Kuwait Birding: Back to the SW

Week 14, 04 April 2019 - Salmi, Abraq and Jahra Farm

This time we were three; Paul Scott, Neil Tovey and I that headed back to Salmi. Neil needed a couple of species that we had found last week, so we were more than happy to meet at 5am so we could be on site shortly after sunrise. It was a lot more strict to get through the police control point this time. Just before we reached the checkpoint, we stopped for Western Osprey that had roosted overnight on the border fence

Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

We went back too the same area, parked and then started slowly walking the area.

It wasn't long before we were on to our first Desert Lark's and we saw many more than we did last week during the course of the morning.

Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti)

Similarly with Bar-tailed Larks, their numbers had certainly increased substantially today

Bar-tailed Lark (Ammomanes cinctura)

In one area we had some other migrant passerines; Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat

Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia c. halimodendri)

Along with a out of place Eurasian Wryneck

Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)

Wheatear's were represented by Northern

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

and many Eastern Black-eared

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe h. melanoleuca)

As it warmed up, a cracking male Pallid Harrier drifted too quickly overhead and shortly after was followed by a Steppe Eagle pretty high up

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Earlier on we found this 'mammoth' Grasshopper - not yet identified

Grasshopper sp

And as it warmed up quite a few Snake-tailed Fringe-toed Lizards were seen

Snake-tailed Fringe-toed Lizard (Acanthodactylus Opheodurus)

By now it was warming up so we started to make our way to Abraq - but on a detour found a single Temminck's Lark - a real bonus and not on our radar at all

Temminck's Lark (Eremophila bilopha)

On the border fence, more Eastern Black-eared Wheatear

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe h. melanoleuca)

and this cracking male 'Greenland' Northern Wheatear

Male Northern 'Greenland' Wheatear (Oenanthe leucorhoa)

and later a female Eastern Black-eared

Female Eastern Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe h. melanoleuca)

At Abraq, a Marsh Harrier sailed over our car as we came through the gate

Male Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

It was already quite warm, so activity was pretty slow - some Lesser Whitethroat's that were difficult to photograph

Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia c. halimodendri)

and a cool female Semi-collared Flycatcher that disappeared and could not be relocated

Female Semi-collared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata)

I found another Striped Hawk-moth

Striped Hawk Moth (Hyles livornica)

a couple of Mediterranean Pierrot's

Mediterranean Pierrot (tarucus rosacea)

and this Nomophila noctuella moth

Nomophila noctuella

We then called it quits and headed east to Jahra, stopping first for a bite and then to Jahra Farm. We picked up a cool Grey Wagtail as we walked through the gate to the farm