Sometimes the partner gets too close to the action and gets a mud facial. - Graeme Guy's Nature Photography

A photographic essay of a colony of Chestnut-headed bee-eaters.

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Sometimes the pair seem to induce similar behavior in each other.

The sun rises behind a popular roosting tree for bee-eaters and other species. Bee-eaters are diurnal and roost in nearby trees and resume their activity once the sun has risen.

During January/February the weather is warm and the ground is dry. Pairs of Bee-eaters will descend and pick their nesting spot together.

Two techniques are used for tunneling. The large and slightly curved bill is an ideal pick and is used to loosen the soil.

The loosened dirt is then removed from the immediate area by the bird jacking up it's legs forming a semi-pipe with its wings and using the feet in a running motion to propel the soil backwards, While the bill is an ideal tool for it's job the feet are small and dainty and seem ill-suited for such rigorous work.

From a rear view it can be seen how the jacked-up feet are in an ideal position with kick back the loosened soil.

A partner flies in to assist in the digging.

Sometimes the partner gets too close to the action and gets a mud facial.

Here is an example of interrupted teamwork, the bee-eater in front is digging and the one behind is sweeping....although I suspect the front one does not want the close proximity.

Sometimes the partner gets too close to the action and gets a mud facial.

Sometimes the partner gets too close to the action and gets a mud facial.

Sometimes the partner gets too close to the action and gets a mud facial.

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