Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Birding trip (part1), Pivot fields, Kuwait - Jan 10th 2012

Last Tuesday, Pekka Fagel, a local Birder was nice enough to take me on a birding trip.

Pivot fields
From Kuwait
We first went to the pivot fields, usually a place for Birds of Prey in abundance.
That day whatsoever, they had gotten the warning that I was coming ;-)

Greater Spotted Eagle, Schelladler, Aquila clanga
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Greater Spotted Eagle, Schelladler, Aquila clanga
From Birds Kuwait 2012
We saw some Hen Harriers and Greater spotted Eagle though - both Lifers for me -
so you don't hear me complaining ;-)

Greater Spotted Eagle, Schelladler, Aquila clanga
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Greater Spotted Eagle, Schelladler, Aquila clanga
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Hen Harrier, Kornweihe, Circus cyaneus
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Female Hen Harrier, Kornweihe, Circus cyaneus
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Black Kite, Milvus migrans, Schwarzmilan
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Another Lifer for the day were the Skylarks, which showed up in a huge flock and
were to be found all over the fields.

Skylark, Feldlerche, Alauda arvensis
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Lapwings and Water Pipits were there in abundance as well.

Northern Lapwing, Kiebitz, Vanellus vanellus
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Water Pipit , Bergpieper, Anthus spinoletta
From Birds Kuwait 2012

And some Namaqua Doves (the most I've ever seen together in one spot)
Namaqua Dove, Kaptäubchen, Oena capensis
From Birds Kuwait 2012

And a bunch of busy bees Spanish sparrows

Spanish Sparrow, Weidensperling, Passer hispaniolensis
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Whereas the Starlings and Crested Larks were taking a break.

Starling (Common / European), Star, Sturnus vulgaris
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Crested Lark, Haubenlerche, Galerida cristata
From Birds Kuwait 2012
One peculiar thing about the Pivot fields is probably the Crocodile pond.
There was a Moorhenn hiding somewhere and some Cattle Egrets took off when we came,
Chiffchaffs were singing in the trees.
Crocodile pond at Pivot fields
From Kuwait

Yes. With crocodiles.
Crocodile pond at Pivot fields
From Kuwait
The fields belong to the Amir's son and so do these crocs.

There were also sheep and some camels.

From Kuwait
From Kuwait

To enter the fields you need a permission, but you can drive along the fence line
and see some of the birds, especially during migration.
Be aware of hunters though.

Pivot fields
From Kuwait

I enjoyed my day very much - a great Thanks to Pekka for taking me!




Birdcount

Pivot fields


3 Hen Harrier (2 fem / 1 male) (Lifer)
2+ Greater spotted Eagle (Lifer)
4+ Isabelline Shrike
7+ Namaqua dove
60+ Spanish Sparrows
55+ Lapwing
80+ Skylark (Lifer)
10+ Crested Lark
20+ Water Pipit
30+ White Wagtail
Moorhenn (sound)
Chiffchaff (sound)
6+ Cattle Egret
16+ Starling
2 Common Kestrel

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hop on over to World Bird Wednesday

30 comments:

  1. that's awesome to get a private invitation! love those crested larks. you can keep the crocs, though! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seeing those crocs up close was pretty, uhm, weird :-)

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    2. Btw. there is a fence around the croc pond!
      :-)

      Delete
  2. What a day.......3 lifers, and crocs!
    The Hen Harrier is a beautiful bird to see.

    A Spanish Sparrow has recently turned up over here, and causing great excitement amongst the twitchers lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's actually more to come :-)
      Not much, but too much for me today, was too lazy for posting anyway, but then I thought, missing a 'WBW'?! ;-)
      Wish I could have gotten closer to the HH (His Highness?), maybe next time.

      I love these Spanish Sparrows, too cute :)

      Delete
  3. A wonderful post Nocole it sounds like you had a fantastic day.
    I was amazed to see all the greenery in your images.
    Thh birds are all lovely to see and as Keith has already said one little Spanish Sparrow caused a lot of fuss last week and even made the national press

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Guess he figured he get himself into the Limelight a bit, hehe :-D
      Or the birds simply are a s confused as the weather, who knows.
      :-)

      The greenery looks confusing to my usual posts, no?
      :D

      Delete
  4. Wow, Nicole, such a fantastic trip!

    ReplyDelete
  5. We have the Namaqua doves, Namaqualand is just a little further north. The migrating birds get hunted? As they do in Malta.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I need to look up Namaqualand, never heard that before (should have thought about it though :-))

      Yes, sadly, migrators get shot just for fun, as bad as in Malta, I think :(

      Delete
  6. Great sequence and love the crocodiles,and camels!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It looks like a very interesting place to visit and you got a good list of birds and some great photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mick! I hope I get the chance to go there during migration!
      (And maybe jump over my shadow and borrow the 80-400mm from a friend :))

      Delete
  8. Great shots! I especially like the camels and the water pipit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, the Pipits made a show of being shy ;-)
      And the camels were driveby shootings :D

      Delete
  9. Great day of birding! It is the first time I have seen an eagle on a lamp. :) And the camel baby is soo sweet. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :D The Steppe Buzzards in Egypt were often sitting on Lampposts :)
      Easy to spot :D

      Delete
  10. The croc pond would put me off a little as would the shooters but the birdlife you experienced would probably make up for it.
    A wonderful day our indeed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are some quirks one has to live with when in this country.
      Show offs and trash are two of them :(
      Stupidity of shooters is a whole other ballgame :(

      Delete
  11. You had a really successful day of birding! I see why the area would be popular for birds of prey - all that open space.
    I love the baby camel!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are some really great areas here, hopefully they'll get better and bigger in the coming years. Plans are there, we shall see.

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  12. Great shots! I never knew this existed- Thank you

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  13. And I thought there was only desert in Kuwait! It must take a lot of irrigation to maintain those green fields. Nice birding. Northern Lapwings are one of my favorites in Germany - a pity you couldn't get any closer, Nicole. Love your image of the baby camel!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are quite a few big farms in the North and in the South actually.
      And I guess, yes, they take a lot of water. Some places have wells though.
      Yes, would have loved to get closer (or use a longer lens), sigh :)

      Delete
  14. You got a zillion birds -- if I got two lifers, I wouldn't complain if I didn't see another one all day! And the interesting animals. Crocodile with his eyes checking you out (the better to .... my dear ;>)) ... hard to tell him apart from our 'gators I think even if I saw them both together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They might be the same gators, guess they are imported from somewhere...

      Delete
  15. Hi Nicole,
    Some great birds there! Look forward to see what`s up next!
    J
    Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

    ReplyDelete