Red Kite, Milvus milvus, Rotmilan in Spessart

Fotografiert fuer die Aktion 'Wo ist Milan?'

River Nette, Mayen, Germany

From Germany

One of my favorite places for a quick, relaxed nature visit.
Shady, not too many people and water for the dogs to cool off in. And in walking distance.
Quite a bit of nature and wildlife as well.
Two of the more prominent visitors is a Kingfisher (I didn't see him the first two months around, but now he's back), two Grey Wagtails (it should be white Wagtails being at home here, but funny enough, I see those away from the water - German translation of their name would hint that they are the ones living close to this kind of river).

There are also all kinds of Tits, Nuthatches in abundance (I think their youngsters just learned to tend for themselves), Swifts flying over and some House Martins to go, some spotted Woodpeckers and the occasional Green one, many families of Blackcaps, Robins, a few Bluethroats, Black Redstarts, of course Mallards, very few Song Thrushes, of course Wood Pigeons, Magpies, Jays, Rooks and Blackbirds. I've seen some breeding Starlings, but they might have moved on. Occasionally there are some Collared Doves. In the bushes you see flitting Wrens (I love the German name: Zaunkoenig - Fence King).
I haven't seen the Grey Heron and the Dipper in a while, maybe they come back one of these days.
I am sure there's a lot that I don't get to see and a lot I cannot name.
All the trees, plants, butterflies and Critters. Damselflies and occasionally a big Dragonfly. Various fish species and loads of different Grasshoppers who sometimes park themselves on you when you stand still (had a fat grey one on my foot yesterday).

From Birds Germany 2012

Blackcap, Mönchsgrasmücke, Sylvia atricapilla

Singing male, April 2012

From Birds Germany 2012

From Birds Germany 2012

Green Woodpecker, Grünspecht, Picus viridis

Hello to whoever is still reading here ;-)
I am back in Germany since a while and simply enjoying nature.

Caught this woody last month and the in flight photo today.
(And no, I still have no longer lens ;-))


I love that long beak :-)

From Birds Germany 2012

From Birds Germany 2012

From Birds Germany 2012

Mission failed

Not that I really had a mission.

Went to the beach this morning to just have a stroll.
Took the 18-70mm lens, trying to give my back a break since there are no birds around yet
(migration still some time off).

Of course, besides the usual Gulls there was one this morning intriguing my interest.
I am 95% sure it was a Redshank. You can't see the red on the photos, but I could at the beach.

Well, I save you the trouble of posting the photo of the 4 UFOS flying by.
They were shorebirds, which, I dunno. No sounds have been made, silent UFOS.
Mpf........ :(

But at least we all had a bunch of fun ;)

From The kids

From The kids

Also a big thanks to you all for your well wishes.
Shoulder is much better, I just have to learn to watch it.

Beach clean-up Doha, Kuwait, January 27th 2012

My 3rd time at Doha beach.
I went a bit exploring this time, further up the northern stretch, where I surprisingly got access to the, from the outside, fenced off salt marshes.
I think they should be a protected area (which they maybe are?) without car wrecks, cupboards and whatever huge and small trash littering it.
Doha beach itself looks better, thanks to our efforts. If only the residents and campers would take care a little more.
The stretch at Doha entertainment city looks devastating.
More trash than ever and the mangroves seem to be finally dead.
That stretch, K's path got no permission to clean (yes, you need permission to clean beaches). The folks from entertainment city declared they take care of it themselves.



Birdcount:

1 Curlew
1 Lesser spotted Eagle
5 Reef Egret
3 Crested Lark
1 Desert Wheatear
1 Ringed Plover
1 Graceful Prinia
a bunch of Waders and Gulls, too far out to be ID-ed
(Gulls were most likely Black-headed Gulls and some Caspian Gulls)
+ 180 Flamingos
3 Barn Swallows


1 dead Shelduck
3 dead Juv. Cormorant


I am trying to ID the plants and AbdrulRahman Al-Sirhan's page was of great help again.
I still have quite a few to go :(


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Past clean-ups (that I've been to - K's path has been out every weekend):

• Beach Clean-up Sulaibikhat 3, Kuwait, January 13th 2012


• Qaru island, Kuwait - Beach clean-up Dec 23rd 2011

• Um Al Maradin, Island beach clean-up, Dec 9th 2011

• Beach clean-up Sulaibikhat, July 23rd 2011

• Beach clean-up Maternity Hospital, July 8th 2011

• Beach clean-up Sulaibikhat (2), June 11th 2011

• Beach clean-up, Doha, Kuwait, May 28th 2011

• Beach clean-up, Sulaibikhat, Kuwait, May 13th 2011

• Beach clean-up, Doha, July 16th

Jahra Nature preserve

Birding trip part 3, January 10th 2012

From Kuwait 2012

The second stop on my birding day with Pekka Fagl was at the Jahra Nature preserve.

