Rainbow Bee-eater

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Rainbow Bee-eater
Photo Information
Copyright: Richard Cridland (rcrick) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 557 W: 39 N: 991] (3258)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM, SanDisk Extr. IV 2Gb, Hoya 77mm Pro1 DMC UV LPF
Exposure: f/8, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Port of Brisbane Wetlands [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-24 15:38
Viewed: 413
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I caught this little fellow this morning down by the Brisbane Port Authority Wetlands; They have several hides down their which can be accessed and a huge array of native and migratory birds most of which have gone for the winter but will be back by September though to April.

A striking, colourful bird, the Rainbow Bee-eater is medium sized, with a long slim curved bill and a long tail with distinctive tail-streamers. It has a golden crown and a red eye set in a wide black stripe from the base of the bill to the ears, which is edged with a thin blue line.

The throat is orange-yellow, with a broad black band separating it from a green breast. The upperparts are green, with the flight feathers coppery and black tipped.

The underwings are bright orange, with a black edge. The lower abdomen is blue. The tail is black, including the long tail streamers, with a blue tinge. Females have shorter, thicker tail streamers than males, but are otherwise similar. Young birds are duller and greener, lacking the black band on the chest and the long tail streamers.

The Rainbow Bee-eater may resemble some kingfishers, however these are plumper, with strong straight beaks, and never catch prey in flight.

The Rainbow Bee-eater is found throughout mainland Australia, as well as eastern Indonesia, New Guinea and, rarely, the Solomon Islands. In Australia it is widespread, except in desert areas, and breeds throughout most of its range, although southern birds move north to breed.

The Rainbow Bee-eater is most often found in open forests, woodlands and shrublands, and cleared areas, usually near water. It will be found on farmland with remnant vegetation and in orchards and vineyards. It will use disturbed sites such as quarries, cuttings and mines to build its nesting tunnels.

Rainbow Bee-eaters eat insects, mainly catching bees and wasps, as well as dragonflies, beetles, butterflies and moths. They catch flying insects on the wing and carry them back to a perch to beat them against it before swallowing them. Bees and wasps are rubbed against the perch to remove the stings and venom glands.

Rainbow Bee-eaters gather in small flocks before returning to summer breeding areas after over-wintering in the north (apart from the resident northern populations). Both males and females select a suitable nesting site in a sandy bank and dig a long tunnel (average length: 89.4 cm) leading to a nesting chamber, which is often lined with grasses.

Both parents incubate the eggs and both feed the young, sometimes with the assistance of auxiliaries (helpers).

Human activities can disrupt Rainbow Bee-eater nests built in active mines or quarries. Introduced predators such as foxes and wild dogs can dig down into nests to eat nestlings.

Link; http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=174

Details, Shot Raw and converted to Jpeg, cropped and reduced in size, sharpened slightly prior to posting.

Camera Model Canon EOS 5D
Shooting Date/Time 23/04/2008 10:40:11 AM
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/320
Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
Metering Mode Center-Weighted Average Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 200
Lens EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length 400.0 mm
Image Size 646x772
Image Quality Superfine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Servo AF
Picture Style Neutral
Sharpness 5
Contrast 2
Saturation 2
Color tone 1
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction On
File Size 158 KB
Custom Function C.Fn:00-0
Drive Mode Continuous shooting
jaycee, JPlumb, ramthakur, MartinL, jusninasirun, Jamesp, SueThomson, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4021] (13255)
  • [2008-04-24 16:22]

Hi Rick,

I would love to see one of these Bee Eaters one day! The colors are magnificent and the face and eye are just wonderful. A nice pose and a beautiful setting.

Jane

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 159 N: 889] (2827)
  • [2008-04-24 16:42]

Excellent eye Rick. This is a very well composed shot of this Bee-eater. The tough part in your shot though would have been the exposure with the light foreground and dark background. You've hit it very well though with excellent light on the bird, while still maintaining decent detail in the highlight and shadow regions. Colour is great.

Thanks, John

I keep watching the two Bee Eaters outside my house on their favourite perch of electrical cables and the way they treat the catch before swallowing it, Richard. Your note describes the process graphically.
The Rainbow Bee Eater in your picture has lovely colours on its head and neck. It is certainly quite different colour pattern from the one we see on the Bee Eaters of North India.
Though the tail part of the bird is concealed by the vegetation, that fact in itself sets the capture in natural surroundings.
Well done and TFS.
Ram

Rick,

I can tell this was shot in full sunlight, which is never the easiest of occasions for photography. It didn't stop you from getting a great shot though! You are totally right, the colors of this bird are stunning. It looks like a very beautiful bird.
This is a great shot. The composition, POV and detail work well here. TFS

Best Regards,

Martin

Bee eater is always so colorful Rick. I like the shot here with stunning perch against the well muted background. Thanks for sharing and best regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4446] (13284)
  • [2008-04-24 22:03]

Hi Rick

Great pose with very good detail and colours. We, very occasionally, get the European Bee-eater her in the UK - but you probably know that!

James

Hi Rick

Well spotted and well captured. Great colour on the bird and good sharpness on the eye.
Cheers
Sue

Hi Richard,very nice choice of point of view,excellent quality of the details of this bird,i like a lot the environment and thanks for the note too,have a nice day,Luciano

  • Great 
  • darwin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 249 W: 0 N: 447] (1688)
  • [2008-04-25 19:11]

Hi Rick
Good capture considering the harsh light
conditions
Fine detail and sharpness
Nice cathlite and color
tfs jon

Hi Rick
A lucky find and a great capture. Good colour and detail on the bird, considering the harsh light. The photo is a study in green. I don't think I've ever seen one of these in the wild.
Have a good weekend. :)
Lyndall

Hi Richard,
A good comp & POV with clear details, nice color. I like the "sunny" look of it.
Great DOF and a nicely OOF BG..A spark in his eye too :)
Well done,
Howard

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