Birding Bahrain

The migration is in full swing now - the Swallows on the wires have now been joined by European Bee-eaters, Sand Martins, and the odd Red-rumped Swallow which are putting in a very early appearance. Noted recently earlier than normal were a Masked Shrike and a couple of Pale Rock sparrows with even some Great Reed Warblers joining the Clamorous that have been around for the last week. Otherwise the gardens are still quiet but Purple Herons, Hoopoe, Egyptian Nightjar Golden Oriel and Isaballine Wheatear are beginning to be seen regularly. The shorelines on the other hand are filling with waders Terns and Gulls as expected at this time of the year - most numerous at the moment are the Curlew Sandpipers and the Lesser Sand Plovers.