Blue Swallow, calling Cisticolas and Lowveld specials

Waiting up on the hills near Kaapsehoop for a sighting of a Blue Swallow with Peter and Enos seemed such a long shot, only one pair has been seen here this year. Wait we did and moved location too. The group was treated to a quick flypast by the female and I felt less than satisfied, it all happened so fast and my brain seems to shut down and I forget to notice details. So, my list now includes a Blue Swallow but I want to now go to KZN to see if I can see a male at some point.

Our day with Peter Lawson started with Cut-throat Finches nesting in abandoned weaver nests outside the Town Lodge in Nelspruit. I have always enjoyed the 'little lads' of the bird world and was chuffed to see the Swee Waxbills too later in the day in the forest at Kaapsehoop.

The photo below was a special visit to the McOnie farm to see the juvenile Crowned Eagle - second time lucky, the chick was born in October and a treat to see from the farmhouse's front garden! Thanks to all for the access to the farm on a sunday and my first upclose encounter with macadamia trees, ended up buying loads of nuts from Halls and eating them all day.

Another treat was Peter flushing the Lesser Honeyguide who was calling from high in the canopy and obligingly flew out on cue and showed itself...

This is Peter and I after a Red-faced Cisticola for my life list and we did get one too - Fred found it calling in the bush next to the road. It was a day for cisticolas - Wailing and Wing-snapping up in Kaapsehoop, Croaking on our drive out of Nelspruit, great help for me as I do not have a good birding ear which can be so frustrating.

Memorable images from the Kruger Park, the European and Lilac-breasted Rollers are common and an eyeful of colour against the sky line. We saw many juveniles on our travels, most of them stumping me but the Fish Eagle is a certainty and a glorious looking bird.