Challenging Subject!

[Loupey]

The hardest in-flight bird shots I've done to date!

Came across several Tree Swallows actively feeding on insects out in the open this evening. I managed to work my way into the center (more or less) of the frenzy and I figured it was a good opportunity to practice my in-flight/manual focusing training.

It was too dark and they were too close to keep the 2x on. So I went straight 300mm. They would streak by so close sometimes that I could hear them squeak like a mouse just overhead. I found a few individuals which seemed to prefer flying low while most others hunted high above.

Have I mentioned why I like to shoot manual focus ? I don't think AF could even have locked on any of these. It was hard enough just to keep them in the viewfinder.