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Subject: Bee-eater eating bee [Print This Page]

Author: irsychan Time: 5/10/2013 13:54 Subject: Bee-eater eating bee

In response to James' thread about bee-eater eating bees in HK, I have retrieved some old photos taken on 12 May 2013 at Mai Po below:

Image Attachment: bee1.jpg (5/10/2013 13:54, 23.61 KB) / Download count 472
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/attachment.php?aid=15790

Image Attachment: bee2.jpg (5/10/2013 13:54, 22.45 KB) / Download count 487
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/attachment.php?aid=15791

Author: tmichael Time: 5/10/2013 15:24

While it's frequently difficult to see what prey they are taking, one can often infer that it is bees/wasps (the name is "Guepier", wasp-catcher, in French in fact) from the way they land, 'juggle' with it in their bills, and then hit it against a branch to remove the sting.

I think this is rather frequently observed in fact, and they can also at appropriate times be seen feeding over flowering crops, such as rape, which is clearly attracting bees/wasps.

Author: wgeoff Time: 5/10/2013 16:45

And in response to the second request, here's a Japanese White-eye impaled by a Brown Shrike.

Not a pretty site.
But at least the Red-backed managed to kill of one of those deadly centipedes. The less of those in HK the better.

Author: irsychan Time: 5/10/2013 20:50 Subject: Close-up view showing the prey (bee)

Quote:

Original posted by tmichael at 5/10/2013 15:24
While it's frequently difficult to see what prey they are taking, one can often infer that it is bees/wasps (the name is "Guepier", wasp-catcher, in French in fact) from the way they land, 'juggle' wi ...

Two more photos, cropped to show close-up view of the prey.
The sting of the bee can be seen on one.
On that day (12 May 2013), I saw two blue-tailed bee eaters caught several bees (and bees only). The bird typically smashed the bee against tree branch to remove the sting before eating.

[ Last edited by irsychan at 5/10/2013 21:05 ]

Image Attachment: be2.JPG (5/10/2013 20:50, 151.59 KB) / Download count 488
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/attachment.php?aid=15798

Image Attachment: be3.JPG (5/10/2013 20:50, 158.93 KB) / Download count 463
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/attachment.php?aid=15799

Author: JamesLambo Time: 6/10/2013 18:10

Thanks for sharing those great pics. Nice to know local shrikes are just as gruesome as their buddies. I would like to see the behaviour in the flesh (so to speak) one day. Apparently Australian Butcherbirds also impale prey for later (hence the name), but I have never seen them do that either.

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