06/14/10
Little Brown Jobs -
Categories: Week 24 - 12 June 2010, Pivot Fields and SAANR
This was Brian Fosters last weekend before he migrates north for the summer, so we headed out early to explore Pivot Fields and SAANR. Images by Mike Pope
Heading out at 6:30, the sun has already been up for almost 2-hours and it is almost 38 degrees, so birding is a little more restricted when it is so hot. Also, the heat waves and position of the sun are not conductive to good photographs at this time of year. Nevertheless, it is still good to be out birding. We searched for the Pratincole that Brian had seen last week, without success. We did find 2 Isabelline Wheatears though
At the more arid side of the Pivot Fields we found many 1st year/female Black-crowned Finch Larks and just a single male
I didnt have too much time today, so after an hour we headed to SAANR and straight to Tuhla where we spent sime time watching a Little Egret hunting and catching the abundant small fish in this pond
A single Lesser Short-toed Lark was seen sheltering in the shade with a flock of Crested Larks
We then headed to the pan in the wadi where at this time of year, evaporation is a big challenge. Most of the birds at the pan were larks of all ages and plumage variations, so it was tough sorting some of them out. We had 3 Bar-tailed Larks foraging near the car
Crested Larks is the most abundant species in the Reserve, this one managing to find some protein for sustenance
We counted 5 Hoopoe Larks, all juveniles - this one cooling off in a scrape next to the water
In amongst all the Larks, we found Short-toed Lark, this one also cooling off in a scrape next to the water
I am still amazed every time I see the tiny Kentish Plover chicks surviving in this incredible heat, trying to regulate their own body temperatures when the ambient temperature is almost 50 boggles the mind. This pair had produced two chicks out in the middle of the desert
06/13/10
Week 24 - 10 June 2010, Green Island and Free Trade Zone
As summer rapidly approaches, schools are closing and traffic is now so much more bearable. This morning I had time for a very quick walk around Green Island on the way to work. You cant stay out too long, as temperature is already 40 degrees by 7am, by which time I was back in my car. Images by Mike Pope
The only reason for stopping at Green Island was to see if I could locate any juvenile Red-vented Bulbuls, as I had seen some juvenile White-eared Bulbuls. Those that I saw were all adults. I then heard a canary singing and imagine my surprise when I eventually located a Yellow-fronted Canary in one of the densely covered trees. This is a resident breeder in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert (S of 15 degrees North) and is more likely an escapee from the Friday market or someone's avairy
At our offices in the Free Trade Zone, the 'resident' Speckled Pigeon is still around and is another escapee from a private collection. It is also widely distributed S of 16 degrees North where they breed and roost on cliff ledges and more recently have taken to breeding in buildings
However, the biggest African surprise of all was the brilliantly coloured Superb Starling I had seen when I left work yesterday and found it again this morning feeding on the grass verge. This could also be an escapee from a collection, but there is an outside chance of a ship-assisted landing as the Port is in the Free Trade Zone. This is a species that occurs in north east Africa (south eastern Sudan, eastwards through Ethiopia to Somalia) and south to Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
05/31/10
Week 22 - 29 May 2010, Kirhan Pearl City Development
The wind had been blowing all week and at times around 40km/h. Finally it abated over the weekend and on Saturday I was finally able to conduct a bird census at Kirhan with Anand and Hassan our boat pilot. This time my family joined me in the hope of also seeing the Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphins (they were'nt disappointed). Images by Mike Pope
In calm conditions, we were on the water by 7am and cruising out of Phase A1 into the sea to check the buoys. Three Bridled Terns occupied the buoy we normally see the Socotra's roosting on. It was a good day for Bridled Terns, I counted 31 in total flying off-shore in a northerly direction.
Another showing the contrasting colours between upper and lower parts, a smart looking Tern
A single Swift Tern was seen on way to Phase A2
In the new Phase A3, we found a roost of 4 Sandwich Terns, these much healthier looking than those with deformed bills at Sharq Harbour
Heading back to Phase A1 across the sea, we spotted a lone 1st year Socotra Cormorant fishing - it kept its distance whilst eyeballing us
and then deciding to go and fish elsewhere - taking off with a few hop, skip and jumps across the water
It was then that I spotted a dorsal fin break the surface in the distance and we picked up 2 Indo Pacific Humpback Dolphin adults and a calf. We slowly followed them as they leasurely swam south, joining up with 8 others. At times we were in 3m of water that was so clear we could see them swimming under and next to the boat, a truly magical experience. Photographing them was a challenge; as it is difficult to predict where they surface and when they do, they dont show their face for long. During this hour, we almost didnt feel like we were in Kuwait - enjoy the sequence.
