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.

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

Beach morning at Mahboula, January 18th 2012

From Kuwait 2012

Didn't walk much this morning, just stayed at one spot,

let the dogs swim (High tide - yippieh)

From The kids

From The kids

From The kids

and enjoy the cool air with nice sunshine.

From Profile Photos

Hope you enjoy it too ;-)

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Some idiots did drive their car around and many more left their trash behind. But that's Kuwait,...

From Kuwait 2012

Some odd colours on the horizon, usually a sign for dust coming (so it was, just 3 days later and just a little bit. )

From Kuwait 2012

Some Barn Swallows made a brief appearance

Barn Swallow

From Birds Kuwait 2012

And the Black-headed Gulls seem to start a change of plumage

Black-headed Gull

From Birds Kuwait 2012

And some don't...

Black-headed Gull

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Black-headed Gull

From Birds Kuwait 2012

Caught one first winter Black-headed Gull too. I was a bit irritated at the black tail line and had to look it up :)

Black-headed Gull 1st winter

From Birds Kuwait 2012

And my favorite of the day - shot this way by accident though :)

Black-headed Gull and the moon

From Birds Kuwait 2012

A neighbourhood morning, January 20th 2012

Well, our beach clean-up today was canceled due to possible dust. Hm. I saw dust on the horizon yesterday, can imagine it was pretty bad in the North. You never know with the weather here.

From Kuwait 2012

It's a gorgeous morning though. For some reason I didn't feel like going to the beach, so I decided to take the dogs at least for a neighbourhood walk.

From Kuwait 2012

I wanted to take some more photos of the former farmland (at least I think that's what it is) and check out if there are some 'new' birds around.

From Kuwait 2012

The rotting Date palms seem to prove my idea of this having been a farm before

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

No new birds, just the usual criminals (Laughing Dove, White-eared Bulbul, House Spassows and 2 White Wagtail).

White Wagtail, Motacilla alba

From Birds Kuwait 2012

The White-Wagtails gave me a little show of Bug hunting. Sadly, the sun was quite bright and I was to dumb to use Exposure compensation, so the white on the Waggies got a little burned out. Oh well.

White Wagtail, Motacilla alba with his breakfast

From Birds Kuwait 2012

I also found a new plant (new for me)

From Kuwait 2012

and two beetles, shimmering golden on the top  -which you of course can't see thanks to my camera skills today ;)
The ones I usually get to see here are simply black on top with varying degrees of 'bumps' on their backs.

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

There is one old house left, still inhabited, some greenery around it, which attracts butterflies (thanks for the ID Keith! There were about 6 of the same).

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

Painted Lady

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

I wonder how long this little paradise will last until the encroaching 'civilization' will finally swallow it all.

New vs old

From Kuwait 2012

Burnt tree

From Kuwait 2012

Road construction and encroaching civilization

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

Someone ID-ed this tree the other day on Project Noah, but it was on some other spotting and I didn't write down the name. Gggrrr....

From Kuwait 2012

The fruits are edible when ripe

From Kuwait 2012

There are some people that try to make this place look a bit better

From Kuwait 2012

From Kuwait 2012

and others that don't give a shit

Trash dumped in road construction site

From Kuwait 2012

This one's probably my favorite photo of the day. I snuck it when shooting the tree

From Kuwait 2012