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Bluetailed-BeeEater(Merops philippinus)


Bluetailed-BeeEater(Merops philippinus)
Photo Information
Copyright: Goutham Ramesh (goutham_ramesh) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 835 W: 154 N: 2871] (12237)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D50, SIGMA 70-300 APO MACRO SUPER II
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/100 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): GouthamBirds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-01 13:53
Viewed: 3963
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi all,

As I type this by back is really hurting because of the circus I did to shoot this bird :-). Murali who also had accompanied me to Naguvanahalli might be suffering from the same aliment. But bending and twisting our back inside the hide was worth the effort as we shot some beautiful pictures of this “Blue Tailed Bee Eater” today.

Note. This was shot in evening light!!

Interesting facts: -

The Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Merops philippinus is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It breeds in southeastern Asia. It is strongly migratory.
This species is sometimes considered to be conspecific with the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, M. persicus.
This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly-coloured, slender bird. It is predominantly green; its face has a narrow blue patch with a black eye stripe, and a yellow and brown throat; the tail is blue and the beak is black. It can reach a length of 23-26 cm, including the two elongated central tail feathers. Sexes are alike.
This is a bird which breeds in sub-tropical open country, such as farmland, parks or ricefields. It is most often seen near large waterbodies. Like other bee-eaters it predominantly eats insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch.This species probably takes bees and dragonflies in roughly equal numbers. The insect that are caught are beaten on the perch to kill and break the exoskeleton. This habit is seen in many other members of the coraciiformes order.
These bee-eaters are gregarious, nesting colonially in sandy banks or open flat areas. They make a relatively long tunnel in which the 5 to 7 spherical white eggs are laid. Both the male and the female take care of the eggs. These birds also feed and roost communally. The call is similar to that of the European Bee-eater.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-tailed_Bee-eater

I will post the other POV later showing its blue tail!
Thanks
Goutham R
Necipp, kokos101, uleko, jaycee, eruyanik, carper, Pentaxfriend, Luis52, coasties, ramthakur, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To smurali: Could not resistgoutham_ramesh 1 05-01 14:33
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Goutham, a fine detailed shot. Lovely clean contrasting background beautifull colours perfect perched bird. Excellent composition really superb catch tfs rgds Necip.

hello gouthram!
excellent catch, wonderful sharpness with great details and nice DOF.
tfs
zoran

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-05-01 14:14]

Hello Goutham,
Perfect and well-timed capture of this beautiful Bee-eater. Great sharpness and lovely colours. Very fine soft background too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2007-05-01 14:17]

Hi Goutham,

This is worth an aching back! Magnificent capture of the bee-eater. I love the simplicity of the comp. The colors and details are marvelous - he even has a catch in his beak. Wonderful pose and bg.

Jane

A nice catch.

Goutham,

You posted this picture before I could even reach home. This looks as good on the screen as it does on your D50 LCD.

Regards,
Murali Santhanam

Goutham, i don't understand that why the people called him as a bee eater! :-) Great species, superb bg with nice colours! i started to think about these wonderful coloured backgrounds show the environment of India. What a shot, even i can see the details of that bee.
Ersin

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
  • [2007-05-01 14:50]

a fantastic shot Goutham
great pov, good dof and fantastic details, realy a piece of quality here, with my compliments.
gr. jaap

Hi Goutham,

I wish we had these birs in Holland
Again a Perfect compo with vivid colours
Superb sharpness with a nice blurred BG

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • Krima Gold Star Critiquer [C: 60 W: 5 N: 7] (8)
  • [2007-05-01 20:43]

I love this photo! Its just perfect nothing can be add or taken!
My best regards,
Crina

Very lovely shot. Classic stance and creamy background - whatmore with a catch in it's beak together with the glow of the setting sun. Well worth the backache!!! One little nit pick - a tad too much USM for an otherwise perfect shot. Well done.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2007-05-01 21:51]

Hola Goutham.- Una fina y bella foto. Exelente detalle de su comida en el pico, y esos bellos colores del plumaje de este hermoso pajaro. Una muy buena pose con un fondo bastante agradable que aun siendo casi del mismo color no interfiere en la foto. Saludos Luis52.

Nice capture , Goutham . The colors are sharp , and the bee in his mouth is a great touch . Hope your back feels better , as I know how much fun that is . I photo out of my car from gravel roads , and twisting is sometimes necesary to get the shot . A back brace might be a good idea . TFS , Kevin .

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2007-05-02 2:55]

Goutham I am really amazed on your skills. I think you had passed only 2% to me. 98% I will take it from you on my next visit. Great capture of this lovley bird. Ganesh

Hi Goutham

Stunning. Lovely colours. Excellent camera work. :-)

bonjour goutham
cet oiseau est vraiment spectaculaire et le rendu de l'objectif tres bon!
je suis en train de comparer les objectif 70-300 et celui-ci semble etre le meilleur compromis.
laurent

Hi Goutham,

What a lovely picture! The details are so sharp. Really great! TFS.

Cheers,
Uma

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2007-05-02 11:41]

Hello Goutham,
This is what every photo should be! Perfect. Sharp, nice colours, DOF, POV, composition, etc. Maybe you got a picture from this bee-eater with his beautiful blue tail? I can't wait.
Regards,
Peter

A classic bird shot worthy to be included in an illustrated book on best looking birds of the world, Goutham :-).
No gain without pain, they say, and it applies quite literally in this case after reading your introductory note.
Well done and TFS.

Dear Goutham, Nice perch, very good point of view and very good details. Very well done sir.
with best regards.vab.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2007-05-03 3:27]

Absolutely gorgeous, Goutham.
I hope your back is feeling better.
These pictures are just fantastic, and we appreciate your sacrifice. ; )
Stunning colors and details in a perfect POV.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2007-05-05 8:00]

Excellente qualité d'image et magnifique composition.
Félicitations!
Joseph

Hello Goutham!
Very beautiful picture with fantastic colours and very good DoF. Details are so goo that I can even recognize the prey of this Bee Eater - of course a bee :)
TFS and have a nice evening!
Best withes,
Radomir

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