Marsh and Grass

Week 38; 18 September 2020 - Pivot Fields

At this time of year with migrants passing through, there is always a underlying tension when we head out birding, mostly in the hope of finding something rare or even new. That together with the weather starting to become a little more pleasant to be out makes for more enjoyable birding. As always, I was at the gate by 6am to enjoy the best time of the morning and good light. John Gurnett and a fellow Saffa Jules were also with me. On the way to the marsh, the Black-winged Kite was in it's 'usual' place on the overhead lines

Black-winged Kite (Elanus c. vociferus)

A White-throated Kingfisher greeted us on arrival at the marsh

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

Warbler activity has quietened down considerably, but there was one Great Reed Warbler foraging along the base of the reeds

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

A few Western Marsh Harriers caused their usual havoc

Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

A couple of Common Myna's (yes, they are here too) passed by behind the reedbed and my auto-focus didn't lose focus - pretty neat!

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

In the field adjacent to the marsh, there were a few Glossy Ibis amongst the many Cattle Egrets

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

A few of the Cattle Egret's

Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Whilst Squacco Herons were actively hunting in the grass

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

And a few Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters used the Pivot for what little shade there was with occasional sorties to get a winged insect

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)

A Montagu's Harrier gave a decent fly by

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)

Whilst a Steppe Buzzard 

Steppe Buzzard (Buteo b. vulpinus)

Followed by a Black-eared Kite cruised by overhead

Black-eared Kite (Milvus m. lineatus)

I then had a drive around the farm, finding a group of 1st year Collared Pratincole's

Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola)

I did find the two biggest reptiles we have in Kuwait, the plant eating (vegan) Spiny-tailed Lizard which can move surprisingly fast for it's size

Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx a. microlepis)

and the leaner and meaner carnivorous and apex predator, Desert Monitor which is no slouch either

Desert Monitor (Varanus griseus)

There was news of good Raptor passage in the NW desert today, so tomorrow I will head to the SW to see if I can catch-up with any of them.