Saturday, January 28, 2012

Beach clean-up Doha, Kuwait, January 27th 2012


My 3rd time at Doha beach.
I went a bit exploring this time, further up the northern stretch, where I surprisingly got access to the, from the outside, fenced off salt marshes.
I think they should be a protected area (which they maybe are?) without car wrecks, cupboards and whatever huge and small trash littering it.
Doha beach itself looks better, thanks to our efforts. If only the residents and campers would take care a little more.
The stretch at Doha entertainment city looks devastating.
More trash than ever and the mangroves seem to be finally dead.
That stretch, K's path got no permission to clean (yes, you need permission to clean beaches). The folks from entertainment city declared they take care of it themselves.



Birdcount:

1 Curlew
1 Lesser spotted Eagle
5 Reef Egret
3 Crested Lark
1 Desert Wheatear
1 Ringed Plover
1 Graceful Prinia
a bunch of Waders and Gulls, too far out to be ID-ed
(Gulls were most likely Black-headed Gulls and some Caspian Gulls)
+ 180 Flamingos
3 Barn Swallows


1 dead Shelduck
3 dead Juv. Cormorant


I am trying to ID the plants and AbdrulRahman Al-Sirhan's page was of great help again.
I still have quite a few to go :(


---------------------------



Past clean-ups (that I've been to - K's path has been out every weekend):






Posted by at 18 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,
Location: Doha Spur Motorway, Kuwait

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Jahra Nature preserve

Birding trip part 3, January 10th 2012


From Kuwait 2012

The second stop on my birding day with Pekka Fagl was at the Jahra Nature preserve.

From Kuwait 2012
Another place you can only get in when you have a certain permit.

From Kuwait 2012
A good thing, because this keeps the hunters out - most times.

From Kuwait 2012

I am not sure I placed it on the correct location on Google maps. These places are hard to find on the map :(

From Kuwait 2012

We were greeted by an Isabelline Shrike

Isabelline Shrike, Isabellwürger, Lanius isabellinus
From Birds Kuwait 2012

and some Coot and Moorhenns, heard some Water Rail, but I didn't get to see one

Coot (Eurasian / Black / Common),  Bläßhuhn ( / Bläßralle / Bleßhuhn), Fulica atra
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Chiffchaff were there

Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, Zilpzalp
From Birds Kuwait 2012

and we played 'Hide and Seek' with a Graceful Prinia

Graceful Prinia, Streifenprinie, Prinia gracilis
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Graceful Prinia, Streifenprinie, Prinia gracilis
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Graceful Prinia, Streifenprinie, Prinia gracilis
From Birds Kuwait 2012

A Bluethroat made a brief appearance

Bluethroat, Blaukehlchen, Luscinia svecica
From Birds Kuwait 2012

and a Water Pipit posed next to the car door for me

Water Pipit , Bergpieper, Anthus spinoletta
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Some Norther Shoveler had a Stop-over

Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata, Löffelente
From Birds Kuwait 2012

and some Black Kite and Lesser Spotted Eagles were looking for an easy Lunch, mixed with some Pallid Swift and Barn Swallows

Lesser spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarina, Schreiadler
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Saw some plants / bushes in bloom, thanks to the recent rain, I guess.
Pekka told me the name, but I forgot :(

From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012

He pointed out a Desert Warbler to me, but I was too slow for a decent shot.
A Stonechat was more obliging

Stonechat (Common), Schwarzkehlchen, Saxicola torquata
From Birds Kuwait 2012

and next we were surprised by some Flamingos. Mostly youngsters, except for one adult

Greater Flamingo, Rosa Flamingo, Phenicopterus ruber
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Greater Flamingo, Rosa Flamingo, Phenicopterus ruber
From Birds Kuwait 2012

and some Black-headed Gulls heading for the coastline

Black-headed Gull, Lachmöwe, Larus ridibundus
From Birds Kuwait 2012

And a huge flock of Penduline Tits teased us by flying always in front of the bright noon sun.
I managed to get a few record shots of yet another Lifer for the day ;)

Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus
From Birds Kuwait 2012


Birdcount

8 Coot
3+ Moorhenn
3+ Water Rail (sound) (would be a Lifer, but I didn't get a photo)
3+ Graceful Prinia
2 Northern Shoveler (male)
2+ Isabelline Shrike
65 Black-headed Gulls
10+ Greater Flamingos (1 adult, rest Juveniles)
1 Bluethroat (male, N. European var. svecica)
3 Stonechat (2 male / 1 female)
2 Black Kite
1 Eagle
10+ Water Pipit
10+ White Wagtail
Chiffchaff (sound)
20+ Pallid Swift
8+ Barn Swallows
60+ Penduline Tit (Lifer)
1 Desert Warbler
1 Lesser spotted Eagle

----------------------------------------

Visit World Bird Wednesday for more Bird photos from around the Globe!





Posted by at 32 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,
Location: Doha Spur Motorway, Kuwait

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Another side of the hood, Mahboula January 22nd 2012

From Kuwait 2012
I haven't explored this side of our neighbourhood much yet.
There's still a huge construction going on at the main street and crossing this one is a pain in the behind (mud puddles, sand in your shoes, dirty dog paws, dust, ...).
The street is right in front of this building, the plot with trees behind me.

From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012
This day the trees and old Date palms lured me though.

From Kuwait 2012
Also the mounds and bushes, usually good territory for Shrikes, Wheatears and such fellows I wanted to check out if there were any birds.
Not much yet, I bet during migration a few fellows will stop by though.
We had the usual criminals: Laughing Dove, House Sparrow, I heard a White-eared Bulbul and saw two White Wagtails.

From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012
I was surprised to find some plants growing, not sure which is what, except for one.

Jaffa groundsel, Senecio glaucus
From Kuwait 2012
Jaffa groundsel, Senecio glaucus
From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012

And on my way back home I stumbled over this Lady, enjoying the cool morning and sunshine. This is a sight you rarely ever get. Women here do walk along the beaches or might sit on a bench, but more often you just see them sitting inside their cars and watch nature from there.

From People

I also stopped at my favorite 'next door' trees.

From Kuwait 2012

The street construction workers are currently pouring their Leftover concrete everywhere. Underneath and besides the tree are some of those places. On one I could see the sparrows taking their baths after the rain - before the concrete :(
And of course, there's always the trash.

From Kuwait 2012
From Kuwait 2012

Not many birds around here, a few noisy fighting House Sparrows (well, the one in the photo stayed out of it and just enjoyed the cool sunshine), Laughing Doves, two Common Myna eyeing me curiously

From Birds Kuwait 2012
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Posted by at 16 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Location: Coastal Rd, Kuwait

Monday, January 23, 2012

Jahra farms

January 2012
Third stop of the birding trip with Pekka Fagel were the Jahra farms. 
Always a nice place to stroll around.
Mind, you can go there by yourself and ask the owner nicely if you can enter, but as a woman - Do NOT go to Jahra by yourself. It is still not the safest place to go in Kuwait (insert irony). 
There was not much going on that morning though. But I can't always bag an Ashy Drongo (a vagrant for Kuwait from 2010 - see farther below).

The farms are a good place to see a Bank Myna - one of the birds in Kuwait that is still teasing me. Well, maybe one day I get to see one.
Jahra farms
From Kuwait 2012
Jahra farms
From Kuwait 2012
Jahra farms
From Kuwait 2012


Birdcount for January 10th 2012

2 Song Thrush
1 White-throated Kingfisher
7+ White Wagtail
2+ White-eared Bulbul
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Rose-ringed Parakeet (sound)

--------------------------------------------------

In October 2010 AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, a great local birder took me on a trip. One stop was also the Jahra farms.

Jahra farms
From Kuwait
Jahra farms
From Kuwait
Jahra farms
From Kuwait
Subsp. of Isabelline Shrike, Turkestan Shrike, Isabellwürger, Lanius phoenicuroides
From Birds Kuwait 2010

------------------------------------------------------------
In December 2010 Humoud took me for a tour.
First stop that morning was at the Jahra farms where we had a male Bluethroat posing for us. He was getting as close as a meter. The food  must have either been great or he was just in a daze from his migration, that he didn’t realize the two humans staring at him in disbelieve (and clicking away happily of course) ;)
1st winter male Bluethroat, Blaukehlchen, Luscinia svecica
From Birds Kuwait 2010
1st winter male Bluethroat, Blaukehlchen, Luscinia svecica
From Birds Kuwait 2010


We had the some nice rain that morning, which made for clean air, but not the greatest lighting conditions ;)

Jahra Farms
From Kuwait

When we went inside the farm, we saw and heard White cheeked Bulbuls, Kingfisher, Common Myna, …
A few Song Thrush
Song Thrush, Singdrossel, Turdus philomelos
From Birds Kuwait 2010


My first Wryneck, quite far away and off  to greener pastures after this shot

Wryneck, Wendehals, Jynx torquilla
From Birds Kuwait 2010

A single Spanish Sparrow. Not sure what he did there without his flock.

Spanish Sparrow, Weidensperling, Passer hispaniolensis
From Birds Kuwait 2010

And last one for the farms, a Ashy Drongo. There are two of them, one showed himself briefly to us, sadly with us facing the sunny side of the morning. Got him nonetheless ;)
The Ashy Drongo was seen in Kuwait only one time before in 2001.
Ashy Drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus
From Birds Kuwait 2010
Posted by at 18 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,
Location: Morshed Al Shamri Rd, Al-Jahra, Kuwait
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)