21-31 August 2009 - during a break in my Guinea work schedule I managed to return to South Africa and get in a short break to the Escarpment area of Mpumalanga (Crystal Springs) and both the southern and northern parts of the Kruger National Park.

Highlight of the trip was the sighting in the Kruger Park of a Palmnut Vulture on the Mphongolo Loop north of Shingwedzi Restcamp. Apart from a dozen or so breeding pairs in the Mtunzini coastal strip of northern Zululand this bird is a rare vagrant in other parts of South Africa. This was my first southern Africa sighting and only my second ever, having just seen my first one in Guinea less than 3 weeks previously.

Other highlights were the sighting of three Olive Woodpecker in the Hazyview area, only my second sighting of this species and Swee Waxbill both at Crystal Springs near Pilgrim's Rest and also at God's Window near Graskop - my 4th and 5th ever sightings of this one.

Despite it being late winter, with most of the summer intra-African and Palaearctic migrants not yet present, I was pleasantly surprised to chalk up 195 species for the trip.

Neil