Buzzard Bonanza

Week 38; 19 September 2020 - Al Abraq

It was a really early start to get the Abraq in the SW desert of Kuwait by  sunrise. Following the good news of raptor movement yesterday, I was encouraged when I saw a good few Steppe Buzzards roosting on the deck on route to the farm gate. Once inside the farm there were Buzzards roosting everywhere - on the ground, up on berms and in the trees. Just spectacular!

I had a quick look around the big pond, as it would be some time before the Buzzards would start flying. Here I found White-throated Kingfisher

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

A Common Snipe on the banks

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

And a 1st year Golden Oriole in the trees

Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

Now, please excuse, but enjoy this photo heavy post, as it is not often we get a Buzzard show like we did today.....

Of course, the majority of raptors at the farm were Steppe Buzzards and most plumage types. My favourite however is the dark morph. 

First up are some roosting Buzzards

Steppe Buzzard (Buteo b. vulpinus)

and then Buzzards in flight (BIF'S)

Steppe Buzzard (Buteo b. vulpinus)

As is expected at this time of year, there were a number of European Honey Buzzards in the mix, also a few plumage varieties, but most young birds. 

Again a few roosting birds

European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

with some in flight

European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

A bonus in the mix was what I thought was a Crested Honey Buzzard, but Yoav Perlman highlighted that it had some European Honey Buzzard features. 

Who best to confirm other than Dick Forsman. Dick kindly shared his opinion and said that this was the best example of a Hybrid Crested Honey Buzzard he had seen. 

He identified it as a classic hybrid male by the grey head and type of remiges barring. Further features pointing to a hybrid include; lacks the carpal patch of European, has a mix of underwing remiges barring (primaries like Crested and secondaries like European) as is the tail. The pattern of the underwing coverts and underbody match Crested. The orange yellow of the iris is interesting when it should be deep ruby red in Crested and light yellow in European.

Male Hybrid Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)

You have to be aware that there are others in the mix, especially when the birds start flying and getting ready to thermal out to the next stopover. I was lucky to catch a single Levant Sparrowhawk as it zipped out from the trees

Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes)

A resident Common Kestrel was also seen flying by, perhaps caught up in the excitement

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

In an open area, a Black-eared Kite was feasting on what looks like a dead Fox

Black-eared Kite (Milvus m. lineatus)

Aside from the raptor fest, I did also pick-up Tawny Pipit

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)

The resident Crested Lark

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

and Masked Shrike, although passerines weren't a priority today.

Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus)

Together with Sajan, we managed to locate two Scops Owl tucked out of way and next to each other in a densely foliaged tree..

Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops)

Before leaving I checked the pool where a White-winged Tern was drinking on the wing

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

Whilst Pallid Swifts were overhead. This looks like a young bird with the eye mask not so prominent

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)

But today, it was just about enjoying the spectacle of the show put on by the Buzzards - and just not knowing where to look next...