Blue-cheeked bee-eater are an abundant summer visitor to the St Lucia area. They are found in large flocks hawking insects over the grasslands and wetlands surrounding St Lucia and within the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park. They often perch conspicuously on the telephone lines making them difficult to miss.

Blue-cheeked bee-eaters perched on telephone lines in the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park.

Blue-cheeked bee-eater are also fond of dune scrub on the beaches where they hunt in the early mornings, taking advantage of insects which are exposed and easy to spot. 

Blue-cheeked bee-eater in dune scrub

They arrive in November (in worn plumage) and depart in April in their fresh, brightly coloured plumage.