European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

 

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

The solitary European Roller (Coracias garrulus) was still present in the same area of Tacande (El Paso) this morning, June 10.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

Rather than trying to track down this shy bird on foot, the best strategy for getting close views is to wait at a spot with wide views of the foraging area, and then hope that the Roller perches close by at some point. This morning, the patient waiting paid dividends.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

From 07:45 until just after 10:00, the bird was visible at long range, hunting prey from a variety of lookouts. 

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

It wasn´t until about 10:10 that the Roller took flight and after swooping around for a while, finally landed on a bare twig a mere 20-30 metres from where I was standing (together with Fran Leal who had joined me an hour previously). The photographs shown here are the result of this stroke of good luck.