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The Juggler
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The Juggler

by Lennart Augustsson

Gallery: AvianPosted March 14, 2013340 views26 comments
A photo from Hungary. The branch is placed about 20 m from the Bee eaters nest and it often sat here before flying into the hole in the sandbank. I dont know why it is juggling with the Dragonfly like this but I have some guesses.
1. To take the wings away?
2. To kill it?
3. To get it down the throat?
Does anyone know?

No cloning, No blurring in PS
Nikon D700 with Nikon 500/4
1/1600 f/5,6 ISO 1000

Comments

26 comments
Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 14, 2013 at 11:55 AM
Lennart, that's a lovely picture but you didn;t tell us what kind of BeeEater it is.
Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments
Comment posted by Lennart Augustsson on March 14, 2013 at 12:00 PM
We just call it Bee-Eater or European Bee-Eater. The scientific name is Merops Apiaster.
Registered on July 29, 2011, 21 Posts, 137 Comments
Comment posted by Alan Bryant on March 14, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Like to see more room at the bottom and less at the top. Other than that its a cracking image, very well taken :toast: :toast:

I'll guess, that he wants to swallow it head 1st ?
Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on March 14, 2013 at 1:24 PM
I agree with Alan on the space issues. Otherwise, what a great capture. This behavior is pretty common with bee eaters, and I think it is to better position the insect for swallowing (could be wrong). However, I've never seen it done with a dragonfly. Nicely done, Lennart!

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 14, 2013 at 1:25 PM
Excellent detail and background plus the dragon fly in the air really adds to the shot, way to go.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Frye on March 14, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Absolutely gorgeous -- makes me glad I logged in today
Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 14, 2013 at 4:34 PM
Beautiful, Lennart. I love the upside down dragon fly. I'm not sure, but I'd suspect it was already dead. Since I have no experience with bee eaters, I wouldn't venture a guess on what it's trying to do, but it's some great action.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 14, 2013 at 4:37 PM
Terrific image! Love the position of the bird and the dragonfly. Agree with the space suggestions.
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Verdon on March 14, 2013 at 4:43 PM
nice catch, both of you, three thumbs up!!! :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 14, 2013 at 5:14 PM
Fascinating behavior. Nicely photographed. I'd experiment some with the composition, especially if you have a little more space on the left to add back in. I'd also watch the sharpening or resizing to avoid the narrow halo around the beak in the smaller version.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 14, 2013 at 5:41 PM
Lovely work! I agree on the space issues, but fine as is. :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on March 14, 2013 at 7:53 PM
Great photograph! I might like to see just a little more room on the left. Great position of the bird and insect.
Excellent detail in both.
Congrats!!!! :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on March 14, 2013 at 8:31 PM
Amazing shot.The details and colors are great. I kind of agree with the previous comments regarding spaces, but I still liked this shot a lot.
Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments
Comment posted by Danny on March 15, 2013 at 1:53 AM
Well first off......... what a shot !!!! Oh I wish this was mine.

It really is a magic shot. Excellent details and nothing but the best of timing. FANTASTIC. Room at the bottom, sides, doesn't worry me to be honest, I love it as is. I've seen shots of Aussie Rainbow bee eaters doing this, but not as clear !!

All the best and one of the best behaviour shots out there and certainly one of the sharpest I've seen of this. :toast: :toast:

Danny.
Registered on November 25, 2003, 165 Posts, 1345 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 15, 2013 at 4:06 AM
Great Shot Lennart :eek: A beautiful bird perfectly captured at the peek of the moment. Excellent feather detail and a nice complimentary background too.

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Lennart Augustsson on March 15, 2013 at 7:42 AM
Thank you very much for your nice comments.
I can agree with your space suggestions. The way I saw it was an upward direction of the Dragonfly. It has not reached it´s highest position yet and I left some roome for it.
On the width I have nothing more to give, but in heigth I have margins. I think the format i 4:3

Once again thank you !! :wavey:
Registered on July 29, 2011, 21 Posts, 137 Comments
Comment posted by Christine Adams on March 15, 2013 at 8:24 AM
I would imagine to position it for the swallow. This is STUNNING!!! Thank you!

As far as the comp suggestions, I don't wholly agree. With the branch being oof where it is now, I wouldn't want more of the same. The room at the top isn't too much either. It leaves room for the action. The more I look at it, the more I think it's just right except maybe a bit more tail room on the right, but not much.
Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments
Comment posted by Lennart Augustsson on March 15, 2013 at 8:32 AM
Hello Chris,
It didn´t swallow the Dragonfly. It took it to the chicks in the nest. Maybe it positioned the Dragonfly for best feeding position.
Registered on July 29, 2011, 21 Posts, 137 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on March 15, 2013 at 11:22 AM
Looks as if it is trying to get the dragon fly head first down the beak. :eek:
Stunning capture :toast:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on March 15, 2013 at 11:48 AM
Awesome shot!
Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 15, 2013 at 10:42 PM
Doesn't get much better than this. Great capture.
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments
Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 16, 2013 at 12:49 PM
Lovely images. Colors and processing well done.
Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 16, 2013 at 8:19 PM
IMO, The amount of space doesn't bother me in the slightest in this shot. The head and dragonfly are the main point of focus in the shot, so the tight area on the tail doesn't detract from the image.
The techs on this are terrific and the colors really nice.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 17, 2013 at 3:22 AM
Wonderful action, background, colour and detail
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 17, 2013 at 9:19 AM
Amazing action, detail and colors. The comp works for me Lennart, congrats! :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 19, 2013 at 2:27 AM
A superb image.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments