Feathers and Feelers

Week 45, 07 November 2015 - Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City, Khiran

Autumn has almost passed by and the winter is coming over the horizon, although November still feels a little like a transition month and is still warm.

After the obligatory McDonald's breakfast, I spent some time in the reeds and some surface water on the road to Khiran resort. Not much about, other than a pale form Western Reef Heron

Western Reef Heron (Egretta g. schistacea)

In the desert area, I found an Isabelline Wheatear in the golden early morning light

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)

Followed shortly afterwards by Eastern Mourning Wheatear

Eastern Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens)

And a Mauryan Grey Shrike on the overhead line

Mauryan Grey Shrike (Lanius lahtora pallidirostris)

Once out on the water, I noted that the wintering Great Cormorants had arrived, whilst the Socotra's had not yet departed

Adult and 1st year Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)

Portrait of adult Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

In and around the project, I recorded Daurian Shrike

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

First winter Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

and the resident White-eared Bulbul's, with this bird in full song

White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus l. leucotis)

For those like me also interested in invertebrates, I also recorded a number of butterflies; Asian Grass Blue

Asian Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra karsandra)

Pea Blue

Pea Blue (Lampides boeticus)

Mediterranean Pierrot

Mediterranean Pierrot (Tarucus rosaceus)

and numbers of Plain Tiger

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus chrysippus)

Less welcome, was a Black Rat that scurried away quite quickly

Black Rat