Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus
Awash Falls National Park, Ethiopia
23 January 2014
Rollers as a group are nothing short of spectacular, but I am inclined to think that the Abyssinian Roller is perhaps the most stunning of all. Whenever I saw one with the sun glistening off its plumage it simply took my breath away. In this area they were reasonably common so we had lots of opportunities to revel in their beauty.
Their usual habitat is dry woodland with well spaced trees, but they take readily to human settlements and are not particularly shy. They will nest on buildings and tolerate pets, humans and vehicles.
Fantastic bird.. So beautiful.. :-)))
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird!
ReplyDeleteIn our country occurs Coracias garrulus, but it is a very rare bird.
Greetings
Magnifique les Rolliers!
ReplyDeleteDans le sud de la france nous avons quelques spots ou l'on trouve des Rolliers d'Europe. (Coracias garrulus - European Roller)
Très belle photo!
A beauty, your picture too.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Tinie
Beautiful bird!
ReplyDeleteGreetings Irma
A superb Roller, David! Not seen a roller of any sort in years - the last one was in northern Greece, I reckon. Hows the weather doing over there?
ReplyDeleteAbyssinian Roller. Now did I see that in The Gambia or Kenya? Wherever, it was certainly one of the most beautiful and stunning birds I have been fortunate to see.
ReplyDeleteMore stunning than a Black & White Warbler or a Cerulean Warbler in the hand or watching a magnificent Magnificent Frigate Bird chasing Laughing Gulls along a Cancun beach.
Maybe it’s White-bellied Sea Eagle effortlessly snatching a Little Egret in Malaysia? We could go on, but I’m rather with you on the roller.
I’m so pleased that your Spring birds are arriving and I remember the sequence of hirundines and sparrows, waders and finally in May your superbly coloured warblers - so exciting.
Things are rather slow here in a cold and windy spell, but as usual I wish my life away to see and photograph them before they are ready to arrive. Take me to task if I complain.
What a beautiful and so original bird !!
ReplyDeleteGreetings
Fantastic, David!
ReplyDeleteI agree fully when you say Rollers are magnificent; my favorite though is the Lilac breasted we could see in the african bush.
I would add Bee eaters too!
It reminds me I have some European roller pics I should post, the draft has been ready for weeks! LOL!
Enjoy your sunday!
Ohhhhhh ....... what a nice and beautiful colored bird is this.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see