Lockdown - Day 145

Week 32; 03 August 2020 - Pivot Fields

This was the last day of the Eid break and I had originally planned to try Abraq, but changed my mind as it is still a little early for the autumn migrants. Instead, it was back to Pivot Fields on another hot and sweaty day. This is the northern boundary road between the Tamarix Trees, on the way to the marsh. I quite liked the sun filtering through the trees.

Tamarix Grove

At the marsh, the family of Graceful Prinia's were present feeding in and around the Sabkha bushes. I love the muted background colours in the early morning sun

Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)

Movement at the base of the reeds revealed 3 Savi's Warblers interacting with each other. I was able to get fairly close before they eventually disappeared back into the reeds - a most enjoyable encounter. In the end there were 4 birds..

Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)

In the same area, Caspian Reed Warblers were foraging, but in the reeds

Caspian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. fuscus)

and a little further on a more skulky Indian Reed Warbler was seen.

Indian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. brunnescens)

By now my shirt was soaked, so back to the car for some respite, even though it was still only 7am in the morning. I met up with Dr. Riad and his wife, as they wanted to see and photograph the Egyptian Nightjar's. It took some walking before we eventually found a few birds, 5 in total in the end. Today they did not allow close approach for some reason, so most pics were of them flying away, but I did get lucky with a few in flight images and the last image was a bird I saw from the car.

Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius), the best BIF of the morning

First time I have noticed the white 'booties'

Camouflage

An obliging bird from the car

A quick drive around the farm and some pivots, finding the Black-winged Kite that has stayed (I assume its the same bird) for a few weeks now. Walking around one of the Alfalfa Fields I discovered around 15 Pygmy Skippers in about a 10 sq meter patch - seems there has been an eruption of this species.

Pygmy Skipper (Gegenes p. pumilio)

My last stop was at another, more open pool that the waders seem to now prefer as the edges has sandy areas for them to roost. There were good numbers of Collared Pratincole's flying in and out

Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola)

I had a distant adult and juvenile Red-wattled Lapwing

Adult Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

Juvenile Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

As well as a pair of Spur-winged Lapwings

Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)

Whilst there was a single White-winged Tern roosting and then flying off on a short sortie before returning to roost.

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

Sparrow-Larks and Namaqua Doves seemed constantly on the move.

Male Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

All too soon, it gets too hot and birds just try and rest around the water, or any shade they can find. That was my cue to also call it a morning....