I was in awe of the lilac breasted roller at first sight, and they have remained my very favourite bird to spot on safari ever since. It would be a challenge to think of a time on a game drive when I saw one and didn’t mention it; not necessarily as a request to stop, but it is just such a striking bird that I can’t help but comment on it. Seeing them with a beautiful clear blue sky in the background is a bonus, but they are beautiful even in flat light.
Here are a couple of images of lilac breasted rollers from my most recent trip.
A lilac breasted roller coming in to land at an ant hill. The rollers were very active in this area, which was not far from the banks of the Chobe River. They gave me lots of opportunity to try to catch them in flight. Chobe National Park, Botswana. April, 2024.This roller posed for a decent amount of time, in perfect early morning light, allowing not only for some good photographs, but a good opportunity to study the bird. Notice the tiny hook at the end of the beak, and that the eyebrow feathers are perhaps the plainest ones anywhere on its body. Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana. April, 2024.Another roller in perfect light, showing off a view of the underside and wings as it takes off from its dead tree perch. Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana. April, 2024.
