When adult swallows are feeding youngsters in flight their aerial maneuvers are usually precise and flawless. But occasionally someone screws up.
I’ve never posted these photos from my archives in the past because they have obvious flaws (clipped and cut off body parts). But recently I’ve become a little more flexible about those kinds of imperfections when the photos show interesting behaviors or have other strengths.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
Four years ago I had a marvelous opportunity with adult Barn Swallows feeding a ravenous fledgling at Bear River MBR. Here I had a side view in good light as the adult stuffed an insect down the throat of the youngster so I was disappointed to have butchered a wing. But many other things went right with the photo so I still get a kick out of it.
I watched and photographed this behavior for quite a while and only saw them screw up their complicated maneuvers once and wouldn’t you know it, I almost missed keeping both birds in the frame when it happened.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
As the adult was leaving the youngster after a food delivery it dang near knocked the young bird off its perch with its wing. It almost looks like the wing is folded over the fledgling’s head in a protective manner but in reality it nearly slammed the poor youngster to the ground. I like that contradiction.
But this was all I had in the frame to record the moment. I’m glad I managed to get what I did but man I’d sure like a do-over.
On both shots.
Ron
Thank you for sharing! I have become so intrigued by these beautiful birds! This is the 3rd year for us with them sharing our front porch for their nests!
It would probably be difficult to get a fledgling to volunteer for a do over.
The gape on its mouth underneath the wing looks huge.
I am intensely grateful that you have relented and shared these STUNNING images. And loved Judy’s comment.
Thank you, EC.
“…other things went right with the photo…” is an understatement: catching this behavior at all plus catchlights in both birds’ eyes, exposure, background. Clipping wings is overrated as a negative when the photo offers so many other worthwhile aspects.
“Clipping wings is overrated as a negative when the photo offers so many other worthwhile aspects”
You’re probably right, Lyle. Thanks very much.
Great shots! Beats bird on a stick any-day.
I agree! Thanks, April.
These are both fantastic shots! To be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t even notice the wing clips if I didn’t know that was a personal bugaboo because the action is so exciting! Thank you for bringing these shots out of the archives for us. I wonder what other gems are in there… 😉
I’m sure there’s a fairly good number of them in there somewhere, Marty. The problem is, and it’s a big one,….. finding them!
I’m glad you chose to share these with your readers. I suspect I’m not alone in saying that I’ll never see these behaviors in person and viewing them, even not perfectly, brings great enjoyment.
Thank you, Linda.
Great capture! “There’s your breakfast now shut up! Whack!” I’ve been watching bank swallows and some from under the bridge on the power lines that cross the creek when things can get a bit “wobbly”! 😉 Also watching some trying to feed a chick mid-air which can REALLY get dicey! Love it when there are 100 plus on the lines and they just “drop off” in mass after bugs – can half make my dizzy but love it! 🙂 Still some Vertigo but slowly improving…..
Judy, your comment made me laugh out loud — especially the “Whack!” 😀
Glad your vertigo is improving. Mine comes and goes, so I’ve named it “my own personal E-ticket ride” from those old Disneyland days. I’ve also found that I get a little relief when I use a cane — that whole three points makes a plane thing seems to improve my stability and that helps with the tilt-a-whirl feeling. Not sure if it would help, but thought I’d throw it out there. Sorry I didn’t mention it sooner.
Thx Marty – have been using a walking stick at times which DOES help – of course, don’t like wobbly old lady aspect of that But we have rough ground! 😉 Think sinus is the biggest issue as it seems as that improves so does the rest. Kings X! Much more manageable than just “rocks in my ears”…. 🙂
Like Marty I enjoyed your opening couple of sentences, Judy. Sounds like she might have a good idea for stabilizing yourself better until your vertigo clears up completely. You sure as hell don’t want to fall…
No, falling is NOT something I want to do particularly because if I couldn’t get myself up I’d be in trouble since I KNOW Joe (almost 90) no longer can…..
So sorry about the vertigo, it is truly miserable. I had a sever bout of it that lasted 3 months. I had to crawl for about a month and even then I fell over. It was virus caused and I had to just ride it out with prescription meclizine. My doctor said he would rather have cancer than vertigo.
WOW! THAT would be awful! I’ll quit whining about the week I’ve had of it!
Love your comment. Having listened to the incessant demands for food from young birds ‘here it is, WHACK’ would be my grumpy reaction too. And as a fellow vertigo sufferer I echo Marty’s response. When it is bad I use forearm crutches and they have saved many face plants.
Some young birds drive ME nuts when close by… 😉 Seems there’s more of Vertigo out there than I ever imagined! No, a face plant would NOT be amusing. 🙁 Forearm crutches would give good support…… Thx!
The imperfections don’t mar the beauty of these marvelous in-flight feeding shots Ron. Maybe some day you will get a chance at a re-do. Like Kathy I really like the coloring of Barn Swallows, but my favorite is the Violet-green.
Thanks, Everett. I rarely if ever get a chance at Violet-green Swallows.
Very Nice! Swallow fledglings open their mouths so wide…wider than most it seems to me. At times it seems that half the parents head is in that mouth. Your second photo is really unique…a special capture for sure. The coloring of barns swallows is my favorite of all the swallow species. The russet combined with the iridescent navy/black feathers is beautiful and then the black eyes with the downturned corners of their mouths make them look angry all the time. 😍
That’s part of what I like so much about that second shot, Kathy – its uniqueness. I’ve never seen one like it so I sure wish I’d done a better job with it at the business end of my lens. Thanks.