This One's For Garth

Gallery: AvianPosted April 13, 20063,357 views35 comments

OK, so this isn't as glamorous as a photo of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker preening but it's the best I could manage this week.

At the sewer ponds the other day with Kwan we spent several interesting hours (about 6) watching and photographing the tree swallows as they went about their daily routine of preening, bickering, courting, feeding and defending territory. Recently I posted a shot of a male and female in a courtship/begging behaviour. Here's another view of the same behaviour but only of the male. Kwan had just packed up his gear to go after the violet greens that were nearby when this action took place.

Canon 1DII, 500 f4, 1.4TC. ISO 400, 1/250, f5.6, EV +1. Late afternoon light.

Appreciate your suggestions and comments.

Comments

35 comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 13, 2006 at 2:02 AM

This is The Shot of our few days with these little ones! I cursed when I saw this action and heard the shutter firing beside me - and I didn't get anything worthwhile with the VGSW's anyway

Well done, Ed! The detail inside the mouth is a real bonus

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

Comment posted by chris hajee on April 13, 2006 at 2:12 AM

fantastic Ed, beautiful colours, I love it

Registered on January 18, 2005, 179 Posts, 2384 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on April 13, 2006 at 3:44 AM

Hi Ed

You certainly nailed this one. Very inspiring image, our Swallow have been arriving in good numbers over the last week, so I must have a go. However after seeing this beauty I have a feeling whatever I get will be a little disappointing. This is outstanding!

David

Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments

Comment posted by Jasper Doest on April 13, 2006 at 5:00 AM

This is just gorgeous Ed! I really have no words for this....this is GOOD! Excellent use of fillflash and the combination with the late afternoon light works really well. Just lovely!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 371 Posts, 2101 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on April 13, 2006 at 6:25 AM

I love it!

The wing is so beautiful. You say courtship, I say he landed on a rose thorn

Hans Spiecker
Chicago, IL

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by Carl Roos on April 13, 2006 at 7:57 AM

Ed,
Awesome shot! Tack sharp and the colors are right on.

Registered on May 25, 2005, 57 Posts, 345 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on April 13, 2006 at 9:31 AM

WOW!

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Raja Shekar on April 13, 2006 at 9:58 AM

Open mouth and the spread wing ! Perfect timing

Registered on April 24, 2006, 7 Posts, 61 Comments

Comment posted by Vic Harris on April 13, 2006 at 9:59 AM

Love it when these guys get animated. Superb!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 295 Posts, 2830 Comments

Comment posted by George Palagian on April 13, 2006 at 10:22 AM

Nice one ED,

Registered on March 3, 2006, 113 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Steele on April 13, 2006 at 11:04 AM

This is SO sweet!! I've got them with a wing stretch, I've got them with the bill open, but never both at the same time. Awesome!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 354 Posts, 13896 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 13, 2006 at 11:43 AM

Very cool

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Losin on April 13, 2006 at 12:48 PM

Hi Ed,

Awesome image. The action captured here is superb. Background is gorgeous as well. Fantastic work.

Good shooting,
Neil Losin

Registered on September 16, 2005, 145 Posts, 3524 Comments

Comment posted by Bart Breet on April 13, 2006 at 1:02 PM

Awesome image! Big congrats!

Registered on November 12, 2003, 28 Posts, 66 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Courtenay on April 13, 2006 at 1:32 PM

Great pose,Great colours,Great background-Great

Registered on July 18, 2005, 56 Posts, 462 Comments

Comment posted by Krijn Trimbos on April 13, 2006 at 4:57 PM

Ok, you'll get 3 of these

and 2 of these

and some of these

and mmmmmm what do we have left, just that this is one of the best shots I have seen of these guys since I joined. COOL!!

Registered on October 18, 2005, 260 Posts, 2979 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 13, 2006 at 5:02 PM

Neat stuff - the open beak and spread wing make this a unique image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Juza on April 13, 2006 at 5:30 PM

Outstanding!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 374 Posts, 10466 Comments

Comment posted by Garth McElroy on April 13, 2006 at 6:21 PM

Fantastic Ed!!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 248 Posts, 4406 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Garber on April 13, 2006 at 7:01 PM

Awesome+what everyone else said!

Registered on November 17, 2003, 704 Posts, 3535 Comments

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on April 13, 2006 at 8:31 PM

Waaaaaaay cool!!

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Patrick Lor on April 13, 2006 at 8:48 PM

Really great shot Ed! Nice "double-action" here with the beak and wing

Registered on January 15, 2006, 91 Posts, 2052 Comments

Comment posted by Duane Rosenkranz on April 13, 2006 at 9:14 PM

Very cool. I love it.

Duane Rosenkranz

Registered on October 13, 2004, 280 Posts, 2661 Comments

Comment posted by Helge Sorensen on April 14, 2006 at 2:56 AM

Beautiful behaviour, Ed - I love it

Registered on November 1, 2003, 186 Posts, 1526 Comments

Comment posted by JIM Hendrickson on April 14, 2006 at 10:17 PM

Awsome shot ed

Registered on November 24, 2005, 117 Posts, 348 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Benner on April 17, 2006 at 10:22 AM

Wonderful and unique pose. Congratulations.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Brousseau on April 17, 2006 at 6:47 PM

Awsome Ed, I can just see Kwan looking over and looking at what your shooting away

been there its just not fair, congrats on the Editors Pick

Registered on August 12, 2005, 36 Posts, 100 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Helms on April 17, 2006 at 8:04 PM

Ed,

This is one very pretty bird image, in excellent light. I love the colors and the mouth open pose. Good timing and excellent sharpness. I try shooting bird images once in a while and one thing is for certain; it seems one never has enough focal length.

Thanks for sharing and and congrats on the EP

Registered on November 28, 2003, 37 Posts, 1005 Comments

Comment posted by Hazel Billingsley on April 18, 2006 at 9:18 AM

Wow - this is gorgeous! Love the wing action & colors! Just beautiful!

Registered on March 19, 2006, 25 Posts, 198 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Hornum Jens on April 18, 2006 at 11:36 AM

Beautiful shot! Nice to see behaviourpatern in the image!

Registered on March 22, 2006, 13 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on April 19, 2006 at 4:27 PM

Killer!!!!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on May 20, 2006 at 1:32 PM

Open bill, wing stretch, clean BG, excellent perch; I'm speechless!

Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by W. Tracy Parnell on June 1, 2006 at 10:16 PM