Desert birds in the West

Week 44; 29 October 2020 - Al Abraq

We had a day off for the Prophets Birthday, so I decided to head west to Al Abraq arriving at the gate before the sun rose. I checked some habitat outside the farm and found a foraging Tawny Pipit

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)

And a Armenian Stonechat that was still all fluffed up from the coolness of the morning. Yes, the mornings are now a little cooler and this is really welcome

Armenian Stonechat (Saxicola m. variegatus)

This male Desert Wheatear was feeding on insects/maggots from this dead Goat - it seems there was a never-ending supply

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)

Two White Wagtails tried to get in on the action, but the Wheatear was having none of it. So, they just perched and watched for a few minutes

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

As the sun rose, a few Asian Desert Warbler's made an appearance which was not surprising, as they are more often than not seen in the vicinity of Desert Wheatear's

Asian Desert Warbler (Curruca nana)

I then headed into the farm, parked my car and walked. Red-breasted Fly's are still around, but not as many as my previous visits.

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)

Common Chiffchaff are bouncing around all over the farm

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

Whilst a Squacco Heron was successfully catching Grasshoppers in the same area

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

I then hopped back into the car and did a slow drive in the gorgeous morning light, finding another Armenian Stonechat

Armenian Stonechat (Saxicola m. variegatus)

A tired looking Isabelline Wheatear - or just enjoying the early morning rays?

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)

An Arabian Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike (Lanius e. aucheri)

Daurian Shrike, complimented with a nice side-light

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

And a Pied Wheatear

Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)

I then spent a bit of time with a pair of European Stonechat's that were on one of my favourite perches - a lone dead Sunflower plant

European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)

In the same field, there were quite a few Water Pipit's

Caucasian Water Pipit (Anthus s. coutelli)

I also picked up a Steppe Buzzard with an injured leg, perched quietly in a Tamarix Tree

Steppe Buzzard (Buteo b. vulpinus)

Later I had a Black Redstart, but try as I might, just could not get a clear view of it. It continually succeeded in keeping some errant branch between it and me

Western Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

The Common Redstart wasn't much easier either..

Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

As I was considering leaving, this magnificent sub-adult Imperial Eagle passed by overhead trying to find a thermal

Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

Of interest,  I also had Plain Tiger

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)

and what I suspect is a Schmidt's Fringed-toed Lizard

Schmidt's Fringed-toed Lizard (Acanthodactylus schmidti)