24 September 2011

A few good birds - Ringing in Bahrain at Durrat Al Bahrain

Abdulla discovered a new site, Durrat Al Bahrain, with some fresh water, that has overflowed from some tanks near to a desalination plant that as a result has a few tamerisk trees. The site is a small one with only a few birds at any one time but with no other trees or bushes within sight and the coast nearby it is a real magnet for whatever is in the locality. It is located in southern Bahrain near Ras Al Bar and is only really big enough to erect one 12 meter net. We only caught five birds but they were good ones and came in the shape of a Spotted Flycatcher, an Eastern Orphean Warbler, a Durian Shrike and two Menetries's Warbler. I ringed the Durian Shrike and managed to get away without any damage to myself as well as the Eastern Orphean Warbler and one of the Menetries's Warblers and Nicole ringed the other birds. Abdulla skilfully extracted the Durian Shrike from the net without injury to the bird or himself.
 Menetries's Warbler (adult male)
 Menetries's Warbler (adult male)
 Spotted Flycatcher
 Spotted Flycatcher
 Daurian Shrike (1st Year)
 Daurian Shrike (1st Year)
Daurian Shrike (1st Year)