Away from all the waders that
were present at Sabkhat Al Fasl last visit there were also plenty of other good
birds seen making the trip a good days birding for late August. Small flocks of
both European and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters have been seen in the area recently
but we only saw two Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters in total. The good numbers of
Egyptian Nightjars were also still present with a minimum of ten birds seen,
all as usual sitting under small bushes in the shade out of the sun. Eurasian
Hoopoe is a migrant to the site, although is a breeding resident at a few sites
in the Eastern Province. Up to six birds were seen during our last visit all
feeding in the sandy areas to the edge of the main reed beds. A scattering of
Yellow Wagtails in various plumages were also scattered around. Other migrants
that were not photographed included two Basra Reed Warblers in the bottom of
the main reed beds, an Isabelline Wheatear and two Woodchat Shrikes. Large
numbers of hirundines were seen including Barn Swallows and Sand Martins.
Numbers of Squacco Heron and Greater Flamingos were well down on the previous
week but Grey Heron numbers had increased to twenty birds. Resident birds seen
included Grey-headed Swamphens, including one family party with two young and
Slender-billed Gulls that breed nearby and come to rest and feed up at this
time of year. Two very early winter residents in the form of two Common
Kingfishers were seen along the edge of one of the reed beds. This species
normally occurs in October or November rather than August.
 |
| Blue-cheeked Bee-eater |
 |
| Egyptian Nightjar |
 |
| Eurasian Hoopoe |
 |
| Yellow Wagtail |
 |
| Grey-headed Swamphen |
 |
| Slender-billed Gull |
 |
| Slender-billed Gull |
