Birding Kuwait

The Sun during a Dust storm which greeted us on our first day.

The dust storm persisted but didnt stop us crossing the desert to check out birding hotspots such as Al Abraq.

Yellow Wagtail, of the race lutea, Jarah farms

Ortolan, Green Island, Kuwait City

Hoopoe, found in most localities

White throated Robin, Jarah farms

Long legged Buzzard, Al Abraq
12th-20th April 2011

Kuwait is a small country on the extreme limit of the Western Palearctic region. It is situated on the northern edge of the Gulf of Arabia sandwiched between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It appeared to to be a rather featureless expanse of Desert dominated by Kuwait City with its spectacular skyline of impressive buildings. The bird watching tour was arranged by Birdfinders and led by Peter Lansdown and local guide Pekka Fagal. We were based in a comfortable hotel in the city and travelled out to a number of reserves and farms in rather uncomfortable Landcruiser type vehicles. Many of the group were hardcore WP listers lured by the impressive list of 'special' birds only found in Kuwait or less hospitable neighbouring countries. In the event many of these birds were not available to us either because they had already moved on to their breeding grounds further North, or because there was no access to the sites they were found or because their identification was too difficult. However, there was still excellent birdwatching to be had as the 'oasises' of well irrigated farms out in the desert were a magnet for migrating birds.The sheer numbers of birds involved, particularly Pipits, Pratincoles and Wagtails was awesome. Im afraid my images dont do justice to the variety of species encountered but will give a flavour of the importance of Kuwait in terms of bird migration through the area.

Naked Birding

A DVD dropped through my letter box the other day c/o Steve Evans who produced it, following a recent visit to the Canary Islands. In my humble opinion it is an outstanding record of virtually all the endemic species to be found on the islands. The footage of some of the more difficult species to see let alone film, such as Laurel pigeon and Houbara Bustard in courtship display is wonderful. It brought back memories of a recent trip to Tenerife and one of my first trips abroad to Fuerteventura. It is a very professionally produced DVD and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who has been or is thinking of going birding to the Canary Isles.

Saturday 9th April 2011

Naked Birding.

Nothing to do with the hot weather, I just went for minimal gear, sort of Free Birding - no 'scope, no camera just me and me bins. Fine for doing the Middleton lakes circuit until you get to the North pit, undoubtedly the best bit, with loads of small shingle islands and shallows. Plenty of places for birds to feed and rest and hide. Its a place that needs time and a telescope, as distant birds continually come into view before disappearing again. I got away with it today thanks to Steve Haynes and his 'scope and a Sparrowhawk. Both played their part in enabling me to see everything that was there which to be fair wasnt that amazing, but did include the first Common Terns of the year, 3 in fact, a nice little flock of 8 Dunlin and a Yellow wagtail.

Migrant Watch

Little ringed plover

Little ringed plover

Northern Wheatear, Merevale

Northern Wheatear

Blackcap, Cliff pool, Kingsbury Water Park

Over Coleshill Friday 8th April 2011

A few images from a days birding in North Warwickshire, Other species seen included female Red crested Pochard at Shustoke reservoir, 6 Little Egrets and 2 LRP near Coleshill and 4 Green Sandpiper on Cliff pool, Kingsbury Water Park. A House Martin was seen nest building at Ridge lane near Atherstone and good numbers of Blackcaps were seen and heard at all sites..

Size does Matter - apparently

Cetti's warbler, Brandon Marsh N.R.

