I was in my car when I noticed a small flock of Pacific Swallow at a water puddle. I though they were drinking water from that rain water. After lunch I brought my camera and shot a few frames from a car hand held without beanbag , only then than I knew that they were gathering a nesting material. They specifically choose the mud pellets from the root of grass, and include part of the root before flying off.
I was in a hurry for work without realizing that my camera setting was in TV mode (speed priority) and at f32 ISO 1600. Lucky that the speed was at 1/500. I always shot a bird in AV mode (aperture priority) and set it a the widest f5.6.
After reviewing the pictures, that mistake was not bad at all. With the small aperture (f32), the fore and background are in focus , giving more emphasis about the water puddle and grass - environmental shots.
Location: Parking lot, Raub, Pahang. Nest at TopRank resort, Raub.
