This is a collection of some of my photos over two weekends. Warblers, Golden Orioles and various shrikes have still been on the move. All pictures are from Al Abraq expect Coot with 4 chicks at Jahra Pool Reserve.

Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) 03/05.

European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) 03/05

Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus) 03/05

Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) 03/05

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) 11/05

Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) 11/05

Female Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) 11/05

Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) 11/05

Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia c. minula) 11/05

Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) 11/05

Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria) 11/05

Coot with 4 chicks (Fulica atra) 10/05

My friends Markku Varhimo and Erkki Virolainen visited Kuwait. This is summary of the highlights of the week. On Green Island, 22.4, we had our first Basra Reed Warbler but no more Hypocolius. Next day produced Syke,s Warbler at Jahra Pool Reserve. During the week we had 4 Basra Reed Warblers and we heard two more Clamorous Reed Warblers too. Little Swift was in Al Abraq on 24.4. Next day we saw Socotra Cormorant at Fahaheel shopping mall. In port Zour we had about 250 Bridled Terns. Since Afghan Babblers breed in Kuwait, they are relatively easy to find. We visited the site on 26. of April and we saw 4 birds without disturbing their breeding.

Syke’s Warbler (Iduna rama) 23.4, Jahra Pool Reserve

Little Swift (Apus affinis) 24.4, Al Abraq (This is just a record shot since the species is new to me in Kuwait)

Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocrorax nigrogularis) 25.4, Al Kout Shopping Mall, Fahaheel (Note slim head without any yellow and pale panels on the wings)

Afghan Babbler (Turdoides (caudatus) huttoni, 26.4, Abdaly Farms

Purple Swamp Hen, (Porphyrio p. seistanicus) 27.4, Jahra Pool Reserve

A couple of days ago, I heard the news of a first breeding record of Mallard at JPR, yesterday also a Ferruginous Duck was also reported to have bred as well a 1st breeding record as well. It has long been suspected that these species may breed. They have bred in the Eastern Province of KSA  300 Km south of Kuwait (M.Jennings,1995 An Interim Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia).

The water has for almost two years now been kept at such a high level. It results in good bird numbers and more breeding records.

This is also good news and a reason to convince the Reserve Management to keep the fresh water to its levels, and not to discharge it directly to the sea.

I also an adult and a chick of Little Grebe.

Birds that were seen at JEO include: Pallid Harrier 1, Northern Wheatear 6, Common Redstart 3, Siberian Stonechat 1, Wryneck 1, European Bee-eater 2, Black-eared Wheatear 3, Pied Wheatear 2, Turkestan Shrike 3, Woodchat Shrike 1, Eurasian Reed Warbler 2, Common Chiffchaff 5, Mauryan Grey Shrike 1.

At JPR: Masked Shrike 1, Ferruginous Duck 5 (adult 1 and chicks 4), Little Grebe 3 (one chick), Greenshank 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Wood Sandpiper 2, Siberian Stonechat 1, Common Kingfisher 1, Great Reed Warbler 1, Eurasian Coot 2, Moorhen 5.

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca chicks

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca adult

Turkestan Shrike Lanius phoenicuroides

Turkestan/Red-backed Shrike hybrid

We decided to visit Al Abraq again since it was so good yesterday. One driving force was to relocate Greenfinch and photograph it. It didn’t take long when Nava brothers did that and pointed out to me bird’s location. I must admit that in some point I ran. Like yesterday, concerning Collared Flycatcher, I managed to get the first pictures and soon after that other photographers got many good pictures too. Already yesterday it was clear that Angelo and Alberto saw Greenfinch. The trouble was that we didn’t have any picture. Now we have good pictures supporting this record. One must bear in mind that we are dealing with the first record for Kuwait. Collared Flycatcher wasn’t around anymore today.However, it was nice to see Basra Reed Warbler again.

Male Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis)

We tried on 9th of April Ashy Drongo at Fintas Park but for vain. Cinereous Bunting was still present. In the afternoon we headed to Doha Spit to see Lesser Sandplovers and other waders which we saw pretty well. After that we checked one new farm in Jahra not founding anything new. The day was ended at Jahra East Outfall. Next morning we headed to Al Abraq. Almost immediately after our arrival Angelo and Alberto Nava found Collared Flycatcher. There are few old claims of this species but rejected on the basis of insufficient documentation. This time thre bird was photographed by me and later on many others too. This bird is new species for Kuwait if accepted by KORC.  Next interesting bird was Green Finch. Similarly this is potentially new species for Kuwait. Unfortunately we didn’t get pictures.

Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)  Note that the bird is 2nd calendar year bird. Brownish primaries and small white patch on them determine that. However having a full collar, big white forehead patch, showing entirely black tail and having white rump clearly indicate of Collared Flycatcher. So we can rule out possibility it to be a hybrid.

Collared Flycatcher

Collared Flycatcher. This picture shows entirely black tail and white rump.

Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis)

Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica magna)

We visited Fintas Park in the morning on April 4th and we managed to see Ashy Drongo again. Next stop was Fahaheel Al-Kout Shopping Mall and it’s sea watching tower. At Fahaheel we managed to see at least 2 White-cheeked Terns, one Swift Tern, Arctic Skua and surprisingly 2 Brown Boobies – new species for Kuwait. The latter one must naturally be accepted by Kuwait Ornithological Rarities Committee. After Fahaheel we headed to Port Zour in hope to see Bridled Tern and Socotra Cormorant. Both species were elusive and we didn’t see them. We saw only 3 White-cheeked Terns. Next day was chosen for Al Abraq but due to sandstorm it wasn’t very productive. Only new species was Upcher;s Warbler. At Jahra Farms on April 5th we saw 7 Bank Mynas and 2 Hypocolius. Next day’s highlights were Baillon’s crake at Jahra Pool Reserve and 2 female Caspian Plovers at Jahra East Outfall. At the time when I departed 4 German birder’s previous night, I joked that tomorrow we’ll see Basra Reed Warble, Socotra Cormorant and Bridled Tern. This happened next day. We saw on Green Island Basra Reed Warbler. In port Zlour we had about 30 Bridled Terns and 1 Socotra Cormorant. We had to move on. No bird was seen next day (08/04) was selected a trip to north. In Abdaly Farms we quickly spotted c. 1o Hypocolius and 5 Afghan Babblers including one chick.

Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis) The first  bird was seen on April 7th on Green Island.

Basra Reed Warbler

Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) Similarly the first bird was seen on April 7th in Port Zour..

Basra Reed Warbler 1, Common Redstart 3, Caspian Stonechat 2 (females), Pied Wheatear 4, Black-eared Wheatear 2, Squacco Heron 22, White Stork 12, Whinchat 1 (female), Sedge Warbler 2, Spotted Crake 2, Black Kite 12, Marsh Harrier 2, Eastern Imperial Eagle 1, Water Pipit 10, Sykes’s Wagtail 20, Red-throated Pipit 10, Great White Egret 1, Indian Reef Heron 2, Greater Flamingo 20, Ruff 20, Little Tern 2, Marsh Sandpiper 4, Green Sandpiper 20, Wood Sandpiper 10, Red-necked Phalarope 5, Curlew Sandpiper 10, Common Chiffchaff 10, Upcher’s Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Turkestan Shrike 1, Woodchat Shrike 1, Caspian Reed Warbler 5.

Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis

Little Tern Sternula albifrons

Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka

Caspian Stonechat Saxicola maurus variegatus female

Sykes’s Wagtail Motacilla (flava) beema

I have a group of 4 German birders. We started by visiting Green Island where we saw 2 Hypocolius, 4 Red-vented Bulbuls and Eastern Orphean Warbler. Next stop was Jahra Farms producing 3 Bank Mynas and female Semi-collared Flycatcher and Turkestan Shrike. The rest of the day was spent at Doha Spit for waders. Sandplovers were around and the group picked up male Caspian Plover. Additionally they found 3 Pale Rock Sparrows too. So the first day was a good start. On April 1st Matthias Schoebinger joined the group when we visited Al Abraq in the morning. We started with a nice flock of at least 15 migrating Hypocolius. We had at least 20 White-throated Robins just to mention few highlights. In the afternoon we focused on Crab Plover. Finally one bird showed up at Manchester Club. On April 2nd we headed north to Abdaly. First we saw a flock of 10 Hypocolius but soon we spotted 2 Afghan Babblers. Obviously they breed in the same area than last year. On our way back to Kuwait City we saw the first Steppe Eagle. Bank Mynas where in Jahra Farms waiting for Matthias. After this we visited Pivot Fields by watching over the fence since we do not have access to this site at the moment. We managed to see a flock of 33 Lesser Kestrels, Pallid Harrier, Steppe Eagle and two Black Kites. On 3rd April we started early at Jahra Pool Reserve. This produced Mesopotamian Crow, White-tailed Lapwing, Purple Swamphen and Cinereous Bunting. We heard from Kuwaiti photographer, Malek, that Ashy Drongo was still around two days ago. So we headed to Fintas Park. We saw only few glimpses of the drongo and therefore we plan to go there tomorrow morning again.

Afghan Babbler (Turdoides caudatus huttoni)

Cinerereous Bunting (Emberiza cineracea semenowi)