Wilting in the sun

Week 30, 25 July 2015 - Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City

Today was a scorcher and was tough for both the birder and the birds.

After my obligatory McDonald's breakfast stop, I spent a little time at the degraded reed habitat which the desert is slowly reclaiming. No birds at all in the reeds, but there were a few Slender Skimmers

Slender Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina)

A single Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard was seen in the desert area

Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis)

as was a few juvenile Laughing Doves

Juvenile Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)

A trip off-shore on the boat produced just a Bridled Tern

Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus)

and a single Socotra Cormorant

1st year Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)

In the inter-tidal zone on the coast, I found a few Mud Dweller crabs 

Mud Dweller (Macropthalmus Depressus)

And a Common Greenshank that came past at speed

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

I explored a few other areas with some habitat, White-eared Bulbul's were seen sheltering deep inside cover to keep out of the direct sun and probably a little cooler.

White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus l. leucotis)

I think this is probably Upcher's Warbler, but I didn't get to see all the features to be 100% sure.

Probable Upcher's Warbler (Hippolais languida)

Driving through some exposed desert area, I flushed a small flock of Cream-coloured Coursers that were standing in the shade of a very small bush. Once I had driven past, they all came back (as there was very little shade to be found anywhere)

Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor)