Blue Swallow (1 Viewer)

X

XavierVandevyvre

Member

• Sep 10, 2012

• #1

Hi,

I plan to try and see Blue Swallow at Kaapsehoop (Blue Swallow Nature Reserve) end of October but I heard that they are not on their breeding grounds before december! Right?

Another question: where they spend southern winter?

Xavier

 

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• Sep 10, 2012

• #2

I believe the swallows begin to return from October, so you stand a chance at the end of the month.

In the southern winter, they go 'up there', a hazy definition of largely unknown areas of central Africa, but in the case of Blue Swallow including areas around Lake Victoria

 

Sal

Well-known member

• Sep 11, 2012

• #3

Unfortunately no Blue Swallows have been seen at Kaapsehoop for the last couple of years. The only remaining populations seem to be in KZN. There are probably only about 50 pairs left in South Africa.

 

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• Sep 11, 2012

• #4

Mh, bad news,

I presume pairs still at Malalotja, Swaziland?

 

Sal

Well-known member

• Sep 11, 2012

• #5

I don't know Jos, but I hope so.

 

X

XavierVandevyvre

Member

• Sep 12, 2012

• #6

Waouw! Critical situation!! :-(
I suppose that KZN site is Creighton & surroundings?!

X

 

M

Matt Eade

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2012

• #7

I saw 2 pairs of Blue Swallow in KZN last November at a site about an hour away from Underberg. Best to hire a guide from the area and they will take you there. I won't name the site for obvious reasons. Good luck.

 

Sal

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2012

• #8

Good advice Matt.

 

M

mikemeidlinger

New member

• Sep 24, 2014

• #9

I know that a single pair was found breeding close to Sabie Town in the summers of 2012 and 2013 in Mpumalanga and a few pairs close to the Blyde River Canyon outside Graskop also hanging on. The best way to find information is to contact local bird guide Enos Zulu (+27 (0)72 331 1197) who has permission to visit these sites and can be met in Nelspruit. He also offers other specials such as African Finfoot, Bat Hawk, Narina Trogon, Green Twinspot, Buff-spotted Flufftail and African Crowned Eagle and more irregularly from September to February Ayre's Hawk Eagle within a 50km radius of the city. Good luck hunting.