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Under the "rainbow"


Under the
Photo Information
Copyright: Rob Rev (mmprof) Silver Note Writer [C: 1 W: 0 N: 13] (282)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 30 D, Canon 400 5.6L
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-10-29 2:57
Viewed: 3494
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
European bee eater with a victim in the beak.
It has the colors of the rainbow, that's why th title.

The European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster 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.
ralfsworld, darwin, vanderschelden, martic, thor68 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Rob
Nice catch for both of you. Well composed and colorful one.
TFS
Ralf

Hi Rob
Super capture
Superb sharpness and details
really stand out against the
lovely blue sky tfs jon

Hello Rob,
This is a superb one, Rob.
Congrats!
Very good light, colours,...
In flight and catch light in eye and colours and sharp and bee...
Wow
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 11 N: 72] (436)
  • [2007-10-29 5:06]

Awesome inflight shot!TFS!

Hi Rob, beautiful action shot, great colors and excellent focus, really a good photo
TFS
Jean-Michel

wow, awesome capture! :-) terrific inflight-shot of the pretty bee-eater, perfect frozen sharp action with wonderful colors and amazing details.
superb job & best wishes, thor.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2007-10-29 7:29]

Hello Rob,
Fantastic sharp photo with perfect details. Outstanding natural colours. Perfect composition. Excellent focus and timing. Very beautiful blue BG.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • BeBe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 123 W: 0 N: 253] (931)
  • [2007-10-29 7:52]

Hi Rob, excellent sharp photo, of avery difficult subject, very good composition and combination of colors, Juan

Hi Rob,

very good capture of this beautiful bird in its flight with its victim, excellent colors!

TFS

Gio

Beautiful capture!

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