Bahrain Obs

The highlight of the weekend had to be the Little Green Bee-eater (3rd record) observed and the female Chaffinch (7th record) ringed, both on Saturday at Badaan Farm. The weather was dull and overcast with occasional light drizzle which raised a few puddles around the place with the wind fairly strong at times from the NW. I alone saw the bee-eater the first record since several were seen on the Islands of Hawar in 2000. I have seen many in the UAE and Oman previously where they are a local breeding species. After the initial sighting the bird hawked insects out in the center of one of the crop circles before disappearing south unlike the other Blue-cheeked and European Bee-eaters that sit on the electrical wires and hawk insects almost around your head.

The Chaffinch was a big surprise caught late in the afternoon on Saturday it was the only bird trapped during a remarkably dull session in the afternoon. Flush out of undergrowth while checking the nets I initially could only seen the greenish rump and was surprised when I had the bird in the hand to find it a Chaffinch, our first this century. Needless to say Brendan was even more surprised as it was both a ringing and country first for him.

Chaffinch - Female

Otherwise it was generally a quiet weekend.
Bee-eater - this time it was the turn of the European Bee-eaters to sit out on the road

Water Pipit

White Wagtail

Isabelline Shrikes are now a very common sight

A Kestrel takes a break from hunting

The number of Lapwing around Badaan has grown to six

Namaqua Doves

Desert Wheatear have moved in for the winter

Tawny Pipit another wintering species

Indian Silver Bills looking bored

A Hoopoe shelters from the wind and rain

Flamingoes at Ras Tubli

Black-winged Stilt caught at sunset