BEE-EATERS.

If you like your birds with a bit of colour, there's nothing to beat Bee-eaters. I tried many years ago in Gambia to see Carmine Bee-eater and failed, and I need to see one before I die! These images were taken in Sri Lanka this February, where the good light enhances the fantastic colours. They are the three common ones, with European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) being the only other one as an uncommon migrant. Because they are catching insects on the wing, they usually return to the same branch, and being reasonably confiding, they are a pleasure to photograph. All the images were taken with the Canon 1D Mk IV and 500mm L IS MkII lens.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus).

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti).

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater.

Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis).

Green Bee-eater.