Something ventured, something gained

Week 51, 11 December 2012 - JEO and JPR (Click to enlarge image)

I knew it would be a long shot, but I decided to explore Jahra East to see if the male Hooded Wheater seen a few weeks back may still be around - turns out that it was a long shot, with only Desert Wheatears seen. There are still numbers of White Wagtail about though

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

I heard a familiar call and saw a calling Corn Bunting on a distant mound

Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)

Due to the development of a huge new suburb, I was able to get close to the coast where I found an estimated 2200 wintering Great Cormorants roosting on a low tide sandbank.

Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo)

My lease had expired on my SUV, so I was now driving a reasonably price car (to use the words of Top Gears Jeremy Clarkson), since I hadnt been to the outfall in sometime, I managed to find a way to get to it in the low-slung car. 

This paid off, as I was rewarded in finding a juvenile Peregrine Falcon (thanks to Barak Granit who helped clinch the id which was not quite so straight forward) that was quite intent on trying to catch a Wagtail or a Pipit, but obstructed by a territorial Western Marsh Harrier. Although it landed on the ground a few times, the Harrier kept putting it back up. They are just magnificent raptors and this was my first in Kuwait, having seen many in South Africa.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

As it was still early, I headed to Jahra Pools which is currently the best place to watch birds in Kuwait.

The Ferruginous Duck was really obliging this morning and provide crippling views and showed that it is in the diving duck category.

Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)

An adult Daurian Shrike was using the phragmite reeds as a hunting perch.

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

Two Tufted Ducks were seen in the second main pool

Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula)

A Siberian Stonechat was seen on the fence, where I had seen it previously

Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)

On the western side of the reserve, the large flock of Greater Flamingos was still present in the expansive pool, as was the Great Crested Grebe amongst 16 Black-necked Grebe

Great Crested (Podiceps cristatus) with Black-necked ( Podiceps nigricollis) Grebes

A small flock of 4 Tufted Ducks came in and took some time before they settled

Tufted Ducks (Aythya fuligula)

Followed by two Common Shelducks which are normally seen on the coast at this time of year

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

Careful scanning of the sandbanks gave 6 Temminck's Stints

Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii)

Today the Pied Kingfisher I had seen on previous visit provided a full frame image

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

Often a strategy of sitting quietly in the car does pay off as birds come to you or fly by, as was the case with a single Pied Avocet

Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

Driving back to the main pool, a Western Great Egret had flown in (as it wasn't seen earlier).

Western Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Two Western Marsh Harriers were flying low over the reeds to ambush any unsuspecting birds - but when there paths crossed, there was a bit of a territorial display of wings and claws before they flew off in separate directions

Territorial Western Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus)

On my way out some movement at the base of the reeds caught my eye as a Red-spotted Bluethroat popped out.

Red-spotted Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)