Swallow, back safely

Spotted Crake, more murky images

Spotted Crake

Spotted Crake

Lapwing, one of our most beautiful birds

Northern Wheatear, Draycote Water

Yellow wagtail

Early Thorn moth, Draycote

Raven

Wednesday 6th April 2011

I have heard of 3 instances in the last week, all at Brandon Marsh, when birdwatchers have spoken to photographers about sticking their impressive lens out of the viewing slats to such an extent as to restrict their view, in some cases up to 50%, the situation is usually resolved amicably, birders are like that, but it shouldn't be necessary to ask. At one stage yesterday a couple of guys came into the hide with the biggest lens I'd ever seen, it reminded me of the scene in the film 'The Guns of Navaronne' when the massive guns open up on the British warships. Oh, and the birds, Little ringed plovers, Ringed plovers, a calling Water Rail, Spotted Crake, White wagtail, Cetti's warbler and Common Snipe. All this after making a long overdue visit to Draycote Water in the morning, where there were at least 2 Wheatear, 20+ Yellow wagtails, a Raven, Mediterranean gull, and House Martin. No sign of any terns or indeed the Little gulls seen earlier. All in all though an interesting day.

Tophill Low Nature Reserve

Brambling, Tophill Low N.R.

Whooper Swan

Sunday 3rd April 2011

Tophill Low Nature reserve and pumping station is a few miles out of Beverley on the Driffield road. The area is always worth a visit with a variety of habitats supporting a variety of bird species. On the main reservoirs were a pair of Whooper swans, a small flock of Goldeneye, and a Little gull. From a hide overlooking one of the scrapes was a single White fronted goose and at the feeding station next to the visitors centre was a small flock of Brambling. There were also a good number of Willow warblers around the wooded areas of the reserve.

Monday 4th April 2011

Meanwhile back in Warwickshire a quick visit to Coton produced 2 Blackcaps, Swallow and my first House Martin of the year. The only sighting of note at Shustoke was Pete Forbes.

Good raptor day in East Yorkshire

Red Kite, near North Cave, East Yorks

Red Kite

Tree Sparrow, North Cave N.R.

Swallow, first of the year. North Cave

Wheatear, one of 4 at Atwick

Skylark

Saturday 2nd April 2011

Visited a couple of lesser known spots to cut down on the driving as much as anything else. First North Cave Nature reserve a former sand and gravel quarry similar in many ways to parts of the Tame valley. The birdlife too was familiar; large numbers of Black headed gulls dominating the islands. Greylag geese, Gadwall, Tufted duck, Shelduck and a few Teal. Shorebirds were limited to a few pairs of Redshank and gangs of Oystercatcher sorting themselves out with mates. The main difference with the Tame valley was the 22 Avocets on site, good numbers of Tree sparrows in the hedges and a Goshawk.

The Goshawk was the start of a bit of a raptor fest. as I saw a Red kite shortly after leaving the reserve. I headed for the coast at Atwick just north of Hornsea where 2 more Red kites flew over the cliff top fields and a female Marsh Harrier was seen offshore. Other birds seen on a cliff top walk were less spectacular but it was good to see 4 Wheatears along the route.

An afternoon in Scarborough, North Yorks.

Juvenile Iceland Gull, Scarborough Habour, North Yorkshire

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Purple Sandpiper

Grey Seal

Grey Seal

Friday 1st April 2011

I always enjoy a visit to the North east coast, even outside migration times theres usually something to see and enjoy. I started at Scarborough because a juvenlie Iceland gull was wintering there. There was a definite holiday atmosphere as the warm sun had folk lapping up the ice cream. I met Glyn Sellors who had been photograhing the Gull earlier. I followed his instructions and almost fell over the bird on the Quayside. It was loafing with juvenile Herring gulls and it was a question of backing off to get any sort of focus. A few Purple Sandpiper were sleeping on the habour wall, waiting for the tide to fall but Turnstone were far more active scurrying about the habour buildings. A grey seal appeared as a fishing boat unloaded its catch of flatfish but generally the habour was quiet during the afternoon.

The evening was anything but quiet. Back in Beverley Jan and I decided to try a new venue for something to eat, The Cornerhouse. I only managed 2 of the 12 Real Ales on offer which was a bit of a disgrace but I settled on Abbeygale Deception 4.1%, and just had to try Duck Baffler also 4.1%. Bit of a story with the food. After my polite enquiry after a 20 minute wait, it appeared that my Steak and Ale pie had been too hot to handle and had ended up on the floor. So more drinking time and a free meal, eventually.