Michael´s Fifth Year

[michael-ibk]

Thank you everybody. I love Kingfishers (who doesn´t), and thankfully some were cooperative enough for me. And speaking of birds I love ...

 

165/T121.) Little Bee-Eater (Merops pusillus) / Zwergspint

 

Probably the easiest Bee-Eater on safari, cannot think of any trip I´ve missed them.

 

 

Not a Bee but good enough...

 

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

166/T122.) Böhm´s Bee-Eater (Merops boehmi) / Böhmspint

 

Unlike its little cousin this one is not a common species - I have only ever seen it before in the Kafue. And just like there (in Musekese camp) also in the Selous they had chosen a camp for home.

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

167/T123.) White-Throated Bee-Eater (Merops albicollis) / Weißkehlspint

 

A special one for me. While I had glimpses of this bird before I could never get a picture. So a "photo-lifer". Very common in the Selous.

 

 

I assume the one below is the male (much broader black breastband), although the books say nothing about that.

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by michael-ibk

[Peter Connan]

Wow, what a collection of magnificent Kingfishers, and then straight onto beautiful Bee-eaters!

[michael-ibk]

168/T124.) Blue-Cheeked-Bee-Eater (Merops muelleri) / Blauwangenspint

 

A common Green Season visitor in Africa. Particularly numerous around the Rufiji river but not as cooperative as I´ve experienced them on previous safaris.

 

Edited March 30, 2020 by michael-ibk
Initially misnomed as "Blue-Headed"

[michael-ibk]

Thank you Peter - like I said, it´s my favourite part of any African birding book. :-)

 

169/T125.) European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster) / Bienenfresser

 

Regular enough but never had an opportunity for a really good shot. Normally I´d say, no problem, I will get them later in the year in Austria but this year everything is different ...

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

170/T126.) Northern Carmine Bee-Eater (Merops nubicus) / Scharlachspint

 

Also quite common in the Selous especially. Visiting their breeding colonies is always a safari highlight for me but this is neither the season nor the place.

 

[michael-ibk]

171/T127.) White-Fronted Bee-Eater (Merops bullockoides) / Weißstirnspint

 

Also delightfully common in the Selous - that place is Bee-Eater paradise (at least in the Green season).

 

 

Also saw a couple of Swallow-Taileds in Ruaha but could not get a picture. On the coast I might have seen Madagascar also but they were simply too far up to safely separate them from Blue-Cheeked.

 

[michael-ibk]

172/T128.) Broad-Billed Roller (Eurystomus glaucurus) / Zimtracke

 

First time I´ve seen this bird in East Africa. A few distant sightings in Ruaha, and one bird in the Selous (where photo was taken).

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

173/T129.) Lilac-Breasted Roller (Coracias caudataI) / Gabelracke

 

Common - and beautiful - as always.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

174/T130.) Purple aka Rufous-Crowned Roller (Coracias naevia) / Strichelracke

 

A couple of sightings in Ruaha.

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

175/T131.) European Roller (Coracias garrulus) / Blauracke

 

Common in Ruaha´s open grasslands where they perch for hours at a time.

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

176/T132.) Green Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) / Baumhopf

 

Not the most generous bird generally towards photographers - and this trip was no exception. A few scattered sightings in the Ruaha and the Selous but never a good poser.

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

177/T133.) Common Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas) / Sichelhopf

 

One short glimpse in Ruaha.

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

178/T134.) African Hoopoe (Upupa africana) / Afrikanischer Wiedehopf

 

Scarce generally but it was pretty common along the main road in the Selous.

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by michael-ibk

[Galana]

4 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Also saw a couple of Swallow-Taileds in Ruaha but could not get a picture.

Oh Michael. I can help you out here.

Do look again at #168

They may be next to each other in Fanshawe's but many kilometres in distance and even Fanshawe's maps are not that bad surely?.

[michael-ibk]

@Galana

 

You are not suggesting #168 is a Swallow-Tailed?!? Really don´t think so, the forked appearance is just the two long streamers also Blue-Cheekeds have (although they are mostly kept together). Compare the deeply forked tail of a Swallow-Tailed, here´s a photo I took some years back in the Kgalagadi:

 

 

 

[xelas]

Fantastic photos, all of them!

Absolutely envious for how close you were able to approach these gems of nature.

What kind of lens cleaning solution are you using ?

Edited March 30, 2020 by xelas

[michael-ibk]

This here but I confess I did not use it a lot, maybe once or twice during the trip. I just clean with my "rocket" and a lenspen. 

[Galana]

2 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

You are not suggesting #168 is a Swallow-Tailed?!?

Well as sure as heck it is not Blue-headed. Yes Blue-cheeked would fit better.

 

Great photos by the way.

[Soukous]

9 minutes ago, Galana said:

Great photos by the way.

 

Seconded, with great gusto

[michael-ibk]

Thanks guys! Oh yes, @Galana , good typo there, did not realize - edited, thanks!

[Galana]

4 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

good typo there,

Your typing even got the scientific name wrong too but the German name looks good. Too many Konyagi!

 

As an aside, if I may. Anglophones have problem with Böhm's Bee-eater and often make it sound like Romes or homes which of course is incorrect. I will leave the Germanic pronunciation to you but when in Zambia last year Chris McBride (McBrides Camp), a South African,  helped me out with a funny tale/aide memoire. It is of course "Bums" but with a slight nuance from the lower lip. He said to think of Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in those classic films. During one scene he took delivery at the door of a Bomb and turned inside to the guests asking in his funny clipped French accent "Did anybody order a BuM." And, I am told, that is exactly the correct pronunciation of Böhm's.

[PeterHG]

What a Bee-eater collection you're showing us! Beautiful.

[Kitsafari]

wow stunning collection of kingfishers and then flashy collection  of the bee-eaters. 

beautiful.