After A Long Break - Indian Roller

[chngpe01]

Finally after a long break from avian photography. Together with a good friend KC aka cartgate we went to Thailand to photograph the birds there. Here is one of the beautiful birds, the Indian Roller, a resident of Thailand.

The Indian Roller(Coracias benghalensis) also named earlier(and incorrectly) as the Blue Jay. It is a member of the roller* family of birds which breeds in tropical southern Asia from Iraq to Thailand.

This bird prefers open country with scattered trees. It may be found in farms and in cities at lower elevations but avoids heavy jungles.

An Indian Roller typically chooses an elevated perch in an exposed site where it can watch the ground in every direction. Occasionally it jerks its tail; otherwise it sits motionless until an insect or other small animal becomes visible. It flies straight to the food source, settles on the ground to retrieve it, then returns to its perch.

Frogs, when available, form a large proportion of the Indian Roller's diet. It also eats larger insects such as grasshoppers and crickets. And this case, here it is observed eating a small crab.

In February, the males perform ornate sexual displays as they fly upward, then roll and fall through the air while wildly flapping their wings and screaming harshly. This is how they earned the name roller.

*(The Rollers are an Old World family of near passerine birds. They resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups, blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but not the outer one.
These are insect eaters, usually catching their prey in the air. They often perch prominently whilst hunting, like giant shrikes. The group gets its name from the aerial acrobatics some of these birds perform.)

[chngpe01]

[cerebrus]

I like the last few, where it gets the crab gulps it down & then stares at you. Seems to be saying 'Its rude to look at someone eating!'

1275mm.... that guy must have been quite far away.

[chngpe01]

Originally Posted by cerebrus I like the last few, where it gets the crab gulps it down & then stares at you. Seems to be saying 'Its rude to look at someone eating!' 1275mm.... that guy must have been quite far away.

Thanks, For birds photography, this is not far. Just a 500mm +1.7TC.

[Garion]

Good series PE. Nice to see you shooting again.

[cerebrus]

Originally Posted by chngpe01 Thanks, For birds photography, this is not far. Just a 500mm +1.7TC.

Yeah, but the most I can go is 665mm. Is there such a thing as focal lenght envy? Sorry to OT, assume you need really birght days to shoot? How much light do you loose with your TC?

[gooseberry]

Great to see you back in action again. Good writeup and great pics. 4th one is a beauty and the last few on the ground is excellent.

[zcf]

nice catch and info again.

[chngpe01]

Thanks Cerebus, Garion, Gooseberry and zcf for viewing and comments. Glad you like it.

Hi Cerebus, many a times when the subject gets too near the focal lenght envy also gets in to us, long prime lens users too, especially when our friends are using the 50-500mm bigma

For a 1.4xTC you lose 1 stop and 1.7xTC you will lose 1.5 stop, whilst the 2xTC yu lose 2 stops of light.

Cheers

[wheels]

Another good series. First one kind of resembles an Ah Chek. Like those with the little crab in the mouth.

[tanhb]

Excellent. Give me more.

[Sree]

PE good to see your posts. Your pictures always gives me much pleasure. Thailand must be getting hot. Whereabouts did the two of you go to?

I am thinking of going to Krabi for a short holiday (with the family) and perhaps do some bird photography. I wonder if anyone has some info on it.

[cartgate]

Yes, many thanks for making all the arrangements, PE. It was a great trip that I think is my best so far. We were lucky to get to photograph this beauty not on its usual high wire perch! These are just great images - well done!

[chngpe01]

Thanks Tan HB, Sree and KC for your commemts.

Yes KC we were indeed very lucky indeed to be able to captured them in a manner we desired. Indeed this trip was great for me too. Thanks for the push if not my 500mm lens would still be collecting dust,

Hi Sree, I am not sure if Krabi has guides but it is a beautiful place, have a great time there.

Hi Roger, yes the first shot sure looks like a Ah Chek. Thanks and this trip is not on assignment but more for a break.

Cheers

[skfoo]

Nice shots my friend! The crabs looked yummy!

[hwchoy]

nice bird! seems somewhat soft, is it due to the TC?

[chngpe01]

Thanks SK and hwchoy for the comments.

BTW hwchoy, it would be good if you can highlight which pics or part seems soft, nothing defensive here, but it would be good for me to look into the details to see the reason for the softness.

Cheers

[hwchoy]

Hi, I know what the lens can do, I also have seen your previous posts. I just find the first couple of pix to lack that "tack sharp"ness, e.g. can't really see the texture of the feathers. the last few pix seemed sharper.

maybe its just me suffering from sore eyes

[chngpe01]

Hi hwchoy, no worries I appreciate you comments and I asked because I would like really know when can the problem possibly lies. This is because, I shoot these from the car and it can also be camera shake (1 driver and another photog in the same vehicle can be quite tricky). Or it could be a matter of post process workflow as I have not been shooting birds for a couple of months and others like the aperture used, speed etc also affects the sharpness.

I am sure it is not your tired eyes I will post my possible findings when I am back in Singapore after tomorrow.

Cheers

[hwchoy]

eh I really have conjunctivitis leh