We will have an early post this morning as Carol and I are off for a day at the Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens north of us in Bath.

Two days ago, there was a medium sized pine tree along the Kennebunk Bridle Path that was boldly decorated with barely fledged Barn Swallows. They were so young, and so fresh from the nest, that many of them looked not to have their eyes fully open, but they were out on the branches, making a great noise as they waited for mom to come with food.

I circled the tree a few times, on the side not backed by marsh, to find lines of sight through the leaves of the small oak growing under the pines.

They were comically cute as only fledgling swallows can be…and very intent on being first in line for whatever food mom brought.

Canon SX40HS. Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation.  Various combinations of zoom and digital tel-converter for equivalent fields of view from 840mm to 1680mm. f5.8. ISO ranged from 100 to 320.

Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.