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we saw these little guys near malelane. we also really don't see them often. they're to beautiful

Saw them a few times in February. This one was near Punda (and refused to turn around!).

Richard

http://www.pbase.com/richardharris/february_2007&page=1
more photos / larger versions here

Seen them quite often at Shingwedzi as you exit the back gate. There is a little donga on the left and they hang around there.

At the far end of the S100, you turn right towards Nwanetsi - I forget the road number. After a while you ford a stream that usually always has water. On the far bank there is a loopie to the right that gives a 25 metre river view. That is where we have seen our only Kruger LBE.

Have seen LBE mainly in the Pkop area and on the Sweni Wilderness trail. But they occur through out Kruger.

Another digiscoping "success" - because LBEs like to use the same perch to 'hunt' from, they are ideal subjects for the digiscoper.

The Little Bee-eater, Merops pusillus, ranks among the most enchanting birds anywhere. They possess startling grace and beauty that they display while they pursue all types of flying insects. Honeybees are the main prey in their diet but also flying ants, butterflies, bees and wasps that are caught on the wing are brought back to the perch where they are made harmless by violently pounding and rubbing the insect on the perch and eaten. In general bee-eaters are programmed to only catch things on the wing. Once an insect lands the bee-eater ignores it, even if it sits in plain sight.


Large view

Watching these bold and energetic birds is hugely entertaining and because many species are quite relaxed in the presence of man, photographic opportunities come readily. This, the smallest member of the family, occurs in open woodland and forest edge, very often in proximity to water. Pairs and small groups excavate their breeding burrows in sand gullies, termite mounds and sometimes on road verges. The Little Bee-eater characteristically perches low down - often just centimetres from the ground - and sallies upwards to capture its prey. At night and in cool weather, groups huddle together for warmth - as many as fifteen abreast on a single stem.

Unlike other bee-eaters the Little Bee-eater does not migrate and makes only short local movements in response to the rainy and dry seasons.

Seen in Kruger in Feb this year.

Large View

saw them in lower sabie by the tented camps

It doesn't matter how many times you've been out bird watching, there is always something new to learn. Sunday's lesson was what a juvenile Bee-eater looks like. It has no black collar, and no blue eye shadow like the adult, something I didn't know up to then!

Juvenile Little Bee-eater:



Adults:

Little Bee-eater chasing insects.



Barcud