The usual 6.30 breakfast for 7.00 am start. We drove to Jahra Pools for a morning session at this lovely reserve. We parked by the first hide and walked along the reed track to the end. There were several 'squeaky' chiffchaffs but nothing that looked like a Mountain chiff. We could hear Little Grebes chattering and several Marsh Harriers floated about over the reeds with two or three Greater Spotted Eagles flying around and diving into the reed beds. There was a bit of excitement as two Great Black Headed Gulls flew around in lazy circles giving good views and of some of the plumage details. We drove back to the track for the second and third hides and parked up to try and get better views of the Graceful Prinias. Scanning the bushes near the road there were several Prinias flicking about and some singing as they went. They gave brilliant views as they searched through the dried seed heads. David followed an interesting looking Stonechat that turned out to be a Caspian Stonechat, showing the white in the tail. We checked out a singing Clamorous Reed Warbler, which showed very briefly and then was just seen moving in the reeds. While we were waiting the Osprey with the damaged wing flew over and a Red-spotted Bluethroat dropped into the ditch and hopped about among the reeds. There was another Clamorous singing at the back of a small clearing which Alan managed to get views of so we waited until it decided to climb some reed stems giving some nice views and allowing some photos.
We made our way to the third hide where Pekka came to fetch us as there were moustached warblers calling in front of the hide. We spent some time looking round when David found a Little Bittern hiding in the reeds, nearly impossible to see. We spent some time trying to decipher the bits of the bird before it flew out right and disappeared round the reeds. A Purple Gallinule appeared near a channel through the reeds and one or two Moustached Warblers flew about and chacked in the reeds.
We drove back past the second pool where we counted 76 Feruginous ducks, a possible Kuwaiti record. Other ducks included Pochard, Teal and Tufted. As we got there a White-winged Black Tern flew over but didn't stop.
We then drove round to the beach in front of the Maternity Hospital and scanned for Les flamingo among the 1000s of flamingos plus other waders flying around giving an amazing flight like a starling murmuration. We moved to a beach area but the tide was very high so we went for lunch, returning when the tide was lower. There were only a few terns but more waders appeared as tide went down ,including Lesser and Greater Sand plover, Ringed plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, and Wimbrel. We spent the afternoon scanning and doing some rock pooling, picking out shells and coral.
man in canoe
As Pekka lived just round the corner he arranged for us to get a taxi back to the hotel where we ate in again. As we went back to the rooms we discovered we were locked out, a problem with the way the bill had been paid, but eventually it was all sorted and we went to our rooms, semi packed and turned in.
We made our way to the third hide where Pekka came to fetch us as there were moustached warblers calling in front of the hide. We spent some time looking round when David found a Little Bittern hiding in the reeds, nearly impossible to see. We spent some time trying to decipher the bits of the bird before it flew out right and disappeared round the reeds. A Purple Gallinule appeared near a channel through the reeds and one or two Moustached Warblers flew about and chacked in the reeds.
We drove back past the second pool where we counted 76 Feruginous ducks, a possible Kuwaiti record. Other ducks included Pochard, Teal and Tufted. As we got there a White-winged Black Tern flew over but didn't stop.
We then drove round to the beach in front of the Maternity Hospital and scanned for Les flamingo among the 1000s of flamingos plus other waders flying around giving an amazing flight like a starling murmuration. We moved to a beach area but the tide was very high so we went for lunch, returning when the tide was lower. There were only a few terns but more waders appeared as tide went down ,including Lesser and Greater Sand plover, Ringed plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, and Wimbrel. We spent the afternoon scanning and doing some rock pooling, picking out shells and coral.
man in canoe
As Pekka lived just round the corner he arranged for us to get a taxi back to the hotel where we ate in again. As we went back to the rooms we discovered we were locked out, a problem with the way the bill had been paid, but eventually it was all sorted and we went to our rooms, semi packed and turned in.
No comments:
Post a Comment