Eid and back to JPR

Week 34, 20 August 2012 - Jahra Pools Reserve (Click to enlarge image)

After the great morning 2-days I was back at Jahra Pools just after sunrise. There had been a slight change in weather, a little hotter and a stronger breeze and it is amazing the impact this subtle change has on the birds.

There was certainly not as many species or numbers there were a few days back, but that may also be attributed to shooters that had gained access to the reserve on foot and had been blasting away until they were chased by guards and photographers. Hopefully once the work on the pipeline on the perimeter of the reserve is finished, the fence can be fixed and this will keep shooters out for good!

Just inside the gates, I spotted this young Woodchat Shrike sitting proudly on a pole in great light

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)

I have been very lucky seeing Arabian Red Foxes the last few outings and today was no exception as I found two inside the reserve

Arabian Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes arabica)

Out near one of the open pools, more Swallows and Sand Martins

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)

And a few Marsh Terns, capturing them in flight hand-holding The Beast coupled to a 1.4 extender was a real challenge - it is probably best to use the naked 600mm in these circumstances..Nevertheless, both Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

and White-winged Tern were present

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

Little Grebe were still present in the pools with reed fringes

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

I found two Red-necked Phalaropes interspersing between feeding on the exposed sand and shallow water of one of the big shallow pools

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

Alongside a Marsh Sandpiper

Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)

Today I found a juvenile Common Kingfisher

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

And more Graceful Prinia's

Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)

And skulking in the shadows of some reeds, my first Northern Wheatear for this autumn.

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

By now the wind was quite brisk, so called it a morning and headed for a Starbucks for a welcome coffee during the day to celebrate the 1st day of Eid.