Migrants interspersed with residents

Week 17; 26 April 2017 - Gulf Road, Sharq Harbour and Green Island

Today was a double-header, a few stops on the way too work and one after work.

The number and mix of Yellow Wagtails foraging on the verges seems to increase each day; here a gorgeous Yellow-headed

Yellow-headed Wagtail (Motacilla f/t. lutea)

And a possible superciliaris

Possible superciliaris Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla f superciliaris)

A stunning Citrine Wagtail was also in the mix

Male Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

Here a comparative image with a Yellow-headed Wagtail

Citrine and Yellow-headed Wagtail for comparative purposes

A couple of Tree Pipit's were seen amongst the Wagtails

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)

At Sharq Harbour, Sandwich Terns were still present

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

As were Lesser Crested

Lesser Crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis)

However, a Swift Tern put in an appearance competing for the food amongst the smaller Terns

Swift Tern (Sterna bergii)

Aerial supremacy with Swift and Sandwich Terns

A Pallid Swift was seen above Sharq Mall

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)

After work, another walk around Green Island produced more passage migrants; Common Swifts overhead

Common Swift (Apus apus)

My first Turkestan Shrike of the spring

Turkestan Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)

As was this Whinchat

Male Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

This time the resident Slender-billed Gulls were actively feeding and diving for fish like Terns on the inland bay

Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei)

However, the star of the day was certainly this rufous form Common Cuckoo

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) rufous form