06-09/4/2008 at KISR Shuwaikh

The gardens at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) at Shuwaikh continue to attract a variety of migrants: ca. 80 Pipits (roughly equal numbers of Tree and Red-throated Pipits) have been working the lawns for the past week. Up to 10 Yellow Wagtails are still around, including two of the lutea race, but only very few (less than 5) White Wagtails. Other birds include 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrushes, 4 Eurasian Hoopoes, 4 Pied Wheatears, 1 Black-eared Wheatear, 1 Northern Wheatear, 3 Common Redstarts, 1 Woodchat Shrike, 2 Isabelline Shrikes, 1 Tawny Pipit, a Blackcap (which fell victim to one of Isabelline Shrikes), an Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, up to 15 European Bee-eaters and now 2 Squacco Herons have been strutting the lawns over the past few days. In the afternoon of 08/04, there was an invasion of up to 20 Grey Hypocolius in the fig trees. Two were still around on 09/04/2008.

Grey Hypocolius 

Daurian Shrike Lanius isabellinus with a rather unfortunate male Blackcap