Hypocolius

From the 14th of October I expect to be able to update people with a report on this years return - numbers and roost location being used

I arrived at the Jasra site this morning before 6am hoping to get there before any hypocolius dropped in. To my surprise the place was full of birds. This year they appear to be using the site as a roost, as opposed to a drop in centre like last year. By 8am, Howard and Abdulla arrived and I had counted over 80 birds leaving the area going due northwest. Subsequently another 30 - 40 birds pupped out of the acacia trees.
I got a few poor shots through the wire!

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Juvenile bird
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View of the roost site from the road.

The birds were dropping down onto the ground for some reason. Possibly to drink the dew drops from the vegetation.

This is an adult male bird

Only two seen at Jasra this week-end - we now suspect the birds are currently roosting next to a vip garden where there is a large pool of water

Near Babar one bird seen very briefly with Keith Rainford - put down as a probable given the brief views

BK - On my way down to the Chicken farm at 3pm this afternoon there were two grey hypocolius in the tamerisk tree at the Jasra roundabout. I stopped for a few minutes to see if any others might arrive but the two birds flew NNW. I followed them to the rough ground directly behind the cemetary where they were joined by a third bird. There are a few old stunted palm trees mixed with tamerisk, a very suitable roost site. Unfortunately the birds left the trees and headed east but I didn't have time to relocate them a second time. Below is a shot of the three birds. I think we are getting closer to finding their roost. The plot thickens.