Birding Bahrain

I spent a lot of time last Saturday 23rd January -waiting out a new species Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio I had spotted in the effluent outfall behind Delmen Poultry. Having watched the bird for a few good mins by the time I decided to photograph it, it had disappeared. Despite long stake outs I still have not got a picture of this elusive bird. AJ told me he thought he saw it the week before but didn't bother with it!! but it remains my observation tough luck boyo..

I spent some considerable time yesterday Friday 29th hoping to see it again but no luck as yet. But did take a few photos around the lovely smelly pool.

Common Sandpiper

Desert Wheatear

Marsh Harrier - still around

Spent some time at Buri where AJ found these Bank Mynah's - a recent escape I would think

the rest of the time was spent chasing shadows with only a few photos of our regulars
Crested Lark

Graceful Warbler

House Sparrow

a numerous wintering species
A ringed male Stonechat - probably one of Brendan's from last year --

Pied Wheatear - first of the seaason

Skylark

Now in bloom - Desert Hyacinth

Had a long day out - started by checking the shores of Maharraq and Hidd before moving on to Tubli Bay then the Diplomatic Wadi the desert areas around the Jebel Dakhan before moving on the Hamalah to finish at Jasrah. Saw a lot more that I could photograph but still relatively quiet. The 5 Spoonbills are still around in Tubli bay and at the Chicken Farm several large Reed Warblers are still present.

Lots of Wheatears around and numbers increasing from those that wintered
Mourning Wheatear

Northern Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear

Desert Wheatear

Red-tailed Wheatear

Around Hamalah
Corn Bunting

Isabelline Shrike

Sky Lark

Water Pipit

White Wagtail

Wood Sandpiper

Marsh Harrier - our distinctive wintering Harrier and still around

Some from the shore in the early morning light
Bar-tailed Godwits

Ugly Greater Cormorants not as pretty as our resident Socotra

Greater Sandplover

Lesser Sandplover

A rock Dove from the Jebel

From my kitchen window just before I left a cold and frosty Wales

Got back late last night after a harrowing journey spread over two days - was woken this morning by a call from Bahrain Resident Daniel Zanotti about a Kestrel stuck in a tree at Adhari - one that had been entangled in a trappers lair and then complete with tap had become entangled in a tree. With the help of a young Bahraini Ahmed Al Manari and his Indian Gardener we managed to free the bird and release it successfully uninjured back to the wild.

After this managed a quick scan of the area which revealed one Pied Kingfisher on the adjacent motorway lights - a surprise since according to Daniel the bird had also been present before Christmas. With the tree gone from the ditch it stayed too far away to get any decent shots. I could only find one of the European Kingfishers also seen before Christmas. A few calling Warblers, plus a few Bluethroats and a single thrush were seen as well as the usual waders and Egrets in the ditches. Find of the day was however this Purple Heron

Common Snipe

The Kestrel - photos by Daniel Zanotti