Migrants and residents

Week 31, 02 August 2014 - Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City

I spent some time in the south at Sea City to compare migrant passage progress with the north and the west of the country.

As expected, another brutally hot summers day that kept birds in cover, but I did turn up a few early autumn migrants.

Eurasian Hoopoe are one of the early passage arrivals

Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

As are Upcher's Warbler; I quite like this back lit image

Upcher's Warbler (Hippolais languida)

and the distinctive Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes)

The Terns are almost at the end of their breeding season on the off-shore islands and some post-breeding dispersal is now being observed by Lesser Crested and the other 2 species

Lesser Crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis)

Other local residents seen on each visit include White-eared Bulbul's

White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus l. leucotis)

and the often ignored House Sparrow

Male House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)