Reeds and wetlands

Week 21; 27 May 2017 - Jahra Pools Reserve (JPR)

After all the mid-week roadside birding, it was time for an early visit to our premier wetland reserve, Jahra Pools which really lets you forget that you are in Kuwait.

I started in one of the Towers watching birds go about their business. 

Black-crowned Night Heron's coming in to roost

Adult Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Whilst Squacco Heron's were just waking up

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

The resident and breeding Ferruginous Duck (this is a real success story for JPR) seemed restless

Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)

There were a few other Duck species present, including Garganey

Male Garganey (Anas querquedula)

A Caspian Tern was also having some success catching fish in the larger pool and it swallow the fish in flight

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

The Moorhen and Coot had a good breeding season with youngsters seen on most of the pools

Juvenile Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)

I have been trying for one of these images for a really long time - it is far from satisfying, but the best I have got so far. I need to find a lower elevation for it to really work well

"Running" Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

I had a slow drive around the reserve, finding calling Indian Reed Warbler

Indian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. brunnescens)

As well as Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

And more Spotted Flycatchers

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

Sand Martins were hawking and feeding pretty low over the reeds

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)

And the highlight was finding this Corncrake, just as it crept and disappeared into cover

Corncrake (Crex crex)