A trickle of Passerine Migrants

Week 33, 13 August 2016 - Al Abraq 

Today Hassan Abouzeid, a colleague from work who shares the same interest and passion in birds and photography joined me on the long drive to Al Abraq in the west. We had a very early start to get to the farm just after sunrise to check on the arrival of the autumn migrants.

Much to our dismay, it looked like a school camp with many teenagers carrying air rifles and playing looped calls of migrant birds and creating carnage inside the farm. They have no regard for privacy and do not seem embarrassed at all about jumping over the fence to shoot any or all birds on this private property. Fortunately, the owners arrived shortly after us and soon chased all of them off and out of their property. Sadly birds were all very skittish, but that is to be understood. We first walked the farm, which is one of my special locations in Kuwait as it offers diverse habitat for many different species.

One of the first species seen was Corn Bunting, followed shortly afterwards by Common Whitethroat and in this image the white throat from which it gets its name, can be clearly seen..

Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)

A first year Barred Warbler was seen near the alfalfa fields

Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria)

As was one of many similar Warblers, this was only this one that I was able to photograph. I suspect it may be Marsh?

Possible Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)

It took a little patience for this female Red-spotted Bluethroat to turn and face us.

Female Red-spotted Bluethroat (Luscinia s. svecica)

A lone Western Cattle Egret passed by overhead   ;-)

Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

We spent some time photographing some of the Dragonflies on the farm; this A Lesser Emperor

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope)

And this, I'm not sure?

Dragonfly sp

Since it was heating up quickly, we left as I still wanted to show Hassan around Jahra Pools - where it was very windy when we arrived, so not too much to be seen or to photograph. Nevertheless, an enjoyable day with good conversation, despite the shooters early on, spoiling the start of the day!

AND with this post, I have finally caught up with my backlog of posts!