Swallow Raid

Gallery: AvianPosted February 9, 2010293 views21 comments

This was such an exciting moment for me and my second experience with a flock of swallows. If you've ever been in the middle of one you know what I mean. This flock was extremely huge and I was right in the middle of the feeding frenzy. I got a few stills as well but this image conveyed just how chaotic the whole experience was. They had just invaded this bush for maybe 10 seconds and all at once all left to the skies again. So very cool how nature works
Canon 70D 300 mm 2.8 L lens
ISO 800 f3.5 1/320 hh

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 9, 2010 at 1:32 PM

Great event, Cheryl. To my eye the hot spots draw my eye and kind of spoil the mob scene aspect of the image. I've never seen them do this up here. It must be a winter behavior.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on February 9, 2010 at 1:37 PM

very nice. I would have tried higher dof and faster shutter to freeze and get more details of the action

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on February 9, 2010 at 1:48 PM

What a fun moment Cheryl. This shot would make one of those jigsaw puzzles that would have folks tearing their hair out. I'd try darkening some of the over-bright whites a bit.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Skipper Anding on February 9, 2010 at 2:07 PM

Very pretty! We get Cedarwaxwings here in Mississippi in the winter that like to flock together. The blue is very nice - thanks!

Registered on January 12, 2010, 1 Posts, 12 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on February 9, 2010 at 2:56 PM

I have never seen this kind of action in swallows but your image gives a good idea of the chaos that must ensue. It must have been amzaing to be right in the middle of all those flying birds. I'd be concerned I might get a gift from the skies.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on February 9, 2010 at 3:37 PM

Excellent image Cheryl...

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by István Molnár on February 9, 2010 at 3:48 PM

Cool shot Cheryl!
Congrats:István
Hungary

Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on February 9, 2010 at 3:52 PM

Cheryl,
I've never seen this behavior. It must have been nice. I agree with Ed about darkening the over-bright whites.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 9, 2010 at 4:45 PM

Cheryl, cool to witness this action. I have seen tree swallows do this over here by me quite a bit this winter, but I have not been able to get a good representative shot like this. If this were mine I would bring down the exposure of the whole image to deal with the bright whites and then do some additional darking of the brightest areas. Cheers.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 9, 2010 at 5:32 PM

Cheryl

I've seen this behavior in Sarasota, FL and marveled at how loud these little birds wings can sound when they are in a huge flock like this, you brought a smile to my face seeing this.

As Ron mentioned I would bring down the exposure of the whole image a bit.

Hoping our tree swallows will be back soon, I have missed them.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Whum on February 9, 2010 at 6:56 PM

Very nice shot. You captured it well as the image gives a good sense of the fast and crowded activity with the flock.

Registered on June 6, 2007, 131 Posts, 696 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 9, 2010 at 7:47 PM

Chaos personified Cheryl. I'd also work on the whites a bit.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 9, 2010 at 9:08 PM

I'm glad to have all your comments and Mia I can recall the sound of the wings as well it was amazing. I'll take the advise and tone it down as well.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 9, 2010 at 9:45 PM

I've heard of a gaggle of geese but I have not seen swallows group like this, Cheryl. Naturally the Internet has the answer: a flight of swallows (see: http://www.pubquizhelp.com/animals/groups.html ) [I thought it would be something more unique!] This image sure communicates frenzied motion and color!

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 10, 2010 at 12:18 AM

Incredible scene, I had no idea they aggregated in such large numbers like this. A little more dof would have been nice, but your ss was marginal so you probably optimized the settings as well as can be expected.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on February 10, 2010 at 3:09 AM

Very nice shot Cheryl, I like very much the dynamism of the composition that gives a realistic impression to be there.Congratulations!

Mauro.

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on February 10, 2010 at 5:11 AM

I have just been trying to photograph flocks of knot and oystercatchers Cheryl and I have the same problem of hot areas. I don't see how this can be avoided with so many birds at all angles but I don't think this distracts from the image I think it increases the sense of chaos. I agree it's quite a specticle to watch. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 10, 2010 at 7:55 AM

what a neat shot, Cheryl! I've never seen a shot of swallows like this--very cool. I think the suggestion to lower the exposure a bit is a good one, but this is a really cool shot.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 10, 2010 at 7:31 PM

This is fantastic! What a great experience for you!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 11, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Very cool, Cheryl. I've never seen this with the swallows here.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on February 11, 2010 at 6:58 AM

I have never seen before such an image. Really a great moment of Nature.
Eloquent as your story.
Congrats.
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments