closer look. There she was settling into a little pocket of moss hanging under a shelter of an old maple leaf. As I watched she vanished in her nest and was absolutely undetectable. Camouflaged perfectly in plain sight. To say it was incredible is an understatement. I memorized the spot and came back frequently to watch the progress. These photos are from when I first saw her to when she had little fledglings poking their beaks out. It went fast too. I missed a week once and suddenly they were grown ups standing on the side of the nest. I learned so much from this little encounter and was so enthralled with it. I will never forget the day I met a momma hummingbird and her tiny family. I am so very blessed to have been a witness to such a miracle. Some might call it magical. That is what it felt like. Like God’s hand of love and grace was upon me that spring morning and said “Look here, watch this… I have made beautiful, delicate things that will change your life. Just take a moment to watch with Me.”