From Spring to Summer

Week 15, 12 April 2014 - Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City

I was back down in the south and spring had suddenly been replaced by summer with temperatures now hovering close to 40 degrees by mid-morning.

I spent some fruitless time in the boat with very little seen other than the resident Kentish Plovers.

However, birding picked up when I walked a few of the islands in the main Khor with many of the usual passerine migrants making use of the habitat, as well as a few species that I hadn't encountered this far south before.

A single European Turtle Dove was found roosting in the top of one of the bigger tree's and later I found a small flock of 3

European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)

More unusual was a skulking male Little Bittern in the dense perimeter vegetation, the most southern record for me.

Male Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

Many of the other usual suspects were seen including, Eurasian Wryneck

Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)

and Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Erythropygia galactotes)

Willow Warblers were the dominant Warbler and were literally seen everywhere

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

An Eastern Orphean Warbler was also the most southern record for me

Eastern Orphean Warbler (Sylvia crassirostris)

Also present was an Upcher's Warbler

Upcher's Warbler (Hippolais languida )

and numbers of Lesser Whitethroat, although with the con-colourous neck and nape, this one could be a possible candidate for Hume's

Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)

There were a number of Shrike species, most were Turkestan

Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)

But one Masked was also recorded

Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus)

A single male Whinchat dropped in

Male Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

The resident White-eared Bulbul's also made an appearance

White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus l. leucotis)

and I struggled to get close to this White-throated Robin, as the temp turned up and started creating heat haze which a long lens really compounds.

White-throated Robin (Irania gutturalis)

I found a Dragonfly sp that I normally find around fresh water ponds, so this seemed out of place - unless it was migrating?

Dragonfly sp

I was quite pleased with my Clouded Yellow flight shot, considering it was hand-held with the big glass.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

The spring migration does appear to be tailing off, but there should still be some good birds to be had in the final couple of weeks