A Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) the fourth record for Kuwait was found yesterday afternoon by Rashed Al-Hajji at JEO.
Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius), the following photographs are by Rashed Al-Hajji
The following by A. Al-Sirhan
New birds for the season were Thrush Nightingale and Red-breasted Flycatcher. The latter one is actually really scarce in the spring (my first). In the autumn it is common. Other good birds were Upcher’s Warbler, Syke’s Warbler and 6 Chestnut-shouldered Sparrows.
Squacco Heron 6, Black Kite 1, Hoopoe 2, Tree Pipit 3, Yellow Wagtail 1, Rufous-tailed Bush Robin 4, Thrush Nightingale 2, Redstart 10+, Whinchat 1, Isabelline Wheatear 1, Upcher’s Warbler 1, Olivaceous Warbler 10+, Syke’s Warbler 1, Barred Warbler 5, Black Cap 3, Whitethroat 4, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 10+, Red-breasted Flycatcher 1, Spotted Flycatcher 6, Red-backed Shrike 10+, Lesser Grey Shrike 2, Masked Shrike 1, Isabelline Shrike 3, House Sparrow 50+, Spanish Sparrow 15, Chestnut-shouldered Sparrow 6, Ortolan Bunting 1.
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria)
Chestnut-shouldered Sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis)
Just brief visit to Tulha in the morning produced some migrants though nothing new.
Little Egret 1, Wood Sandpiper 3, Little Stint 1, Curlew Sandpiper 5, Collared Dove 2, Turtle Dove 3, European Bee-eater 3, Woodchat Shrike 1, Masked Shrike 1, Redstart 5, Spotted Flycatcher 1, White-throated Robin 1, Rufous-tailed Bush Robin 2, Whitethroat 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Barred Warbler 2, Blackcap 2, Basra Reed Warbler 2, Great Reed Warbler 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Marsh Warbler 1, Olivaceous Warbler 1, Tree Pipit 2, Red-throated Pipit 1, Willow Warbler 2, Ortolan Bunting 20.
Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis)
Male White-throated Robin (Irania gutturalis)
Updated 21.4.2009 by P. Fågel
Today we encountered a surprisingly big flock of Pratincoles. My best estimation was 700 birds mainly Black-winged Pratincoles about 600 rest being Collared Praticoles. We found also c. 5 Oriental Pratincoles. They were seen flying in the flock showing no sign of white trailing edge and relatively short tail. Abdulmohsen Alsuraye managed to get flight shots and I got photograph on the ground. We are still evaluating today’s record. Elsewhere in Pivot Fields I saw a big flock of Ortolan Buntings. I counted and finally estimated over 300 birds probably much more.
Just for the interest of coming visitors I had today in Mahboula an immature Socotra Cormorant which I saw through my home window. Good comparisson can be seen between the forefront bird (Common Cormorant) and the bird on right (Immature Socotra Cormorant). Note slimmer head and longer neck.
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) 2nd record for Kuwait if accepted by KORC. Note short tail which is not visible under the wings and oval shaped nostril. In the field I saw reddish auxiliaries too.
Oriental Prtincola by Abdulmohsen Alsuraye
Oriental Pratincola by Abdulmohsen Alsuraye
Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana)
Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrocularis)
After a long absence, I’m back again with a brief report of a trip to Kebd. Unfortunately, the dry season seems to have led to the disappearance of Dunn’s Lark from the area, as I have seen none for several months now. Black-crowned Sparrow-lark numbers have also collapsed. Today, only two males were around, but this is better than the past weeks at least. The following species were also noted: Osprey 1, Pallid Harrier 1, Common Kestrel 4+, Eurasian Hoopoe 1, Woodchat Shrike 2, Isabelline Shrike 2, Masked Shrike 5, Red-backed Shrike 3, European Bee-eater 10+, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 10+, Common Cuckoo 2, Tree Pipit 2, Tawny Pipit 2, Yellow Wagtail 1, Crested Lark 5+, Black-crowned Sparrow-lark 2, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 3, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Upcher’s Warbler 4+, Barred Warbler 3+, Willow Warbler 3+, Blackcap 1, Northern Wheatear 3, Common Redstart 8+, Whinchat 10+, Bluethroat 1 (in our greenhouse), Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 2, Ortolan Bunting 15+, Trumpeter Finch 1, Barn Swallow 5+, Turtle Dove 2.
