Low light Tree Swallow, Modoc Creek, Targhee National Forest, Clark County, IdahoLow light Tree Swallow – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/400, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I haven’t really spent any time photographing Tree Swallows this spring, they arrived some time ago but because Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge had been closed due to flooding I wasn’t able get to where I normally see them in abundance right after they first arrived.

Last year I was able to spend time photographing this male Tree Swallow in low light in the Targhee National Forest of Idaho and even though the light wasn’t the best I still liked the resulting images. It had been a drizzly morning with thick clouds overhead but as the light got a tiny better I was able to get enough shutter speed to capture sharp images of the swallows as they perched near several nesting cavities in an aspen tree.

I liked the simplicity of the background in this photo and the nice detail in the swallow’s plumage and the texture of the branch it was perched on. I also enjoyed listening to the Tree Swallows that came into the nesting cavity tree.

Listen to the calls of a Tree Swallow here.

I hope to have more opportunities with swallows while they are here for their breeding season this year.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Tree Swallow photos plus facts and information about this species.