Friday was very overcast and there weren't many birds around. The following are the only decent shots I got.


White wagtail


Chiffchaff

There have been lots more birds around lately and the weather has cooled considerably. Here's a selection of what I managed to photograph.


Squacco heron


Isabelline wheatear


Stonechat


One of the many Isabelline shrikes that have taken up residence


My first picture of a corn bunting

The weather has brightened up a bit, making it better for photography.


I took some eggs with me to Badaan Farm on Thursday. These two mongooses were thankful and posed nicely for me.


The Indian silverbills were very accommodating as well.


I was on the lookout for a desert warbler when this pied wheatear perched right at the side of me.


Believe it or not but I was watching a pied wheatear when this desert warbler landed near to me.




This is a new one for me, Yellow-fronted canary.

Yesterday was dull and windy so not much doing photography wise. What pictures I did get are below. Brendan with his two visiting ringers, Declan and Patrick had a first country record in the morning. They saw four black storks but the birds were very timid and took off on a thermal.


Common snipe


Blue-cheeked bee-eater


Mongoose profile


Mongoose eyes

I spotted this bird on Friday and when I showed the other guys the picture, we could not come to a conclusion as to what it was. After showing it to the experts on Bird Forum, they advised me it's a common rosefinch. I checked Howard's list and Rosefinch is designated V (Vagrant meaning irregular). As Howards still away I can't say how many previous records we have, nevetheless Brendan and his visiting ringers, Declan and Patrick were going all out to try and net it.







A couple of other visitors

The moulting pied wheatear from last week. Now a bit tidier and freshly ringed.


The first male stonechat I've seen this season.


A yellow-crowned bishop starting to moult.

Howards away on business and the migration is in full swing. Here's a selection of what has been going through.


Kestrel


I think this kestrel was about to attack me.


Another nice kestrel on the lookout for some prey.


Purple heron


Cattle egret


Grey heron


Isabelline wheatear


Pied wheatear in heavy moult


Grey shrike


European roller