bird photography : barn swallow

Summertime at Huntley Meadows Park can be a bit boring in terms of birding; most of the neotropic migrants and waterfowl are farther north on their breeding grounds. However, this young Barn Swallow showed there's still good photography and birding to be had even in the heat of summer, as he perched along the boardwalk and begged for food from his parents (who, as swallows are wont to do, seemed constantly airborne over the wetlands).

Equipment: Canon EOS 30D Canon EF 300mm f4L IS with 1.4x Teleconverter Settings: f7.1; 1/320 sec.; focal length at 420 mm; ISO 200 Date: July 20, 2008 8:38 am Location: Huntley Meadows Park / Fairfax County, VA Photography Notes: Even at 1/320 sec shutter speed, this young swallow's wings are motion-blurred--something I think adds to the overall photo, personally, as it demonstrates just how hopping impatient this little guy was for his lunch!