01 August 2020

Lockdown - Day 135

Week 30; 24 July 2020 - Pivot Fields

There are still not many options for birding sites in mid-summer, so I visit Pivot Fields each week. Between the irrigated fields there is some desert habitat, as well as the row of Tamarix trees on the boundary of the farm - so there is some habitat diversity. An early start of 6am necessary, as the temperature climbs really quickly and by 9:30 you are done.

On the drive in, there was a flock of Barn Swallows on the overhead line. Some have quite rufous underparts and I'm not sure if this is the actual plumage colour or picked up from bathing?

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

In amongst the Swallows were two Sand Martin's

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)


Whilst a Namaqua Dove foraged in the field below the Hirundines

Male Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

I found a flock of 30+ young Collared Pratincole's which suggest post breeding dispersal - but not sure from where

Juvenile Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola)



A little later I bumped into some other birders who had found some roosting Egyptian Nightjar's - most seemed to be young birds, also suggesting post breeding dispersal. There were 15+ birds counted

Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius)






The Dhub from last week has now shed it's peeling skin and is looking quite pristine

Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis)




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