Mike Bons
06-24-2014, 08:14 PM
This pair of tree swallows has a brood in the bird box that the bluebirds occupied last year. I've tried to get in flight shots of them a few times with out much success. Tracking a small bird like this as its flies quickly against the background of trees is extremely difficult to track, even with the most advanced AF systems. So instead I set up the camera in Manual exposure and manually focused on a spot where I anticipated them flying past as the returned with insects for the chicks to eat. I also used a flash in manual as well for fill as these were taken in mid afternoon.
Female Tree Swallow - As you can see, she seems to be missing all of her tail feathers on her left side.
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s10/v114/p805448755-5.jpg
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s7/v167/p535718840-5.jpg
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s7/v156/p58627403-5.jpg
Male Tree Swallow
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s6/v138/p507557506-5.jpg
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s7/v153/p267411306-5.jpg
Female Tree Swallow - As you can see, she seems to be missing all of her tail feathers on her left side.
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s10/v114/p805448755-5.jpg
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s7/v167/p535718840-5.jpg
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s7/v156/p58627403-5.jpg
Male Tree Swallow
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s6/v138/p507557506-5.jpg
http://www.mikebons.com/img/s7/v153/p267411306-5.jpg