Swallows

I first time I saw swallows was when I was a child at my Parents farm as they nested in the sheds there. I remember being fascinated by them and watching them feeding at high speeds low down across the fields.

Swallows are quite trusting and they seem to be tolerant of people wandering round the farmyard, which is good if your trying to take some close up shots.

When the young swallows fledge is also a good time to get closer as the young ones will be left while the parents fly round collecting food for them.

The shot above was taken at the Farm. I spotted the youngsters lined up on the fruit cage frame got into position with the camera and then just waited for the parents to arrive with food. Another amazing thing to see is slightly later on the parents fly over the young and drop the flies above them, teaching the youngsters to feed in the air, this is on my list of shots to take.

This young swallow shot was taken while walking down to Lindersfarne in Northumberland and was in a garden perching on a washing line, every so often the swallow would just sit with its mouth wide open.