Male Tree Swallow at nest entrance – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/160, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Tree Swallows and other birds should be nesting in the Uinta Mountains by now and I am itching to hop into my Jeep to drive up there to find them. Now that the weather is getting warmer (Friday is projected to be in the upper 90’s) the Wasatch and Uinta Mountain ranges will not only allow me a respite from the heat they will also provide me with opportunities to photograph nesting birds. From home it takes me a little less than an hour to get to the entrance of the Uinta National Forest but once I am there I want to slow down, take in all the sights, and find birds.
I photographed these nesting Tree Swallows at the end of June in 2016. My primary feathered subjects that morning were a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers that were busy feeding their chicks in their nesting cavity in another nearby tree but I couldn’t resist photographing the swallows. I was there and they were right in front of me. When it comes to birds I am not about to pass up any opportunity to photograph them.
I had my 1.4x teleconverter on when I took this photo from a mobile blind (vehicle) parked on the far side of the road and this is a full frame image. When the swallows were outside of the nesting cavity they were too close to photograph with the teleconverter on. The Red-naped Sapsucker nest was further away though and I needed the added reach that the teleconverter provides to photograph them so that morning I switched from having my teleconverter on to off many times. I’m sure I missed some photos because of switching back and forth. That is okay though, I am happy with the photos I took.
Female Tree Swallow at nest entrance – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/320, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
This photo of the female Tree Swallow was taken with my teleconverter removed but I was at the same distance away from the nesting cavity as I was when I took the photo of the male.
Note: I was photographing in Full Frame (FX) mode using my D810 with my 500mm lens attached so the 35mm equivalent with the teleconverter off is 500mm, with it on the 35mm equivalent is 700mm. The teleconverter makes a huge difference in reach at such close distances.
The Tree Swallows weren’t feeding chicks and they may have been getting ready for their second brood of the breeding season. I really can’t be sure. The sapsuckers were flying in and out with prey for their chicks and I kept much of my focus on them hoping I’d see at least one of their chicks stick their heads out of the nest. That didn’t happen but I had great fun photographing the swallows and sapsuckers that morning.
The desire to head up into the high Uintas is strong in me this morning but I’ll wait to go until after the holiday camping crowd heads home.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Tree Swallow photos plus facts and information about this species.
The technical aspects of how you captured these images is just as fascinating as the shots themselves. The detail is extraordinary. Thanks Mia.
Very happy to see nesting birds. Hoping for the best for all involved.
Just beautiful.
I do hope that you can get back there soon. After the holiday madness (which I suspect will be worse this year) is done and dusted.
Nice light on the birds in the nest cavity! I hope you are successful at finding more.
I love these photos, Mia! What a great way to start my day! Here in SW CT it is about 60 degrees & cloudy. Amazing to hear it’s so hot where you are.
Cute