12 September 2020

Lockdown - Day 171; Autumn kicking-off

Week 35; 29 August 2020 - Pivot Fields

It was back to the farm again this morning along with Paul Scott, to see what new birds may have arrived overnight.

On the way to the marsh, I was greeted with this view of the morning sun filtering through the Tamarix Tree's - almost magical

Magical Sunrise



As I was walking to the marsh, a flock of Black-crowned Night Heron's were circling above the reeds looking for a place to roost for the day

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)


They were followed by an unexpected Western Reef Heron

Western Reef Heron (Egretta g. schistacea)


The usual Warbler's were present; Caspian Reed

Caspian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. fuscus)


Great Reed

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)


along with Indian Reed

Indian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. brunnescens)



As well as a few Savi's

Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)


White-eared Bulbul's were quite busy flying over the reeds from one side of the marsh to the other

White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus mesopotamia)


The supporting cast included Red-spotted Bluethroat

Red-spotted Bluethroat (Luscinia s. svecica)




and a Common Kingfisher against the light

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)


Walking back to the car, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes)


A Common Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis)


A cool Woodchat Shrike with the green fields as a background

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)


And two Yellow-throated Sparrows, a species I haven't seen for some time

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)




Driving around the farm produced the usual Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)


Lesser Grey

Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor)


And Red-backed Shrike on the overhead lines which is quite typical for Shrikes - high vantage point for hunting

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)


I had a single Spotted Flycatcher in the Tamarix Trees

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)


Final stop was the shallow pool, where Western Yellow Wagtail's were foraging in the surrounding field

Sykes's Wagtail (Motacilla f. beema)



As were Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Female Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)


In the pool were a few Common Snipe, this one had me going for awhile, as the super was so big and white - but unfortunately, the bill seemed just too long for Pin-tailed..

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)



A Northern Pintail in the fields was a real surprise

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)


A more productive morning than yesterday and subsequent weekends should just get better. 

Later in the afternoon I tried Jal Al Zour for Wheatear's and Owls, failed on both fronts, but did enjoy the moon over the Wadi

Mutla'a Moonrise


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