Male Koel

I was in the study a few days ago and I heard a noise outside in the garden. I spotted this male koel trying his best to reach the strawberry guava. He was a bit too heavy for the some of the branches of the bush but he did manage to get some of the fruit.

His lady friend was there too and I managed to get a photo of her as well. I will post that one tomorrow.

This isn't the best picture but I had to be so careful not to spook the birds because they are so bashful and as they were under the pergola on that side of the house they had a bit of trouble reaching the fence again to escape with the fruit.

[Annie D]

fabulous birds - lovely capture

[Wylie]

they are amazing looking, but really, couldn't you just shoot them at 2am?

[Rob Z]

I've never been so close to one - he's quite a sight with his red eye.

[Beryl Lloyd]

Quite a menacing look with that hooked beak and fierce red eye , but a lovely iridescent sheen to his lovely black feathers . He look determined to reach that fruit !

[Joan Robillard]

Wonderful close up

[Susan Wakely]

Look at that beady eye.

[Peter]

Lovely capture considering the restrictions you were under Babs:)

[Kathy A]

Wow, that bright red eye!

[Ingrid]

I like his eye and how he is crouching to get that fruit!

[Diana]

How wonderful, I don't think I have seen this one before. Lovely shot and narrative.

[Valerie Chesney]

super capture & his eye is on the fruit.

[Esther Rosenberg]

His pose is so funny! ,Like he is sneaking in.

[Merrelyn]

He's got his beady eye on that fruit.

[KV]

He looks like he is ready to pounce!

[mittens (Marilyn)]

Well spotted and a great capture.

[Jacqueline]

Love your close up!

[Susie]

Great capture

[Kate]

Very intent look

[Fisher Family]

I like the way he is crouching. That eye is quite bold!

Ian

[Lou Ann]

Such a great capture. I enjoyed your narrative.

[carol white]

Great capture

[haskar]

Great timing. Fabulous capture.

[Pat Knowles]

Lovely shot Babs & his eye matches the berries!

[gloria jones]

Super capture

[Babs]

@annied @robz @joansmor @wakelys @pcoulson @kjarn @ingrid01 @ludwigsdiana @happysnaps @merrelyn @kvphoto @mittens @jacqbb @susie1205 @k9photo @fishers @louannwarren @carolmw @haskar @happypat @seattlite Thanks, I carefully slid open the glass door of the study to take this photo and tried to take a photo quietly, not wanting to scare him off. Luckily I managed to get this photo and then I spotted his female friend too and got a photo of her. That one isn't so good because she was very wary and I think she spotted me just as I took her photo. I will post her photo today.

@annied @pusspup They are fabulous birds but as Wylie said not at 2 am when they are calling out for a mate ha ha.

One morning a few days ago we could hear a male koel calling out for a mate for ages with no success and David said 'Trust us to get the ugly one' ha ha

[Ann H. LeFevre]

LOL love all the mating comments. I think it's a good shot- a different pose than the typical ones, which is what holds your interest in the photo.

[Shutterbug]

He definitely looks like he is hunting.

[Rick]

Great shot. Cool looking red eye.