I received a late afternoon call from Allen Larner alerting me of the
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW at Old Trail Golf Course, Albemarle Co., first reported
a few hours earlier by Pete Myers. Congratulations, Pete!
After hauling, digging and planting shrubs and trees for most of the day, I
was looking forward to collapsing for rest of the evening and informed Allen
I was just too pooped and wouldn't be able to make it. After unloading bags
of soil and more plants from the vehicle I somehow managed to catch a 4th or
5th wind so I called Allen back; he was on location and the swallow had just
been relocated. I dashed inside, washed off some dirt, grabbed camera and
binocs and I was on my way. I arrived at approximately 5:45 p.m. It was
overcast with temps around 45 degrees. It was just downright cold and damp.
When Allen Larner has his jacket on you KNOW it's cold!!
Some of the folks present and who arrived shortly thereafter included Allen
Larner, Ed and Nancy Lawler, Tim Hodge, Mark Adams, David Shoch, Tom Jones,
Fenton Day, Mike Iwanik, and I believe Arun Bose. Oh, and Janice Frye came
flying in around 6:45 p.m. Now I know Jan had to have had the pedal to the
metal coming down I-64 from Richmond!
I managed to get a few images. Not the best, given very low light
conditions, overcast and trying to hold a 500mm lens steady after tilling
the soil all day. I bumped up the ISO setting that allowed for a faster
shutter speed. Unfortunately, it produces quite a bit of noise but images
are sufficient in identifying this uncommon visitor to the eastern part of
the US and a first record for Virginia.
Web link to images:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/GalleryPages/Violet-GreenSwallow_Gallery.html
Brenda
Brenda Tekin, Stuarts Draft, VA --
Blue Mountains Nature Photography, including Birds of Virginia -
www.birdsofvirginia.com <http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/>
<BLOCKED::mailto:bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx> brenda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx / (434)
962-4936
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