05/23/10
Week 21 - 19 May 2010, Free Trade Zone
After photographing the Swifts in the air, I set myself a challenge after seeing them drinking on the wing from this sewage outfall. Why they drink from here I have no idea! Images by Mike Pope
This was challenging to say the least, as it was difficult to predict where they would come in from and where they would actually scoop their drink from the surface. The drinking on the wing, was very quick, but I was astounded by the size of these Swifts gapes as they came gliding in; no wander they dont miss flying insects in the air. This bird had 2 scoops to fill its throat before lift-off
Another coming in with mouth wide open and lifting off after scooping up a small mouthful of water
This is my best image; catching the Pallid Swift forcing the water up into it's mouth with it's lower mandible in the second that it drinks before heading into the sky to actually swallow the water
05/20/10
Week 21 - 18 May 2010, Free Trade Zone
I had noticed that a small flock of Pallid Swifts were feeding above a septic sewage outfall that flows into the northern part of the Gulf in the Free Trade Zone. This morning I brought my camera to work and managed to get some Birds in Flight images of the swifts and some others that passed by, all while trying to hold my breathe. Images by Mike Pope
Anyone who has tried to photograph swifts will tell you that they are notoriusly difficult to capture as it is challenging to predict their flight pattern and speed. So, I was very pleased with the results of these 2 images of Pallid Swift
A single Sand Martin joined the Pallid Swifts for a brief moment
Common Mynas were seen flying down the sewage channel
Small groups of waders were foraging along the banks, a Wood Sandpiper coming in to land
and a Little Stint with its rufous breeding plumage moving to a different area
05/16/10
Week 20 - 14 May 2010, Pivot Fields, Jahra Pools Reserver and SAANR
As it has happened on numerous weekends before, we have great weather leading up to the weekend and then on Thursday afternoon it all changes. This weekend was no different with thick dust descending on Thursday night giving us 200m visibility all morning Friday. The upside was that there was no wind and it kept most birds on the ground, the downside was that it was really challenging for photography and most images look as if they have had a warming filter added. Images by Mike Pope
I first headed to Pivot Fields and at that time of this summers morning I had to use lights and windscreen wipers as there was also some light rain to keep conditions dull. A drive around the reeds at the crocodile pond produced a few warblers including Basra Reed which didnt pose for a photograph. This Great Reed was a little more accommodating
A few smaller warblers were seen, this is probably a Marsh Warbler
There are still numbers of Spotted Fly's around
A grounded juvenile Greater Spotted Eagle
This Roller was seen sitting very quietly on a cable
I was really surprised to see a Northern Wheatear, but discovered it was permantly grounded after being shot and wounded earlier in the migration
The resident Crested Larks are pretty abundant, this one singing away
A small flock of Western Cattle Egrets were catching insects under one of the pivot's irrigation sprays
A new area had been recently planted and the wet bare fields attracted a number of birds, including a few waders. A small group of Ruff, this the only one with orange legs were seen
One of 5 Collared Pratincoles
A single White Wagtail (normally a winter visitor) was rather surprising and this was one was not injured
In this weather Turtle Doves, a prime bird for the many shooters in Kuwait, were also grounded
After 2-hours I headed to Jahra Pools Reserve where water had been restored after the Reserve had dried out during last month. Visibility was still down to less than 200m as this picture from one of the observation towers shows
The most numerous species by far was the many flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes all showing their almost complete breeding plumage. Across the water, the dust particles really confused my cameras focussing
I had caught a glimpse of a solitary Purple Gallinules disappearing into the reeds, when this Spotted Crake, one of many seen at this reserve, caught my eye
Turnstones are normally more easily seen along the coast, so it was surprising to find these two foraging along the fringes of this pan - not easy to see either
Willow Warblers are still abundant and seem to be foraging and feeding wherever they are encountered
Shrikes are still present and both Lesser Grey
and Red-backed Shrikes were seen
A Moorhen foraging for food away from water
Away from the main pan, there was a shallow section of water that held a variety of waders, including Curlew Sandpipers showing breeding plumage
Little Stint, also in breeidng plumage
and Ringed Plover
A pair of White-tailed Lapwings have bred at Jahra Pools in the last few weeks and is the first confirmed breeding record for Kuwait - which is fantastic news. The young must have been in the same area, as the adults got a little agitated with me, so I moved off after taking the photograph
After 2-hours at JPR, it was time for the last stop at SAANR where the dust was worse. I found the group of Hoopoe Larks in their usual spot. This is a newly fledged juvenile, showing that these birds have recently bred in the area.
Tuhla looked pretty gloomy from 200m away
A single European and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater were roosting in the trees. The Blue-cheeked was a little more active than the European
Still quite a few Yellow Wagtails around
a quick stop at the large pan in the wadi produced the expected waders, here a Wood Sandpiper taking it easy
quite a few juvenile Kentish Plovers
back to Tuhla where I watched this Little Bittern hunting unsuccessfully - here he looked a little bemused at being seen failing
I was however entertained for the rest of my time in SAANR watching this Squacco Heron successfully catch a small fish in this sequence. The dilimma it faced was that it had caught the fish and a big strand of grass together, so how to drop the grass to swallow the fish - but in a blink of any eye it managed both
That small meal didnt quite satisfy the bird and it carried on hunting. Subsequent attempts I saw that included patient stalking and freezing, were all unsuccesful. Here another sequence, before it moved on to a different part of the pond
After this entertainment at the end of a dusty morning, it was time to head home, but not before I saw this Desert Monitor emerge from the water and climb the bank
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