ML58436741
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
On the west side of the Tule Elk enclosure about 200 yds. north of the viewing platform we stopped to look thru the swallows over Salt Slough & birds along the banks. That's when we noticed 2 swifts working their way north towards us from the slough to the south slightly higher than the swallows. The first thing I noticed is that their flight style was like WT Swift, tho' they did not turn as sharply as I would expect from WT. But, WT Swift was the only species I was thinking would be here. I also became aware that each "circle" was an elongated oval (like the shape of a motor speedway.) On the "straight aways" their flight was pretty direct, turning a little to follow the contour of the slough which was fairly straight at that point. As the birds began to come closer I had trouble seeing any white on the birds. I thought it was because of the waning light. I got my wife & grandson on the birds. The birds continued their long circles, working their way closer & lower. As we got better views we could see absolutely no white anywhere on the birds. They were slightly larger than the swallows, having long narrow wings slightly swept back. We made sure to get long views of the birds when they were south of us, putting the setting sun behind us for maximum lighting. The last pass of one of the swifts was nearly directly overhead less than 30 feet overhead. My grandson & I clearly saw an all black swift. After that pass the 2 moved off to the north along the slough & edge of the enclosure. The pics are very blurry due to low light, my long lens & a moving target. I will post them later because I think they are just good enough to verify ID.
Technical information
- Model
- Canon EOS 60D
- Lens
- EF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
- ISO
- 640
- Focal length
- 420 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/5.6
- Shutter speed
- 1/250 sec
- Dimensions
- 1200 pixels x 856 pixels
- Original file size
- 572.37 KB