We had 3-days off for the National and Liberation Day holidays and for me it was best to escape the city and head to the tranquility of the desert.
I decided to start off at Jahra Farm which was quieter than expected. I had a pair of Bank Myna's on the wires
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| Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) |
A single Song Thrush - the rest have probably departed by now
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| Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) |
and only one White Wagtail in one of the adjacent farms
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| White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) |
Walking out, this Laughing Dove landed in front of me - sometimes you also need to stop and enjoy the common birds too....
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| Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) |
Next stop was Jal Al Zour before it got too busy with campers and quad bikers and I was suitably rewarded. First migrant was a distant Western Blue Rock Thrush high up on the wadi - encouraging.
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| Western Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) |
I checked the spot where I generally find Mourning Wheatear and there he was
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| Eastern Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens) |
I spent some time watching him foraging on the ground and then on the slopes of the wadi. Whilst sitting quietly in my car, a female Finsch's Wheatear dropped in, but was very skittish
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| Finsch’s Wheatear (Oenanthe finschii) |
I then found a male Desert Wheatear, not quiet in full breeding plumage - but obliging and singing
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| Male Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) |
I then headed north and west to Liyah and found a good number of Wheatear's in one area; but a female Northern was the most obliging - she must have just arrived as she wasn't too keen to fly much
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| Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) |
There were also a few Common Chiffchaff in one of the lone trees
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| Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita |
I explored deeper into the reserve looking unsuccessfully for Hoopoe-Lark, but I did finally find a flock of 3 Bar-tailed Lark. Difficult to approach and even more difficult to photograph in flight
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| Bar-tailed Lark (Limosa lapponica) |
On the way out, a few Lesser Short-toed Lark were unexpected
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| Lesser Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens) |
Last stop on the way home was Sulaibikhat Bay, the tide was still a way out - so only managed a Grey Heron
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| Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) |
And some wintering Common Black-headed Gulls.
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| Common Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) |
Spring migrants have not yet arrived in any significant numbers, but whilst out I also enjoy checking out the invertebrates. A Blister Beetle was the only creature of interest at Mutla'a Ranch
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| Blister Beetle (Mylabris calida) |
Darkling Beetles were seen, although this one seemed to be on steroids - I have never seen one move this quick before
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| Darkling Beetle sp. |
Many green Fly types
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| Fly sp |
A Wasp species
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| Wasp sp |
and a few Moths that I'm unsure of the identify, but have taken a
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| Possible Nomophila noctuella |
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| Possible Nomophila noctuella |
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| Possible Eastern Bordered Straw (Heliothis nubigera) |
The flower show continues and it is actually quite amazing how green and colourful the desert is in areas that are protected. Following the record rains in December, I'm sure there are plant species that haven't been seen in many years - so it could be a Botanist's dream. Enjoy the Kuwait flower show
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