Lockdown - Day 128

Week 29; 17 July 2020 - Pivot Fields and Abdullah Al Salem

I knew it was going to be an uncomfortable morning when I saw condensation on the outside of my apartment windows and so it was with 70% humidity which is irregular in Kuwait. Luckily the condensation on all my optics and glasses dissipated on the drive to the farm which is 30km inland.

Even at the farm it didn't take long for my shirt to be soaked after a brief walk at the marsh where there wasn't much about, although I did get a fleeting glimpse of the Black-winged Kite as it departed. I did find a very young Graceful Prinia though

Juvenile Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)

And one of the three Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters that have decided to stay at the farm for the summer

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)

There was also a Dragonfly which I still need to get identified

Dragonfly sp

I then moved to the shallow pool with more open habitat around the pool and saw that wader numbers had increased since last week, including many more Ruff

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)

Together with a single Black-winged Pratincole

Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni)

and Spur-winged Lapwing

Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)

It was too uncomfortable to be out of the car for a long period, so on a drive around the farm, I found Crested Lark together with Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark sitting together in the little shade provided by the telephone pole

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) together with Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)

This moulting or is it shedding Spiny-tailed Lizard was quite obliging for a change - perhaps also wilting in the humid conditions

Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis)

Later in the afternoon I was in the garden where we found the Purple Sunbirds earlier in the year. A few Eurasian Blackcap's have been present here all summer, so we were hoping to locate a nest to prove breeding - but no luck. We will have to keep a lookout for any juveniles. I did photograph these two Dragonflies, which I also need to identify

Dragonfly sp.

Dragonfly sp.

Lockdown - Day 122

Week 28; 11 July 2020 - Abu Hassania

I had a quick check on the breeding Golden-backed Weaver's in the morning and both male and female were present and active around the nest

Male Golden-backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni)

Female Golden-backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni)

Lockdown - Day 121

Week 28; 10 July 2020 - Pivot Fields

As mid-July approaches we start anticipating the arrival of early autumn migrants. So, with an earlier start I was again through the gates at the Pivots by 6am and this time headed straight to the marsh.

There were quite a number of Kuhl’s Pipistrelle foraging over the big pan

Kuhl’s Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii)

Whilst on the far side of the pan, a skittish Eurasian Curlew took to the sky

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)

In the reeds, both Indian and Caspian Reed were calling and I observed Indian Reed flying in with food - so breeding in full swing for these reed dwellers.

Caspian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. fuscus) in typical habitat

Again the Stilts were not present, perhaps roosting elsewhere. But, the small flock of Spur-winged Lapwing was welcome

Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)

A couple of Mallard did a fly-by, but didn't land

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Whilst there were two White-winged Terns foraging over the marsh

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

I did a quick drive finding the Red-wattled Lapwings and the Coursers which were still present but too distant for any images 

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

Again, the Sparrow-Larks were again in the same area

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)

I headed back to the small pan and there were a number of waders present including; Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

and Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Two Yellow Wagtails were also seen

Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla f. flava)

And some more Sparrow-Larks flying up and down the field

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)

and I tried some BIF of the Barn Swallows, but not quite as successful as last week, as this time they weren't flying in toward me - but good fun nevertheless

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Lockdown - Day 119

Week 28; 08 July 2020 - Abu Hassania

I decided to check out Abu Hassania beach at sunset on the outgoing tide. I was not alone, the beach was rammed. Fortunately the foraging waders were on the rocks so not too many people in this area.

The flock were disturbed a few times by people walking, but would return to the same area once they had left

Greater Sand Plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii)

I would have preferred to lie flat, but the rocks were too sharp, so had to contend with sitting to get a low an angle as possible for the feeding Greater Sand Plovers

Greater Sand Plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii)

Only one of the birds had summer plumage

Greater Sand Plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii)

Not sure why this bird has sagging belly feathers - I thought it might be a brood patch?

Greater Sand Plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii)

There were also a few Kentish Plovers together with the bigger Sand Plovers

Kentish Plover (Anarhynchus alexandrinus)

I caught a single Lesser Crested Tern flying up the coast in the last rays of the day

Lesser Crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis)

There were big numbers of Hermit Crab's in the small pools amongst the rocks

Hermit Crab