Migrants at the pools

Week 36; 07 September 2017 - Jahra Pools Reserve (JPR)

Well, we had a fantastic 2-weeks in South Africa and really enjoyed our week at our timeshare in the southern Kruger National Park. We explored from Crocodile Bridge up to Satara - great mammal sightings, including African Wild Cat and always good to reconnect with the birds I have lost touch with.

All too soon we were back in Kuwait, but in time for autumn migration so I headed to Jahra Pools with Neil Tovey for a morning's birding and we had a fair selection of migrants, starting with a Black Kite near the small tower

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

An obliging Common Snipe at one of the shallow open pools

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

While watching the Snipe, a Little Egret dropped in

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

And we spent time watching a Squacco Heron hunting

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

Stealth mode - that is a small school of fish bubbling directly in front of the bird

Hunting above the pool was White-winged Tern

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

A slow drive around the reserve produced a few passerines; Mauryan Grey Shrike

Mauryan Grey Shrike (Lanius lahtora pallidirostris)

Spotted Flycatcher hawking from the reeds

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

And our first Northern Wheatear of this autumn

Male Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Western Yellow Wagtails had also arrived, so an enjoyable morning all round

Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla f. flava)