From Kuwait 2012

Another place you can only get in when you have a certain permit.

From Kuwait 2012

A good thing, because this keeps the hunters out - most times.

From Kuwait 2012

I am not sure I placed it on the correct location on Google maps. These places are hard to find on the map :(

From Kuwait 2012

We were greeted by an Isabelline Shrike

Isabelline Shrike, Isabellwürger, Lanius isabellinus

From Birds Kuwait 2012

and some Coot and Moorhenns, heard some Water Rail, but I didn't get to see one

Coot (Eurasian / Black / Common),  Bläßhuhn ( / Bläßralle / Bleßhuhn), Fulica atra

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Chiffchaff were there

Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, Zilpzalp

From Birds Kuwait 2012

and we played 'Hide and Seek' with a Graceful Prinia

Graceful Prinia, Streifenprinie, Prinia gracilis

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Graceful Prinia, Streifenprinie, Prinia gracilis

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Graceful Prinia, Streifenprinie, Prinia gracilis

From Birds Kuwait 2012

A Bluethroat made a brief appearance

Bluethroat, Blaukehlchen, Luscinia svecica

From Birds Kuwait 2012

and a Water Pipit posed next to the car door for me

Water Pipit , Bergpieper, Anthus spinoletta

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Some Norther Shoveler had a Stop-over

Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata, Löffelente

From Birds Kuwait 2012

and some Black Kite and Lesser Spotted Eagles were looking for an easy Lunch, mixed with some Pallid Swift and Barn Swallows

Lesser spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarina, Schreiadler

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Saw some plants / bushes in bloom, thanks to the recent rain, I guess.
Pekka told me the name, but I forgot :(

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

He pointed out a Desert Warbler to me, but I was too slow for a decent shot.
A Stonechat was more obliging

Stonechat (Common), Schwarzkehlchen, Saxicola torquata

From Birds Kuwait 2012

and next we were surprised by some Flamingos. Mostly youngsters, except for one adult

Greater Flamingo, Rosa Flamingo, Phenicopterus ruber

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Greater Flamingo, Rosa Flamingo, Phenicopterus ruber

From Birds Kuwait 2012

and some Black-headed Gulls heading for the coastline

Black-headed Gull, Lachmöwe, Larus ridibundus

From Birds Kuwait 2012

And a huge flock of Penduline Tits teased us by flying always in front of the bright noon sun.
I managed to get a few record shots of yet another Lifer for the day ;)

Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Penduline Tit, Beutelmeise, Remiz pendulinus

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Birdcount

8 Coot
3+ Moorhenn
3+ Water Rail (sound) (would be a Lifer, but I didn't get a photo)
3+ Graceful Prinia
2 Northern Shoveler (male)
2+ Isabelline Shrike
65 Black-headed Gulls
10+ Greater Flamingos (1 adult, rest Juveniles)
1 Bluethroat (male, N. European var. svecica)
3 Stonechat (2 male / 1 female)
2 Black Kite
1 Eagle
10+ Water Pipit
10+ White Wagtail
Chiffchaff (sound)
20+ Pallid Swift
8+ Barn Swallows
60+ Penduline Tit (Lifer)
1 Desert Warbler
1 Lesser spotted Eagle

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Another side of the hood, Mahboula January 22nd 2012

From Kuwait 2012

I haven't explored this side of our neighbourhood much yet.
There's still a huge construction going on at the main street and crossing this one is a pain in the behind (mud puddles, sand in your shoes, dirty dog paws, dust, ...).
The street is right in front of this building, the plot with trees behind me.

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

This day the trees and old Date palms lured me though.

From Kuwait 2012

Also the mounds and bushes, usually good territory for Shrikes, Wheatears and such fellows I wanted to check out if there were any birds.
Not much yet, I bet during migration a few fellows will stop by though.
We had the usual criminals: Laughing Dove, House Sparrow, I heard a White-eared Bulbul and saw two White Wagtails.

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

I was surprised to find some plants growing, not sure which is what, except for one.

Jaffa groundsel, Senecio glaucus

From Kuwait 2012

Jaffa groundsel, Senecio glaucus

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

And on my way back home I stumbled over this Lady, enjoying the cool morning and sunshine. This is a sight you rarely ever get. Women here do walk along the beaches or might sit on a bench, but more often you just see them sitting inside their cars and watch nature from there.

From People

I also stopped at my favorite 'next door' trees.

From Kuwait 2012

The street construction workers are currently pouring their Leftover concrete everywhere. Underneath and besides the tree are some of those places. On one I could see the sparrows taking their baths after the rain - before the concrete :(
And of course, there's always the trash.

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

Not many birds around here, a few noisy fighting House Sparrows (well, the one in the photo stayed out of it and just enjoyed the cool sunshine), Laughing Doves, two Common Myna eyeing me curiously

From Birds Kuwait 2012

From Birds Kuwait 2012