Flying low

Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica, Rauchschwalbe

From Birds Egypt 2010

#Kuwait - A morning out

No great Bird photos ahead, just wanting to pop in and let you know, I'm alive and kicking ;-)
We are back in Kuwait (in case I haven't mentioned it).

Migration has picked up and so have the hunters.
Found some openly shooting in the middle of my neighbourhood yesterday.
They did take the pigeon and the Laughing dove though.
Maybe they actually ate them (which then would be sort of ok,..., I just can't stand the senseless shooting)

Found this guy on my way back from the beach. Gave me a nice laugh :-)

The Parakeets are still in the hood and so are the two visiting Hoopoes. At least one was still there this morning.

Also saw Chiffchaffs

a Kestrel flyby (whichever sort)

a flock of Yellow Wagtails, Barn Swallows, Pallid Swifts, a Grey Shrike, Ruffuous Bush Robin (2), Northern Wheatears, a Blackhead, Bulbuls (no Minnas and not as many Bulbuls as usual - it's overall very quiet  no Shorebirds at all).
I saw a flock of 30 Bee-eaters fly by on Sunday morning.

I also saw some huge ants, as big as my fingernail (they just didn't want to hold still)

Siskin (Eurasian), Erlenzeisig, Carduelis spinus

Another surprise catch of a Lifer on a walk to a photo assignment. One has to keep eyes and ears open at all times :-)

More Info on Opus at Birdforum (Name translation thanks to Bavarianbirds)

From Birds Germany 2013

From Birds Germany 2013

Birdlist 2013

Anseriformes

Anatidae

• Mallard, Stockente, Anas platyrhynchos (Germany)

Pelecaniformes

Phalacrocoracidae

• Great Cormorant,  Kormoran, Phalacrocorax carbo (Germany)

Ciconiiformes

Ardeidae

• Grey Heron, Graureiher, Ardea cinerea (Germany)

Accipitriformes

Accipitridae

• Buzzard, Maeusebussard, Buteo Buteo

Falconidae

• Peregrine Falcon, Wanderfalke, Falco peregrinus (Germany)

Columbiformes

Columbidae

• Collared Dove, Türkentaube, Streptopelia roseogrisea (Germany)
• Common wood pigeon, Ringeltaube, Columba palumbus (Germany)

Coraciiformes

Alcenidae

• Common Kingfisher, Eisvogel, Alcedo atthis

Piciformes

Picidae

• Great Spotted Woodpecker, Buntspecht, Dendrocopus major

Passeriformes

Motacillidae

• Grey Wagtail, Gebirgsstelze, Motacilla cinerea (Germany)

Turdidae

• Blackbird (Common), Amsel, Turdus merula (Germany)
• European Robin, Rotkehlchen, Erithacus rubecula (Germany)

Troglodytidae

• Wren, Zaunkönig, Troglodytes troglodytes (Germany)

Paridae

• Blue Tit, Blaumeise, Parus caeruleus (?) (Germany)
• Great Tit, Kohlmeise, Parus major (Germany)

Sittidae

• Nuthatch, Kleiber, Sitta Europaea (Germany)

Corvidae

• Carrion Crow, Rabenkrähe (Aaskrähe), Corvus corone (Germany)
• Magpie (Black-billed Magpie), Elster, Pica pica (Germany)

Passeridae

• House Sparrow, Haussperling / Spatz, Passer domesticus (Germany)

Fringillidae

• Chaffinch, Buchfink, Fringilla coelebs (Germany)
• Siskin (Eurasian), Erlenzeisig, Carduelis spinus (Germany)

Wren, Zaunkönig, Troglodytes troglodytes

From Birds Germany 2013

Had this little Wren posing for me, right in front of my lens.
Shots are still not clear, bir and me moving too much ;-)
I just love these little fellows.
In German their name means 'King of the fence' (Zaunkoenig).
I think they are :-)

More Info over at Birdforum on Opus (translation of bird names via Bavarianbirds)

From Birds Germany 2013

From Birds Germany 2013

From Birds Germany 2013

From Birds Germany 2013

From Birds Germany 2013

Peregrine Falcon, Wanderfalke, Falco peregrinus

A surprise Lifer, bagged in Koblenz yesterday morning :-)
Taken with an 18-200mm on full zoom, so excuse the not so great detail ;-)

More Info about the species at Opus on BirdForum

From Birds Germany 2013

From Birds Germany 2013