Today it was very quiet. Birds that were seen included the following:
Masked Shrike 1 (the same bird that was seen on 24 June and had lost its tail), Upcher’s Warbler 6+, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 3, Hoopoe Lark 2, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 2, Crested Lark 20 +, Collared Dove 5
The Masked Shrike with half-grown tail
Upcher’s Warbler
My first visit to Kebd for a long while yielded an interesting sighting of a Dunn’s Lark at our small pool. Although Black-crowned Sparrow-larks are regularly present there in the summer months, I’ve only seen Dunn’s Lark there once over the past 1.5 years. After taking a quick drink, it flew off – I relocated it in the shade of our water tanks next to the pool, where it allowed me to approach it within 5 m.
About 30 Black-crowned Sparrow-larks were also present at the pool by 8.30 am, of which ca. 8 were definite juveniles. Breeding numbers appear to be distinctly down on last year, possibly due to the exceptionally dry spring.
A Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin was feeding behind the greenhouse, and could be breeding nearby.
Dunn’s Lark at the pool
Dunn’s Lark in the shade of the water tanks
Birds that have been seen today included all the birds seen in the last post except the Tawny Pipt and Red-necked Phalaropes, new ones are:
African Collared Dove 1, European Bee-eater 1, Greater Crested Tern 3, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Whimbrel 6, Whiskered Tern 3.
Greater Sand Plover 20+, Red-necked Phalarope 2, Terek Sandpiper 1, Marsh Sandpiper 3, Curlew Sandpiper 20+, Kentish Plover 30+, Little Stint 2, Eurasian Curlew 60+, Tawny Pipt 1, Yellow Wagtail (feldegg) 1, White-winged Tern 20+, Sanderling 2, Ruddy Turnstone 2, Dunlin 10+, Barn Swallow 6+, Sand Martin 8+, Eurasian Oystercatcher 8, Cream-coloured Courser 2, Common Sandpiper 2, Slender-billed Gull 300+
Greater Sand Plover.
Greater Sand Plover.
Terek Sandpiper.
Willow Warbler 1, Little Grebe 1, Red-backed Shrike 1, Isabelline Shrike 2, European Reed Warbler 8, Great Reed Warbler 6, Little Bittern 3, Squacco Heron 2, Graceful Prinia 10+, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 2, Yellow Wagtail 2 (feldegg 1, beema 1), Corn Crake 1, Collared Pratincole 2, Mallard 2, Sand Martin 20+, Barn Swallow 20+, Common Morehen 8
Little Grebe
Masked Shrike 1, Red-backed Shrike 3 (2males & 1female), Upcher’s Warbler 4, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 2, Marsh Warbler 3, Garden Warbler 1, Eastern Orphean Warbler 1, European Reed Warbler 1, Rufous tailed Scrub Warbler 6, Tawny Pipit 3, Yellow Wagtail (feldegg ssp.) 1, Greater Short-toed Lark 2, Lesser Short-toed Lark 2, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Hoopoe Lark 1, Cream-coloured Courser 6, Kestrel 1
The Cream-colourd Coursers
Hoopoe Lark
At Tulha:
Upcher’s Warbler 12, Garden Warbler 1, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 3, Marsh Warbler 2, European Reed Warbler 4, Whitethroat 1, Ortolan Bunting 2, Red-backed Shrike 1 (male), Woodchat Shrike 1, Tawny Pipit 2, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 3, Common Kestrel 4, Cream-coloured Courser 2, Crested Lark 100+, Turtle Dove 2
At JEO:
Common Tern 1, Collared Pratincole 3, Eurasian Curlew 63, Oystercatcher 44, Black-tailed Godwit 2, Bar-tailed Godwit 4, White-winged Black Tern 42, Pied Wheatear 1, Common Redshank 5, Curlew Sandpiper 20+, Dunlin 6+, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Greater Flamingo 2, Little Tern 30+, Greater Sand Plover 20+, Lesser Sand Plover 6, Caspian Tern 30+, Ruddy Turnstone 20+, Little Stint 10+, Grey Plover 20+, Yellow Wagtail 1 (feldegg), Squacco Heron 1, Little Bittern 1
European Reed Warbler 6, Clamorous Reed Warbler 1,Blackcap 1, Pied Wheatear 1, Pied Avocet 1, Sandwich Tern 6, Little Tern 10+, White-winged Black Tern 30+, Oystercatcher 1, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Cream-coloured Courser 4, Slender-billed Gull 50+, Yellow Wagtail 3 (2 fledegg 1 beema), Eurasian Curlew 20+, Greater Sand Plover 20+, Lesser Sand Plover 5, Caspian Tern 8+, Greater Flamingo 10+, Grey Heron 8+, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 2, Grey Plover 7
Clamorous Reed Warbler
European Roller 6, Cattle Egret 18, Little Ringed Plover 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Red-backed Shrike 1 male, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Common Quail 4, Namaqua Dove 6, Lesser Kestrel 6, Squacco Heron 1, Cream-coloured Courser 1, Spanish Sparrow 7, Barn Swalow 30+, Sand MArtin 20+, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 1
My trip report to Cyprus can be seen at: http://www.alsirhan.com/Cyprus_trip_2008.htm
Bridled Tern 1000+ pairs, White-cheeked Tern 100+ pairs, Lesser-crested Tern 100+ pairs, Socotra Cormorant 4, Garden Warbler 1, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 2, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 1, Lesser Kestrel 2, European Roller 1, Black-eared Wheatear 2, Marsh Warbler 2, Willow Warbler 2, Whitethroat 1.
Socotra Cormorant, more photographs at: http://www.alsirhan.com/Birds/socotra_cormorant.htm
Lesser Crested Tern.
Bridled Tern, more photographs at: http://www.alsirhan.com/Birds/bridled_tern.htm
White-cheeked Tern, more photographs at: http://www.alsirhan.com/Birds/white-cheeked_tern.htm
