European Bee-eater in JUNE!!

Hwange National Park is blessed with several species of the colourful and exciting Bee-eaters. From the tiny "little Bee-eater" to the "carmine" with its tail steamers, the swallow tailed, the blue-cheeked and finally the European, we have them all and at this time of year (the rainy season) we find them in abundance. The Europeans are especially obvious when they are high above you calling in large numbers.
Well...... you can imagine my excitement when, in June, i was just heading to the office down an old dirt track and there on an power line was unmistakably a European Bee-eater. As it turns out, there are two populations of these birds in Southern Africa. One population breeds in South Africa and migrates North into central Africa and the other population are visitors from Europe.
The bird was photographed at a distance and as far as a photo of a European Bee-eater goes it is not much to look at but put into perspective...and it has caused some excitement!

The Hwange Birder