BLOG: Birding Highlights at Pumulani, by Robin Pope Safaris

In this blog from Robin Pope Safaris, we are heading over to Lake Malawi where we hear from the team at Pumulani who have witnessed an interesting catalogue of birds land around the lodge recently. Over to the team:

Here at Pumulani we have been thoroughly spoilt with some fabulous bird sightings the most recent of which has been a pair of Wire-tailed Swallows (Hirundo Smithii) who have decided to make our main area their new home. Like all of us, they enjoy spending the morning out on the deck watching Lake life and can often be found sitting side by side on the railing, grooming, and catching some early morning sun. After their morning routine they move on to breakfast which happens to coincide marvelously well with our breakfast time, and we find ourselves loosing time totally absorbed in watching them as they swoop through the main area catching whatever little insects they can find.

These small little birds typically 14-18cm in length have striking blue upper plumage accentuated by a reddish-brown cap with a bright white underpart. They possess a blue bar which starts from the beak, masking the eye and going down to their neck and back. So often overlooked as they are not easy to spend time admiring, they are wonderful little birds.

It’s not just the small birds that have been catching our eye as summer approaches and many of the birds enter their breeding season. A pair of fish eagles have most certainly been making their presence known and are nesting in on for the baobab trees just on the side of one of our walking trails and have been a very regular stop for us all. Even more so now as their youngster is getting stronger and starting to venture further away from the nest. Their tell-tale call can be heard around the lodge from morning to night.

In other exciting sightings and you are going to have to take our word for it as there is no photographic evidence, we have had guests spot a Pel’s Fishing Owl outside villa 8 which we are very excited about and are keeping a close look out for again.

So, as you can see, we have been having some lovely bird sightings in between all our exciting water sports and relaxing by the pool taking a breather from the pace of everyday life. And the guests have been thoroughly enjoying the last activity of the day with sundowners in the middle of the lake with ice cold beer or gin and tonic. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Find out more about the Robin Pope Safari lodges with the following links: Mkulumadzi Lodge, Kuthengo Camp, Pumulani Lodge