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.
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)
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In
October 2010 AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, a great local birder took me on a trip. One stop was also the Jahra farms.
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| Subsp. of Isabelline Shrike, Turkestan Shrike, Isabellwürger, Lanius phoenicuroides
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| From Birds Kuwait 2010 |
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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)
We had the some nice rain that morning, which made for clean air, but not the greatest lighting conditions
When we went inside the farm, we saw and heard White cheeked Bulbuls, Kingfisher, Common Myna, …
A few Song Thrush
My first Wryneck, quite far away and off to greener pastures after this shot
A single Spanish Sparrow. Not sure what he did there without his flock.
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.
What a great experience, somewhat reminiscent of the oasis in Oman with their falaj watering systems. The bluethroat looks to be a very pretty wren-like bird. A woman on her own in any of the Arab countries is not advisable except in modern cities. Take good care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteI so want to go to Oman, but it's so darn expensive :-(
DeleteI agree, it's not really that good to be alone in any of these countries, but as a Westerner in Kuwait, it's not too bad - most places, most times.
But you have to use your common sense, if existent.
Jahra farms looks a great place to visit.
ReplyDeleteJust a little envious of some of those birds you saw lol
Isabelline Shrike, Bluethroat and Wryneck; excellent birds.
It is a great place and I hope it will survive some long time to come.
DeleteLast time (2010) a Kuwaiti told us, the government was to take the farms down.... we shall see.
Wryneck is a rarer one to see, the others, especially the Shrike are quite Common (I think).
it looks like a beautiful place (if you can go safely!) love that blue-throat. such a beauty!
ReplyDeleteGoing there is like taking a vacation :)
DeleteWonderful birds - of course, even your ordinary guys are exotic to most of us. And I suspect I'm not the only person awed by your bird counts. Thanks for sharing some of your birding history (and for being brave enough to go where no woman has gone before .. or (seriously this time) where not too many of us will ever go.
ReplyDelete:) I am glad I get the chance to go there from time to time.
DeleteAnd you guys keep me gawking at your birds, so it's only fair ;)
Ashy Drongo!
ReplyDeleteExotic name, exotic bird, exotic sighting!
yup :)
DeleteOH what a fun place to see and an impressive list for your trip too...Love that big notched tail on your Drongo...thats really cool.
ReplyDeleteYep, he was pretty awesome. Wouldn't mind to get to see one again. Preferably under nice conditions ;)
DeleteJahra Farms looks like a beautiful place to visit from those top photos. And you got some wonderful bird captures when you went in 2010!
ReplyDeleteIt is, thanks :)
DeleteHi there - that farm looks like a good place to explore. I spent a whole week chasing wrynecks once - for no sightings!
ReplyDeleteThe rock pools were great – it’s just a shame my waterproof camera chose that exact moment to cease being waterproof! Well, there's always next time!
Cheers - Stewart M - Australia
Bummer that you didn't catch one! And double bummer about your cam!
DeleteThe farms are very appealing. Good seeing all that green and water and of course the birds.
ReplyDeleteThanks - wish I could stroll around there more often :)
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