Caught on the Wing

The weather here has been dull, cold & windy & my old Nikon camera (P80) is beginning to give up the ghost! It's been with me for many years now & has taken thousands of photos but it's on it's last legs!

This is a male swallow, they love flying over the top of the Scots pine when the thermals are right. For many years they came to nest with us & then for 5 years they simply vanished & never returned. But this year they were back! And had a brood, but only one. Every other day they come & visit & they bring their friends & relatives & rule the skies for an afternoon!