From Dusk to Dark

Week 33, 12 August 2016 - Jahra Pools and Sulaibiya

No posts in Kuwait for last weekend, as I was visiting my good friends in Qatar (see the post here - http://kuwaitbirding.blogspot.com/p/around-region.html)

I had mentioned in a previous post about the sweet afternoon light at Jahra Pools, so after a morning of tennis (yes, we play all year round!) and some time at the pool I was back at JPR in the late afternoon. A single Black-tailed Godwit was seen in one of the pools

European Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa l. limosa)

And a young Grey-headed Swamphen was foraging in the reeds

This year's Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio  p. poliocephalus)

Again, I found a likely spot, opened all the windows and switched off the engine and leaked while I photographed the birds in the pool in the golden hour. Most of the birds were the same as the previous week, but with a few new additions. Dunlin still present

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

But Curlew Sandpiper was new

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

A small flock of Greater Sand Plover flew in, but didn't stay long

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)

One of this year's Little Ringed Plovers was foraging in the shallow water

This year's Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)

Wood Sandpipers were also a new addition to the birds seen last week

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

But White-winged Tern numbers seemed to have increased.

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

As the light was fading fast, I had a quick drive around the reserve - Yellow Wagtails numbers are also slowly increasing

Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla f. feldegg)

I found a family of 5 Little Ringed Plovers all foraging on a raised mound of sand - it seemed there were small insects coming out of the sand to feed and the Plover family made the most of this unexpected food supply

Adult Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)

I took this abstract landscape

Jahra Pools Landscape

Followed by a few Black-crowned Night Herons that were getting pretty vocal from their roost

Adult Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Calling Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Just before the sun set (I'm a sucker for sunsets/sunrises)

Another Jahra Pool sunset

As I was going past Sulaibiya on the way home, I made a stop to try locate Barn Owl and get that elusive photograph - no luck this time in even seeing the bird. 

There was however a Green Toad eruption, with so many Toads all over the desert. So, I got down to their level (lying flat on the sand), to get a few images.

Green Toad (Bufotes (Bufo) variabilis)

A single Desert Gecko was also seen, but was less obliging than the Toad's - same tactic again; get down on the sand!

Desert Gecko (Stenodactylus doriae)

Again, an enjoyable afternoon and evening out - still no Owl image though!