Tiny Dancers

Today was the last day of summer vacation before my daughter, Grace, goes back to school. We decided to have a little adventure together to kick off the day. the sun was newly risen and the air was still cool and damp with overnight dew when we headed onto the trails near the Rocky River Nature Center. Most of the trails were in shadow. The birds were just waking up.

At the base of a steep hill is a boardwalk trail that winds through a little marsh. In one section, jewelweed and milkweed bloom profusely on both sides of the platform. I often seen goldfinch there and have spotted the occasional hummingbird. this morning, the entire patch was buzzing with ruby throated hummingbirds! The emerald green feathers on their backs blended perfectly with the green foliage of the jewelweed and their quick movements made them hard to see.

We took quietly and waited. After awhile, the birds seemed to grow more comfortable with us. Every so often, one would land on a twig for a second or two or hang in the hair, beak buried in a flower. It was so thrilling to have these “tiny dancers”, as Grace called them, flitting all around us.

I was excited to be able to freeze them in photographs so I can really look at them. As tiny as they are, there is so much variation in their feathers. Their backs are iridescent and they shimmer in the light while their chins and chests are downy and white with incredible details at the throat. What special little creatures!