All Albums

All Albums » Swallows & Martins

Mirror, Mirror (Northern Rough Wing Swallow)
In this image, a northern rough wing swallow prepares to pluck a mayfly off the top of the water.

Full Back Shot (Violet-Green Swallow)
The image that I wanted a few weeks back when the swallows were first showing up. Taken down at Oliver Woods Marsh here in Nanaimo. Sorry, no bug this time. Please left click for extra detail.

Food on The Wing (Purple Martin)
A male purple martin snatches a bug out of the air during high speed flight at Morning Star Ponds in Parksville.

Cliff Swallow in Flight
A first for me although I have seen them around every now and then in the spring time. Quite unique markings and out of the ordinary for sure.

Cliff Swallow Banking
Sorry about this one. It was a bit of a crop and like the last one was taken during a downpour of rain with splashes coming up from the water below. Swallows like this kind of weather strangely enough as it drives the flying insects down closer to the water where they are easier to catch.

Back View (Purple Martin)
I am on the fence about this image. Could be a female martin or possibly a first year juvenile male bird. Thought the mix of colours was nice though so I posted it anyway.

Purple Martin in Flight
Lots of purple martins hawking bugs at Morningstar Ponds in Parksville today.

Banking Shot #2 (Violet-Green Swallow)
Here is another nice banking shot from the other day at Buttertubs Marsh here in Nanaimo. I spent over half an hour hand-holding with no strap to get this one. A good arm workout with the 400 F/2.8.

Tree Swallow in Flight
Lots of tree and violet-green swallows down at Buttertubs Marsh here in Nanaimo.

Violet-Green Swallow Banking
Spent some time playing with the swallows yesterday at Buttertubs Marsh.

Violet-Green Swallow
A violet-green swallow skims the water hunting bugs at a swamp near Enos Lake.

More Fun With Swallows (Violet Green Swallow)
Lots of these guys feeding on the river down at water level at the Nanaimo River Estuary yesterday.

BIF Practice (Violet-Green Swallow)
Still a bit rusty on my "BIF" bird in flight shooting. You need to be a whole lot faster in the spring time!

Swallow Back Shot (Violet-Green Swallow)
Similar to last year but this is a male bird. Buttertubs Marsh.

Going Up Around The Bend (Violet-Green Swallow)
Not too sure if this bend in the wings is natural or the jello effect of "Rolling Shutter". Looks pretty cool at any rate.

Fast Food (Violet-Green Swallow)
A hungrey fast flying swallow gobbles down a bug in flight today at Buttertubs Marsh.

Violet Green Swallow
It won't be long before we start running into these guys at the swamp once again. Can't wait!

Missed This One (Violet Green Swallow)
Here is one from the spring time that never got posted. One of the images that convinced me to get the Sony 400mm F/2.8.

Banking To The Right (Barn Swallow)
Spent a bit of time playing with the barn swallows today at Buttertubs Marsh.

Early Morning at Swan Lake (Barn Swallow)
Dodging shadows before the harsh light hit.

Shadow Included (Barn Swallow)
As there was no chance to get a reflection I thought I would include the bird's shadow in this image.

Over The Algae (Barn Swallow)
Got this image of the barn swallow flying over the algae at Swan Lake on Friday.

Sunny Day Swallow (Barn Swallow)
The light got harsh pretty quick this morning after I arrived at Swan Lake in Victoria.

Nice Dorsal View (Violet-Green Swallow)
More swallow action yesterday at Oliver Woods Marsh.

Flying at The Camera (Violet-Green Swallow)
Meanwhile, down at the swamp. Wish I could get the kestrels to come in this close. Flickr folks please left click for more detail.

Not Always Successful (Violet-Green Swallow)
Sometimes they miss! You can see the bug he missed just under the tail.

On Target (Violet-Green Swallow)
Many of the insects were on the surface of the water which caused the swallows to skim the surface and scoop them up. Perhaps the larvae crawl out of the water and end up on the surface before they take flight like a dragonfly? Not sure.

Skimming The Surface (Violet-Green Swallow)
52006611010_ec7ad989d4_k

Vertical Bank (Violet-Green Swallow)
Reminds me of one of those Ninja throwing stars.

Foothills Marsh (Violet-Green Swallow)
Having a lot of fun with Violet-Green Swallows lately. Took this one today at Foothills Marsh just a bit north of Nanaimo.

Swan Lake Swallow #3 (Violet-Green Swallow)
Oops! Sorry, missed this one! Hope you like it. Please left click on Flickr for more detail.

Swan Lake Swallow #2 (Violet-Green Swallow)
Found another one from today. Folks on Flickr left click for best detail.

Swan Lake Swallow (Violet-Green Swallow)
Here is one of the closer shots from today at Swan Lake in Victoria. Folks on Flickr click twice for best detail.

A Bit Farther Away (Violet-Green Swallow - Male)
Here is one of the male at a bit farther distance.

Kid In a Candy Store (Violet-Green Swallow - Female)
Pius was nice enough to lend me his 400mm F/2.8 GM lens for a test drive today. Amazing optics and tons of light even on a dull day!

Not Hard To Swallow (Violet-Green Swallow)
Another violet-green swallow scoops a bug at Buttertubs Marsh.

Wings Down (Violet-Green Swallow)
Just in case you thought the last one was a fluke.

Bent Wings (Violet-Green Swallow)
Bent wings or rolling shutter? You be the judge.

Flight Practice (Violet-Green Swallow)
Went to Buttertubs Marsh to practice flight shots in the rain today. Could have used some extra light.

Morning Feeding Time (Barn Swallow)
Beat myself up a bit over this one. I decided to post it anyway. Not quite there yet with my tracking and technique on the new Sony but starting to try faster more elusive subjects. This barn swallow was feeding over top of the algae covered areas of Swan Lake in Victoria yesterday morning.

Enjoying The Sun (Tree Swallow)
Always nice to see these guys showing up in the spring. It is easy to see why I get confused at a distance and sometimes think that they are bluebirds. It's all how the light hits them.