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Blue-tailed BeeEater, Merops philippinus


Blue-tailed BeeEater, Merops philippinus
Photo Information
Copyright: Goutham Ramesh (goutham_ramesh) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 778 W: 152 N: 2579] (10360)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-03-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D 80, Sigma 50 -500mm f4/6.3 DG EX APO HSM
Exposure: f/8, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): TN Classics [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-03-16 1:27
Viewed: 604
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Merops philippinus.

This is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It breeds in southeastern Asia. It is strongly migratory. This species is sometimes considered to be conspecific with the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, M. persicus.
his species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly-coloured, slender bird. It is predominantly green; its face has a narrow blue patch with a black eye stripe, and a yellow and brown throat; the tail is blue and the beak is black. It can reach a length of 23-26 cm, including the two elongated central tail feathers. Sexes are alike.

This is a bird which breeds in sub-tropical open country, such as farmland, parks or ricefields. It is most often seen near large waterbodies. Like other bee-eaters it predominantly eats insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch.This species probably takes bees and dragonflies in roughly equal numbers. The insect that are caught are beaten on the perch to kill and break the exoskeleton. This habit is seen in many other members of the coraciiformes order.

These bee-eaters are gregarious, nesting colonially in sandy banks or open flat areas. They make a relatively long tunnel in which the 5 to 7 spherical white eggs are laid. Both the male and the female take care of the eggs. These birds also feed and roost communally. The call is similar to that of the European Bee-eater.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-tailed_Bee-eater
Tamrock, gannu, boreocypriensis, nglen, Miss_Piggy, smitha, MMM, eqshannon, Alex99, peter_stoeckl, Argus has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To smitha: Cloning is not my cup of teagoutham_ramesh 1 03-16 03:23
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Critiques [Translate]

Hallo Goutham
Absolutely outstanding photography!. I'll give my left hand's pinky to be able to photograph a beauty like this. The colours and details are unbelievable and portrays so well on the screen. I cannot find fault at all with this excellent photograph. I can only but sing my praises. Indeed a pleasant photograph with lots and lots of detail to appreciate. Love the view from the back, showing that great blue tailpiece at its best. Thanks for sharing this lovely and elegant bird.
Best regards
Anna
I also want to use this opportunity for thanking you for adding me to your list of favourites. It was indeed a great surprise and is much appreciated. Being a favourite amongst excellent photographers like Gert, Ellstrom, Peter Stoeckl and even Loot. Your kind gesture is much appreciated.

Hi Goutham,

Amazing shot of the bee-eater. The position of the bird is so well that it gives a complete idea of how the bird looks :).

Regards,
Sowmya

Hello Goutham,
Excellent shot of Bluetailed bee eater. Very sharp, good details, good natural colours and good pose. The background is fantastic. Shall I ask why didn't u remove the two leaves on the right hand corner of the frame? Just a small doubt.:)
Thanks for the share,
Regards,
Smitha.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
  • [2009-03-16 4:01]

Hello Goutham,
Excellent photo of this Bee-eater. Wonderful POV and pose. Very beautiful natural colours, also in the OOF BG, and great sharpness and diagonal composition.
Regards,
Peter

hello Goutham
excellent glance,beautiful pose,
too much good detail and a fine result
the photo is marvellous
best regards
Nasos

Your Blue-tailed Bee Eater is much more attractive than the one we see here in North India, Goutham.
The beauty of this bird has been enhanced manifold through the creative mind and skilled hands of a distinguished nature photographer of your calibre.
I love the colours on the bird's plumage.
The image is also a work of art.
Well done, my friend!
Ram

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 0 N: 1985] (8905)
  • [2009-03-16 6:52]

Hi Goutham
Beautiful capture.I like that back ward POV.Crystal sharp image with excellent plumage detail.I also like your subject pose and the lovely colors.
TFS Michel

hi,
good image with nice colors of the cute bird perfectly registered, could have been great had the bird shown its profile completely (parallel to the frame) but can not help it, that's nature. tfs.
nagraj.v

I do wish we had more of these here in the US west to keep our non honey bee population down. This is a classic shot. I am impressed with your control over the tonal scale!
Bob

  •      
  • smurali Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 207 W: 14 N: 609] (3582)
  • [2009-03-16 8:43]

Goutham, Fantastic capture. It has all the elements of a great picture. The colors are simply stunning. I hope you also have a picture with eye contact.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2009-03-16 11:35]

Hi Goutham. This is a first class picture which you have taken with sharp focusing and fine detail. The picture looks like a water painting . With its pastle colours. A nice POV /DOF. All with interesting notes . well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2009-03-17 4:52]

Goutham, This is a beauty. Just brilliant shot. Superb frame and what a lovely color. To me it appears that it is on a photography session for you. Amazing shot. Ganesh

hi Goutham!
A lovely bird!
nice one with good quality!
well done!

Gouthman,
very precise, very elegant, a most beautiful highly condensed composition with all elements just perfectly placed. A photographic equivalent to some of the best works of classical ornithology illustrations.
With thanks and best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2009-03-23 22:47]

Hello again Goutham,
Fantastic dorsal POV portrait that is perfect IMHO.
Cheers,
Ivan

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