Barn swallow, a photo from Uppland, Svealand

Photographer's Note

This is a Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica). The photo is taken in the area in along the Fyris river south of Uppsala. The Barn Swallow is largest and most common of the swollow family in Sweden. Its habitat is usually open country close to human habitation and cattle breeding. The Barn Swallow feeds on insects caught in flight. It nests under the roof of barns, inside sheds, under bridges and similar man-made structures. The area along Fyris River consists largely of agricultural land there are plenty of farm buildings in the area. During the summer months there are a great number of barn swallows in this area. It is found throughout Sweden except for in the far north of the country.The Swedish barn swallows winter in central and southern Africa, and they return to Sweden usually in May and is leaving Sweden in September-October.

The upper part of a barn swallow is shiny blue-black while the underpart is white or whitish. Adults' throat and forehead are dark red-brownish while juveniles more light brownish throats and foreheads . Adults have outer tail feathers are long while juvenile birds have shorter outer tail feathers. This is a juvenile bird.

Didi, maloutim, Apurba20, saxo042, ikeharel, danos, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful

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williewhistler (16606) 2014-02-04 14:27

Hello Ulf,
good use of the long lens has resulted in a nice clear shot of the swallow in an attractive pose,the details in the plumage are excellent and the eye sharp and clear.
A fine Natural history photograph.
Regards Les.

Didi (61589) 2014-02-04 16:07

Hi Ulf
Very good catch with your 500 mm lens
You were not so far from the bird you were very lucky :)
Well done
Best regards

saxo042 (38078) 2014-02-05 7:25

Hej Ulf,

Dina f嶓elbilder h酺 h嶚ler en synnerligen h鐷 klass, detta ytterligare en fantastisk bild. Ladusvalan 酺 faktiskt min favoritf嶓el, och s� varit sedan jag var barn. Vi hade alltid h踄kande ladusvalor p� en vind till ett uthus. Det 酺 l酹t att uppskatta denna f嶓el med sina fina f酺ger, eleganta flykt och mycket trivsamma kvittrande. Den h酺 bilden visar alla detaljer med en otrolig sk酺pa.

Nu v鄚tar jag med sp鄚ning p� n酲ta f嶓elbild, det skulle vara roligt att se en bild p� kornknarr. Den har jag bara h顤t i verkligheten men aldrig sett. Eller en vitryggig hackspett?

H鄟sningar
Gunnar

ikeharel (114569) 2014-02-05 9:52

A tiny bird that shown from a verygood focal point, Ulf.
The fully extract zoom upon, show well details of the beautiful bird, it doe's look different from our Swallows in Israel.
Pleasent to look at, cheers.
Good evening,
Ike

holmertz (103596) 2014-02-06 12:36

Hej Ulf,
Jag h嶚ler med Gunnar om att detta 酺 en v鄟digt fin bild och att du 酺 en utomordentlig f嶓elfotograf (och d輍gdjurs-dito). Jag f顤est鄟ler mig att det kan vara sv緳t att f幩ga en ladusvala p� en plats som den h酺. Jag har mest sett dem flyga in och ut genom ett 鞿pet f霵ster p� v緳t uthus (som Gunnar ocks� n鄝nde) men nog aldrig sett n嶓on sitta p� en pinne. Fantastiskt att du kunde komma s� n酺a och f� s� perfekt sk酺pa och perfekta f酺ger.
H鄟sningar,
Gert

fabbs99 (17179) 2014-02-06 23:09

Hello Ulf,

This is a marvelous image of the barn swallow.Perfect composition and sharpness.Keep sharing. TFS

Cheers
Farhat

mesutilgim (0) 2014-02-09 4:22

Hello Ulf,
Very nice closeup of this beautiful swallow as if she had posed for you !
Many interesting notes makes your entry a perfect TE job.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

danos (110407) 2014-02-09 7:56

Hi Ulf,
nice the close up of the bird,with the quality of the image to brings out the details of it.Excellent the informative note.

Regards,Danos

COSTANTINO (117756) 2014-03-22 12:07

Hello dear friend
but hello dear Barn Swallow
shot sweet and delicate
I love the way this bird
looks at the photographer
the details are almost
perfect an d particulary its
plumage and its eyes
regards
have a nice Sunday
Costantino