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In Poland it was found several times (until May 2022). So, it is difficult to take pictures of this swift in our country. I took these presented photos in Dubrovnik at the end of May 2022. Here Alpine Swifts are common. You can photograph them surrounded by the beautiful sights of Dubrovnik. One can does not mean that it is easy. Limited by the carry-on luggage of a budget airline, I decided to take only a 400/5.6 lens with me, as it was not a birding trip this time. Unfortunately it was probably not the best choice and it was difficult to take good pictures. The most bird activity was of course in the morning and sunset. It was still quite dark and there was a lack of light when the swifts were close. When the light was better, swifts were gliding high in the sky. The light was one thing, the other was that the birds were really close, so much so that in the morning I bowed sometimes my head because a flock of Alpine Swifts was rushing at me, finally passing me by within a few dozen centimeters. At that time I was thinking about lenses 300/2.8, 70-200-2.8 and probably 100-400 would be worth to have with me and make some attempts. Few sunrises, few hours a day and I succeeded - I created a gallery of Alpine Swifts on my website, species included in Polish fauna (392/467). Dubrovnik is very good place to photograph these birds. Birds accustomed to people are not afraid and reduce the distance. The only problem is the equipment, reflex and luck. One morning I went to the harbour at dawn, because it is the easiest to take pictures there. And here was silence, calmness, and swifts somewhere high, as they used to do later in the day. The reason was a Peregrine Falcon, whose appearance scared all the birds away. It's a pity, that he came at 5 AM (15 minutes before official sunrise), because he also didn't manage to take proper picture at such early hour. After many hours of trying to take pictures was created an interesting gallery of Alpine Swifts. This is the first swift gallery with photos not in background of the, and with its own soundtrack.
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