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Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters


Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters
Photo Information
Copyright: Ivan Kruys (Argus) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2611 W: 133 N: 7494] (23373)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 400D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/1600 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Rollers and Bee-eaters, BIRDS of CYPRUS [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-21 2:20
Viewed: 964
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
As long as photographic opportunities are very limited by dark cloud at this time of year, I continue to post images taken in Cyprus last April.

This was taken on a windy day at Fassouri reed beds, a locality famous for passage migrants such as waders.
To our delight a flock of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters (Merops persicus) turned up and settled in the tall reeds to hunt for dragonfies.

This is quite a large species of Bee-eater, larger than the European.

This is probably the first posting of this species on TN.

Bee-eaters ofter spy out for flying insects from a high vantage point such as a bare branch or overhead electric cables.
This flock was using the edge of the reed-bed to forage before continuing to the breeding grounds either in SE Turkey or Syria, having spent the winter in Africa.
We were were lucky to see these as they are not seen every year in Cyprus. They usually frequent desert edges where there insects such as locusts or dragonflies near water. They don't feed on bees and wasps as much as the European bee-eater.

As this was taken at a distance of over 15 meters with the camers hand-held the image is somewhat noisy and the general quality of the image is not that good.

The three-meter tall reeds were swaying with the wind.

After size reduction this was selectively sharpened and the strong sidelight forced me to reduce the contrast and shade.
mariki, Aaltjie, jrobertop, eqshannon, horia, SelenE, haraprasan, Alex99, rousettus, nglen, Patleboss, Adanac, gracious, nirmalroberts, undoredo, ridvan, marhowie, jcoowanitwong, ramthakur, pablominto, anel, Debz, tiklod has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Ivan,

Marvellous composition. I love these shiny colours. Good focus also.
Well done,

Mariki

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 355 W: 51 N: 476] (2056)
  • [2007-11-21 2:46]

Hello Ivan,
Nice capture, very good clear shot and great composition!
very nice background
Regards, Dejan

Superbe image avec ces deux oiseaux sur une même diagonale.

Dear Ivan
Indeed a special capture. Bright and beautiful colours. Detail good. Although the grass is larger than the birds, it displays as a very nice scene. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Aaltjie

Hello Ivan,
A fantastic register!
Magnificent composition!
Excellent coloration and luminosity.
Thanks a lot for sharing this marvel!
Regards,
José Roberto

There is an unusal but pleasing quality to the bird and the perch alike. I can't put my finger on a word to describe, but perhaps you already know what I mean. This technique is quite handy and perhaps bit of chance or some real nice easy PP. Very well done Ivan.
Bob

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2082 W: 216 N: 3759] (12474)
  • [2007-11-21 6:34]

Hi Ivan

How nice of you to have such images from Cyprus and to delight us with them on such unfavourable-photographic times :)
This is indeed a splendid shot and a very beautiful species. Very colorful and apparently living is a splendid habitat, too.
The shot is great with the bird at the top there, but i must confess i only saw the second bird when i looked closely...it was a nice surprise :)
Wonderful work, my friend!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2349 W: 61 N: 3802] (12200)
  • [2007-11-21 6:41]

Hi Ivan,
They look quite different from the European Bee eaters, cannot compare the sizes but the plumage, their longer, sharper and curved bills make a visible difference. I liked the composition showing their habitat. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

Hi Ivan,
A beautiful capture of this bee eater. Razor sharp details with an excellent composition with another one below. Very nice POV too. And also very nice and informative notes. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3040 W: 148 N: 4529] (14629)
  • [2007-11-21 7:17]

Hi Ivan.
What a terrific colour palette of the amazing by subject shot. Especially I like the coloration of the birds and grass. Combination of the sharp FG and main subject and refined smoothness of the BG is tremendous. Superb done shot. Bravo and my warm greetings.
Alexei.

Hello Ivan , your photo has a little technical problems , but a rare species photo , TFS and good luck .

