Lockdown - Day 115

Week 27; 04 July 2020 - Abu Hassania

Another early morning drive to check on the progress of the Golden-backed Weavers. The two pairs are still present, the males are still defending the area around the nest from any other species that come too close. The 1st two images are of the one male, whilst the last two images are the 2nd male

Male Golden-backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni)

And for the first time, I saw a female flying in with her own nesting material which caused the male to vacate where he was perched quite nimbly

Female Golden-backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni)

I caught this Laughing Dove as it did its display flight..

Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)

Lockdown - Day 114

Week 27; 03 July 2020 - Pivot Fields

Curfew hours have now changed from 8pm to 5am, but are favourable and this means I can get to the gate when it opens at 6am. The early start at this time of year does make a difference.

I made a detour on the way to the marsh, stopping for one of the many resident Crested Lark's in the warm glow of the early morning sun

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

Followed by a Namaqua Dove a little further on

Male Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

Today there was a cracking adult Black-winged Kite on the overhead lines and this one had extensive black shoulder patches

Black-winged Kite (Elanus c. vociferus)

Again I walked the soggy patch adjacent to the reeds and had a brief view of this Caspian Reed Warbler, before it disappeared back into the reeds

Caspian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. fuscus)

There quite a few of the Bembix Hover Flies drinking from the wet sand

Bembix sp.

At the marsh, no Stilts, as they were elsewhere - so it was relatively quiet. But the White-tailed Lapwings were there to greet me

White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus)

Walking back to my car, I was really surprised to see a Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin appear in a scrubby area. Earlier on other birders who were at the site had seen Common Starling and European Robin - quite bizarre

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes)

I tried the scrubby areas for Courser and found less than the previous week

Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor)

And even the Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark numbers seemed reduced

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)

I checked the smaller open pool and found a Ruff coming out of summer plumage that had me thinking it could have been a Spotted Redshank until it flew - cracking plumage

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)

A few Green Sandpipers were also present in this area

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

and at least three Common Kestrel

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

I spent quite a long time photographing the Barn Swallows drinking from the pool, trying to get that one shot. What is interesting, is that after scooping the water, they seem to hold a drop in their bill and then swallow it after gaining some height..

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

I believe, I did..

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Followed closely by a Sand Martin

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)

After this 45-minute stint, I needed the car AC and called it a morning

Lockdown - Day 108

Week 26; 27 June 2020 - Abu Hassania

A had a quick check on the Golden-backed Weavers and 2-pairs were still present.

Here, two of their many nests..

Golden-backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni) nests

The female was seen coming out of one of the nests

Female Golden-backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni)

Whilst the males were always in close proximity and quite aggressively defend their nests from other species that venture too close

Male Golden-backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni)

Lockdown - Day 107

Week 26; 26 June 2020 - Pivot Fields

After a week in the apartment, it is always enjoyable to get back out again, even in mid-summer. As usual, it is back to the Pivots and in the gate by 6:30am.

As before, I headed to the marsh to walk the small soggy area adjacent to the bigger pool, finding an early Black-headed Wagtail

Black-headed Wagtail (Motacilla f. feldegg)

At the marsh, the Black-winged Stilt's were already airborne and vocal

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Accompanied by the White-tailed Lapwing's

White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus)

and not too long after, the Red-wattled

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

A White-winged Tern was briefly seen as it flew from one pool to another and then disappeared to forage over the fields

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

I checked the arid patch of the farm and as expected found quite a number of Cream-coloured Coursers

Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor)

And in their usual area, many Black-crowned Sparrow-Larks. This male was quite cool with his raised crest.

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)

Not far from the Larks, there is another smaller pool and this had a good few Little Ringed Plovers

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)

Whilst watching the pool, I managed to catch this juvenile Namaqua Dove as it shot past

Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

Out on the southern boundary fence, last weeks Guineafowl was still present and looking lost

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

Whilst at the marsh earlier in the morning, I had caught a brief glimpse of a Skipper butterfly, so went back and put in some effort to try and re-find it. I was pleased that I did, as it turned out to be a new species for Kuwait - Pygmy Skipper or Dark Hottentot. Thanks to Steve Collins for confirming the ID.

Pygmy Skipper (Gegenes p. pumilio)

In the same area, there were also a few Damselflies. I suspect this is Evan's

Evan's Bluetail (Ischnura evans)

and a few unknown Grasshoppers

Grasshopper sp.

So, a great morning overall - especially with the new discovery!