A tough day in the south

Week 32, 08 August 2015 - Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City

It was a pretty bird-less day in the south at the Sea City project, not helped by a brisk wind which increased the Heat Index.

I found the Common Moorhen in the reed habitat where the ground water is diminishing and the water quality appears to be deteriorating.

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

A Blue-throated (Blanford's) Agamid was seen sitting proud quite high above the ground in an effort to keep a little cooler.

Blue-throated Agamid (Trapelus ruderatus fieldi)

Out on the boat, a single Socotra Cormorant seemed quite content in the heat perched on the buoy

1st year Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)

Not quite so for the juvenile Bridled Tern, sitting in the shade under the buoy.

Juvenile Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus), probably the same bird as the chick below

I think this is the same bird I saw as a chick on the same buoy almost 2-months ago, to the day

Adult and chick Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus)

A juvenile White-cheeked Bulbul seemed to be struggling in the heat

Juvenile White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus l. leucotis)

As was I....