Birding is generally very quiet at 7am at the oasis, but I did find the small flock of Penduline Tits which have remained for a good few weeks

Armenian Gull - round headed, short blunt tipped bill and dark iris

Al Abraq is a private oasis farm almost on the western boundary of Kuwait. Once you turn off into the desert, the farm slowly appears in the distance

Just before the farm, I came across a lone herder which was a timeless photographic opportunity

Once at the farm, I headed straight to the patch of elephant grass (we think that is what it is) and found the enigmatic Dead Sea Sparrows fairly quickly. I lifted my new baby to take the first pics and the camera had frozen - nothing! Panic ensured momentarily, I swapped the batteries around in the grip and it has been fine since. There were 3 in the flock and are really smart little birds

A female Spanish Sparrow flew in to feed with the 3 Dead Sea Sparrows and the size difference was immediately noticeable

I couldnt relocate the Penduline Tits (perhaps it was still too early), so walked around the farm and found that Red breasted Flycatchers were still present, at least 5 birds were seen

Stonechats were still present

A dark phase Steppe Buzzard flew over scattering many birds below

Water Pipits had arrived in numbers were seen feeding in some of the crop patches

Before I left later in the morning with it having warmed up, I went back to the elephant grass patch and found Abdulrahman with his awesome kit at the sparrow spot, only to discover that the Tits were feeding in the patch

There was a mixed group of 5 Penduline Tits (nothing like those we have in South Africa). However they proved to be in tricky lighting conditions - small light bird in dark green surrounds and bright sunlight. The camera handled the conditions well, in my opinion.

Early winter mornings are not the most productive at this oasis farm, but you do tend to find raptors that roosted for the night. This pale phase Booted Eagle was one of the raptors I saw on this visit.

All 3 of the Sparrowhawks I saw were juvenile/1st winter birds

Early winter brings in Red breasted Flycatchers and this morning I had up to 5 different birds around the farm. They are challenging but rewarding photographic subjects.

This Stonechat followed the workers as they were harvesting some of the crops

A few Tree Pipits were seen feeding in some of the crop patches

Yellow Wagtail numbers have decreased dramatically at the tail end of migration

The Yellows have now been replaced by White Wagtails that over winter in Kuwait

On my way across the desert, I came across this small, but very fast Snake like Lizard

Next stop was Jahra Farm, no sign of the Indian Roller but I did see this Squacco Heron pounce onto this large cricket

At Sulaibikhat, the tide was too far out for any birding. I was entertained watching Mud Skippers have territorial battles over their little pactch of mud

Rick found a photographed a Yellow browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) which is now considered a full species. Thanks to Tero Toivanen, Brian Foster and George Gregory for pointing out the correct ID of this bird, which was initially thought to be a Two barred Greenish Warbler.

Raptors are still abundant at Pivot Fields with many variants of Common/Steppe Buzzard

Before Charlie arrived, I did a quick recce to JEO and was dismayed to see that the relentless and unabated slaughter of migratory birds during Ramadan was at is peak with many cars full of shooters blasting at everything that passed within range. This was not a place to expose a well travelled international birder and conservationist to - or maybe I should have to show the darker side of birding in Kuwait. Aside from hunting, JEO suffers badly from habitat destruction through reed cutting and overgrazing. These herders appear oblivious to their contribution to loss of habitat at what should be a prime birding site and a protected jewel, by Kuwait authorities

On the way to our meeting point, I stopped at the green intersection of the 7th Ring Road and the 80 and photographed a moulting Great Reed Warbler

A backlit and unidentified Warbler at the same location

I met Charlie at Starbucks straight off his flight and our first stop was Pivot Fields which provided privacy, solitude and NO Hunters. Raptors were still in evidence and today was a day of variety in which we saw 9 Raptor species. 1st year Harriers are challenging, so if I have got any of these wrong, please let me know. This is a first year Montagu Harrier

An Osprey put in an unexpected appearance over the Croc pool

There were a number of Steppe Eagles roosting on the irrigation systems and telephone poles

We watched an interesting interaction between a Marsh Harrier and a Short toed Eagle, with the Harrier appearing to get the upper hand, so to speak

The Spotted Redshank was still around, but not very obliging

All too soon we had to leave, as we had a full day. Next stop was Doha Spur and Sulaibikhat Bay for Gulls and Waders. We had large numbers of Crab Plovers which Charlie was delighted to see

There were large numbers of Curlew present in the shallows

We managed to find two Broad billed Sandpipers in amongst the other small caldrids

Many Terek Sandpipers were seen on the mud flats

Last stop of the day was SAANR where we spent quite a bit of time, first bird on Charlies list to see was Bar tailed Lark, which we found rather quickly - but was a bird I hadnt seen in the reserve for quite some time

This was followed by a lone Hoopoe Lark, also on Charlies must see list

At Tuhla we were challenged by a 1st year Harrier that we thought might be Hen, but after discussions and debates with local birders have agreed this is a 1st year Pallid Harrier

The day was ended with a great sighting of this sub adult Bonelli's Eagle with a crop so full it looked like it had swallowed a tennis ball

We had a great day together, with much in common and plenty to talk about and share. Here is Charlie at the wadi in SAANR as the day was drawing to an end and a number of birds added to his growing year list. You can read Charlies account of his birding day in Kuwait at http://10000birds.com/birding-kuwait-in-september.htm, but browse the site and look at the other initiatives that he is involved in - the most heart warming being the project to save Sharpes Longclaw in Nairobi, Kenya.