Last
weekend I went birding to Sabkhat Al Fasl rather than ringing and although
there were a lot of birds about there were only a few true migrants. The best
was an adult male Red-backed Shrike a species that is known as a late migrant
to the region but there were also a few Barn Swallows flying around in small
numbers. The other birds seen where mainly breeding species, either resident
breeders such as Little Bitterns, Graceful Prinias and Indian Reef Herons or
summer breeders such as Little Ringed Plovers, Black-winged Stilts, Kentish
Plovers and Squacco Herons. We do not have positive proof of Squacco Herons
breeding at this location but birds are around all summer in reasonable
numbers, I saw at least 20 birds this trip. Also in August we see hundreds of
juveniles, but are uncertain if these are bred at the site or migrants from
elsewhere. I suspect birds breed here in reasonable numbers but in an area away
from my eyes so I cannot be certain. Other birds seen included over 1000
Greater Flamingos, a species that could breed if disturbance was less and the
fact that this is now happening due to patrolling by the SWA means that we may
have breeding burds at this site in the near future. There were not many waders
although two Pied Avocets were seen and apart from numerous terns that I will
post about later there were three Slender-billed Gulls. Purple Swamphens and
Common Moorhens were around in most places and singing Indian (Clamorous) and
European (Caspian) Reed Warblers were heard but very little else was seen.
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| Red-backed Shrike - male |
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| Indian Reef Heron |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Black-winged Stilt |
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| Black-winged Stilt |
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| Squacco Heron |
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| Pied Avocet |
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| Slender-billed Gull |
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| Slender-billed Gull |
