03/09/2026
'Casual Layover'
Caught this relaxed little traveler taking a well-deserved breather on the wire yesterday!
The European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) have officially arrived in Malta, kicking off their autumn migration south toward sub-Saharan Africa. Watching him perch so effortlessly, you'd almost forget the astonishing journey these birds undertake. Before sitting back like this, he’s been working hard hunting on the wing—and as their name suggests, bees and wasps are their absolute favorite snack.
To avoid getting stung, a bee-eater will snap up a bee in mid-air, fly back to a perch just like this wire, and repeatedly beat the insect against the hard surface to remove the stinger and squeeze out the venom before swallowing it whole! 🐝✨
These colorful visitors won't stay long, but hopefully, this flock sticks around for another week or so before continuing their flight.
Nikon Z Series | Telephoto Lens