I was picking tomatoes when something whizzed by my head. I followed its path, and it turned out to be a hummingbird, a young one with gray and green feathers with no throat patch. It perched on the neighbor's clothesline and could hardly be told from the clothespins.

From the tree behind me came a series of sharp cheeps, and I think that was the parent, warning the little one to be careful, because humans can be dangerous. I stood without moving, and got a good look at the young one.

A few years ago, we planted two vines of native honeysuckle on a fence, and I believe the hummingbirds were attracted by it. The fence - stupid thing - was a neighbor's idea, and the purpose of the honeysuckle was to obscure it as well as to feed the wildlife.