I never got out last week due to moving houses but this week I decided to have some time off and went down to the chicken farm for a few hours. There are only resident birds around and as the pool has been drained very few waders.


A collared dove having a refreshing drink


One of the few waders left, Kentish plover


Namaqua dove fledgling


When I saw the fledgling, I quickly took a picture and backed off 100 yards. I waited 30 mins then went back to get a closer shot. The youngster had moved and was in a nest I had not seen at the first visit. I quickly took a picture and left

There are no more migrants to be seen, although I did spot a juvenile red-backed shrike on Thursday but he was a straggler. Yesterday I concentrated on a few residents, in future I may need to turn to waders and terns.


Sparrows fighting for water


Young male sparrow trying his luck with the sprinkler


The crested larks are in good voice


The grey francolin were showing their young the ropes

It's surprising what a difference a bit of sunshine makes. I had my fingers crossed for some decent birds as the conditions were almost perfect. As it turned out, my luck was in.




The first thing I saw were these two lesser kestrels perched on sprinkler heads


There were lots of red-backed shrikes around, this is just one of them


This Upcher's warbler was sharing a dead tree with a spotted flycatcher

The spotted flycatcher in question

Friday was very dull with occasional specks of rain. I still managed to get something which was better than I'd hoped for.


A young Isabelline shrike


My first collared pratincole of the migration




This willow warbler was very active catching bugs in the undergrowth

Despite the weather, I decided to go out yesterday. It did not turn out too bad as there were some nice birds around and the weather picked up a little later in the afternoon.


Barn swallow just about to regurgitate some undigested insect parts


Common quail sneaking through the undergrowth



Turtle dove


Woodchat shrike

I took these last week on a dull day after a storm. I don't think I'll get much today as it's very dusty and there's spots of rain.


Heliotrope moth


Ladybird


Red-backed shrike


Ortolan bunting


Rufous-tailed rock thrush

Isabelline (Turkestan) shrike