Palm Warbler, Barn Swallow & House Finch

Got a few nice frames of a Palm Warbler in my yard this morning.

When I went for my morning walk by the lake, the Barn Swallows were all over the place and I wished I had my camera.
I went back and there were far fewer Barn Swallows and they were ranging farther. I wasn't fast enough to track them with their jerky flight paths, so I tried photographing them coming and going from the structure their nests are in. That was so dark, I had to lower my shutter speed so the shots didn't come out that crisp. Well, this young one crying "feed me" isn't too bad.

This adult was putting on the brakes, bringing food for the babies...

Then zooming right back out for more ...

Turns out the Barn Swallows weren't the only ones who liked this structure for nesting. There were a pair of House Finch using it as well.

Wow these are amazing photos. In my head this is the level I want to get to but I have a very loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way to go. This one is my favourite;

A nice set to look through Jim. I have some lawn to mow this afternoon but may be able to take some flower shots later. I am not nearly mobile enough to walk any significant distance at the moment. I like your birds. I have looked out the kitchen window a few times recently but I am not looking at the right time so there is not as much activity there as early in the morning. I am usually still asleep in the lazy boy at that time because it has been well after 2 a.m. when I finally get to sleep. The early bird gets the worms in this case for sure!

Andrew

Thanks Sandy. That was a lucky catch. The warbler was doing a lot of flitting around and I had trouble getting the camera pointed at it and focused before it was gone. I don't know what gear you are using, but the OM-1 helps immensely. Without it I'd be unlikely to get much of anything in flight. People who are doing that with older gear are much more talented than I. Even so, I'm throwing away 100's of frames for each one I post. Birds are tricky. I guess the challenge has ignited me.

PS: Are the pix you've posted self portraits? If so, you seem to me a rarity on these forums, as I think few young people frequent them. Also, your studio shots seem very well done. I've not done any studio photography, but the couple you posted seem well lit and posed. Congratulations.

Everyone likes a challenge. One day, a long way from now I hope to be able to take photos like that. At the moment I'm using a camera that my neighbour gave me. I'm very new to all this so forgive me if I say anything dull. I have a Canon EOS 1100D with a couple of different lenses.

Thanks Andrew - glad you enjoy them.
Sorry about your pain and trouble sleeping.
Hope you are able to recover and sleep soon.

Interesting set of birds, Jim .. swallows can be difficult and aggressive .. I use to regularly walk over a bridge that was over a small creek where the swallows had nests underneath ..... On occasion they would dive at me as I crossed the bridge and I had one that attacked as I walked some ways away from the bridge along that road ...

WhyNot

Thanks WN. I'll try to avoid being attacked - I think the birds in Hitchcock's movie of that name were bigger than swallows though.

You are catching them in great positions, Jim. I am enjoying your work. Rich

Very nice set Jimmy love the swallows 👍

Thanks guys.