Five welcome images this week but not much information as my internet is being an internot and I’m super tired after spending a worrying day at the hospital with the newest member of my beautiful family – all is well tonight, thank goodness, and once again I am in awe of our fabulous doctors and nurses.
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 800
I have a special fondness for warm rufous colours and rich greens, so I find the colours of this image pleasing, even the rebar.
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 800
I featured some swalllow-in-flight images a while ago but didn’t include this one. Even at 1/2000th of a second the shutter speed wasn’t fast enough to freeze the far wing as the swallow banked into a turn – I don’t think I was close enough for the wing blur to have been affected by the depth of field. Welcome Swallows are crazily agile as they hawk for flying insects.
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 800
I am constantly awed by the detail that can be captured in images. The wind was toying with this swallow’s feathers, they stand out beautifully against the blurred background.
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
1/640, f/6.3, ISO 400
The chest feathers of this tiny swallow, they measure about 15cm and weigh about 15g, remind me of craft activities with children when they would carefully fringe layers of crepe paper.
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
1/800, f/6.3, ISO 400
The image above is the reason for the title of this post as today a friend (hi Robyn!) shared a photograph of Boroondara Council’s interpretive signage that included this image. I must find out where the signs have been placed so I can check them out while birding one day.
You may have noticed there is a catch-light in the eye of all the birds featured, it’s something else that I strive for. In some of the shots you can see that it was quite close to sunrise, or sunset.
Happy birding
Kim
PS I’ve had some beaut feedback about the images displayed in Ferntree Gully (as mentioned last week), thank you!
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Wonderful images as always, Kim. I’m so glad to hear that your newest family member is now getting on well. I too am thankful for the expertise of our specialists in medicine as I spent thee weekend in hospital myself. All is well now. Have a very safe and happy holiday season with family and friends – and keep your camera with you. Neil Mansfield
It’s good to hear from you Neil. I’d been concerned and hoping that you were off on an adventure (not the hospital kind, though I am very pleased you were looked after so well).
Hi Kim,
Amazing pictures of Welcome Swallows. We didn’t choose always perch 😉
Sharpness is very great.
The last picture is perfect to compare the size of the feathers of the remiges and the rectrices and flight are wonderful ! Well done.
Thank you Nath, so true about the perches! I have some wire shots that I really like, especially when it’s nice and rusty 🙂
I think you do a fabulous job with these birds. The best.
Happy Xmas
Mary
Thank you Mary, and a very happy Christmas to you too
Hi Kim,
Certainly not easy to catch swallows at the best of times, you have done really well. Just for interest, I photographed a couple of Welcome Swallows the other day and both of them had very pronounced streamer feathers in the tail, I suspect that thee were males in breeding plumage, but still unsure? Any feedback?
Bruce
Hi Bruce, as far as I know there is no difference to the male Welcome Swallow’s tail length during breeding. The female’s tail is slightly shorter but I have not consciously been aware of this difference in the field. Maybe your swallows were in fresh plumage following a moult so you were seeing their tails without any wear and tear. Please let me know if you post your images online.
Ooh. And ahhhh.
I am so grateful for the feathered enchantment you share.
And very, very glad that your newest family member is fine.
That is much appreciated EC
Love the detail you have captured fantastic photos
Thank you Geoff 🙂
PS I am a bit addicted to detail, I love how photography lets us see what we usually miss
Beautiful photos. Thank you. I particularly love the swallow in flight.
Thank you Meredith. They are so graceful in flight, it’s a joy to watch them.
Aw I love Welcome Swallows and you have captured them so beautifully ❤️
Thank you Alyssa xo