09/02/10
Spring has sprung -
Categories: Week 36 - 01 September 2010, Free Trade Zone and Jahra Pools Reserve
Spring has sprung, well at least in the southern hemisphere. Here in Kuwait, we are hoping that September will bring the awaited northerly winds (which may also mean dust, which we have had very little of this summer). Images by Mike Pope
On the way to Jahra Pools, I drove along the FTZ coast road and am amazed at how species and numbers change on a daily basis. It appears that numbers of Redshank arrived overnight, as they were the most common wader this afternoon
The Curlew really does stand out in the big flock of Redshankds
I arrived at Jahra Pools just after 4pm and it was still very hot and found that at most observations points the afternoon sun was not conducive to photography. However, I am also trying to record what is present and passing through on passage. A juvenile Roller was sitting on the tallest tree in the reserve
I parked near the main observation tower, sweating in the heat and saw that the 4 red-necked Phalaropes were still present
11 Black-necked Grebes suddenly appeared and this species was not seen on my previous visit
Next point was the quite pan between the reeds that offered some respite from the heat, the usual suspects from last week were still present - Temmincks Stint
and the Little Ringed Plover
A Green Sandpiper landed really close by, saw me in the car and left just as quickly
A Spotted Crake briefly popped out of the reeds to feed with a juvenile Moorhen - a bird not seen last week
A tacking call alerted me to this warbler quite far from me (excuse the image quality) that was preening itself in the reeds after a bath. I believe this is possibly a Basra Reed Warbler, but cannot see if it is a moulting adult (post breeding, as they did breed at Jahra Pools last summer) or a juvenile - any input on this would be appreciated
A Spotted Flycatcher on the way to the western side of the pan
Driving to the western side, a Marsh Harrier put up a flock of ducks in the distance. I grabbed a shot to see if they were the Garganey from last week, but it appears that these might be Wigeon - again not a quality image, but rather to assist in ID
Under the second observation tower, the afternoon sun was more favourable for this lone Black-tailed Godwit. A series of images, in which I only saw during post processing that two Broad-billed Sandpipers were also present
A juvenile Oriole that stopped for a drink and to perhaps roost for the night
Yellow Wagtail numbers continue to increase, this is the nominate race flava
09/01/10
Week 36 - 30 August 2010, Free Trade Zone and Sulaibikhat
As we head toward new moon, so high tide zone slowly recedes. However high tide is still good to observe the many waders that congregate on the shoreline. Images by Mike Pope
After work, although the sun wasnt favourable, I drove along the coastal road in the Free Trade Zone and observed large congregations of waders, predominantly Curlew Sandpipers. Some patience was required working throug them to find other species. Obviously the bigger waders like this European Oystercatcher stood out immediately
The next that stood above the Curlew Sandpipers was a Greenshank
Followed by a couple of Redshanks
A Dunlin was a little more difficult to pick out in the group
Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers making up the mixed flock
The smaller and darker Broad-billed Sandpiper didnt immediately stand out
From FTZ, a short drive to the Sulaibikhat Outfall where I sat quietly waiting for the birds to come closer as they got accustomed to my car. However, all that went out the window when some selfish local came driving up at speed in his X6, looked at the big flock and then blew his hooter and put them all in the air and then drove off - mission accomplished! A large flock of departing Bar-tailed Godwits were present in amongst the gulls and tern
I didnt stay much longer, but got some images of Caspian Plover as they returned to roost
together with Gull-billed Tern
and a White-winged Tern still in transition plumage, before I left
08/31/10
Week 36 - 29 August 2010, Pivot Fields and Sulaibikhat
This morning I was able to spend an hour at Pivot Fields before work and then catch the outgoing high tide at Sulaibikhat after work - I am quite liking these shortened working hours, as it has increased mid-week birding time. Images by Mike Pope
I hadnt been to Pivot Fields for sometime, so the guards didnt recognise me in work clothes and not wearing my cap, but after some discussion was given permission to enter. I stopped at the croc pond and found Great Reed Warbler
A smaller more robust warbler with a broad tail caught my eye and I was delighted to add Savi's Warbler as my 2nd lifer of this year in Kuwait. Here is a series of images which I used to validate the ID with the team working on the new Warbler Field Guide
After this excitement, I caught a lone Common Swift hawking above the croc pond
I then did a circuit around the farm and picked up two skittish Golden Plovers. The lack of northerly winds is confirmed by the lack of any raptors seen at pivot fields today. One of the fields held a small group of only juvenile Collared Pratincoles
Shrikes are making a comeback, this appears to be a juvenile Lesser Grey Shrike
A juvenile Woodchat Shrike with the reddish crown and after this bird it was time to head to the office, where I was still early
After work, I stopped at the Sulaibikhat outfall where the tide had already started to receed. A few Grey Plovers were seen - but heat haze at 3:30 in the afternoon was a challenge
A few Sanderlings were seen foraging along the shore
A couple of Ruff and Curlew Sandpipers
Little Egrets with their elegent plumes have evicted the Indian Reef Herons at the outfall, but didnt seem to be as succesful at catching any fish
A couple of Greater Flamingo's got into a little squabble
As opposed to these three - the picture of tranquility
There were a host of large white headed gulls and thanks to Yoav Perlman for his input. In this image the gull on the right is Armenian and the other two are Heuglins
A Steppe Gull on the left with two Heuglin Gulls - note the size difference between the two Heuglins