Hi Ivan,
Lovely capture of these Bee-eaters.
Their wings glisten like the seed tufts they perch on.
Nicely composed.
TFS
Richard

Hi Ivan,
sorry but I have same weather condition still. So, I cant go to field for several days. But I belive you have many nice shots in your big treasure or soapbox from Cyprus, Sweden etc.
This is very nice shot with focus, colors, light, POV and composition.
As you wrote, the species also occur in SE Turkiye. But it summer migratory Aras Valley in E Turkiye (at the Iran-Nahcivan-TR corner). But I cant still take its photograph.
Thanks for sharing and good and informative notes. Best wishes
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2007-11-21 11:55]

Hi Ivan. Each day seems to get darker and shorter.the light in your picture shows the bee eater of so well. its given a shine to the feathers. a nice pose on the grass head. and POV/DOF. well done TFS. Nick..

Hi Ivan, lovely composition with elegant bird, splendid colors, wonderful details and great sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Ivan, this a splendid specimen, colorfull and sharp shot, great lighting, very nice point of view and lovely composition,
cheer and thanks,
friendly,
Pat

hello ivan,
these bee eaters are beautiful birds, you got a pair of them, this image has good natural light and lovely natural colours, well composed shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1048 W: 1 N: 4156] (13964)
  • [2007-11-21 20:46]

Hello Ivan,
Great capture with these lovely bright colored bird on this dry grass, what sharp beaks they have too, thanks for sharing Ivan.
Rick

They look good on the reeds. Both have the same sheen. Nice.

Hello Ivan,
These two are very beautiful bird!
excellent composition in perfect exposure and focus in sharpness with details
very well done and well pleased
cheers
Tony

Hi Ivan,
Great composition. Good sharpness and colours. The high shutter speed of 1/1600s seems to have taken care of the hand-held camera at 420mm.
Thanks for sharing.

bonjour ivan
vous avez rapporté de votre voyage une nouvelle espece d'oiseau pour votre galerie,enfin aussi loin que je me souvienne!
ce sont de beaux oiseaux,surement pris de tres loin mais c'est une belle image,j'aime comme ils sont tous les deux posté a attendre une proie je suppose.
bien vu et merci du partage.
laurent

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 556 W: 0 N: 1138] (5140)
  • [2007-11-22 11:11]

selam ivan ;
Nice composition.Good POV and sharp image whit nice details.Colors are beautiful.Excellent shot of this lovely bee eater well done.
TFS ridvan

Hi Ivan,
I like the overall composition with the tall reeds and Bee-eater's perched on the ready.
Well exposed with great color, detail, and light.
Great work to get this with the windy conditions.
Very well done,
Howard

Hello Ivan,
Beautiful bee-eaters. I like this sunny and windy atmosphere. POV and composition are great.
JC

These Bee-eaters are quite different from the ones we have here in India, Ivan. I see quite a lot of them in the town I live in. They are light green in colour. I shot some a few months back. Couldn't get their eyes clearly.

This is a fine pair from Cyprus. The blue ring around their cheeks and eyes is quite distinct. I think the wind did not allow you your usual crisp shots, but that is a minor nit.
TFS and regards.
Ram

Hello Ivan,
Two lovely birds in what seems like well coordinated poses!
Close-up work is well done, I notice the impressive beaks of these fellows...
Good colours and details, a well balanced presentation!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1173 W: 0 N: 1968] (8357)
  • [2007-11-23 2:29]

hello Ivan,

I missed this picture. Wonderful and interesting composition and marvellous fine and subtle colours. And even the picture is a little soft, I like it a lot. Very artistic shot.
Have a nice day
Anne

Dear Ivan,
I personally love this composition & POV very much. :-)
You present here very beautiful shot of this little Bee-eater, with excellent details and focusing.
Also, I can see lovely natural colours here.
Very well presented and TFS,
Best regards,
Kevin

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-11-24 7:39]

Hello Ivan, sorry I missed the fab shot! Wow a lovely rendition of these Bee eaters. Great light, clarity and wonderful colours and a very good composition to boot. All nice and sharp.
tfs
debz

Hello again Ivan,
WOW! Two for the price of one!!!
FANTASTIC COLOURS!!!!!!!
Excellent details and sharpness... Blue BG is lovely too!
GREAT SHOT MY FRIEND :-)

Claude

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