Migrants and a Rarity

Week 28, 11 July 2014 - Jahra East Outfall

Neil and I had another early start with Jahra East the final destination. The smelly outfall near the Maternity Hospital is one the way, so we made a quick detour in the early morning light.

A few 1st year Common Tern were foraging over the outfall

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) in the pre-dawn light

Neil picked up the albino Kentish Plover that had been seen a few weeks back, unfortunately a stray dog made it dash out onto the low tide zone and eventually fly away - so just a distant record image of an unusual morph.

Albino Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus )

Once we reached the outfall we spent some time looking for Warblers, but only came away with Caspian/Eurasian Reed Warblers, adults and 1st year birds some of which are still begging for food.

Adult Caspian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. fuscus)

Juvenile Caspian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. fuscus)

We then walked to where the outfall exists to the sea to check for shore and sea birds.

Three Black-headed Wagtails were the first of this autumns passage

Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla f. feldegg)

A bird flying in to the reeds just caught my eye, I suspected Black-winged Kite, but wasnt 100%. I alerted Neil and we walked back up along the outfall before Neil spotted the bird roosting on top of the phragmite reeds - Black-winged Kite it was and 19th record for Kuwait.

'Asian' Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus vociferus)

A few dragonfly species were around the outfall

Dragonfly sp

and on the way out, a Blue-throated Agama high on a Salt Bush, to take advantage of a breeze as part of its cooling strategy

Blue-throated Agamid