What has the wind blown in

Week 34, 21 August 2012 - SAANR and Jahra Farm (Click to enlarge image)

There has been a consistent NW wind for the past few days, so it was time to check out SAANR.

Again on the way to Tuhla, I saw the usual Arabian Red Foxes (since I know where they live), this time though they didn't stick around for photographs and disappeared at speed into the distance.

A 1cy Short-toed Eagle had roosted in the Acacia's overnight, but it took a good 2-hours before it eventually came down to drink from the pools. The four of us (Rashed, Mahmoud, Mershab and I) who were patiently waiting got crippling views and great images.

Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)

Today, I found a shady spot at the pool and waited to see what came to drink and was rewarded with birds like; European Roller

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor)

With a Wood Sandpiper trying to shelter from the wind at the waters edge

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

A Greater Hoopoe Lark was catching and eating ants under one of the Acacia trees

Greater Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)

A drive to the dry wadi gave a Spiny-tailed Lizard (warmed yellow by the sun) with a normal length tail

Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastux aegyptia)

At the wadi, the wind has pushed fine sand up against some desert grass creating a micro habitat.

Micro desert habitat

I pushed on to Jahra Farm, missing a Montagu Harrier that came to drink at Tuhla. But at Jahra Farms found many Common Whitethroats

Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)

A couple of Eastern Olivaceous Warblers

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida)

and a single Upchers Warbler

Upchers Warbler (Hippolais languida)

And a bonus for missing the Montagu earlier in the form of the normally skulking Thrush Nightingale (you can see the 8 primaries in the 2nd image, Common Nightingale has 7)

Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia)

So, some great Eid birding and we look forward to see what September brings with favourable NW winds....