We had our 7.00 am start as usual and drove to Mutla'a Ranch. Pekka drove into the area and parked up and we walked slowly through trees with Lesser Whitethroat, Bulbuls, and a pair of Hypocolious, which flew around the bushes and perched up int he open.
We met up with Pekka around the other side of the trees with at least 20 Hypocolious flying about and giving great views. We then drove to Abdaly for Afghan Babbler, crossing the Mutl'a ridge which was where US forces attacked Iraqi forces as they retreated. We saw lots of weekender tents, stopped at a military checkpoint and passed several police cars parked along the verges! Arriving at Abdaly, Pekka rang the man to let us in. We went in and walked among the palms, until Pekka called us over to say he could hear the Babblers and around 20 birds rummaged through the trees. They were very active but gave great views and even allowed some decent photographs. We also saw more Bulbuls, some Song Thrushes and a pair of Hypocolious. A Grey Herons flew over before we left for a celebratory ice-cream at a nearby supermarket.
We were making our way back to Jahra Farms but stopped off at a water treatment works with a nice area of trees where we found several Vagrant Emperors, a squeaky Chiff and an Eastern Scarlet Chaser. Along the road there was a tree full of Sparrow nests showing he original nesting preferences. Along the perimeter sand bund, AF found the only lizard that we saw all week, hiding under an overhanging piece of concrete before dashing off and out of sight.
We then looked for a more typical, local restaurant but it was closed so on to Burger King for lunch.
After lunch we drove about 1 km to Jahra farms, parked up and walked carefully round the plots. We had good views of Mourning Doves, Common Mynahs, around 15 cattle egrets, ring necked parakeets, white wagtails and 2 red spotted Bluethroats, one of which was very confiding as it came closer and closer along the field edge. This was one of the few paces that e saw nets set up, although there was nothing in them. A flock of 15 Bank Mynahs came in and gave reasonable views but were a little difficult to photograph.
As the light faded, we drove back to the hotel where we tried to see the lunar eclipse but it was too hazy and the moon rose behind one of the tall buildings but we did see a Peregrine from the bedroom window before dining at the hotel again.
We met up with Pekka around the other side of the trees with at least 20 Hypocolious flying about and giving great views. We then drove to Abdaly for Afghan Babbler, crossing the Mutl'a ridge which was where US forces attacked Iraqi forces as they retreated. We saw lots of weekender tents, stopped at a military checkpoint and passed several police cars parked along the verges! Arriving at Abdaly, Pekka rang the man to let us in. We went in and walked among the palms, until Pekka called us over to say he could hear the Babblers and around 20 birds rummaged through the trees. They were very active but gave great views and even allowed some decent photographs. We also saw more Bulbuls, some Song Thrushes and a pair of Hypocolious. A Grey Herons flew over before we left for a celebratory ice-cream at a nearby supermarket.
We were making our way back to Jahra Farms but stopped off at a water treatment works with a nice area of trees where we found several Vagrant Emperors, a squeaky Chiff and an Eastern Scarlet Chaser. Along the road there was a tree full of Sparrow nests showing he original nesting preferences. Along the perimeter sand bund, AF found the only lizard that we saw all week, hiding under an overhanging piece of concrete before dashing off and out of sight.
We then looked for a more typical, local restaurant but it was closed so on to Burger King for lunch.
After lunch we drove about 1 km to Jahra farms, parked up and walked carefully round the plots. We had good views of Mourning Doves, Common Mynahs, around 15 cattle egrets, ring necked parakeets, white wagtails and 2 red spotted Bluethroats, one of which was very confiding as it came closer and closer along the field edge. This was one of the few paces that e saw nets set up, although there was nothing in them. A flock of 15 Bank Mynahs came in and gave reasonable views but were a little difficult to photograph.
As the light faded, we drove back to the hotel where we tried to see the lunar eclipse but it was too hazy and the moon rose behind one of the tall buildings but we did see a Peregrine from the bedroom window before dining at the hotel again.
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