A WP Mega to see out the Decade

Week 50; 14 December 2019 - Jahra Pools Reserve

I started the day just after sunrise at Jahra Farm checking for Thrush and Pipit species, given that UAE had a few Buff-bellied and Olive-backed this past week. No luck at all, but I did have a Masked Shrike and Western Cattle Egret

Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

I then headed across the freeway to JPR, blissfully unaware how the morning was to unfold.I stopped at the big pool and watched a male Western Marsh Harrier hunting over the reeds.

Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

The Gadwall were nervous and took flight frequently

Gadwall (Anas strepera)

The Black-necked Grebes were a long way off, not so for the many Little Grebes

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

On the way to the beach, a White-throated Kingfisher sat patiently in a dead tree waiting for breakfast

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

Not far off, a Greater Spotted Eagle with a bulging crop rested in a tree, while a few others were circling overhead

Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga)

Down at the beach, there were small flocks of Spanish Sparrows

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis)

and a Daurian Shrike

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

The tide was really far out, so not much to be seen in the inter-tidal zone

Deciding to do a last circuit of the reserve, I took a road that is bordered by tall reeds on either side on the way back to the big pool. Driving slowly as I approached the junction of a road that is closed with warning tape, I saw a dark medium size bird standing motionless on a pool of water, facing away from me. Moorhen was the obvious thought as they are a dime a dozen, but the bill was just too long. As I stopped, it turned to face me and all I saw was white cheeks and underparts - White-breasted frigging Waterhen (I have seen them plenty times in India and Sri Lanka). It is a species we have long considered should be found in Kuwait, as it has been recorded in UAE and Oman. But, this record is especially special as it is a 1st for Kuwait AND the WP!

1st White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) for Kuwait and WP

As I stopped, it darted out of the pool and into cover and I only managed to get off one frame. The only strategy was to sit and wait while I put out the news to the birders on our WhatsApp group who all changed what they had planned for the day and made their way to JPR.

White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

Fortunately it stayed in the area and most were able to connect with it over the course of the day and the following day.

It was still present on 17/12/19 for a visiting international birder and should hopefully stay, as quite a few more international birders have planned to arrive in the coming days!

Sunbird still here!

Week 50; 13 December 2019 - Abu Hassania

The weather had improved this weekend and I managed to arrange access back to the garden to try again for the Sunbird in better light which I thought would be easier.

The bird made a brief appearance after 90-minutes when I got one image and never returned to feed, although I could hearing it calling and singing from deep inside one of the dense trees

Male Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) in eclipse plumage

While waiting, I was entertained by White-eared Bulbul's feeding one the same flowers

White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)

A Blue-spotted Arab stopped for awhile

Blue-spotted Arab (Colotis phisadia)

There was a Wasp species on the Frangipani flowers

Wasp sp

By this time the light faded and I called it quits

Kuwait's 4th Purple Sunbird

Week 49; 07 December 2019 - Abu Hassania

My good friend Neil Tovey went to pick up his daughter from a party at a house which had a mature garden. Imagine his dis-belief when he finds Kuwait's 4th Purple Sunbird feeding on a flowering non-native Yellow Trumpetbush just inside the gate.

Neil got the news out, but since it was a private residence, we needed to request permission to come and see it.

I was able to get down the next day in the late afternoon which was cloudy and drizzly. As it turns out, it is only 800m from where I stay as the Crow flies.

I waited an hour without success, when suddenly it arrived, but departed as quickly as it arrived. Only 15-minutes later did it return and stay for a little longer and I managed to get a series of images of this smart eclipse male in really poor light

Male Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) in eclipse plumage

On 17/12/19 a visiting international birder confirmed that there was not one, but two birds present, with the second being a female bird - a pair?

Raptor fest at JPR

Week 49; 06 December 2019 - Jahra Pools Reserve

Like last week, I spent the a few hours at the end of the day cruising around the reserve. I had my first Black-necked Grebe's of the winter on the big pool

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

There was some aerial interaction between a 'territorial' Marsh Harrier and a Greater Spotted Eagle that was passing over

Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) vs Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga)

A little further along, some more aerial action. This time between the Western Osprey and a passing Steppe Buzzard

Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) vs Steppe Buzzard (Buteo b. vulpinus)

I have found this Daurian Shrike on the same bush each time I have come to the reserve, at least this time the light came from the right direction

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

An injured female Eastern Stonechat in the golden glow of the late afternoon light

Eastern Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)

While I was photographing the Stonechat, a Peregrine came blitzing past overhead, these just record shots that I was quite amazed to get given it's speed

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Down at the beach, a Greater-spotted had taken out a Black-headed Gull and a number of others joined it to try and get in on the action - a little like Vultures at a kill. Once they arrived, the Eagle with the Gull mantled over its food, but the others did manage to sneak a piece now and then. One of the birds that arrived, appeared slightly smaller, a lighter brown than his compatriots and I though had more visible stovepipe legs. Unfortunately, the birds were really a long way off in dying light and even 800mm wasn't enough to give much more detail for a confirmed ID

Greater Spotted Eagle (Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga), bird on the left is the one in question

Greater Spotted Eagle (Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga), bird on the right is the one in question

Heading back to the gate as the sun set, I had a special visitor - a single Western Cattle Egret against the pastel orange glow in the sky

Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

I savoured the moment and got all creative with the clouds and sun as it subsided

Jahra Sunset

Jahra Sunset and Common Black-headed Gulls returning to roost

Winter passerines at the Pivots

Week 48; 30 November 2019 - Pivot Fields

I spent a quiet morning at the Pivot Fields which was pretty cool as the sunrise rose, but warmed a little later in the morning.

I started with a drive around the farm, but there was not much birding activity at all, a lone Steppe Buzzard on one of the Pivots

Steppe Buzzard (Buteo b. vulpinus)

Two Long-legged Buzzards, a young bird with a pale eye (1st image) and an adult bird

1st year Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)

 Adult Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)

I then spent most of the morning at the marsh which was quite busy, Marsh Harrier scarying the marsh birds every time they passed low overhead

Female Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

There were many Red-spotted Bluethroat's about

Red-spotted Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)

A few Caucasian Water Pipits around the fringes of the marsh. This one keeping a look-out for the Marsh Harrier

Caucasian Water Pipit (Anthus s. coutelli)

A few smart looking Daurian Shrikes up on the Sabkha Bushes

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

Along with a single Whiskered Tern feeding occasionally from the pools 

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

There were quite a few Stonechat's, the Caspian with the diagnostic tail in flight, was quite obliging

Caspian Stonechat (Saxicola m. hemprichii)

This male and female will remain as Eastern, but Armenian cant be excluded either

Eastern Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)

Driving out of the marsh, I came across a large mixed flock of White-tailed Lapwing and around 7 Spur-winged Lapwing and for once they didn't flush. I think the White-tailed are more tolerant than the skittish Northern Lapwing

Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)