Wednesday, January 11, 2012

A walk to Fintas, January 4th 2012

Sorry for the quality, it was hazy and bright at the same time and I have been editing in a different program. Now all is back to normal and the coming posts should be slightly better ;-)
I am wondering though, why they are so much brighter online than in my editing program - am slightly flustered. It's still the same monitor after all?!

Anyway - Please enjoy :-)

Still in Mahboula

Laughing Dove, Palmtaube, Streptopelia senegalensis
From Birds Kuwait 2012
White (pied) Wagtail, Bachstelze, Motacilla alba
From Birds Kuwait 2012

The big sewer construction that's going on in my neighbourhood
From Kuwait

The private beach I could take a sneak peak last week
From Kuwait


Common Myna, Hirtenmaina, Acridotheres tristis
From Birds Kuwait 2012


Apple of Sodom, Calotropis procera
From Kuwait
Fintas beach
From Kuwait
?
From Birds Kuwait 2012
?
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Ringed Plover, Sandregenpfeifer, Charadrius hiaticula
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Kentish Plover / Snowy Plover, Seeregenpfeifer, Charadrius alexandrinus
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Sandpiper (Common), Flußuferläufer, Actitis hypoleucos
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Ringed Plover, Sandregenpfeifer, Charadrius hiaticula
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Greater Sandplover and Redshank
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Greater Sand Plover, Wuestenregenpfeifer, Charadrius Leschenaultii
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Western Reef Egret / Heron, Kuestenreiher, Egretta gularis
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Dark morph Western Egret chasing off a Great Egret.
A few moments later another dark morph Reef Egret chased a white morph.
Do they not like the colour white or what?

Great Egret and Western Reef Egret
From Birds Kuwait 2012

I was sitting comfy on a rock while watching this possible Caspian Gull, the two Reef Egrets, the Common Sandpiper and the Water Pipit hopping happily around me. Wishing for a longer lens once more (longer than my 18-200mm) ;-)
I can't make up my mind on which one I want though. It should be something I can still carry and fast enough to be used hand held. Well, and possibly under a few thousand bucks... (for Nikon - any ideas?)

Maybe Caspian or Heuglin's Gull
From Birds Kuwait 2012

Western Reef Egret / Heron, Kuestenreiher, Egretta gularis
From Birds Kuwait 2012
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Gull and Western Reef Egret / Heron, Kuestenreiher, Egretta gularis
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Western Reef Egret / Heron, Kuestenreiher, Egretta gularis
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Water Pipit, Bergpieper, Anthus spinoletta
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Possibly Caspian Gull
From Birds Kuwait 2012
Sandpiper (Common), Flußuferläufer, Actitis hypoleucos
From Birds Kuwait 2012


Birdcount


2 White Wagtail
3 Collared Dove
7 Ringed Plover
1 Greater Sand Plover
2 Kentish Plover
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Redshank
3 Western Reef Egret (dark and white morph)
1 Greater Egret
1 Caspian Gull
1 Water Pipit
5 Great Cormorant
2 White-eared Bulbul

13 species (plus House Sparrows and Laughing Doves)

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And my two constant companions. One of the reasons why I haven't decided on a longer lens yet. Walking with the 19-200mm and taking shots with these two on the leash beside me is sometimes challenging. Anything longer is probably too hard. So, here we go, two years (or more) later and still not decided ;-)

From The kids
From The kids
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Posted for World Bird Wednesday - hop on over!
Posted by at
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Location: Coastal Rd, Kuwait

21 comments:

  1. holdingmomentsJanuary 11, 2012 at 7:22 AM

    What a great selection Nicole.
    Some of those birds I see here, and some I'd love to see.

    Can't help with the lens; I use Canon. I've got the 100-400 zoom, with image stabilizer. I imagine Nikon would do a similar equivalent.
    I love your photography companions.

    ReplyDelete
  2. mickJanuary 11, 2012 at 8:02 AM

    All great photos but of course I like the shorebirds best! The Plovers are so similar! Well of course they are not really but the ones that we don't see down this way would take some careful learning! I wouldn't be able to manage my big lens if my dog was on a leash and feeling a bit obstreperous and with two it would be that much harder.

