We have several purple martins that populate a house in our back yard. Every evening they swoop along the water in the pond, scooping water (and insects?) in their beak without stopping. I can't understand how they can almost come to a complete stop, then fly off at normal speed. Seems like it would tear their jaw out of place.
Well, here are my feeble attempts to capture the show. These guys are FAST!!!

They ARE really fast - I can't believe you got any of them! That first one is really excellent and the "action" shots are great! djnana · 2010-06-28: 20:37

Nicely done! SunFlower1990 · 2010-06-28: 22:02

Fantastic set, love # 1....just amazing capture :) ????? · 2010-06-28: 22:09

Very nice set, Larry! Your attempt to capture them was well done!! SunflowerGirl · 2010-06-28: 22:34

Good Job Larry those guys are hard to capture mystic1 · 2010-06-28: 22:55

Wonderful shots!! Never knew they actually touched the water!! way kool! SheriJ · 2010-06-28: 23:50

Cool set. It must be hard to capture. I don't know this swallow from here. I like image #1 Ole365 · 2010-06-29: 03:32

Very good set! good job, they are very fast. Nice captures!! dico1 · 2010-06-29: 04:40

Love it, I have the same scene but over fields you were very succesfull I've still to learn to catch these actions . The first shot is super. MoMac · 2010-06-29: 05:07

The bird house is so great!! Ryana · 2010-06-29: 05:29

So cool to watch birds over the water! Don't remember seeing purple martins, but looks really interesting. lookagain · 2010-06-29: 08:30

oh man, I thought that was on Thursday; I missed the class! neat set, very well caught urmysunshine · 2010-06-29: 09:40

They do the same thing here...in my swimming pool! great set! jennye · 2010-06-29: 14:05

They are skimming mosquitos! Wonderful birds and shots :-) NellyBly · 2010-06-29: 22:41

We could use them here! ????? · 2010-06-30: 00:53

Great set! wildduck · 2010-06-30: 11:00