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Bee-eater!!


Bee-eater!!
Photo Information
Copyright: Joe Kellard (joey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1874 W: 245 N: 6145] (21884)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 400D (Rebel XTi), Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital ISO-400, Hoya 77mm UV Filter
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/2000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-09-08 1:44
Viewed: 294
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Here's a Bee-eater from Spain. Me and my Dad spent about 3 hours driving up and down a road to try and get closer to a family of Bee-eaters that flew around landing on the telegraph wire. Finally one got brave and let us get in close. These are probably the most beautiful birds I've ever seen in the wild and I love watching thier acrobatic flight... if only I lived in Spain or somewhere similar :-)

I hope you like this one!


European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster

This is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It breeds in southern Europe and in parts of north Africa and western Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in tropical Africa (or to North-Western India, southern India and Sri Lanka in the case of Asian birds). This species occurs as a spring overshoot north of its range, with occasional breeding in northwest Europe.

This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly-coloured, slender bird. It has brown and yellow upper parts, whilst the wings are green and the beak is black. It can reach a length of 27-29 cm, including the two elongated central tail feathers. Sexes are alike.

This is a bird which breeds in open country in warmer climates. Just as the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. Before eating its meal, a European Bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface. It eats some 250 bees daily.

These bee-eaters are gregarious, nesting colonially in sandy banks, preferably near river shores, usually at the beginning of May. They make a relatively long tunnel in which the 5 to 8, spherical white eggs are laid around the beginning of June. Both the male and the female take care of the eggs, which are brooded for about 3 weeks. These birds also feed and roost communally.

The call is a pleasant distinctive trill. It has been classically described as afraid of man, thus tending to avoid him, but recent observations record that it is often seen apparently playing with cars, sometimes following them. After rain, indeed, it may be found closer to human settlements, looking for beehives. The bee-eater is obviously resented by bee keepers, but is reputed an important component in balancing local bio-systems.

NOTE: In the city of Cordoba, in southern Spain, there is large colony of these birds, knowl locally as abejarrucos, living within the city on the south side of the river, and show no fear of people.


*I did actually post this yesterday but deleted it because I wasn't happy with the PP.
cataclysta, PaulH, Argus, LordPotty, JORAPAVI, haraprasan, eqshannon, jaycee, nglen, CENT-TRETZE, boreocypriensis, rcrick has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pekkavalo1: full-framejoey 1 09-10 05:01
To CENT-TRETZE: Thankyoujoey 1 09-10 04:58
To nglen: Hi Nickjoey 1 09-08 13:07
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Joe
Very nice image. Good diagonal composition, pretty good sharpness and good exposure
TFS
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1064 W: 26 N: 3196] (11459)
  • [2008-09-08 2:04]

Hi Joe,
it's a good shot mate, they really are beautiful aren't they? Focus and exposure are both excellent, the framing is well balanced too.
Paul

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 147 N: 7948] (24747)
  • [2008-09-08 2:16]

Hello Joe,
This was well worth the patience, both yours and your dad's in order to take such a fine image of a juvenile European Bee-eater. I like the composition and you couldn't get a better POV and sharpness from below.
I've tried several times, both in Spain and Cyrprus but haven't achieved anything like as good as this.
Well done and TFS this beaut.
Cheers
Ivan

Love the composition Joe!
The diagonal is great.
Good clear detail,nice colour saturation.
All in all a very good job once again.
Excellent work!
Cheers
Steve

Hola Joe,
Preciosa captura de este bello pajarillo, excelente composición con gran nitidez y detalle, buen control luminico, donde contrastan sus bellos colores con el azul celeste. Saludos
José Ramón

Hi Joe,
A nice capture of this beautiful bee eater. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Very vivid colours of the animal. Well presented.
Best wishes,
Achim

Sometimes when going through images early AM...I am not fully awake. I let the images do that for me..so I clicked on this and looked without seeing the infamous "Joey" who took it...and I saw a VERY sharp bird in good colour...only then did I stop and wonder who took this?!?! aha! Of course...you are a "Joe of all trades"...or perhaps better "Joe of all genres.." wow...You are really spot on here Joey...surprised me!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3160 W: 148 N: 4787] (15449)
  • [2008-09-08 9:56]

Hi Joe.
While I was absent here, you have posted an amazing series. I have selected this one for comments because I will share the same species within the next few days (may be tomorrow). Very nice specimen, a bit different than photographed by me bird. I agree with you, this species is amazing. However, it is so task to shoot them (in my case at least). Typical pose, nice rich colours and excellent details of the image. My best regards and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1902 W: 8 N: 4957] (16017)
  • [2008-09-08 10:31]

Hi Joe,

I love how your whole family is involved in the pursuit of nature. This Bee-eater was worth the drive. He is beautiful with his magnificent colors and superb details. The face is gorgeous. Excellent composition with him posing on the diagonal pole.

Jane

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2129 W: 9 N: 5957] (22516)
  • [2008-09-08 11:32]
  • [+]

Hi Joey. You are right its a very colourful bird indeed. I have yet to see one for my self. You have good detail and colour. with a pov so we can see the underside of this bird. TFS, Nick..

I shall have to leave the trip this week as i am not to well but sound like a good place for some time in the future.

Hello Joe:

A photo of this very beautiful bird, with precious few colors appear to be captured in Spain. We welcome as well as you have liked my country.

A hug my friend

Josep

Hi OwlMan, my friend Joe:)
A perfectly captured bee-eater shot with wonderful vivid colours, great focus and composition.
TFS this beauty!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Joe,
Congratulations for capturing this beautiful bird I haven't managed to see. The picture is very good, I can see that you got quite close and did not have to crop too much. Details are pin sharp, good pose and bright natural colours. Very good work!
TFS
Cheers
Pekka

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1800 W: 29 N: 5223] (17114)
  • [2008-09-08 19:36]

Hi Joe,
Wonderful shot of this Bee-eater with such lovely and details on its plumage. They always fascinate me. Against the blue sky as BG it really stands out well. Very neat and sharp image with perfect DOF. Thanks for sharing this fine image.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 647 W: 42 N: 1198] (3854)
  • [2008-09-08 22:02]

Hi Joey.

Wonderful shot of this juvenile European Bee-eater, awesome colours, love the diagonal lines created by the wire, really stand out well against that perfect blue sky.

Regards Rick :)

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 4 N: 2570] (11874)
  • [2008-09-09 9:30]

Hello Joey, Well shot and superb focus. I like the angle of the shot and the composition. Frame work is brilliant. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1422 W: 127 N: 5219] (23113)
  • [2008-09-09 15:39]

Hello Joe! That's a fine bird my friend! Well captured with a very good technique and a great talent, well done, thanks!

Mario

Excelente imagen de éste precioso pájaro.saludos.

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