A morning in the haze

Week 32, 05 August 2013 - Jahra Pools Reserve (Click to enlarge image)

The wind had died down during the night, so all seemed well when I left the apartment just after 5:30am. However, there was still remnant dust hanging in the air and an hour later, the wind picked up again....so far from ideal.

All the usual's were still around and wader diversity was the same as the last visit with not too much increase in numbers. I suspect that this is juvenile Little Ringed Plover, unfortunately we never did locate a nest, despite their presence all summer.

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

There were quite a few Purple Swamphen's seen in the various pools which are fast becoming encroached by the rapidly increasing phragmite reeds. Soon we may have to change the name to Jahra Reed Reserve, as the reeds slowly choke all the open water pools.

This year's Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio  porphyrio)

One of this years Eurasian Coots was seen swimming across one of the pools

This year's Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)

No sign of the Indian Pond Heron seen again last week, but there were numbers of Squacco Heron around the edges of a few of the pools.

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

An Upcher's Warbler was seen and this may be one of the two I saw last month rather than a new arrival.

Upcher's Warbler (Hippolais languida)

This Citrine Wagtail gets the vote for bird of the morning.

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

A single Common Kestrel was also seen harassing some of the waders 

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Two species of Kingfisher were seen, but I was only able to get images of the larger White-throated Kingfisher.

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

Migrant diversity should now start increasing over the next 2-weeks, especially with the assistance of the prevailing NW wind.