Nesting season is over and the swallows and martins have been joined by numerous young. The local pond is a prime hunting ground for them as they seek out insects over the water.
Swallow
House martins
In between hunting they perch in typical fashion along the telephone wires that run between the farm and village buildings. Mainly there are swallows (young fledglings), but every now and then a martin infiltrates.
Whether this is mistaken identity or feathered aggression I'm not sure… but follow the sequence 😉
The maritn eventually gave up the struggle and flew off.
Meanwhile, down at ground level, there were more hungry birds. This early morning blackbird was proudly displaying a mouthful of worms.
And in the undergrowth by a wall, a young robin was patiently waiting to be fed.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
Dudley
27 Jul 2011Great set of photos. The martin upside down made me chuckle 🙂
RobinL
27 Jul 2011Words, great sequence! Made me chuckle too!
gdare
27 Jul 2011The yelling one must be female :whistle: Like with fulmars 😆
Words
27 Jul 2011Robin, thanks!
Words
27 Jul 2011Darko!!!! I now think they may have both thought they were going to be fed by the other one.
Words
27 Jul 2011Andy, thanks! I've no idea what the martin was doing, but the young swallow wasn't having any of it!
gdare
28 Jul 2011😆
SittingFox
31 Jul 2011What a cheeky martin! Perhaps it thought that it should be a cuckoo fledgling :whistle:
Words
1 Aug 2011Adele, it was trying its luck, but the swallow was just that bit bigger.