We soared with the eagles

 The first sighting we had just past Phalaborwa gate was this Tawny Eagle. 

It was around lunch time? At least for the eagle.

This is the best shot I could get of the Brown Snake Eagle

On a ride outside Shingwedzi, a Juvenile Bataleur landed right next to our vehicle and posed long enough for us to take some pictures. The wind was blowing, lifting the feathers on it's head and neck.

To capture a quilt

And more birds

Near the Reception area at Crystal Springs, we saw this Chorister Robin-Chat. They are called Lawaaimakerjanfrederik in Afrikaans - one of the lovely discriptive Afrikaans names. This one was very quiet and I still don't know why these quaint little birds are saddled with a name like Jan Frederik!

And hopping right next to it, a Cape Robin Chat - Gewone Janfrederik.

This is the best picture I could get of this little Neddicky

 

The  Cape White Eyes were all over the bushes chattering away.

 

This Red-Winged Starling found a nice little nook for a nest! 

Just beneath the cottage, we saw this Buff-Streaked Chat (Bergklipwagter) sitting like a penguin on the rock! 

A little later we saw the female. 

A couple of spectacular birds

The Lilac Breasted Roller

The Gurney's Sugarbird had us quessing for a while.

The bottle brush bushes around the cottages attracted a great number of Greater Double-collared Sunbirds

This is a picture of the brightly coloured male.

And the female

Quick breakaway to Crystal Springs

This is Cottage number 86, Crystal Springs.

What a lovely cozy cottage with exquisite view of the valley and facing the sunset!