At the Edge of the Feeder
An unexpected guest, a quiet moment, and a lucky shot
Some photos come from patience. Some from perfect timing. And some… are just the result of nature having a sense of humor.
I was out in the yard, enjoying the way the late-morning light softened the edges of everything. One of my regular hummingbird visitors zipped into frame, paused at the feeder, and just stayed there—completely still. That alone was rare enough to get excited about. Usually, I’m lucky if they give me half a second before turning into a blur with wings.
But this one perched. Calm. Perfect light. Feathers glowing. It was already shaping up to be one of those shots I quietly hope for but never expect.
Then I noticed something else in the frame. Just off to the side—on the glass of the feeder—stood a tiny midge fly. Not moving, not fleeing. Just there. Frozen like a surprise background extra in a movie scene that had nothing to do with him.
I don’t know how he ended up in the shot, but it’s one of those little unscripted things that makes me love backyard photography. The bird was the subject, no doubt. But the midge? The midge gave it personality. A tiny speck of randomness that turned a beautiful moment into something quietly funny and strangely poetic.
So I wrote this poem to go with it—because sometimes, a photo speaks, and sometimes it whispers something weird and wonderful just beneath the surface.
At the Edge of the Feeder
A shimmer of feathers, a flash in the sun,
Paused at the feeder, the buzzing was done.
No chatter, no flutter, just balance and sip—
A moment of stillness, a beak at the lip.
But just on the glass, like a footnote in air,
A midge held position with delicate care.
Not quite a meal, not quite in the way—
Just stuck in a scene he had nothing to say.
No signal, no stare, no flutter of threat,
Just a fly in the frame, not eaten—yet.
Two wings met stillness, one bold, one unsure—
One there for nectar, one there for… decor?
The feeder held both, in sunlight and grace—
The star of the photo, and one out of place.
You couldn’t have planned it, that much is true—
A perfect small photo… with bonus guest too.
Nature doesn’t always give you what you expect—but sometimes, it gives you something better: a bird and a bug, each minding their own business, and a reminder that even the smallest intrusions can make the story more interesting.
I couldn’t resist including this little guy—he was the first one I spotted today, and he was just too adorable to leave out.
