Go-away bird lunch time

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

I know this is not one of those 'clinically-clean-background' shots but this is how and where one would observe these birds 90% of the time - always climbing up and down branches like parrots, looking for something to eat or just fooling around like acrobats. As mentioned in a previous thread: these birds are every African hunter's biggest and most hated nightmare (and sometimes fotographers' too) as they tend to fly ahead of you from tree to tree and warn any form of wildlife to get out of the way with a shrill 'kweeeeeee' sound. I guess that's somehow the reason for its name (more officially known as 'gray lourie').

Wish I knew this tree much earlier in my life because it attracts a magnitude of birds at flowering time - various sunbirds, go-away birds, mousebirds and others. Fortunately the neighbour has it on his property! Sometimes I just sit down for an hour or two and snap away...

Common sharpening & light adjustments made in LR. Cropped to about 20% of original.

All C & C's welcome.

Nikon D600
AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D IF-ED + TC14E II (420mm)
F/8 | 1/800s | 640 ISO | monopod

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image of beautiful bird in habitat. Very nice story.Beautiful colors and composition. I don't mind bushy BG in this frame.

Regards,
Satish.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the stuffed beak, sharpness and information. I was curious about the name origin. A new bird for me, thanks for posting it Tobie.

[keith mitchell]

Tobie don't mind the bg one bit ,that's where it lives, does it just eat the flower petals or are there seeds in there? Bird looks really good and natural, would be well pleased if it was mine.

Keith.

[Tom van den Brandt]

Always difficult if a bird lives between the branches most of the time. Good that you could catch him Toby.

Tom

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Tobie don't mind the bg one bit ,that's where it lives, does it just eat the flower petals or are there seeds in there? Bird looks really good and natural, would be well pleased if it was mine.

Keith.

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Keith it's actually eating flowers in this pic. Its diet is mainly fruit, flowers, buds, leaves, termites and snails.