17/11/2017 Purple Sunbird, the 3rd for Kuwait and WP (if accepted by KORC)
Today was an exceptional day, we really had good birds. In the morning at Jahra Pools Reserve we had Moustached Warbler showed well many times allowing excellent photographing opportunities. We also had Mountain Chiffchaff and Indian Reed Warbler which also showed very well. Many participants of the Winter Tour 11-19 Nov. 2017 were very pleased with the finding of the Mountain Chiffchaff.
We then went to Liah Reserve but soon decided to leave to Mutla’a Ranch. At Mutla’a had a male Shikra, a couple of Namaqua Doves, a Woodlark which is a rare bird in Kuwait, Penduline Tits, an Olive-backed Pipit, a 12th for Kuwait (if accepted by KORC) and a two Long-eared Owls a 7th for Kuwait if accepted by KORC (found by Martin Kviesgaard).
A big surprise started when I opened the car door, put my binoculars on driving seats, and washed hand and face preparing (Wadoo’a) to do my prayer, I noticed through the door window a small bird on a Mesquite branch just 5m in front of me, I thought it was a chiffchaff, but looked smaller, could it be a Plain Leaf Warbler? I asked myself, so I grabbed my Binoculars and looked through. There it is in front my eyes a male Purple Sunbird standing in a profile showing clearly . . I shouted Purple Sunbird!! Six of the birders around managed to see it at a close range, it then went to drink from the dripping pipe by hovering under the big dripping pipe. It was a fantastic view that we all enjoyed. I soon remembered, three of the group were birding somewhere else, we called them, but the bird was not there. After half an hour all managed to see it again and were able to take good photographs. What a day!
It worth mentioning that Sven Olof Sjostedt, a participant in the Winter Tour, saw the Purple Sunbird before me but couldn’t identify as I learnt later from him.
Jahra Pools Reserve:
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata 1, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 4, Common Pochard Aythya ferina 4, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca 2, Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 3, Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 2, Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1, Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 6, Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus 2, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 2, Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 3, Great White Egret Ardea alba 28, Little Egret Egretta garzetta 15, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 3, Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 1, Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga 4, Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 2, Black-eared Kite Milvus migrans lineatus 1, Water Rail Rallus aquaticus 2, Grey-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus 7, Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 6, Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 30, Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 54, Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus 2, Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii 5, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 5, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 4, Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 25, Dunlin Calidris alpina 4, Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 4, Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 5, Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 1, Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1, White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 4, Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 1, Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus 1, Sand Martin Riparia riparia 4, Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus 2, Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 8, Mountain Chiffchaff Phylloscopus sindianus 3, Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon 4, Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus 2, Indian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus (stentoreus) brunnescens 3, Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis 2, Bluethroat Luscinia svecica 1, European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola 1, Caspian Stonechat Saxicola hemprichii 1, European Starling Sturnus vulgaris 400.
Mutla’a Ranch:
Asian Shikra Accipiter (badius) cenchroides 1, Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1, Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus 2, Namaqua Dove Oena capensis 2, Long-eared Owl Asio otus 2, Woodlark Lullula arborea 3, Eurasian Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus 4, European Robin Erithacus rubecula 1, Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva 4, Western Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 1, Central Asian Black Redstart Phoenicurus (ochruros) phoenicuroides 2, Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 1, Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni 1, Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 1, Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus 3.