Sunday 9 June 2013

Stunning Sunday!

With cloudy skies and a strong breeze I had not intended to go out this morning but with news of the Bee Eater still present at Stonelees, just a fifteen minute drive, I could not resist going. I arrived mid morning where a number of other birders where already present but initially there was no sign. I met up with Brendan and we took a walk around the bushes. As we walked and checked I noticed a bird sat on top of a dead bush and there it was, a stunning European Bee Eater. It was rather distant in the cloudy skies but the colours on these birds are amazing, no truly stunning I would say! I took a few distant efforts before it took off and flew high across the park and out of sight.

Bee Eater

This is only my 2nd Bee Eater in Kent with the first seen at Dungeness a few years ago. I met up with the other locals and we wandered around checking bushes but we could not re-find. Thankfully not long after a call to Brendan had us moving off fast as the bird had been refound in the paddocks. We were soon on sight but it had moved out of sight but after a while it appeared in flight distantly and seemed to be perching on the same tree and feeding from here. I decided to move down a footpath towards the bird and hoped I could get a few more views and shots and with a little luck on my side the Bee Eater showed quite well and performed a few ariel attacks on the bee population. I rattled off some better shots but in the cloudy skies, the results were not quite what I had expected, a blue sky would have been nice!


Bee Eater

 After having some cracking views the bird flew off again calling and decided to call it a day and make my way home. 2 Turtle Dove were noted as were 2 Bullfinch on the way out. What I thought was going to be a quiet day was certainly changed by one of the most stunning birds I have seen. A truly brilliant session.

Bee Eater



6 comments:

  1. They really are stunning birds Marc, wish there were more of them here!

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  2. Managed to get some very good views this afternoon... although always mobile.Have used your top picture...always better than mine .Best Wishes Phil.

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  3. Marc.
    What a great rare bird to see,and very nice photo's to show it off, being close to home is bonus as well.

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  4. You're right Marc the colours are breathtaking on these birds, well done

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  5. Brilliant shots of the Bee-eater Marc.

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  6. Wonderfully colourful! I have only ever seen them in Italy, and I was on a bus so only caught a glimpse.

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