barn swallow

Winter holidays

Not the best photo I have ever posted but I tried to capture this parent feeding its young, technically very difficult to do. I will try and do better next year!

Saw the Merlin flew out from the Inner Ponds towards the Beach. Located it and found it had a Swallow in his claws. Don't know how the hell it can get this devil flyer! (Normally the merlin will get sandpipers around that area). Considerable crop as I can't get close to it.

A recently fledged juvenile caught off guard. Every time a adult flew by it was begging for food flapping it's wings and mouth agape. Just at the wrong moment it closed it's bill and an adult arrived - only to then go onto the next chick. Four have just fledged, a brood we ringed last week.

This Swallow has produced 3 broods of chicks.She looks so tired but very relaxed in the evening sunshine with one of her latest youngsters beside her(see next shot).They nest in a garage on an industrial estate,and after having a chat with the owner of the garage,these Swallows have been...

Relaxing on the one sunny evening we have had in the last 2 weeks!!!

This Swallow has spent so many hrs in the last couple of weeks sitting on the phone lines in the pouring rain,but today we had sunshine (in the afternoon).She made the most of the warm rays ,no doubt thinking re her return trip to Africa,I will miss her.

Late evening we had the first sunshine of the day. It certainly brought out the Swallows with 80-100 gathering to feed over the salt marsh.

.........in some typical Welsh Summer weather!

She is so beautiful.Sorry folks,I do so love my Swallows.This pr have now started re-building their nest for their second brood.She is just having a rest outside the nesting area. I just wish I could take flight shots of these birds,I do try,but to no avail,so have to be contented with...

So sorry for not visiting the Gallery ,light nights and lots of meetings etc,so thought I would just post a couple of my fav species.This adult is just taking a break outside her nesting quarters.The chicks have now fledged ,and I think a second brood will soon be around. This adult visits...

I was quite suprised when I checked this shot,to see that this adult was holding a beakful of tasty treats!!!!.The 1st brood from this adult have now fledged and they are rebuilding their nest for a second family.

This is as close as I got to what I was after Adrian.

Not,really,she had been watching me for quite a while ,quite content to continue with her preening,whils't perching,occassionally keeping still,but she was just letting me know that she was well aware of my presence.