My Bird sightings on 12/09/2019
Today I spent some time checking every harrier trying to find Montagu’s Harriers as much as I can. Montagu’s Harriers are passage migrant only in Kuwait. There passage is quick unlike the Pallid Harrier which is common as passage migrant and scarce winter visitor. During passage the Pallid Harrier lingers for more than two weeks. Pivot Fields is one of best places for wintering Pallid Harrier. They also winter in Kabd Reserve and Jahra Pools Reserve.
The birds are counted from top left clockwise.
The first and second photos are of the same bird, an adult female identified by head and under wing pattern. The third is obviously is a male, whereas the fourth and fifth are an adult female and a juvenile female respectively also identified by the under wing pattern. The Steppe Eagle is subadult due to retailed white fringed underwing greater coverts.
Sulaybiya Pivot Fields:
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 28, Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 2, Namaqua Dove Oena capensis 3, Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 1, Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 1, Little Crake Zapornia parva 1, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 14, White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus 5, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 1, Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii 2, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 1, Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola 3, White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 5, Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 3, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 1, Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 1, Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 2, Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus 4, Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus 5, Black Kite Black-eared Milvus migrans lineatus/formosanus 9, Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus 1, Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 3, Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus 3, European Roller Coracias garrulus 1, Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla 1, Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus 1, Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator 2, Crested Lark Galerida cristata 9, Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus 1, Sand Martin Riparia riparia 3, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 25, White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis 3, Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 2, Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina 5, House Sparrow Passer domesticus 150, Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 9.