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Lilac-breasted Roller


Lilac-breasted Roller
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1199 W: 68 N: 2473] (8159)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2002-08-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: nikon f 50, AF Nikkor 70-210, Fuji Sensia 100
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-12-29 9:52
Viewed: 1033
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
English: Lilac-breasted Roller
Latin:Corcias caudata
Dutch: Vorkstaartscharrelaar

In the northwest of South Africa, near the border with Namibia and Botswana lies The Kalahari Gemsbok Park. Relatively unknow, but very, very beautiful and impressive. It's a dry area with a lot of different animals. The park is bigger than the Kruger Park.

Identification: The roller is 41 cm. with tail streamers. Upperparts tawny-brown or greenish-brown; rump and wing coverts ultramarine blue; throat and breast rich lilac; remainder underparts greenish-blue.
In the Somali race of this roller, which also occurs in north-east Kenya, the lilac is reduced, being confined to a patch on the troath and foreneck. Species easily recogniced by combination of lilac chest and long tail streamers. Often seen perched on telegraph poles and wires. In some lights wings show brilliant blue and black in flight.
Voice: A serie of harsh chattering notes.
Distribution and habitat: Local resident and partial intra-African migrant ranging from Somalia and Ethiopia through East and Central Africa.
It occurs in woodlands, open bush country especially where there are isolated trees to serve as vantage points, and even open plains if there are telegraph poles or fences on witch it can perch.

For me it's one of the most beautiful birds of Africa.
gelor, falke, Dyker has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To falke: Lilac-breasted RollerPeterZ 1 12-29 13:41
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • gelor Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 128 W: 3 N: 12] (517)
  • [2006-12-29 12:26]

Bonsoir Peter,
Les rolliers sont de magnifiques oiseaux. J'en ai photographié en Namibie avec beaucoup de bonheur.
La seule réserve sur ton image serait juste un peu de grain dans les couleurs du plumage mais cela reste quand même un très beau document !
Bonne année 2007 pleine de joie et d'amour.
Gérard

  • Great 
  • falke Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 158 W: 17 N: 443] (1590)
  • [2006-12-29 13:11]
  • [+]

What fantastic colors on this bird! This is a very beatutiful photo with a good presentation, crop and POV. Just to bad that there is so much grain, is it on the original as well or just on the scanned version?

Thanks for sharing / Bengt

  • Great 
  • Dyker Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 142 W: 0 N: 59] (170)
  • [2006-12-29 14:31]

Hello Peter
I agree with you that although this is a migrant it is one of the loveliest birds to visit Africa. Where I live I don't see them and I have to visit a nature reserve and hope to see one. Your composition is good, but I see you used Sensia film so I conclude that this must be a scanned photo. It is a pity that it created quite a bit of grainy markings. Other than that the colours are lovely and I see you even caught a little catch light in the eye.
Greetings
AC

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