OK, BiF's difficult

[SmartWombat]

Maybe I should have tried on a different subject
This makes 230mph race cars seem easy !
Found a third near-miss.

[AgingEyes]

Maybe I should have tried on a different subject
This makes 230mph race cars seem easy !

I have never shot a 230mph race cars, but I do agree with you on BIF. And you happened to have picked one of the difficult birds to practise your BIF

The first one looks pretty good to me !

[paulnj]

Cars follow a know track while swallows don't. You did quite well actually because swallows aren't easy at all.

[Loupey]

Maybe I should have tried on a different subject
This makes 230mph race cars seem easy !
Found a third near-miss.

Perhaps you can finally understand why I almost always recommend to people asking "which camera should I buy" in these other forums who indicate an interest in nature/wildlife to start with a fast, APS-C body. And not just for BIFs - but having a shutter with minimal lag, and the ability to get that quick 2nd or 3rd shot of an unpredictable and incredibly fast subject can be indispensible.

A skill for timing is great for that first shot. But a 6+ fps is great for when the subject hears that first shot and does something great for that 2nd shot.

[gotrocks]

Thanks to all of you great photographers for the pleasure I get from just looking at you shots and trying to understand some of the tech jargon.
Hope you don't mind if I put a "less than acceptable" shot here.
Just because BIF is the subject.
In 1955 at Ft. Knox Ky we were treated to a show by what I remember as the "Thunderbirds". It was a special treat to see a jet back then.

Well for the grand finale the announcer said they would all four climb straight up for ?000 feet then each one would break in a different direction. (All four disappeared from site) Then announcer said all four would pass over the same exact spot on the field at exactly the same time with 100 feet difference in elevation.

Well, this is from an old 35mm slide taken with Kodak Pony.
I'd never heard about 1/3 rds rule.
The second has all four Thunderbirds In Flight.
Don't remember stated speed, but it was more than 230