Birding Bahrain ID Problems Home Ringing Hypocolius O & B - AJ Wildlife Birding Kuwait World-Birds Brendans Birds Enviromental News

09/02/10

South Africa (ZA)   Spring has sprung  -  Categories: Photographs  -  @ 04:58:39 pm

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

Redshank

The Curlew really does stand out in the big flock of Redshankds

Curlew and Redshank

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

juvenile Roller

I parked near the main observation tower, sweating in the heat and saw that the 4 red-necked Phalaropes were still present

Red-necked Phalarope

11 Black-necked Grebes suddenly appeared and this species was not seen on my previous visit

Black-necked Grebe

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

Temmincks Stint

and the Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

A Green Sandpiper landed really close by, saw me in the car and left just as quickly

Green Sandpiper

A Spotted Crake briefly popped out of the reeds to feed with a juvenile Moorhen - a bird not seen last week

Spotted Crake and Moorhen

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

Possible Basra Reed Warbler

Possible Basra Reed Warbler

Possible Basra Reed Warbler

A Spotted Flycatcher on the way to the western side of the pan

Spotted Flycatcher

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

Wigeon

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

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

A juvenile Oriole that stopped for a drink and to perhaps roost for the night

juvenile Oriole

Yellow Wagtail numbers continue to increase, this is the nominate race flava

Yellow Wagtail

09/01/10

South Africa (ZA)   Along the shoreline  -  Categories: Photographs  -  @ 12:29:30 pm

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

European Oystercatcher

The next that stood above the Curlew Sandpipers was a Greenshank

Greenshank

Followed by a couple of Redshanks

Redshank

A Dunlin was a little more difficult to pick out in the group

Dunlin and Curlew Sandpipers

Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers making up the mixed flock

Lesser and Greater Sandplovers

The smaller and darker Broad-billed Sandpiper didnt immediately stand out

Broad-billed Sandpiper

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

Bar-tailed Godwit

I didnt stay much longer, but got some images of Caspian Plover as they returned to roost

Caspian Tern

together with Gull-billed Tern

Gull-billed Tern

and a White-winged Tern still in transition plumage, before I left

White-winged Tern

08/31/10

South Africa (ZA)   Ramadan Migration  -  Categories: Photographs  -  @ 01:17:51 pm

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

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

Savi's Warbler

Savi's Warbler

Savi's Warbler

Savi's Warbler

After this excitement, I caught a lone Common Swift hawking above the croc pond

Common Swift

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

juvenile Collared Pratincole

Shrikes are making a comeback, this appears to be a juvenile Lesser Grey Shrike

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

juvenile Woodchat Shrike

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

Grey Plover

A few Sanderlings were seen foraging along the shore

Sanderling

A couple of Ruff and Curlew Sandpipers

Ruff

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

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

A couple of Greater Flamingo's got into a little squabble

Greater Flamingo

As opposed to these three - the picture of tranquility

Greater Flamingo

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

Heuglins and Armenian Gull

A Steppe Gull on the left with two Heuglin Gulls - note the size difference between the two Heuglins

Steppe and Heuglins Gull

A single Heuglins (told by bulkiness, massive bill and dark mantle) with juvenile White-cheeked Tern flying by

Heuglins Gull and White-cheeked Tern

08/30/10

South Africa (ZA)   Trek to the West  -  Categories: Photographs  -  @ 11:26:47 am

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

Common Whitethroat

This Rosefinch was an encouraging start to the morning

Rosefinch

Hoopoes are now seen pretty much everywhere

Hoopoe

A single Grey Wagtail was seen, as we did on our last visit

Grey Wagtail

A lone juvenile Rose-coloured Starling in the fields was also a good bird for the day

Rose-coloured Starling

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

European Bee-eater

Spotted Flycatchers have returned

Spotted Flycatcher

Most of the shrikes have now been seen, this a Lesser Grey Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike

A male Stonechat in transition plumage, possibly Byzantine Stonechat (Saxicola m. armenicus)

Stonechat

On the way out the good looking male White-throated Robin

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

Grey Wagtail

and a Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

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

Little Ringed Plover

Juvenile Little Stint

Little Stint

The Temmincks Stint together with a Little Stint

Temmincks and Little Stint

There are still numbers of juvenile Moorhen around

Moorhen

The White-tailed Lapwing with Citrine Wagtail tagging along

White-tailed Lapwing

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

Temmincks Stint

Temmincks Stint

A young Caspian Plover was a good bird to end the sweaty days birding

Caspian Plover

Caspian Plover

08/29/10

South Africa (ZA)   Ramadan Migration  -  Categories: Photographs  -  @ 02:07:04 pm

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

European Oystercatcher

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

Slender-billed Gull

Slender-billed Gull

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

Purple Swamphen

A cracking Temmincks Stint

Temmincks Stint

Temmincks Stint

A distant Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

As well as one of the White-tailed Lapwings

White-tailed Lapwing

And a Little Ringed Plover

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

Baillons Crake

Driving back to the main pan, a Winchat was sheltering in the shade of the reeds

Winchat

And one of the many Isabelline Wheatears that were seen in and around the reserve

Isabelline Wheatear

Around the main pan, I got close to one of the many Green Sandpipers

Green Sandpiper

Little Crakes are starting to appear in numbers now

Little Crake

One of two Lesser Grey Shrikes that were seen

Lesser Grey Shrike

A single Bluethroat was seen foraging on the abundant midges around the reeds

Bluethroat

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

Rufous-tailed Srub Robin

Rufous-tailed Srub Robin

There was a flock of 50+ Garganey in the middle of the pan

Garganey

Garganey

The bird(s) of the day was these two Black-tailed Godwits in the fading light

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

A Little Grebe in the reflection of the setting sun

Little Grebe

I have a soft spot for sunsets

Jahra Pool Sunset

08/25/10

South Africa (ZA)   Sulaibikhat: IV  -  Categories: Photographs  -  @ 02:31:25 pm

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

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Along the edge of the outfall I saw Greater Sand Plover

Greater Sand Plover

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

and a Redshank feeding in the shallows

Redshank

Terns and Gull numbers are still increasing, here a juvenile Gull-billed Tern coming in to land

Gull-billed Tern

Part of the mixed flock of birds on the incoming tide

Gulls, Terns and Flamingo's

A Greater Flamingo touching down

Greater Flamingo

The resident Indian Reef Heron returning to 'it's' spot

Indian Reef Heron

One of the many juvenile Gulls

Gull

Outta my way pipsqueak! Which is exactly what happened as this large gull pushed the juvenile Slender-billed Gull out of its way

Greater Sand Plover

A Greater Sand Plover challenged the smaller Ringed Plover and lost the territorial battle

Greater Sand Plover and Ringed Plover

Greater Sand Plover and Ringed Plover

Greater Sand Plover and Ringed Plover

:: Next Page >>

Hawar-Islands.comBirding Top 500 CounterHawar-Islands.com
Bahrain Bird Report Bahrain Kuwait Birding


powered by
b2evolution