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THEY ARE HERE.....
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
BEE EATER (MEROPS APIASTER)
My first Bee Eater this season....
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, India and Sri Lanka. 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.
The call is a pleasant distinctive trill. |
mamcg, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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- mamcg
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 326 W: 12 N: 89]](//i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(9265) - [2019-05-12 7:26]
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Wow the perfect moment shot.
No words for crispness sharpness
Beautiful colors and the bokeh in the background
Lost my words for praise, excellent the last come.
T F S.
A beautiful shot of the Bee Eater landing on an ornate perch, Marius.
A highly aesthetic composition.
Ram
Great Shot.
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- lousat
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6334 W: 89 N: 15464]](//i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(64736) - [2019-05-14 9:54]
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Hi Marius,they are back in the last week in my country too,but my camera isn't god enough to take good pics. Your is fantastic,a perfect landing taken in a great sharpness and bright colors,very well done! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano
Hi Marius,
You have captured well the flight of the bird. The point of view is showing the details of the Bee Eater. The light is making the colors to stand out. Have a nice day.
Pierre
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- periko
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 62 W: 2 N: 139]](//i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(1405) - [2019-05-14 10:35]
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Great timing, Marius.
The bird looks majestic in this neat composition.
Regards
Perfect timing, Marius. Everything looking perfect here. Very nice shot.
Thanks and regards,
Srikumar
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1969 W: 0 N: 5372]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 326 W: 12 N: 89]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4309 W: 231 N: 14030]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}