Rainbow Bee-eater (juvenile)
Merops ornatus
-17.3227, 123.635
Field Notes
Description:
"Juvenile Rainbow Bee-eaters can be distinguished from the adults by their dull colouring, the dark brown stripe across the eye, the dark brown iris, and the absence of the tail-streamers and the crescent-shaped black patch on the front of the neck, although some juveniles may have traces of the crescent-shaped patch." (http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?tax… )
Habitat:
Perched in a Boab Tree (Adansonia gregorii) which is generally referred to as "Dinner Tree" or "Dinner Camp", along the edge of the mudflats/marsh.
Notes:
I had been driving back along the marsh and noticed some Bee-eaters here at the Dinner Tree. I got out and noticed there was a little band of about 6 youngsters hanging about. Didn't appear to be any adults around. This had been the first time I had seen any Rainbow Bee-eaters in months. A very welcome surprise! They are constantly calling as they fly, pursuing an insect or bee in a marvelous display of agility and speed. After catching their meal, they glide back to their landing and proceed to beat it against the wood or powerline before tucking in.
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