ML86894031

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Storm-riders. Fork-tailed Swifts observed as a huge storm engulfed this area. Hard to estimate the numbers as we were trying to stay safe, away from the lightning, wind, and rain. The flocks were foraging the front of the storm, and right throughout the storm, but generally followed the storm in a North-easterly direction. Even when the core of the storm had passed, there were still some Swifts hawking its tail. First noticed them at about 5:40pm and my first photo was at 5:42pm. My last photo was at 6:20pm, when there were just a few stragglers bringing up the rear. It would be an understatement if I estimated 1,500 birds: There could have been as many as 3,000, or even more. It was just too dangerous for us to be in that weather trying to get a more accurate estimate. The birds comprised a huge, north-easterly moving, swarming, feeding flock for much of the 40 minutes we observed them. Visibility was limited because of the rain.

Technical information

Model

DSC-RX10M4

Lens

8.8-220mm f/2.4-4.0

ISO

1600

Focal length

220 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/4.0

Shutter speed

1/125 sec

Dimensions

1503 pixels x 2005 pixels

Original file size

1.6 MB