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A flock of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters

on 13th December 2011

“A wonderful moment yesterday, about twenty minutes before sunset not far from my house on Ko Samui.

“I noticed a number of on some trees around a small lake that I was checking out, and started to photograph, the last rays of the sun hitting the birds on a couple of the trees (above – spot the Indian Roller in the image.). Suddenly, the bee-eaters all took flight almost simultaneously, were joined by others from all around the lake, and flew over my head, off to wherever they roost at night.

“It all happened too fast for me to think of trying to do a count, but there must have been at least 200 of them. I have read that thousands have been seen roosting together in parts of the peninsula, but this was the largest number by far that I have yet seen.

“The sight really made my day, even if my camera was wrongly set up to capture any decent flight shots!”

Howard Banwell
Ko Samui, Thailand
8th December 2011

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

2 Responses

  1. I had saw more than 400 bee-eaters in Kampar, Perak, Malaysia, mostly of Blue-throated Bee-eater with a few Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters, recently another group showed up again, this time did not congregate in the skies, probably also 200+, again mixed flock of Blue-throated and Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters.

  2. I love quizzes, but I’m not sure I see the Indian Roller – it’s larger right? Is it in the lower left corner? (on the edge?) Thanks for sharing the experience

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