African Darter Anhinga (melanogaster) rufa is a new species for Kuwait was found and photographed by OSk members today at Jahra Pool reserve. It was Rashed who first paid attention to the bird identified it. This morning it was seen Nawaf Ahmed, Mohammad Al-Kandary, Ibrahim Al-Nassar and AbdulRsahman Al-Sirhan.

African Darter Anhinga (melanogaster) rufa, photographs by Rashed Al-Hajji

African Darter Anhinga rufa, photographs by Nawaf Ahmed

Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis pallidirostris

We had opportunity to go for birding in Khiran by boat. Mike, Brian and myself were really excited of this trip. We had 6 Socotra Cormorants and we were able to photograph them from close range. Normally Socotra Cormorants have been seen far out at the sea. It was also nice to see Leser Crested Terns( 5) and White-cheeked Terns (10).

Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)

Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)

White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa)

I visited this morning Jahra Farms with Brian Foster and Simon Price. We saw among others these birds: Indian Roller 1, Barn Swallow 6, House Martin 1, Yellow Wagtail 15, White-cheeked Bulbul 4, Bluethroat 1, White-throated Robin 1, Blackcap 1, Garden Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Barred Warbler 1, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Masked Shrike 1, Red-backed Shrike 1, Bank Myna 30, Golden Oriole 2.

Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

White-throated Robin (Irania gutturalis)

Demoiselle Crane 35 birds flew over Jahra East Outfall and was only seen and photographed by Rashed Al-Hajji who happened to be there.

This is the 5th record for Kuwait. This record is subject to acceptance by KORC.

Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo

I visited with Simon Price JPR this morning. Birds seen were: Little Grebe 3, Glossy Ibis 1, Shoveler 2, Garganey 6, Little Crake 10, Moorhen 100, Purple Swamp-hen 1, Avocet 9, Black-winged Stilt 50, Collared Pratincole 3, Ringed Plover 5, Kentish Plover 10, White-tailed Lapwing 2, Dunlin 75, Curlew Sanpiper 4, Little Stint 100, Green Sandpiper 1, Redshank 1, Marsh Sandpiper 4, Black-tailed Godwit 4, Common Snipe 3, Red-necked Phalarope 2, Ruff 6, White-winged Tern 8, Common Kingfisher 1, Short-toed Lark 30, Sand Martin 12, Yellow Wagtail 5, Northern Wheatear 1, Isabelline Wheatear 3, Great Reed Warbler 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Red-backed Shrike 1, Isabelline Shrike 1.

White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus)

Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Greater Spotted Eagle 1, Western Marsh Harrier 6, Black Kite 41, Masked Shrike 2, Woodchat Shrike 3, Lesser Grey Shrike 1, Namaqua Dove 30, Yellow Wagtail 1000, Purple Heron 2, Black-crowned Night Heron  1, Little Egret 3, Eurasian Hoopoe 10, Red-backed Shrike 5, Red-rumped Swallow 1, Sand Martin 20, Barn Swallow 10, Pallid Harrier 1, European Roller 1, Greater Short-toed Lark 5

Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosis

Western Marsh Harrier

Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga

Greater Spotted Eagle

A brief visit to JEO produced:

Purple Swamp-Hen 3, Basra Reed Warbler 1, Great Reed Warbler 1, Sand Martin 4, Red=backed Shrike 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Common Moorhen 6

Purple Swamp-Hen Porphyrio porphyrio

This morning I visited with Brian Foster Tulha and  later on JPR.

Birds seen in Tulha: Black Kite 1,  Marhs Harrier 2, Quail 1, Isabelline Shrike 1, Red-backed Shrike 1, Masked Shrike 1, Steppe Grey Shrike 1, Golden Oriole 3, Green Sandpiper 2, Common Kingfisher 1, White-throated Kingfisher 1, Whitethroat1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Barred Warbler 3, Garden Warbler 1, Thrush Nightingale 3, Marsh Warbler 3, Syke’s Warbler 2,  Willow Warbler 2, Spotted Flycatcher 2 .

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Birds seen at JPR: Little Crake 15, Water Rail 1, Purple Swamp-hen1, Basra Reed Warbler 1, Glamorous Reed Warbler 1, Great Reed Warber 1, Red-necked Phalarope 6, Black-tailed Godwit 6, Avocet 13, Dunlin 20, Curlew Sandpiper 15, Little Stint 40, Wigeon 1, Shoveler 20, Garganey 10, Marsh Sandpiper 10, Redshank 1, Greenshank 2, Black-winged Stilt 50, Common Sandpiper 1.

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus  griseldis)

This morning I visited with Gary Brown JPR. Since the reserve has been managed well and shooters have been kept outside. In a case that they have sneaked in early morning like a week ago the police arrested men quickly. Guns of these shooters were confiscated. Seems that Kuwait has taken a brave step to protect wildlife.