    ReplyDelete
  3. eileeninmdJanuary 11, 2012 at 10:02 AM

    Hi Nicole, great post. The shorebirds are my favorites. I just love the plovers, they are adorable birds. When I walk my dog I usually drop the leash and step on it, so my Goldie Girl can not far. That way my hands are free for the camera. I love your doggies too! Besides loving the birds, I am a dog lover. Happy birding and have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Brian KingJanuary 11, 2012 at 10:25 AM

    Beautiful shots of the shorebirds, Nicole! Nicely done!

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJanuary 11, 2012 at 12:14 PM

    @Keith
    Same here with your birds :-)
    Guess I will just have to check the camera dealers and used camera shops again here in Kuwait. I need to feel how the lens feels. That's my main issue
    It's just such a pain to get to the city and around there.

    @Mick
    They are very similar and some are the same. We have Lesser Sandplovers on this side of the Globe too. Rarer here, but they are here :-)

    I'll figure something out with the lens (sooner or later, most likely later ;-))

    @Eileen
    I usually do the same with the leash and they normally stick with me anyway (nless there are cats or food involved).

    @BJK
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. TexWisGirlJanuary 11, 2012 at 3:23 PM

    (i've got some longer Sigma lenses on my nikon that i use handheld, but would definitely be difficult walking dogs w/ them! if you're interested, i've got a camera gear tab on my site.)

    i like those redshanks, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 13, 2012 at 4:22 AM

      Thanks!
      I checked yesterday for the Sigma lenses. The equivalent to Nikon is almost the same price (but not available as a new lens).
      Will keep an eye on those :-)

      Delete
  7. LarryJanuary 11, 2012 at 3:57 PM

    A wonderful collection of birds Nicole! Nice to see both morphs of Reef Egret and the shorebirds are very interesting. I hope your Snowy Plover is doing better than our threatened Western Snowy Plover. I love your companions too. They're very photogenic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 13, 2012 at 4:23 AM

      Thanks, Larry :)
      The pooches love to get out :)
      I think the Plovers here do fairly well. Bummer about yours :( Hope they'll recover!

      Delete
  8. CarverJanuary 11, 2012 at 5:01 PM

    I enjoy your shots from your walks so much. You captured so many different birds with your camera. I love the blues in the beach shot with the background buildings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 13, 2012 at 4:27 AM

      Thanks! When one's lucky, one can get some nice shots here :D

      Delete
  9. theconstantwalkerJanuary 11, 2012 at 8:25 PM

    Hi Nicole a wonderful series of images to see...you really do have some beautiful wildlife over there.
    Sigma make a 120-400 HSM lens which is affordable and the latest version has OS the name the name of their stabilised system.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 14, 2012 at 3:44 AM

      Thanks, Andrew.
      I checked amazon again and the equivalent from Nikon to the Sigma (80-400mm) is at the same price now.
      I'll just keep my eyes open and one of these days, I'll get one :D

      Delete
  10. Sallie (FullTime-Life)January 11, 2012 at 11:06 PM

    Oh but the dogs are having so much fun. I can't walk and chew gum at the same time, so I think you do amazingly well. Especially love the flight shots and the little egrets chasing off the great ones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 14, 2012 at 3:45 AM

      Thanks :)
      But hey, you can row and take pics at the same time. Even more challenging :D

      Delete
  11. SpringmanJanuary 12, 2012 at 4:35 AM

    Great variety Nicole, just beautiful.
    There is a site http://www.dpreview.com/ If you would click on their forums and choose Nikon I'll bet you could either post the question or use their search engine to find tons of information on the correct lens for your situation. I shoot with a 400mm prime lens for my canon and that seems adequate for most situations. Good luck on your search!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 14, 2012 at 3:46 AM

      Thanks, Springman.
      I forgot about dpreview, thanks for the reminder!
      400mm prime - nice....! :D
      Maybe one day when I grow up ;)

      Delete
  12. ClareJanuary 14, 2012 at 4:25 AM

    Nicole-took me a while, but the plant is Calotropis procera and we have it here in Broome, Western Australia also. I remembered it from Kuwait and found it on the website here http://alsirhan.com/Plants_s/Calotropis_procera.htm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 14, 2012 at 4:32 AM

      Thanks!
      I love AbdulRahman's site.
      Just the plant section is a bit hard to find things on :/

      Delete
  13. ClareJanuary 14, 2012 at 7:15 AM

    My parents just remembered it being toxic and we had it in the garden in Sharjah! I then did some searching until I found it! Now you can get the latin for all your plants!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 14, 2012 at 8:12 AM

      Yep, it's toxic. Someone on Project Noah told me that only donkeys eat it.

      Delete

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