December 21st I went out for some little adventure.
The day before I got brief access to one of the private beaches here at the Mahboula coastline.
There were at least 100 Black-headed and Slender-billed Gulls. It was beautiful (no camera though).
I was sitting at the edge of the beach for a while until the security guard told me, I eventually have to leave.
There was also the exit of one of the sewer drainages, where (correct me, if I'm wrong) raw waste water runs into the ocean.
All the construction around here on the streets is for new sewage pipes. But they still don't lead to a water treatment plant.
They lead to this piece of (private) beach I found on the 21st.
Big construction on new houses and the new pipes going on there, so I snuck my way in. Walked on the pier briefly, snapped some shots (not from the construction, I don't want to be marked as a terrorist or spy).
It's another beautiful spot. This one was resting ground for only a few Black-headed Gulls,
one that was maybe a Caspian or Heuglin's Gull
and a bunch of Great Cormorants
and one not so common Grey Heron. I've seen a Grey Heron around Mangaf and Mahboula since we got back in 2010. I wonder if he is just staying around or if it's various young fellows stopping by.
They all got spooked by a fisherman, dropping his nests where the Cormorants had been resting.
I've seen over 100 Cormorants fly by the other day, one flock of 10-20 after another.
Sights like that always lift my spirits and make me sad at the same time, knowing what these birds have to deal with here in Kuwait.
Polluted beaches, polluted water and illegal hunting.
Here's hope that 2012 will be a year of progress and better education.
This is a video by K's path (made by John and Angelique). It sums up very nicely what we are up against here in Kuwait:
Marine Conservation 2012 from john peaveler on Vimeo.
Update:
I checked google maps and there actually is a huge water treatment plant in Kuwait.
Now, how comes that the stuff that comes out of there and floats into the ocean still smells raw?
Mind, you don't see toilet paper or other 'things' floating around, but still.
And one more closer to 'home'.
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Posted for World Bird Wednesday - check out the wonderful posts from around the Globe!
The day before I got brief access to one of the private beaches here at the Mahboula coastline.
There were at least 100 Black-headed and Slender-billed Gulls. It was beautiful (no camera though).
I was sitting at the edge of the beach for a while until the security guard told me, I eventually have to leave.
There was also the exit of one of the sewer drainages, where (correct me, if I'm wrong) raw waste water runs into the ocean.
All the construction around here on the streets is for new sewage pipes. But they still don't lead to a water treatment plant.
| ||
| From Kuwait |
They lead to this piece of (private) beach I found on the 21st.
| ||
| From Kuwait |
Big construction on new houses and the new pipes going on there, so I snuck my way in. Walked on the pier briefly, snapped some shots (not from the construction, I don't want to be marked as a terrorist or spy).
 |
| From Birds Kuwait 2011 |
It's another beautiful spot. This one was resting ground for only a few Black-headed Gulls,
 |
| From Birds Kuwait 2011 |
one that was maybe a Caspian or Heuglin's Gull
 |
| From Birds Kuwait 2011 |
 |
| From Birds Kuwait 2011 |
and a bunch of Great Cormorants
 |
| From Birds Kuwait 2011 |
 |
| From Birds Kuwait 2011 |
and one not so common Grey Heron. I've seen a Grey Heron around Mangaf and Mahboula since we got back in 2010. I wonder if he is just staying around or if it's various young fellows stopping by.
 |
| From Birds Kuwait 2011 |
They all got spooked by a fisherman, dropping his nests where the Cormorants had been resting.
I've seen over 100 Cormorants fly by the other day, one flock of 10-20 after another.
Sights like that always lift my spirits and make me sad at the same time, knowing what these birds have to deal with here in Kuwait.
Polluted beaches, polluted water and illegal hunting.
Here's hope that 2012 will be a year of progress and better education.
This is a video by K's path (made by John and Angelique). It sums up very nicely what we are up against here in Kuwait:
Marine Conservation 2012 from john peaveler on Vimeo.
Update:
I checked google maps and there actually is a huge water treatment plant in Kuwait.
Now, how comes that the stuff that comes out of there and floats into the ocean still smells raw?
Mind, you don't see toilet paper or other 'things' floating around, but still.
And one more closer to 'home'.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted for World Bird Wednesday - check out the wonderful posts from around the Globe!
glad you got to see a bit of the private beach area, but worried about you getting in trouble for it! the state of the sewage system is so disheartening! i know you've reported your beach cleanup efforts many times on your blog, but the video shows just how dire the situation is, and how those efforts are continually needed. i can only imagine how this problem continues to grow.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful place to walk and photograph. I hope they weren't dumping raw sewage into the ocean!
ReplyDeleteThe scenes of the sea and birds are beautiful but from what you say it would not be good to look at it too closely! Incredible what modern construction puts up with behind the scenes.
ReplyDeleteNice
ReplyDeleteGreat post and photos, Nicole! It is a shame about the pollution and trash. I do love the shot of the cormorants resting. Happy Birding and have a great week!
ReplyDeleteHi there - what a combination of good images and foul ones!
ReplyDelete"The Earth's not a litter bin" - is anybody listening??
Cheers - Stewart M
It's heartbreaking to see such pollution on a scale like this Nicole.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for all the people associated with K'Path.
Gulls and herons are so great to watch, but the pollution is a shame!
ReplyDeleteYou have lots of cormorants. I think they are nice birds. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post showing both the good and the bad, we still have a similar in picturesque Staithes on the east coast believe it or not.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for sharing this post Nicole...
ReplyDeleteThat effluent sounds worrying. I would not like to swim anywhere near it.
ReplyDeleteNice sighting of birds and shot of flying heron.
Beautiful bird shots -- one can only hope that conditions improve for them (and people too).
ReplyDeleteI am sad to see all that waste, all that trash that is being dumped into the ocean and ending up on beaches. Plastic is the scourge of progress; it lasts forever, and no accounting tallies up the ultimate cost to the environment. Cleaning up ought to be figured into the production and the ultimate cost to the buyer - maybe that will reduce the waste. :-(
ReplyDelete@TWG
ReplyDeleteNo worries, I'll be fine. :-)
I can't fully wrap my head around how the sewage thing works here (see update). Maybe one day I will.
@Carver
So do I!
@Mick
No, a closer look makes you sad and angry :(
@Sree & Eileen - Thanks!
@Stewart
The ones responsible? Nope, I doubt they are listening.
@Keith
It's a long way, but maybe along that way more people wake up.
@Joo - yup!
@Nature Footsteps - yep, I like to watch them too :-)
@Paul
Hard to believe, but I believe you
@Andrew
Welcome
@Arija
Me neither. But people did even swim at a beach near a big oil spill...
@Sallie
One big hope
@Hilke
It would be great it it would result in that.
But.
In Germany you pay 25Cent per plastic bag and I still so so many people buy them while shopping.
Or throwing plastic bottles away. There's also 25cent on every bottle if you return them.
Amazing post Nicole. What you go through to see a few birds humbles me. There must be a built in mechanism in our minds that craves the beauty and community of the bird kingdom. Razor wire, abandoned buildings, trash everywhere, and having to brave the accusation of being a spy or worse is a tough gauntlet to run. A stunning piece of photobloging here!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you.