Birds seen this morning:  Egyptian Nightjar 1, Marsh Sandpiper 10, Blak-tailed Godwit 15, Marsh Sandpiper 10., Osprey 1, Little Crake 5, Moorhen 50, Common Snipe 1,

Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius)

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Juvenile Little Crake (Porzana parva)

Moorhen chick (Gallinula chloropus)

It was nice to see old friend, Indian Roller, which I farewelled in last May before going for summer holidays. Originally the bird was found by Rashed  Al Hajji on 10th. October 2008 and it has stayed ever since making, frankly speaking, many visitors very happy. Let’s hope that this will continue at least till next spring. Other birds around were: Bank Myna 12, Citrine Wagtail 1, Yellow Wagtail 6, White-throated Kingfisher 1, Hoopoe 1, Olivaceous Warbler 1, Garden Warbler 1, Whitethroat 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Barred Warbler 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Golden Oriole 3, White-cheeked Bulbul 5.

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)

The Pivot Fields produced:

Yellow Wagtails (mostly first autumn birds) 1000, Collared Pratincole 20, Pallid Harrier 5, Marsh Harrier 5, Namaqua Dove 10, House Sparrow 1000, European Roller 3, Woodchat Shrike 3, Masked Shrike 1, Lesser Grey Shrike 4, Isabelline Wheatear 10, Northern Wheatear 2, Bluethroat10, Willow Warbler 4, Barn Swallow 100, Collared Dove 500, Laughing Dove 10, Red-backed Shrike 8, Southern Grey Shrike (pallidirostris) 3, Common Cuckoo 2, Black Kite 5, Short-toed Lark 100, Eurasian Hoopoe 6, White-winged Black Tern 8, White Stork 1, Common Kestrel 2, Sand Martin 20

Jahra Pool Reserve is a good place for birding, water has been restored and the sie looks promissing, it produced:

Basra Reed Warbler 1, Purple Swamp-Hen 1, Little Grebe 5, Dunlin 10, Ruff 8, Curlew Sandpiper 5, Garganey Mallard and Northern Shoveler 32, Common Moorhen 20, European Honey Buzzard 2, Booted Eagle 1, Spotted Redshank 1, Yellow Wagtail 10, Little Stint 10, Pied Avocet 3, Black-winged Stilt 10, Sand Martin 10, Barn Swallow 50, Bar-tailed Godwit 2.

Collared Pratincole, Glareola pratincola first autumn

Greater Short-toes Lark, Calandrella brachydactyla

Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus (one-eyed bird)

Namaqua Dove, Oena capensis

Woodchat Shrike,  Lanius senator (first autumn)

Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Southern Grey Shrike, Lanius meridionalis pallidirostris

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

White Stork, Ciconia ciconia

Basra Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis

European Honey Buzard, Pernis apivorus photographed by Pekka Fågel

Sand Martin, Riparia riparia

Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis an adult with juvenile

Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus

Al Abraq is always a good place to visit and I went there with Brian Foster who is back in Kuwait. The birds seen were: European Roller 2, Hoopoe 10, Black Kite 1, Yellow Wagtail 25, Spotted Flycatcher 3, Citrine Watail 1, Willow Warbler 5, Olivaceous Warbler 3, Short-toed Lark 5, Common Rosefinch 3, Ortolan Bunting 3, Black-headed Bunting 5, Reed Warbler 1.

Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)

Pale Rock Finch (Petronia brachydactyla) and 2 Ortolan Buntings (Emberiza hortulana)

Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythirnus)

At Jahra Pool Reserve we enjoyed good views of waders. It was also a pleasure to see that this reserve has regained back its former shape having water. Jahra Pool Reserve will provide breeding ground for many species including Basra Reed Warbler, Purple Swamp-hen and Crakes. Today we saw following: White-winged Tern 8, Black-winged Stilt 30, Green Sandpiper 3, Wood Sandpiper 5, Marsh Sandpiper 5, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Little Stint 50, Temminck’s Stint 1, Curlew Sandpiper 10, Dunlin 8, Avocet 14, Black-tailed Godwit 12, Ringed Plover 10, Ruff 4, Little Crake 4, Glossy Ibis 3, Collared Pratincole 2,  Moorhen 100, Purple Swamp-hen 1, Garganey 16, Montagu’s Harrier 1.

Curlew Sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea) and Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)

Pivot Fields provided a good view of ongoing migration. Hoopoes, European Rollers, Bee-eaters etc. are on the move. Hoopoe 12, European Bee-eater 10, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater 6, European Roller 1, Cattle Egret 15, Purple Heron 2, Grey Heron 2, Little Crake 1, Moorhen 10, Little Bittern 1,Purple Swamp-hen 1, Black-winged Stilt 13, Green Sandpiper 2, Ruff 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Little Ringed Plover 2, Collared Pratincole 55, Cream-coloured Courser 3, Black Kite 3, Barn Swallow 6, Sand Martin 500+ Yellow Wagtail 50, White-throated Kingfisher 1, Lesser Short-toed Lark 1, Northern Wheatear 2, Isabelline Wheatear 2.

Green Toad in very dangerous position by Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

In Sulaibikhat area I managed to see following: Crab Plover 14, Terek Sandpiper 4, White Stork 1, Little Tern 18, Cream Coloured Courser 9.

Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola)