06 March 2016

White and Grey and Black

Week 02, 09 January 2016 - Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City, Khiran

After a fantastic 2-weeks in the mountains and forests of Austria and even a bonus snow storm on the last day of the year, we find ourselves back in Kuwait - where it did take quite some time to re-adjust back to the land of sand!

There were good winter rains while we were away and this bodes well for a good spring as the desert floral show will start erupting soon.

My first outing of the year, was down south...

Very few winter species at my first stop, other than a White Wagtail

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
A single Isabelline Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
And the female Western Black Redstart, still present in the same area as last month

Western Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
I found a fruiting shrub inside the project, which a small flock of White-eared Bulbul's were enjoying

White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus l. leucotis)
Out on the water, it was a bit of a Gull fest....with a number of species around..

An array of the resident Slender-billed Gulls in a variety of plumage variations

Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei)



A single Common Black-headed Gull which are uncommon in the south

Wintering Common Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)


A classic winter plumaged Heuglin's Gull (in hindsight, similar to the bird I recorded last month)

Heuglin's Gull (Larus f. heuglini)


This one may be Steppe, as it is a little paler above than some of the other Heuglin's that were present.....

Possible Steppe Gull (Larus f. barabensis)


A flyby of a single Western Cattle Egret was also a little unusual for the south of Kuwait

Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
A couple of invertebrates were also recorded; Painted Lady

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui cardui)
Mediterranean Pierrot

Mediterranean Pierrot (Tarucus rosaceus)
and Western Pygmy Blue

Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis)
Whilst this Dragonfly remains unidentified

Dragonfly sp.





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