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(Merops apiaster)


(Merops apiaster)
Photo Information
Copyright: Jose Diogo (josediogo1958) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 494 W: 27 N: 1837] (11747)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2014-06-11
Categories: Birds
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/2000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2014-06-30 4:49
Viewed: 1303
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Abelharuco, European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

Hi TN Friends

I've been away from TN because my father is still ill and in need of my care. This picture I publish today was taken for almost a month and is part of a series I did in the bee eaters colony we found.

"The bee-eaters are a group of near-passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa and Asia but others occur in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers. All have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 26 different species of bee-eaters.

As the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat flying insects, especially bees and wasps, which are caught in the air by sallies from an open perch.While they pursue any type of flying insect, honey bees predominate in their diet. Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps) comprise from 20% to 96% of all insects eaten, with honey bees comprising approximately one-third of the Hymenoptera.

Before eating its meal, a bee-eater removes the stinger by repeatedly hitting and rubbing the insect on a hard surface. During this process, pressure is applied to the insect thereby extracting most of the venom.Notably, the birds only catch prey that are on the wing and ignore flying insects once they land.

Bee-eaters are gregarious. They form colonies by nesting in burrows tunnelled into the side of sandy banks, such as those that have collapsed on the edges of rivers. Their eggs are white and they generally produce 2–9 eggs per clutch (depending on species). As they live in colonies, large numbers of these holes are often seen together, white streaks from their accumulated droppings accentuating the entrances to the nests. Most of the species in the family are monogamous, and both parents care for the young, sometimes with the assistance of other birds in the colony, a behavior considered unusual for birds."(WIKI): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee-eater

Have a good day and thanks for viewing...
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2014-06-30 4:51]

Hi Jose,magnificent in flight capture of this bee-eater! What a timing and what a fantastic detail despite the very fast mouvement,i like the bright colors too! Have a nice week and thanks,Luciano

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2014-06-30 5:39]

Bom dia Jose,
Fantastic photo of this bee-eater in flight in splendid colours and great sharpness. Beautiful contrasting background.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Jose-I am sorry that your father is ill,but I'm sure soon he will be better.Wish your family good time.Beautiful picture of this bee-eater with excellent details and sharpness.Good work.Thanks for sharing.Regards-Srikumar

excellent timing. interesting angle and framing. nice lighting too. good work. tfs.

hallo Jose
great shot with beautiful colours
very nice moment to take this shot
thanks greeting lou

Ciao Jose, great capture of lovely in-flight bird with its prey, fantastic colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Great this sharpness in full flight - really top work
Pierre

Bonsoir Jose,
La coordination de la vitesse et de la profondeur de champ est relativement bonne et permet d'apprécier cette belle scène de la vie sauvage.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Great time MF Jose! Excellent details. Amazing colours/tones.

Roberto

Lovely capture Jose, you achieved a nice motion capture with really nice lighting. :)

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2014-07-03 0:01]

Hi Jose
very lively capture. You catch it at its best moment. Exciting view of the blurry background. Splendid sharpness and clarity.
Very well captured shot.

Regards
Foozi

Good Work...

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