Tuesday 4 July 2017

Algarve, and a pair of Bee-eaters.

The day after we arrived in the Algarve, we headed for the Bee-eater site we had discovered last year. I was really lucky to see a Bee-eater fly onto the branch of a tree only a few meters away from where I was hiding behind the trunk of our car, which we had parked in a small opening off the road. Within just a few minutes another Bee-eater joined it's partner, enabling me to get all these shots, and as you will have noticed, I later chose one for a new header.

I would also like to wish all my American friends a very happy 4th of July. Have a good one!!:)


BEE-EATERS  ( MEROPIDAE)  ARE MONOGAMOUS.


DURING A NESTING SEASON, AND IN SEDENTARY PAIRS, THEY STAY TOGETHER FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.


DURING COURTSHIP, THE MALES FEED LARGE ITEMS TO THE FEMALE, WHILE EATING THE SMALL ONES HIMSELF.


BREEDING PAIRS NEST IN LONG VERTICAL NESTING BURROWS, THAT THEY THEMSELVES, EXCAVATE.


THE TUNNELS ARE AT LEAST ONE METER DEEP, TERMINATING IN A NEST CHAMBER.


THEY MAY BE REUSED, IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS, BUT MOST PAIRS WILL EXCAVATE A NEW ONE.


WE NOTICED  THAT MANY BURROWS HAD BEEN ABANDONED, BUT IT WAS EASY TO FIND THE NEW NESTS,....



AS THERE WERE HEAPS OF EARTH UNDER THE NEWLY EXCAVATED NESTS.



WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS
I'D-RATHER-B-BIRDIN

49 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello, these are gorgeous birds. Lovely collection of photos. Enjoy your day and the week ahead.

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Lovely set of pictures.. Congrats and regards

sami niilola said...

Bee-eaters are very beautiful bird. Superb photos.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Their colouration is just so outstanding,! My husband does watercolours and did a couple of these one time, but rather washed down the colours...shhhh I like the real deal here the best~

Debbie said...

the colors in these birds is so brilliant, so unique and unusual!! i love that tree!!

Bob Bushell said...

Stunning pieces of Bee-eaters.

Cloudia said...

Striking birds!!!

Stuart Price said...

Wish we had these in Japan.........

The Furry Gnome said...

Beautiful colourful birds!

Linda said...

Beautiful photos! What gorgeous, colourful birds!

LEN said...

A very attractive bird and I can well understand why you have chosen it as your "logo"! I hope the flock who have taken up temporary residence on a farm in Lincolnshire will return in future years. I understand that they have not been spotted in this country for over 70 years.Probably something to do with climate change don't you think?

Prunella Pepperpot said...

OOh how lucky were you.
Stunningly beautiful birds and captured perfectly. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful week :)

Shiju Sugunan said...

Bee eaters are beautiful and you have captured them well. Recently, I encountered blue-tailed bee eaters in one of my bird watching trips. Click to see the pics

Teresa said...

Son unos pájaros que me encantan; por aquí hay muchos. Besos.

MadSnapper said...

they are such beautiful and amazing birds to me. their colors are the jewel tones I love to use for my clothes and house. lovely birds. wish we had a pic of you hiding behind the car waiting. HA HA

Connie Smiley said...

How beautiful and very interesting about their nests. I wish we could see them here in Missouri.

Jeevan said...

That’s interesting about their nesting and feeding each other! You captured wonderful series of shots on the pair of bee-eaters and glad that u got to shoot them from close distance. I have so far captured and seen only green bee-eaters :)

This N That said...

Interesting post..Beautiful bird..Thanks for sharing..

Inspired By June said...

Amazing shots! What a beautiful bird, and so beautifully captured!

matti niilola said...

Hi. These are superb. Amazing bird. Greetings.

Linda said...

What wonderful birds! So colorful!

NatureFootstep said...

many beautiful imags of the bee-eaters. I have seen them several times but being in a birding group. And that is not a place for great photography. Love your images :)

DeniseinVA said...

Oh my, those Bee-eaters have the prettiest coloring. Really beautiful and great photos!

Les Fous du Cap said...

Magnifiques oiseaux ;-)
Céline & Philippe

La Biosfera de Lola said...

Espectaculares fotos y las aves son preciosas, besos.

Jenn Jilks said...

They are sweet! I've never heard of them!!!!

Jenn Jilks said...

P.S. the bears aren't so dangerous, just annoying! They want food. They are getting used to people nearby, so I have to teach them how to treat us! Marine horns, pots and pans, and yelling works for us!

Sharon Wagner said...

They are so darn beautiful.

A Colorful World said...

Love these wonderful bee-eaters!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

There are some bird families that are so enigmatic that they occupy a space all of their own. Bee-eaters certainly qualify. I have seen many species in this family and I am filled with awe and admiration every time. Your photographs are stunning.

Tom said...

...such a colorful pair, thanks for sharing.

eileeninmd said...

Helo, the bee-eaters are one of my favorites birds. They are beautiful. Awesome photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Rajesh said...

Very lovely and colorful bee eaters.

Lea said...

Wow! What bright colors!
Have a wonderful week-end!

Giga said...

I'm a moment on my blog, but I came to you and admire the wonderful birds and your pictures. Regards.

Anni said...

Oh my gosh....these are incredible...such beautiful colors of these birds!! Wow. And wonderful photos.

Nancy Chan said...

A beautiful pair of colourful birds. Have a lovely weekend!

Phil Slade said...

Hi Sonjia. Wow. You got really lucky there that they didn't spot you and fly off immediately. Full marks for the field craft and the resultant photos.

Louca por porcelana said...

Wonderful birds!

Stewart M said...

What wonderful looking birds - such a great subject

Cheers - Stewart M, Mells, Somerset, UK

Richard Pegler said...

WOW, Sonjia, these are fabulous images of these spectacular birds. How wonderful that you were able to get so close. I am very envious!

With my best wishes - - - Richard

miss-cherry said...

Piękne zdjęcia pięknych ptaków.

carol l mckenna said...

What gorgeous birds and wonderful photography of them ~ ^_^

carol l mckenna said...

testing for blogger profile ~ can people comment if I have a G+ profile???

Helma said...

Ohhh ...... what a beautiful pictures !!!!!!
I'm really a little jealous of these beautiful pictures of the bee-eaters!
My compliments.

Mike Attwood said...

A bit of one-up-manship there Sonjia, I have never seen one let alone taken pictures as good as that. Mike.

Jeanna said...

Amazing colors. Even the branch they're on seems rare and interesting.

riitta k said...

This bird & your photos are oh so stunning!

Lowcarb team member said...

Absolutely stunning colours.
Loved all of your photographs.

All the best Jan

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