The broken-neck is one of the the sunbathing postures I frequently observed.

Hoopoes (Upupa epops) and Rock Sparrows (Petronia petronia) are commonly observed around the nest holes.

Rock Sparrows use vacant Bee-eater holes to nest...

...while Hoopoes take benefit of Bee-eaters wastes at the entrance of the nest or on the ground below. In fact it is a rewarding site to explore for the Hoopoe because when the adult Bee-eater brings a prey to the nest it happens that the youngster fails to catch it and if the prey eventually falls down on the ground the adult seldom tries to catch it back.

The flute-like song that we usually hear from Bee-eaters passing over high in the sky is just one of its more than 20 different cries used according to the situation. Its vast vocabulary includes : contact greeting, alarm call, feeding young, courtship feeding, mating, solicitation for food from chicks,…

Bee-eaters constitute lifetime couples. Nevertheless, in the very beginning of their arrival on the nesting site, couples strenghten their links with a ritual offering of prey.

At this stage, most of the female feeding is made by the male in this courtship offering.

Following the offering/acceptance of prey, mating can occur. A very quick sequence that lasts not more than 5 seconds. In this short period of time, you have to adjust your camera orientation very smoothly (better have a good tripod and ballhead) because a sudden movement would end in the birds going away. For focusing and exposure : no time to adjust you have to rely on your gear.

And eventualy it is very seldom when you don't get a branch hiding the actors. But at last you've got it in the box and it is a very very good day.