[stilllearning]

I was able to get some good shots this year. I also was able to add a new one. A Berylline and caught a Juvenile Mag in the process.

Berylline ; Juvenile Mag ; White-Eared ; Blue-Throated ; Juvenile Male Violet-Crowned

[Dave B Smith]

Nice shots!

[Lisa W]

Very nice shots. Beatty's is always a treat.

[stilllearning]

Originally Posted by Dave B Smith

Nice shots!

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Lisa W

Very nice shots. Beatty's is always a treat.

Thank you Lisa. It was my 4th year in a row to visit. 2006 was the best because it was a bumper crop year and I'd never seen so many species at one time. 2007 was a let down because the numbers were down and I was expecting the same, but I did get some great shots of the Male Mag. 2008 was a little better as I did pick up some pics of the Lucifer at Mary Jo's. This year was special because I lost my original White-Eareds taken in 2006 when I missed backing up to my remote drives. I was able to get better ones this time around and will be more careful backing up this time. I still need to get some more pics of a few species minus feeders and one more species in the area I haven't gotten. Of course a mature Violet-Crowned wouldn't hurt.

[Lisa W]

Gary, if you want a mature Violet-crowned try Patton's in Patagonia next year, they have Violet-crowned every year. Hopefully they will still be open, unfortunately, Mrs. Patton died this fall. I think someone else is taking on house and yard. At least I hope so, it is also a great place for Grey and Zone-tailed Hawks. Oh, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird has been a fall visitor for 2 years (one of very few in AZ).

[rufous03]

I have heard about Beatty's Guest Ranch, but was told they do not appreciate or allow photographers to set up a multiple flash arrangements. Can anyone confirm this? My trip to Madera Canyon in 2007 was disappointing, 95% of my images were of Broad Billed Male and Female, a few Magnificent's, one White Eared, one Blue Throat and a few Black Chinned males.

[stilllearning]

Originally Posted by rufous03

I have heard about Beatty's Guest Ranch, but was told they do not appreciate or allow photographers to set up a multiple flash arrangements. Can anyone confirm this? My trip to Madera Canyon in 2007 was disappointing, 95% of my images were of Broad Billed Male and Female, a few Magnificent's, one White Eared, one Blue Throat and a few Black Chinned males.

That is true. Because the feeders have a 2 foot fence between you and them, they don't usually allow some one to cross over the fence to set up multiple lights. However they have not bothered me about using on camera flash when I've been there. Since there seems be visitors throughout the day I think they don't want them to be have their time intruded upon by a number of flashes going off. Most of the visitors are there only for observing and not taking pictures.

I don't remember there being any less then 8 to 10 species whenever I've been there. Best times are between middle of May and near end of August.

[rufous03]

Originally Posted by stilllearning

That is true. Because the feeders have a 2 foot fence between you and them, they don't usually allow some one to cross over the fence to set up multiple lights. However they have not bothered me about using on camera flash when I've been there. Since there seems be visitors throughout the day I think they don't want them to be have their time intruded upon by a number of flashes going off. Most of the visitors are there only for observing and not taking pictures.

I don't remember there being any less then 8 to 10 species whenever I've been there. Best times are between middle of May and near end of August.

Thanks. So far I have found one flash does not work all that well, so I guess that location is out Perhaps if I can lay my hands on one of the newer camera bodies that handle higher ISO settings better, it may become an option.

[stilllearning]

Originally Posted by rufous03

Thanks. So far I have found one flash does not work all that well, so I guess that location is out Perhaps if I can lay my hands on one of the newer camera bodies that handle higher ISO settings better, it may become an option.

The above pictures were taken with a D300 @ iso 400 and SB800 or SB900as fill. I used a 70-300 at 300 most of the time. I was only there for one day this year and didn't want to carry extra. Most of feeders are behind the fence but they come over the fence and land in the bushes or trees. I suppose if I camped out on a certain bush I could set a small light stand with extra flash. As long as I didn't disturb any of the visitors it would probably be okay. Most of them are observing them on the feeders. I prefer to catch them in the bushes or trees. There are times when my brother and I are the only ones at the observation landing. Let me know when your are coming down. My brother and I could go down when you are there and smooth things over for you if you want to try multiple flashes.
If not me my brother could. He's retired and has more time.

Here is another one taken at Beattys. Broad-Tailed

[rufous03]

Originally Posted by stilllearning

The above pictures were taken with a D300 @ iso 400 and SB800 or SB900as fill. I used a 70-300 at 300 most of the time. I was only there for one day this year and didn't want to carry extra. Most of feeders are behind the fence but they come over the fence and land in the bushes or trees. I suppose if I camped out on a certain bush I could set a small light stand with extra flash. As long as I didn't disturb any of the visitors it would probably be okay. Most of them are observing them on the feeders. I prefer to catch them in the bushes or trees. There are times when my brother and I are the only ones at the observation landing. Let me know when your are coming down. My brother and I could go down when you are there and smooth things over for you if you want to try multiple flashes.
If not me my brother could. He's retired and has more time.

Here is another one taken at Beattys. Broad-Tailed

I would really like to be able to another wack at some of the hummingbirds found in AZ. When I was at Madera Canyon and I was lucky to get two or three shots off in 30 minutes. Somewhat spoiled I guess as where I go n BC, you could fill a memory card in 30 minutes, the down side there is there are only 3 species that appear in May/June. At Madera all I managed to get were several images of the Broad Billed male and female, about 20 of two different Magnificent males , one shot of a White Ear and one of a Blue Throat. Next trip with any luck will be Ecuador or Cosa Rica. Thanks for the offer though, I will keep you in mind should I make in down your way again.

[stilllearning]

Originally Posted by rufous03

Next trip with any luck will be Ecuador or Cosa Rica. :

Costa Rica, you should be able to fill several memory cards there.

[Raybo]

Great images!

That first female must have been in the process of building her nest, you can see the spider web on her beak.

[stilllearning]

Originally Posted by Raybo

Great images!

That first female must have been in the process of building her nest, you can see the spider web on her beak.

Good Catch!

[coffee]

Originally Posted by rufous03

Thanks. So far I have found one flash does not work all that well, so I guess that location is out Perhaps if I can lay my hands on one of the newer camera bodies that handle higher ISO settings better, it may become an option.

For the last 3 years,I went to SE Arizona to do my hummingbird shoots and in 2007,I went to Madera Canyon but it was a disappointing experience. There
weren't many hummers there and later I came to learn that they got a lot less hummers that year.

In 2008 and 2009,I went to Miller Canyon( Beatty's Guest Ranch),Ash Cayon
(Mary Jo's place) and Rmasey Canyon. To photograph hummers at Beatty's hummingbird viewing site( CAS),try to use natural light only. You can use a fill flash but do so when there are not many visitors there.
If your camera can capture a good high iso shot,you should have no problemin catching some good shots. But you only get a good light for a few hours there.

I always booked for Unit A every time I stayed at Beatty's because that unit is best suited for multiple flash photography. But there isn't a lot of space there and again, you get a good light for a few hours or so.
2009 was a lot better than 2008 in terms of the number of hummers and I saw more species
at the feeders at Unit A than in 2008: Magnificent, Black-chinned, Rufous, Anna, Broad-tailed, White-eared.

Mary Jo's place is the best spot to find Lucifer hummingbird and Calliope hummingbird as well as many other birds visiting her feeders.

To me,Ramsey Canyon Inn is the best place to do multiple flash hummingbird photography because they will give you a complete freedom to do your work and there is enough space to do it.
I had a wonderful time there. But they don't have as many hummingbird species as in Beatty's. Knowing that,I stayed at both places last year and I visited Mary Jo's place a few times.

So, if you plan to stay one of these places,I'm sure you'll be able to get a good numer of hummingbird species and even if you don't stay at one of those places,covering these hummingbird hot spots is a must.

You can see my Arizona hummingbird photos here:
http://wildlifephotography.smugmug.c...33044279_iLyGP

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[stilllearning]

Coffee your analysis is right on.

2007 was a very light year. It hit me harder because 2006 was the heaviest I had seen. What I can say about 2007 is I was able to get my best shots of the Male Magnificent. There used to be a smaller observation spot further up on the hill from the present one. There were 2 or 3 males hanging around in the tree by the picnic table. I got some spectacular pictures. Both my brother and I use fill flash and we had several where both our flashes must have gone off together. The results were great.