Bahrain Obs

Wagtails Pipits larks Shrikes are beginning to appear but for colour these two take some beating
Rock Thrush

Blue Rock Thrush

The bad weather continued all week with visibility at times less than a few hundred yards the only bird of merit was a single Black Kite over Manama - but yesterday we did have an influx at Badaan of Isabelline Wheatears, Yellow Wagtails,and Spannish Sparrows the status of which remains a mystery - migrant or resident breeder? but we netted 4 (see Projects)Hoopoe and a Chiffchaff were also seen. Song Thrush, Bluethroat, Pacific Golden Plover numerous pipits and Skylarks remain on the fields. No photos waiting on the return of my lense - for sand removal.

Early morning produced some interesting observations of Swallows preening in the early morning light. A little nervous the slightest movement was enough to put them to flight - annoyed yesterday my good lens ceased up I could have had some really nice shots but still these will have to do

Swallows

Red-rumped Swallows

A lovely sunny day but oddly not too much around bird wise - plenty of the regulars but the only new birds of note were a Corn Bunting and a Great Reed Warbler.

Desert Wheatear

Corn Bunting

Turnstone

The weather has improved a lot - although its still a little cold at night. The number of birds coming through has increased and is beginning to be noticeable. The number of Shrikes & Wheatears in particular has increased dramatically however still no migrant warbers to write home about.

The weather which has been cold dull and windy almost continuously since the christmas break has started to improve in the last few days. However the only photographic opportunity that came my way last tuesday afternoon was with this songthrush, skulking in the shadows we did manage to net and ring it later in the afternoon.

Song Thrush

Adrian over in Saudi observed a couple of spoonbills in the coastal lagoons close to Al Khobar on Tuesday. Nice birds to record in that they have become a great rarity around this part of the gulf over the last few years. Here in Bahrain their status has been reduced to that of a vagrant in that we have not had any observations in this centuary.

6-45 this morning - not the best start to the day

Snipe - a winter visitor in good numbers around any water hole or in any ditch

Water Pipit - very commoon winter visitor

Black-winged Stilts - a resident breeder

Marsh Sand Piper - a regular winter visitor

Just when we were expecting to see lots of new arrivals the weather has contrived to dampen our expectation. Today we are faced with a strong shammal, a northerly wind that blows for 3 to 4 days currently in excess of 25 knots. Dust haze and overcast skys means that good obs are going to few and far between this weekend. So here are a few more of our regulars that have been around this winter.

Cattle Egret - now a very common wintering migrant

Desert Wheatear - the most commonly seen wintering wheatear.

Little Stint and Kentish Plover - the later a common breeding species for both numbers supplemented by migrants in season

Temminck's Stint - frequents ditches and brackish water - a wintering migrant

Little Stint and Temminck's Stint

Wood Sandpiper fequents brackish water and ditches not common but records in all months

Flamingo - hugh numbers winter around Bahrain but are availiable throughout the year

Greater Sand Plover regular throughout the year with large influxes during peek migrations time spring and autumn

Greenshank - a regular seen throughout the year but more common in winter

Grey Francolin - introduced in the 80's has spread throughout Arabia.

Western Reef Heron - white morph in breeding plumage