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Swallow

Gallery: Regional: UKNPPosted June 13, 2011118 views10 comments

1D Mk iv, 600mm f4, 1/1000s, f5.6, iso 400. Early morning sun.

Swallows have frustrated me for a long time, refusing to perch on anything natural. However, I found a site where they were competing with house martins to build nests on a newly painted gable end of a house. Nearby, there was only one muddy puddle available for them to gather the building material

. I had a great couple of hours, lying flat on my belly, scaring or amusing several passers-by when they eventually caught sight of me.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Austin Thomas on June 13, 2011 at 6:48 AM

Very effective Ian and the light into the eye has worked well.

Well worth a couple of hours of your time. Great result.

Cheers

Austin

Registered on March 7, 2008, 45 Posts, 207 Comments

Comment posted by Kim Connolly on June 13, 2011 at 8:25 AM

This is beautiful Ian, mud and all and well worth all the effort - certainly very different from the usual swallow shots we get on wires!

Registered on June 18, 2008, 14 Posts, 226 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on June 13, 2011 at 8:39 AM

Well worth the effort Ian thats a great capture.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Phillip Tomkinson on June 13, 2011 at 10:15 AM

Hi Ian a fine image of a great bird.

Phil.

Registered on July 14, 2005, 194 Posts, 427 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on June 13, 2011 at 12:36 PM

Great looking shot, I really like the reflected light coming from the damp soil, good work, Ian.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Askew on June 13, 2011 at 1:31 PM

Superb shot well caught

Registered on February 19, 2011, 11 Posts, 90 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on June 14, 2011 at 5:50 AM

great pov a good shot

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by David Sewell on June 14, 2011 at 8:28 AM

"Swallows have frustrated me for a long time, refusing to perch on anything natural"

I came to the conclusion long ago that "natural" for a swallow is on a wire

Congratulations on the shot, the low angle has really paid off - it was worth a few funny looks from the passers-by.

David

Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Ellard on June 14, 2011 at 10:08 AM

Lovely shot, they don't sit still for long

Registered on December 17, 2010, 60 Posts, 634 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Rogers on June 14, 2011 at 12:32 PM

Hello Ian.

Just excellent, and a shot I have wanted to get for a long time.

Well done.

Registered on January 16, 2007, 450 Posts, 995 Comments