Male Koel

This is the time of year where the koel's appear looking for a mate.

Luckily this one turned up and found a female mate more or less straight away.

Sorry if I am a bit absent at the moment, but my friend Jo is here for a few days.

[Ethel]

They make a loud far reaching call. I hope they don't keep you awake.

[Yao RL]

A funny looking bird, looks like he is going to lose his grip.

[Peter]

Lovely capture Babs, nice use of a shallow depth of field to bring out his detail and colours:)

[Jane Martin]

And what a fine bird he is! Very handsome boy.

[Beryl Lloyd]

Such a handsome bird -- you have captured him so well -- great detail , sheen and colours

[leggzy]

Wonderful capture! Are they those birds that have a very unusual but distinctive call when they are looking for a mate?

[Jenfurj]

Great capture, especially of that eye. Glad he was lucky to find a mate.

[Cindy]

That red eye!

[Babs]

@leggzy Yes it is, he has been sitting in one of our trees for days and his call was really loud and shrill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7CJT-qtOzs
He has got a mate now though and I will post a photo of her tomorrow, so maybe they will keep quiet now.

[sally agnew]

He is a beautiful glossy chap, I love the red eye :)

[leggzy]

@onewing ah yes, that's the one! We usually have one in our area each year (not till its a bit warmer though, from memory) but it calls on & on for what feels like forever. ....he mustn't be able to find a partner is my guess. I quite like their call....from a decent distance lol

[Babs]

@leggzy Ha ha, thank God we got the good looking one this year and not the ugly one or we could be stuck with the call for weeks.

[Jodie]

Wonderful shot, I love that red eye!

[*lynn]

sweet capture, great focus on the eye!

[Joyce]

Love the bright red eye. great shot Babs

[8yearson]

Super focus on him Babs, looks like he is clinging on for dear life!

[gloria jones]

Excellent capture

[tony gig]

Beautiful close up of this lovely bird...Fav

[Gosia]

Great details.

[mittens (Marilyn)]

Wonderful capture. Fav!

[Lee]

I think it has its beady red eye on you.

[Julienne Jones]

What a handsome fellow - so glossy and beautiful red eyes

[Margaret Brown]

Love those red eyes, lovely catch!

[Jennifer]

Ooh that red eye! Great capture

[Pat Knowles]

Beautiful beady red eye!

[bkb in the city]

Great capture

[Helen Jane]

This isn't a bird I have encountered. I love the shine.

[Stephanie]

What a lovely capture! I do like it's red eye. I googled this bird as we don't see them in the UK, the females are so different with all their spots!

[Chris K]

lovely bird with his red eye. Having guests certainly puts one behind with 365. I am madly trying to catch up again now my UK cousins have gone home again.

[Nicole Campbell]

He looks like he is contemplating his next move

[Lois]

Fantastic shot especially the red eye!

[Jane Pittenger]

Great pop of color in that wonderful and sharp eye

[Caroline]

What a beautiful shot, Babs! Definitely a very unfamiliar bird for me, very cool looking.

[Paul]

Excellent. Love the red eye :)

[Sally Ings]

Love how his eye pops

[Babs]

@ethelperry @yaorenliu @pcoulson @janemartin @beryl @365projectorgjenfurj @fullcircle @hermann @jodies @lynnz @thistle @jackie8 @seattlite @tonygig @gosia @mittens @gamelee @julienne1 @craftymeg @jesperani @happypat @bkbinthecity @helenhall @stephanies @cruiser @nicolecampbell @loweygrace @jgpittenger @kerosene @paul10 @salza Thanks everyone. I am a bit behind with replying to your lovely comments. My friend Jo has left now so should be able to catch up a bit more often over the next few days. Had a lovely time with her here though.

[Kathy A]

I like his little red eye.

[Annie D]

A fav of mine....great shot Babs