Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Swallows are small birds with dark glossy blue backs, red throats, pale under parts and long distinctive tail streamers. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time on the wing. They are widespread breeding birds in the Northern Hemisphere, migrating south in winter. 

I took these images together with hundreds of others in Muggleswick, Co. Durham. 

The top image was taken as groups of adult birds flew around catching insects in the evening light. This was a hand held image as I had to follow the birds as the flew and twisted catching the insects.

Canon 30D Canon 100-400mm lens.

The bottom image was taken very near the top but about three years earlier, a large group of swallows were flying around catching insects on the wing, the immature birds would periodically land on the telephone wires or pole and expect to be fed. I used my car as a hide and simply used a bean bag to support the camera and lens on the open window. A fast shutter speed, 1/1000th was still required to stop the wings and retain a modicum of sharpness in the birds feathers.