barn swallow

Barn Swallow-Boerenzwaluw

A short visit to my sister's farm and we managed a few nice shots of the Barn Swallows being fed.

My first clear swallow in flight.

One of a pair that has raised at least two young near the local reservoir. They were repairing the nest ready for a second brood when I visited.

Young Swallows begging for food.

I was showing some people around our old house,and this young Swallow was perched outside the back door.Quick apology to all around,whils't I grabbed the camera for a quick shot.I do miss these little ones now that we have moved. Perhaps she is thinking about the long journey ahead .

This is the parent of the young chick.She saw me hanging over the wall,and flew very close ,just staring straight at me and the camera. I was perched on a flimsy plastic stool with a bean bag on the top,just clinging to the top of my neighbours wall,so I could focus the camera over the wall.No...

The headwinds out at Hayward Shoreline last Friday also allowed me to capture a few swallows in flight - cliff and barn swallows flying the same circuits alongside one another. Yes, they were slower than usual flying into the strong winds; and yes, they flew round and round similar routes...

Returned to our old house and spotted this guy on the gate outside his nesting area.

Another rainy day so back to recent archives and playing with the Raw program that came with camera. Finally figuring out some of the potential of DPP processing of RAW, I was surprised with the detail recorded in this image. Big crop here.

448 mm (equiv in 35 mm film), ISO 400, f5.6, +0.3 EV, 1/80; I used a tree as a monopod.

Barn Swallows enjoying the sunshine

I actually got quite close to this barn swallow, by creeping back along the bridge keeping some of the bridge "lumber" between myself and the bird, until I peeked over the handrail quite close to the crossbeam it was perched on.