Swallows of Sand Bass Point

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Swallows of Sand Bass Point
Photo Information
Copyright: Ken Slade (Ken52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 661 W: 98 N: 1202] (4017)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT), Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, 58mm circular polarizer
Exposure: f/8, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Birds / Aves, 40 - 49 points (Chapter 10) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-27 18:25
Viewed: 512
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

This is another aerial acrobat that I enjoy watching. These photos were taken at Sand Bass Point at the local lake. I believe this one is probably a juvenile. For two more views (feeding and flight), see WORKSHOP

There are several species of swallows found in North America. The Barn Swallow is distinguished from other American swallows by its deeply forked tail and rust colored under parts.

The adult is only about 5 to 7 inches long, and weighs 17 to 19.8 grams, or 3/4 ounce.

The Swallow gets is name from catching the insects they eat in mid flight. They can make sharp turns at high speeds in order to catch insects in great numbers. The Barn Swallow is one of the fastest swallows. It has been clocked flying 46 mph. It's feet are designed for perching instead of walking and its front toes are joined at the base.

Both the adult female and male swallow are similar in color. They have metallic royal blue upperparts and breast, cream to buff colored under parts, reddish brown forehead, chin and throat. They also have white markings on the inside of their tails. Their bill and legs are black. The female swallows tail streamers are shorter than the male. The juvenile is a duller color that the adults and lack the color in its forehead, chin and throat and its tail is much shorter.

The barn swallow nests in colonies and hunt together. If the nest is approached by a predator or human, the entire colony will mob the intruder using aerial acrobatics. They hunt near the ground over open fields and near water. The favorite site to nest is of course in a barn, hence its name "Barn Swallow." They also nest in other out buildings. During mating season, the male attracts the female by spreading his wings and singing and they often mate in the air.

Swallows and martins probably spend more time on the wing than any other songbirds in the world. (Swifts probably fly even more than swallows, but swifts aren't technically songbirds.)

The oldest American Barn Swallow we know about lived to be 8 years 1 month, but one European Barn Swallow (the same species) lived to be 16 years old.

Range and Habitat: Breeds from Alaska east across Canada to Newfoundland and south throughout most of the U.S.; spends winters in the tropics and Eurasia. Preferred habitats include agricultural lands, suburban areas, marshes, and lakeshores.

Sources:
http://www.pestproducts.com
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/spring/SwallowFacts.html
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/191/_/Barn_Swallow.aspx

Aperture = f8.0
Shutter = 1/400s
ISO = 400
Focal Length = 270mm
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens
Pentaxfriend, deblink, angybone, cecilia, GLEM, JPlumb, jhm, Juyona, blakitan, jaycee, star74, mikou, Tamrock, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

great photo, the compsition and color excakly great!!!

Hi Ken,

Beautyful shot of this Barn Swallow
Excellent sharpness with great details and natural colours
good compo, POV and DOF

TFS Thijs

Hi Ken,
This is an excellent close up of this glorious little Swallow. If they move around in flight like the swallows we have here in Australia I know exactly what you mean. However they are great to watch when they dart around. Lovely image of extremely good quality. We can see all the birds detail very well.
Cheers,
Debbie

What an adorable little bird. This morning when I was running with the dog there were several barn swallows unhappy with our presence. They "swooped" us. :)

The composition is adorable. Such a sweetnes! The lighting, color and sharpness are perfect...but hey, you're pretty consistent in that department!

Stunning photo, love the colour and DOF which really makes the bird stand out...
Well done...
Cecilia

Hi dear Ken ,
great focus and it has very nice BG.
well done
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Saeed

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-05-28 1:29]

Hello Ken

A friend of yours is this? Wow super close up ,with excellent details.Wonderful eye contact.The bird seems to be smiling at you.You can see it quite comfortable.Very good DOF and POV.Nicely composed.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 535 W: 87 N: 667] (5480)
  • [2007-05-28 1:36]

hi Ken,
great image of bird, a nice portrait of young. Good details, blur BG, well manage colors.
good work
The fishing was good ?

gl

Hi Ken, nice shot of this Barn Swallow. This is probably the closest I've seen anybody shoot one of these guys. I liked your workshop too. I keep trying to get these guys in the air. Someday...

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 661 W: 0 N: 176] (620)
  • [2007-05-28 3:31]

Hello Ken,

The sharpness and clarity are superb, also the feather are very lovely, here disappear the barn swallow in Belgium.

Regards,
John.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2072 W: 6 N: 1848] (12716)
  • [2007-05-28 3:45]

Hola Ken,
original captura,
precioso retrato,
buenos detalles y excelente pov, y nitidez
saludos amigo.

Hi Ken,
Nice close up on this Barn Swallow. Lovely eye contact. Plumage detail and color contrast are excellent. Very well done.
JC

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2007-05-28 4:58]

Hi Ken,
Excellent portrait shot of this Barn Swallow.Perfect lighting and good focus. The natural colours look superb as is the impressive sharpness. I like your low POV, eye contact and the glint on its eyes. Lovely smooth BG. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Ken,
Very cute little birdie, well captured.
Great sharpness, nice DoF, very neat BG.
Excellent shot.

BL

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 591 W: 0 N: 1140] (5126)
  • [2007-05-28 11:19]

selam ken; excellent close up shot of this pretty swallow,good details presented ,nice BG and POV well captured with nice colours TFS
regards
ridvan

  • Great 
  • star74 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 294 W: 5 N: 619] (2466)
  • [2007-05-28 14:04]

Woow how did I miss this?
Couldn't be closer than this.
Great details,sharpness and POV.
TFS

Hi Ken, lovely bird in great pose, splendid details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2007-05-29 10:39]

Hi Ken,

Fantastic close-up of this barn swallow. Colors, details, pose, bg are all fantastic. I love the look on his face.

Jane

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 903 W: 79 N: 1362] (5261)
  • [2007-05-29 17:21]

Hi Ken.
Lovely young bird and great your capture with perfect sharp details.Beautiful colors on plumage and superb blurred BG.I like also your amazing pictures in Workshop.Well done!
TFS,with greeting Milos.

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 39 N: 654] (2053)
  • [2007-05-29 22:33]

Hello Ken
A very admirable portrait of the Barn Swallow.
Smart that he's created to get his prey at the quickest possible instinct, his looks you have captured reveal his attentive frame of mind alert and always looking around.
Good details, BG and lighting
Very well done.
TFS & Cheers

hi ken!
nice picture on the fine barnswallow!
sharp with good pov and dof
well done!

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2007-06-01 11:05]

Hi Ken.
I like to see this beauty directly in my room at my working table. Brilliant shot of its creativity, expressiveness and quality. Bravo, my friend. Great work, true masterpiece. My congratulations.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Adam73 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 5 N: 500] (2069)
  • [2007-06-01 18:36]

excellent portrait. Sharpness and details are perfect. Nice green perch and a very cool creamy background to accent the perch as well as the swollow. This image pops. Very nice capture.

bonjour ken
je vais tenter de vous donner aussi la traduction!
je trouve ce portrait super parce qu'il est tres reussi et aussi parce que c'est rare d'avoir la posibilité de voir une hirondelle de si pres.
bravo
laurent
hello ken
I will try to also give you the traductionbonjour ken I will try to also give you the translation! I find this portrait super because it very is successful and also because it is rare to have the posibility to see a swallow of so near. cheer Laurent

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