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Swallows

Swallow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Swallows and streamers

Scientists have placed Swallows into wind tunnels and studied the aerodynamics of their flight. Their long tail streamers appear to help their …

Swallow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Swallow shuteye

When the sun shines in Orkney, it’s best to make good use of it. This Swallow agreed.

Swallow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Sharp Swallow

I’m having fun in the sun practising my bird in flight photography. Perhaps the most difficult bird to photograph is the Barn …

Swallow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Feather bed

The encyclopaedia says there are four seasons in temperate latitudes. Billy Connolly, however, said, “There are two seasons in Scotland; June and winter”. …

Swallow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

A life of contrasts

In late summer I checked the outbuildings at Einar for Swallows. Many of the nests were empty. This one wasn’t. It must …

Rainbow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Swallow over the rainbow

I’ve seen some spectacular rainbows on Westray. Some have been fleeting. Some have been intense. Some have been full arcs which split …

Kestrel - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Seaton Wetlands

Sunshine; warmth; the feel of spring in the air. It’s a while since I’ve felt that; and that’s also true for wildlife. …

The Second Ladybird Book of British Birds - The Swallow

The Second Ladybird Book of British Birds #2 – The Swallow

Since this Ladybird book was published we’ve been to the moon, we’ve entered the computer age, there’s been huge urbanisation, the human population has more than doubled and we’ve caused mass destruction of habitat and extinction of species. What’s happened to Swallows in that time?

Swallows - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Swallows in the air

We are wandering around Matera, a city in the south of Italy watching the Swallows. The city is vast and seemingly empty, …

Swallow

Waiting impatiently

This morning the young Swallows are huddling on the toilet window ledge. This time I try photographing them with a Nikon D300 …

Young Swallow clinging on

Clinging on

Families of young swallows are fledging and cling to the window ledges of Einar in the strong winds.

Young Swallow

Twittering and chattering

It’s early in the morning and I can hear the sudden twittering and chattering of birds. It’s so loud it must be …

Summer Visitors

Summer Visitors

It’s wonderful to see that the Swallows who visit Orkney in the Summer to breed have done so well. There are at …