Problems with ID

The conclusion is that this is in fact a little stint - probably a ssp that we are not used to

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Seen near Dur on the eastern shore of Bahrain in a small wadi being used to dump semi treated water - (smells a lot but the birds like it) as always when you get a problematic bird its always too far or badly placed in respect to the sun to get a good photo; this bird was both - just didn't look right for the usual little stint as seen around such pools - have ruled out the bigger sandpiper and Temmicks which it certainly isn't. The camera can lie but looking at the pics am at odds to possitively identify the bird.
THE PROBLEM BIRD

JUST FOR REFERENCE our normal model - Little Stint

same Little stint as above but keeping company with a Kentish

Still under review - but we have some more information to hand now thanks to Hannu

We were late getting to Badaan this morning and were greeted by a group of eager farm workers who quickly pointed this stange fellow, out to us above one of the locations where we have a permanent ringing site. The workers told us it had arrived the evening before and had a very pleasant call. I only have a few African field guides here and the nearest thing to it I could find is a Violet Turaco - I might be barking up the wrong tree but think it is certainly closely related if that helps. We would love to here from anybody who can identify or confirm the species

This warbler was seen at Badaan Farm on the 18th - its certainly an early bird as most large Warbler types don't arrive until much later in the Year. If anybody has an ideas as to its ID we would like to hear from them - all these photos were taken in a matter of mins just after the bird had had a bath - I have more but these are the best

We don't see many Geese here and when we do they are usually Greylag however this individual didn't look at all familiar. As a juvenile bird not what I had expected a young Greylag to look like so I think this is most likely a White-fronted - If anybody is into Geese and can confirm the ID please let me know. Once we obtain confirmation this will be the second record for Bahrain the last was back in 1997.

The ID HAS NOW BEEN CONFIRMED

- this observation is now officially the 2nd record for White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons in Bahrain.
Adrian has now also added his pictures to his page (out and about) O&B-with-AJ http://www.hawar-islands.com/blog/aj_stub.php
I would like to thank everybody who looked and emailed me confirmation - not a single dissenting voice - except that is on bird forum where Adrian originally posted his images see for that thread http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1061314#post1061314
For comparative purposes I have added below a flight picture of 2 of the 3 geese seen at Badaan the week before as photographed by Juhani Kyyrö have also a careful look at that picture.

Greylag Geese seen departing Badaan the week before

Photograph by Juhani Kyyrö

I have been sent an annoted image of this bird with a list of features indicating that it is most probably no more than a Crested Lark, they are a very common species here, that evidence seems to prove this beyond a doubt. This just goes to show how bad light and distance can screw up ones ID skills even on birds that one is familiar with. Other suggestions where Woodlark, Skylark and Lesser Short-toed Lark, I thought myself at one time even Small Skylark - Alauda gulgula but that was wrong. Thanks everyone who has had a look.

For comparision - below are three pictures taken within the last week of our Crested Larks each at a different location and in different light.