The spunky young green bee eaters in the peri urban patches of OMR

The spunky young green bee eaters in the peri urban patches of OMR



As one progresses towards the extremeties of Old Mahabalipuram Road, expanses that tie urbania and peri-urbania in a neat package heave into sight. Barely would one have locked the gates of urbania and turned around to set birding rubber boots in peri-urbania than a green bee eater would flit by, displaying its skill to hunt on the wing. There are skulkers among birds, and birdwatchers need to be on their reluctant tail to have a clear view of them. It drains time and energy. In contrast, the green bee eater would seem to be on the birdwatcher’s tail. Ranging over peri-urban patches, green bee eaters are at ease being watched. The young among the skulkers might be a tad bolder till they are young no more. The young among the green bee eaters are spunkier, staying a tad closer to human eyes than their seniors. At Sholinganallur, in a space that has a touch of the peri-urban, a gaggle of juvenile bee eaters has been congregating, and they seem quite venturesome, hunting for bees on the wing, close to human presence. These birds have a chin with a distinctly yellowish-green tint that are a dead giveaway that they have considerably more days ahead of them than behind them. Juvenile green bee eaters at Sholinganallur on July 3, 2025.


A juvenile green bee eater at Sholinganallur on July 3, 2025. Photo: Prince Frederick | Photo Credit: PRINCE FREDERICK