Birding Bahrain

most migrants have past - on the shore just a few scattered waders left Lesser Sand and Grey plovers, the odd Whimbrel and Green Shank. Lesser Crested Terns are still congregating prior to breeding while white Cheeked and Saunders's are well started. Most Little Terns seem to have already finished. In the Gardens much the same most birds well into finishing their breeding. While watching Terrapins at Adhari this Moorhen chick strode through the frame - image is uncropped. Otherwise Crested Larks and the endless string of Kentish complete with most probably second brood chicks are everywhere.

One of five seen more pics under wildlife

Kentish Plover

Crested Lark

Not so much around these days and what is is hard to get close to. I spent some time watching Little Tern plunge drive the main ditch at Adhari and anything else that came within lens distance. Before moving over to Hidd by the desalination plant to check for any waders.
The interesting thing about Little Terns is that they clear the diving spot before the water column has returned thus fly away almost perfectly dry.
Stop Press Brendan rang to say had seen thanks to Abdulla 5 Cream Coloured Coursers at Busaiteen
Little Tern

Saunders's Tern - from Hidd for comparison

Little Egret are a common species around the ditches

Moorhen one of many

Squacco Heron he saw me just as I was about to click

Over at Hidd other than the Saunders's
Yellow Wagtail - a late migrant

Plenty of Western Reef Herons - this one showing the multi-coloured tones often seen in 1st summer birds.

Little Stint

rather distant Lesser Sandplover still quite a few around

Bar-tailed Godwit - non breeding birds

You would have never have guessed that Saturday afternoon would end the way it did. A mini hurricane sprang up reducing visibility to meters in a sand storm, trees were brought down along with many advertising hoardings and numerous buildings suffered structural damage. But the weekend had been good for the large number of passing warblers mostly Willow, Shrikes and Kestrels. The shore line was quiet but tern numbers are building and amongst the remaining waders Little Stint and Curlew Sandpipers remain the dominant species seen.

Our resident warbler the Prinia or Graceful Warbler

Spotted Flycatcher - one of five seen

Whinchat two of seven seen

Swallow a tail-ender of the large numbers that have past through found basking in the bright sun

Lesser Kestrel - with out a 4x4 I couldn't unlike AJ get close to these - At one time there were seven at The chicken farm on Saturday.

what I think might be a Marsh Warbler - white primary tips squarer darker tail and pale lower mandible of bill suggest this species over very similar Reed. If you think otherwise let me know

Lesser Grey Shrike just one of a dozen or so seen during the weekend - never alas the right side of the sun - note the size of the black mask across the face

Red-backed Shrike probably the most numerous passing at the moment

As yet an unidentified Shrike could be either Isabelline or Red backed

Redstart

Willow Warbler some of the hundreds seen this weekend

Also seen this weekend were Meneteries's Barred, Reed, Upchers Olivaceous and Sedge Warblers.

From the shore the remnants of the wader flocks are getting harder to find. Here two Terek Sandpipers, a Red Shank, Green Shank, and Lesser Sandplover

Lesser Sandplovers

Little Stint

Western Reef Heron their breeding season is now in full swing

Spent time wandering farms and vegetated corners - quiet with not to many birds moving but caught a few late passage migrants as well as a few locals -

Collared Pratincole

Red-backed Shrike

Ortolan Bunting

Upchers Warbler

Turkestan Shrike

1cy Red-backed Shrike

Hoopoe

Lesser Grey Shrike one of 6 seen

Spotted Flycatcher

Redstart

Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail- thunbergi

Grey Francolin and family

Mynah

Rufous Bush Robin

Kentish Plover Chick

Crested Lark

Finally managed to get some birding in - but not the best of weather for photography dull, windy, overcast and spotting with rain. Murphy's law I think they call it.

I started Friday morning driving around Muharaq shore line including Amwaj Islands checking for terns and to see what waders were left. Disappointing in terms of birds seen. After this I checked Tubli bay and ended up at Adhari ditches.

Around Amwaj the verges gave me the opportunity to get close to this male Red-Throated Pipit

Around Adhari
Squacco Heron in pre-breeding colours

Little Egret were seen in larger than usual numbers in the ditches

White-cheeked Bulbul

White-cheeked Terns - fishing in the main ditch

Buasaiteen
Lesser Crested Tern

Grey Plover - coming into summer plumage

Turnstone - numerous along the tide lines

Western Reef Heron- this one showing red hues in its' bare parts

Either currently nesting or about to they are a common feature on the shore

Flamingo

I only managed some distant record shots of the few waders around
Curlew Sandpiper

Dunlin

Sand plovers