Southern carmine bee-eater, perched.

Canon 1Dmk4, Canon 300 f2.8 IS, handheld. S/s 1/2500s at f/6.3, iso 500. Location Linyanti, Botswana. When the carmines first arrive in August along the Okavango, Linyanti and Kwando rivers, they do so in their breeding plumage. All their colours are more vivid but the pink patch on the neck is especially so. Cropped in ACR, used Adjust brush to lighten shadows on stump. Adjust brush again to add Clarity and Sharpening to bird only. In PS darkened background slightly and sharpened for web. The small whitish object in the lower right side of frame is a strand of spider web with a clump of silk on it. A gust of wind caused the birds tail and feathers to swing to the right just before I took the image, which is why it is perched in a curved position.
cheers
Grant

Beautiful image, composition really spot on

A superb image Grant.... Thanks for all the additional information regarding feather colours :-)

What a pretty image this is . The pose and the perch are excellent. Pretty colors too.

Carmelo

I really like this one Grant! Excellent job!

Thanks Richard, Carmelo, Craig and Ofer for commenting. They are one of my favourite birds ( I have more than one favourite!) and I always enjoy taking pics of them.
Cheers
Grant