Trumpeter Finch
Black-crowned Sparrow-lark
Ortolan Bunting
Upcher’s Warbler
Whinchat
Basra Reed Warbler 8, Little Egret 6, Spotted Crake 3, Graceful Prinia 2, Common Chiffchaff 6, Meadow Pipit 2, Sedge Warbler 4, Squacco Heron 9, Collared Pratincole 1, Little Bittern 1
For more photographs of Basra Reed Warbler visit the following link: http://www.alsirhan.com/Birds/Basra_Reed_Warbler.htm
Basra Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis
Spotted Crake, Porzana porzana
Finnish/Swedish group visited Al Abraq this morning finding many migrants after obviously good migration night. The biggest surprise was to find many c. 10 Bassra Reed Warblers. Probably it is too early to say that this species has recovered from Saddam’s drainage project at Basra. Anyhow last spring was good and seems that this spring is even better for this species. Other birds in this morning were: Great Reed Warbler 6, Marsh Warbler 2, Icterine Warbler 4, Olivaceous Warbler 5, Eastern Orphean Warbler 2, Blackcap 3, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Sparrowhawk 2, Steppe Buzzard 1, Night Heron 1, Cattle Egret 5, Squacco Heron 2, Wood Sandpiper 1.
At Port Zour and Khiran area we found at least 4 Socotra Cormorants and appr. 50 Bridled Terns.
Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis)
Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)
13. Apr. Indian Roller was still at Jahra Farms and Common Babbler at Sulaibikhat Nature Reserve. Lesser Sandplover 300+ and 17 Crab Plovers were seen at Doha Spit. Today we had a male Caspian Plover, 120 Red-necked Phalaropes and 40 White-winged Terns at Jahra East Outfall.
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
10.4 was a good birding day. Three groups found among others the following: Basra Reed Warbler at JEO, Migrating male Shikra in SAANR, 9 Hypocolius on Green Island, Indian Roller at Jahra Farms and 3 Socotra Cormorants in Port Zour.
Today we had Indian Roller again at Jahra Farms accompanied with Yellow Wagtail race leucocephala, 13 Hypocolius and Common Babbler in Sulaibikhat NR.
Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) on 10. Apr. at Jahra Farms where they breed at the moment
Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) 2 out of 4 birds in the desert on 11. Apr. in SAANR after rain shower
First few comments about yesterday 5. Apr.: Indian Roller was seen again in Jahra Farms and Common Babbler in Sulaibikhat N.R. Basra Reed Warbler was not seen.
Today Abdaly Farms produced 7 Red-wattled Lapwings and Egyptian Nightjar. At Subiya we managed to see c. 10 Swift Terns, a flock up to 40 Crab Plovers and Spoonbill.
Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius)
Red-wattled Lapwings (Vanellus indicus)
Socotra Cormorant was seen at Port Zour on 3. Apr. Juvenile bird flew at close range ending up finally in front of German group. Although weather was bad (continious rain) the bird was seen very well. White-cheeked Terns have arrived in small numbers. Bridled Terns were still absent.
At Abdaly Farms we had today: Red-wattled Lapwing 2, Egyptian Nightjar 1, Grey Hypocolius 3, Booted Eagle 2. On our way back to the city we saw at Subiya 7 Swift Terns, 2 Spoonbills, several Crab Plovers and Spotted Redshank in full breeding plumage.
Abdulrahman visited with British and Swiss/Dutch groups in Sulaibikhat Nature Reserve finding first two Basra Reed Warblers for this season main target initially being Common Babbler. After hearing about Basra Reed Warbler I came with German group to the site pretty fast. We managed to see both, Common Babbler and Basra Reed Warbler there.
This morning Indian Roller was not seen at Jahra Farms but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it wouldn’t be around. About Black-crowned Finch Lark and Dunn’s Lark I have to say that this breeding season has been very poor. Birds are not in their usual sites.
Al Abraq was once again a good migrant trap. We had plenty of warblers and other migrants. Highlights were Shikra, 5 Alpine Swifts, Little Swift and Goldfinch.
Semi-collared Flycatcher 6, Redstart 6 (2 of race samamisicus), Night Heron 5, Cattle Egret 7, Squacco Heron 2, Common Cuckoo 1, European Bee-eater 5, Sparrowhawk 1, Shikra 1, Hoopoe 2, Alpine Swift 5, Little Swift 1, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 10, Yellow Wagtail 10, Grey Wagtail 4, Grey Hypcolius 12, Menetries’s Warbler 2, Blackcap 6, Lesser Whitethroat 4, Yellow Wagtail 8, Grey Wagtail 4, White Wagtail 2.
Alpine Swift (Apus melba)
Grey Hypocolius ( Hypocolius ampelinus)
On our way back to Kuwait City stopped at Jahra Farmrs where Indian Roller wasn’t fooling us anymore despite of Fool’s Day.
Indian Roller ( Coracias benghalensis)
