Swallow by Edmund Fellowes

Photographing hirundines in flight is a notoriously difficult challenge with which many bird photographers will be familiar. In fact, trying to capture shots of these fast-moving birds will often see hundreds of images taken with not a single 'keeper' among them! That's why photos of the quality of this Swallow by Edmund Fellowes never fail to wow us when they are posted in the BirdGuides gallery.

In fact, it's hard to image this image being any more perfect: Edmund has caught the Swallow in a stunning, front-on pose, with the wings perfectly poised and the bird fixated on a white feather caught at the top of a grass stem. As with other hirundines, Swallows line their nests with feathers and it is presumably with this construction in mind that this individual is showing such an interest. With neutral light, a clean background and pleasing colours throughout, this is an absolutely stunning capture. Congratulations to Edmund!

Other notable images

Common Kestrel, Dover, Kent (tony flashman).

Bluethroat, Texel, North Holland (Gordon Mills).

Northern Fulmar, Bempton Cliffs RSPB, East Yorkshire (Tony Davison).

Northern Gannet, Bempton Cliffs RSPB, East Yorkshire (Denley Cane).

Barnacle Goose, Walthamstow Wetlands LWT, London (Sam O'Donnell).

Red Kite, Gigrin Farm, Radnorshire (Ian Bollen).

Swallow, Exeter, Devon (Charlie Fleming).

Great Blue Heron, Spring Mill State Park , United States (Steve Bell).

European Herring Gull, Fareham, Hampshire (Joe Honeysett).

Common Redstart, Malham Cove, North Yorkshire (Gordon Speirs).

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Carron Valley Reservoir, Forth (Mark Darling).

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chandler's Ford, Hampshire (Richard Jacobs).