Whilst birding Ash Shargiyah Development Company
Farm recently we were surprised by the number of Bee-eaters present. We have
seen European Bee-eaters before at the location in small numbers but this trip
there were several hundred European Bee-eaters and well over ten Blue-cheeked
Bee-eaters. Good numbers of European Bee-eaters have been passing through a
wide area of the Eastern Province in the last few weeks but these were the
first Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters either Phil or I had seen. Apart from the
Bee-eaters that were all migrants several other migrants were seen. One was a
smart male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush on a stump by the side of the road but
unfortunately it was always into the sun so the photo is not the best. Several
other good birds were my first European Turtle Doves of the year when two were
seen in a dead tree and two Ortolan Buntings in a spray field. Ne spray field
had over 100 Greater Short-toed Larks and another plenty of Yellow Wagtails of
several different races including lutea, beema and thunbergi.
Another filed had eleven Lesser Kestrels sitting on the spray bars as well as
flying over the field. Several other good birds were seen including good
numbers of Spanish Sparrows, four Pied Wheatears, one Northern Wheatear, one
Whinchat and two calling Common Quail. The pond had a Western Osprey plus
several Little Terns and Barn Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins were
flying over. Although there was nothing really good on the farm we saw plenty
of interesting species and it is always a good place to bird. Now we have
written permission to enter the location from the farm manager it is also a lot
easier to access.
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| Blue-cheeked Bee-eater |
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| Blue-cheeked Bee-eater |
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| European Bee-eater |
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| European Bee-eater |
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| European Turtle Dove |
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| Lesser Kestrel |
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| Ortolan Bunting |
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| Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush |
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| Yellow Wagtail - lutea |