{"id":85776,"date":"2020-05-31T06:01:59","date_gmt":"2020-05-31T12:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=85776"},"modified":"2020-05-31T08:13:31","modified_gmt":"2020-05-31T14:13:31","slug":"cliff-swallow-taking-off-with-a-mud-load-for-the-nest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/31\/cliff-swallow-taking-off-with-a-mud-load-for-the-nest\/","title":{"rendered":"Cliff Swallow Taking Off With A Mud Load For The Nest"},"content":{"rendered":"

A common species that I find difficult to get an uncommonly good photo of.<\/p>\n

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1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n

Two days ago Cliff Swallows were busy gathering mud for nest building from a stream edge in the Wasatch Mountains. They’re a scrappy bunch – vicious fights often broke out during the mud-gathering process for reasons that seem unclear to me but I won’t be posting any fighting photos today.<\/p>\n

This bird had been stuffing its bill with mud until it seemed like it could hold no more and my intention was to get a quality takeoff or flight shot when it lifted off. I’d already tried and failed many times but I’m nothing if I’m not stubborn so I wasn’t about to give up. I’m glad I didn’t.<\/p>\n

The only reason I’m including this photo is to provide context for the following one. I’ve cropped it vertically to exclude another swallow just out of frame to the right.<\/p>\n

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1\/4000, f\/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n

After stuffing one more bit of mud into its already overstuffed bill the swallow took off and this resulting photo is one I like very much.<\/p>\n

Most of the bird is sharp, the light is good, the takeoff posture appeals to me and I have eye contact including a catch light. The shadow of his head and mud load on his right wing is an excellent background for the mud in his bill – if the background had been mud on the ground or<\/em> his well-lit wing the mud in his bill wouldn’t have shown up nearly as well.<\/p>\n

And then there’s a little thing that for some reason I like a lot – we can see the reflection of four of his right wing primaries in the water below and in front of the left wing.<\/p>\n

Sometimes the little things make a big positive difference and for me that reflection is an example. But don’t ask me to explain why…<\/p>\n

Ron<\/p>\n

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Notes:<\/em><\/p>\n