From the moment we arrived at chalet 27 in Thendele Camp in the Royal Natal National Park in December, we just loved the unit’s setting. And we were not the only ones, as a pair of Greater Striped Swallows were diligently building their mud-walled nest on the veranda, quite unconcerned about the humans sitting below them and watching them go about the task.
Thendele Chalet 27, Royal Natal National Park, December 2016
Greater Striped Swallow bringing mud to build its nest on the veranda of Thendele’s unit 27
Greater Striped Swallow bringing mud to build its nest on the veranda of Thendele’s unit 27
Greater Striped Swallows bringing mud to build their nest on the veranda of Thendele’s unit 27
Greater Striped Swallow bringing mud to build its nest on the veranda of Thendele’s unit 27
Proud builder
Departing to get some more building material
DeWetsWild 
I love the Swallow’s adaptability to artificial environments and remember the many nests underneath the bridge over the estuary at St. Lucia. Great having them in the chalet – better than a snake 😀
I don’t think we always want to know with what we shared a bungalow, Maurice…
Pingback: Drakensberg Birding | de Wets Wild
Great shots!
Thanks Iriz, and welcome here!
They are quite different looking then our swallows,( I haven’t seen one in years though) they stick to the country side/barns and such , yours also seem a bit bigger, same nest buildings abilities all around but like to dive bomb people! ;0
Very interesting that your swallows reacted so violently to people when protecting their nest, Teresa!
I saw a pair of these at the P E university that had discovered a heap of plaster and was using this to build their nest. The building maintenance most probably had a nasty suprize when they tried to dismantle it
Building their own fortress!
I imagine they thought you were the squatters. 🙂
janet
You may well be quite correct, Janet!
This must have been quite interesting to watch.
Very entertaining, Lois! And we soon realised they must have been at this for quite some time, as our presence on the veranda, right below their nest, did not perturb them at all.