A single Heuglins (told by bulkiness, massive bill and dark mantle) with juvenile White-cheeked Tern flying by
08/30/10
Week 35 - 28 August 2010, Al Abraq, Jahra Farms and Jahra Pools
This was a weekend of intense humidity brought in with southerly winds and made being outdoors really uncomfortable. But, this does not stop the migration but it does explain why numbers are still down. Simon Price and I were out early and first headed west before coming back to the coastline. Images by Mike Pope
At 6:30 in the morning we were perspiring in the first 10-minutes of our walk. With migration slowly picking up, so the shooters have returned and were shooting with automatic shotguns around the boundary of the oasis farm. It really is distressing and the amount of dead and wounded birds seen is even more depressing. Common Whitethroats are well, still common at the farm
This Rosefinch was an encouraging start to the morning
Hoopoes are now seen pretty much everywhere
A single Grey Wagtail was seen, as we did on our last visit
A lone juvenile Rose-coloured Starling in the fields was also a good bird for the day
The European Bee-eaters were staying low in the trees and on the ground, as they are prime targets for the indiscriminate shooters lurking on the fence line
Spotted Flycatchers have returned
Most of the shrikes have now been seen, this a Lesser Grey Shrike
A male Stonechat in transition plumage, possibly Byzantine Stonechat (Saxicola m. armenicus)
On the way out the good looking male White-throated Robin
By now we were drenched, so we headed to SAANR - but were not granted access, as Simon did not have a permit. Plan B, was to try Jahra Farms where there were good numbers of Barred Warbler and a few more Grey Wagtails
and a Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin
Our last stop was Jahra Pools, although time of day wasnt ideal. The combination of heat haze and humidity is also not conducive to great photography. The quiet waterway between the reeds produced the same birds seen earlier in the week like these two Little Ringed Plovers
Juvenile Little Stint
The Temmincks Stint together with a Little Stint
There are still numbers of juvenile Moorhen around
The White-tailed Lapwing with Citrine Wagtail tagging along
On the western side of the pan, we saw two very dark Temmincks Stints with upperparts as dark as Common Sandpiper. I assume this is breeding plumage, as this dark 'form' is not shown in the new Collins Fieldguide. The image quality is affected due to heat/humidity haze
A young Caspian Plover was a good bird to end the sweaty days birding
08/29/10
Week 35 - 26 August 2010, Sulaibikhat and Jahra Pools
Another week gone by in a flash, so I decided to check the outfall at Sulaibikhat and then see if Jahra Pools had any water before Iftar at 6:30. Images by Mike Pope
Along the beach I found this European Oystercatcher with part of one leg missing. Chatting to Abulrahman, he mentioned that this same bird was first seen in the same vicinity in Aug 2007, Aug 2008 and now again in August 2010
By the time I reached the outfall the tide had already receeded, so most birds were too far out. I watched some young Slender-billed Gulls that appeared to be playing a game with a leaf. One would pick it up, fly and dive into water, only to be chased by others trying to steal the leaf and when they did - they would be chased. Not seen this behaviour before
By now I had enough of Gulls and Terns and headed to Jahra Pools which had been dry again a week or two ago. On this visit it was full again and as a result had a different variety of birds that I could enjoy. I stopped at some quiet shallow water between two reedbeds and was rewarded with a pair of Purple Swamphens
A cracking Temmincks Stint
A distant Wood Sandpiper
As well as one of the White-tailed Lapwings
And a Little Ringed Plover
As I was about to depart, a Baillons Crake popped out of the reed base. Separated from Little Crake by more spots on scapulars and primary coverts, darker ear coverts and more importantly short primary projection
Driving back to the main pan, a Winchat was sheltering in the shade of the reeds
And one of the many Isabelline Wheatears that were seen in and around the reserve
Around the main pan, I got close to one of the many Green Sandpipers
Little Crakes are starting to appear in numbers now
One of two Lesser Grey Shrikes that were seen
A single Bluethroat was seen foraging on the abundant midges around the reeds
Driving along the western boundary, a bird flew across the road and my initial impression was White-throated Robin. However, when I got my bins on it saw that it was a very dark toned Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin. On plumage tone this could be syriacus, although dark familiaris have also been recorded. The only way to really be sure is with biometrics
There was a flock of 50+ Garganey in the middle of the pan
The bird(s) of the day was these two Black-tailed Godwits in the fading light
A Little Grebe in the reflection of the setting sun
I have a soft spot for sunsets
08/25/10
Week 35 - 23 August 2010, Sulaibikhat
This morning the high tide was favourable, so a quick stop off at Sulaibikhat before work where I bumped into Simon Price and a new birder and photographer, Christine Canzanella, who both had the same idea. Images by Mike Pope
When I first arrived, the tide was still a way out - but many species were present feeding as the tide came in and others washing and preening in the outfall. Bar-tailed Godwits are still present in both breeding and non-breeding plumage. The non-breeding bird was significantly bigger thant the one still in breeding plumage
Along the edge of the outfall I saw Greater Sand Plover
Common Sandpiper
and a Redshank feeding in the shallows
Terns and Gull numbers are still increasing, here a juvenile Gull-billed Tern coming in to land
Part of the mixed flock of birds on the incoming tide
A Greater Flamingo touching down
The resident Indian Reef Heron returning to 'it's' spot
One of the many juvenile Gulls
Outta my way pipsqueak! Which is exactly what happened as this large gull pushed the juvenile Slender-billed Gull out of its way
A Greater Sand Plover challenged the smaller Ringed Plover and lost the territorial battle
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