Au Revoir Kuwait

Week 49; 04 December 2020 - Pivot Fields

This would indeed be my last outing in Kuwait and this morning met up with Neil Tovey and Matt Nottingham at the Pivots at 6:30am. Like yesterday, it was gloomy, overcast and drizzly - but we had a great time chatting and reminiscing at the marsh whilst enjoying a welcome birders breakfast.  Again, this was a day for record images, as ISO really had to be cranked up. Later John Gurnett also joined up with us..

During this time we were entertained by a couple of Spotted Crake

Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana)

as well as a Water Rail, which was not quite as confiding as the Crake

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)

A Chiffchaff dropped in

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

We then had a drive around the farm, I had a good few Bluethroat, both European and Caspian Stonechat and this damp Steppe Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike (Lanius e. lahtora)

Just off the main road, there was a lot of standing water from the rain, which attracted the Black-winged Stilts, along with a Bar-tailed Godwit and a cracking male Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) amongst the Stilts

On the exposed mud flats, there were a few Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Nearby the flock of Indian Silverbill were in the same place as last week

Indian Silverbill (Lonchura malabarica)

Sitting amongst them on the overhead line was this probable Arabian Grey Shrike

Probable Great Grey Shrike (Lanius e. aucheri)

In the fields, there were many Water Pipits feeding on erupting insects.

Caucasian Water Pipit (Anthus s. coutelli)

I was checking all the Pipit's carefully in the hope of finding one last special. But, it was not to be - however I did uncover a few Meadow Pipits

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

A little later, a flock of Spanish Sparrow and the only decent image of the morning, as the sun briefly made an appearance

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis)

It was then time bid farewell to this amazing location and I was treated to an Indian Roller flyby, as my last bird for Kuwait

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)

From here it was back to my apartment as there is a lot of admin and many other tasks to be done, before you can officially wind-up. So, still much to do before I can fly - including the PCR test, 72-hours before my flight which should be negative!