Cliff Swallows Inflight

Not the best quality, but this is the first time I've seen them at all. There were dozens flitting around so I should get some better quality shots tomorrow.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Tough ones to get. I'm working on getting some myself

Thanks Allen. Can you tell me any more about these guys? I was standing on a bridge, handholding the Bigma set at less than 500mm, something in the mid 300mm range. They were flocking over water by the dozens. and it was very windy. Windy enough I had to lean against the guard rail or get blown over.

But, the reason I was at this bridge is it has hundreds of mud nests built under the walk part. So my question is, is this the bird that made them, or do these guys indeed live in the cliffs not a half mile away, all part of the Mississippi River valley erosion through the limestone bedrock?

Man you guy and swallows in-flight Im amazed they are fast.

canonloader wrote in post #3091230
Thanks Allen. Can you tell me any more about these guys? I was standing on a bridge, handholding the Bigma set at less than 500mm, something in the mid 300mm range. They were flocking over water by the dozens. and it was very windy. Windy enough I had to lean against the guard rail or get blown over.

But, the reason I was at this bridge is it has hundreds of mud nests built under the walk part. So my question is, is this the bird that made them, or do these guys indeed live in the cliffs not a half mile away, all part of the Mississippi River valley erosion through the limestone bedrock?

I'm no Cave Swallow expert but I consulted one of my books and they frequently make a "enclosed gourd like mud nest under bridges, on buildings and in culverts" They once nested in caves or overhanging cliffs.

Thanks Gary. Tomorrow I will have my head on straight. I pulled a newbie and left ISO at 320 where it had no business being in this light, and I didn't use flash, even though they were down sun, and I was hand holding, which may or may not be best, but with my grip ballhead, I should be able to do almost as good.

I just wish I had more memory. 4gb goes fast.

Thanks Allen. These nests definately look like gourds, however, there wasn't a single bird anywhere near them, except flying over and around the bridge. I'll just have to keep checking. And maybe buy a Better Beamer. LOLOL

I have such a hard time focusing on any birds that are in flight ...and these are small ...great job

Thanks Greg, they are like little torpedo's, even look kind of like them.

well at leased you got them not easy to get.
Rob.

Yeah, and that's about all that can be said for them.

Man, I couldn't get over the wind. It was really blowing right down the valley. But I was really there to see if anything was using the mud nests yet. When they move in, there's going to be some nice shots coming.

But, the day wasn't a total loss. I found a Tree Swallow tree.

Tremendous efforts getting these guys in flight here!

I wonder where I put my 400?

Amazing you got these! Do they look over sharpened to anyone else...or is it just me and my monitor from HECK.....LOL

Just luck I got them. They aren't oversharpened. What you see is a big crop, so noise and I used Neatimage on it, then the history brush over the bird. That's why they are speckled.

Oh...what is a "history brush"?