06:50 Absolutely freezing today -1
Birds present in front of Div Hq:
1 Moorhen (1st of tour)
2 Black Winged Stilt
1 Red Wattled Plover
Large House Sparrow roost in the Reed bed.
Pool by BFI
07:15
1 Red Wattled Plover
3 Little Stint
2 Kentish Plover
1 Avocet
Numerous House Sparrows
1 White Wagtail
1 Black Winged Stilt
Pool By MT Yard
07:25
2 Kentish Plovre
3 Black Winged Stilt
2 Feral Pigeon
Not a bad end to the year, would rather be seawatching off Lossiemouth Harbour though!
Sunday, 31 December 2006
Thursday, 28 December 2006
Not Fog but Dust!!
Planned to go birding today however the viz was down to 100mts in Blowing dust, good grief!!
Hopefully tomoro will be better.
Only birds seen today Black winged stilts and Crested Lark.
Hopefully tomoro will be better.
Only birds seen today Black winged stilts and Crested Lark.
Monday, 25 December 2006
Merry Christmas! After a very nice Christmas lunch I decided to head off for a small walk round my "loop" at Basrah. Whilst standing looking at White tailed Plover and a flushed Snipe two 240mm Rockets impacted 800m away!! Luckily when i hit the deck i could still see the reed bed!
Birds for the day:
Isabelline shrike, this birs has been seen on previous occasions however did not present good enough view to identify with confidence, however today was differnt and plenty of field notes allowed a Positive id.
Black winged stilts 5
White tailed plover 1
Red wattled plover 1
Marsh Sandpiper 2
Common Redshank 1
Red necked stint 4
Kentish Plover 5
Isabelline Shrike 1
Common Snipe 1
Un ID Warbler 2
White Wagatil 4
House Sparrow, numerous.
Not a bad haul for an interrupted round of the estate.
Next trip in four days time.
Happy birding.
Birds for the day:
Isabelline shrike, this birs has been seen on previous occasions however did not present good enough view to identify with confidence, however today was differnt and plenty of field notes allowed a Positive id.
Black winged stilts 5
White tailed plover 1
Red wattled plover 1
Marsh Sandpiper 2
Common Redshank 1
Red necked stint 4
Kentish Plover 5
Isabelline Shrike 1
Common Snipe 1
Un ID Warbler 2
White Wagatil 4
House Sparrow, numerous.
Not a bad haul for an interrupted round of the estate.
Next trip in four days time.
Happy birding.
Friday, 22 December 2006
Still foggy!
The fog and rockets are both still present early morning in Iraq so birding has been curtailed. The forecast for fog is for it to clear today 23 Dec 06, however it makes way for rain! Should get out on Christmas morning i hope.
Wednesday, 20 December 2006
Well the fog lifted and the rockets and rain have stopped falling from the sky so i decided to venture forth and see what birds were about.
Found a new area just behind Basrah Airport, a good sized reed bed and some open water, this held
5 Black Winged Stilts
1 Avocet
1 Marsh Sandpiper (New to list)
1 Common Redshank
1 Spotted Redshank
1 White Tailed Plover
Plus in the reed two unidentified Warblers, typical ReedWarbler colouration, really long tail, both tail and wings continually flicked, plus a distinctive single note contact, a thin reedy "phweeep"
Also in area
1 Red Necked Stint
1 Kentish (snowy)plover
At the remaining and usual sites
1 Red Wattled Plover
3 Red Necked stints
4 Black Winged Stilt
2 Kentish Plover
2 White Wagtail
1 Laughing Dove
Loads of House and Spanish Sparrows
Not a bad day and nice to get out in some warm sunshine. Hopefully due to shift change i should get some decent birding done this week.
Found a new area just behind Basrah Airport, a good sized reed bed and some open water, this held
5 Black Winged Stilts
1 Avocet
1 Marsh Sandpiper (New to list)
1 Common Redshank
1 Spotted Redshank
1 White Tailed Plover
Plus in the reed two unidentified Warblers, typical ReedWarbler colouration, really long tail, both tail and wings continually flicked, plus a distinctive single note contact, a thin reedy "phweeep"
Also in area
1 Red Necked Stint
1 Kentish (snowy)plover
At the remaining and usual sites
1 Red Wattled Plover
3 Red Necked stints
4 Black Winged Stilt
2 Kentish Plover
2 White Wagtail
1 Laughing Dove
Loads of House and Spanish Sparrows
Not a bad day and nice to get out in some warm sunshine. Hopefully due to shift change i should get some decent birding done this week.
Friday, 15 December 2006
stroppyjock
Been in theatre for a couple of weeks and although i am very restricted to where i can go i'm surprised at the amount of species i've seen so far, in particular Waders. below is a list, not in any sort of order as yet but will get me started!
Black winged Stilt
Crested Lark
Common Swift
Avocet
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Red Wattled Plover
Collard Dove
Kentish (Snowy)Plover
Spotted Redshank
Kestrel
Redshank
Ringed Plover
Water Pipit
Common Snipe
Temminks Stint
Red Necked Stint
Bluethroat
Laughing Dove
White Tailed Plover
Meadow Pipit.
Not too bad and hopefully will pick up more passerines when the spring passage begins.
14 December 2006 19:01
Been in theatre for a couple of weeks and although i am very restricted to where i can go i'm surprised at the amount of species i've seen so far, in particular Waders. below is a list, not in any sort of order as yet but will get me started!
Black winged Stilt
Crested Lark
Common Swift
Avocet
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow
White Wagtail
Red Wattled Plover
Collard Dove
Kentish (Snowy)Plover
Spotted Redshank
Kestrel
Redshank
Ringed Plover
Water Pipit
Common Snipe
Temminks Stint
Red Necked Stint
Bluethroat
Laughing Dove
White Tailed Plover
Meadow Pipit.
Not too bad and hopefully will pick up more passerines when the spring passage begins.
14 December 2006 19:01
Thursday, 14 December 2006
Birdwatching in Southern Iraq
Inspired by Birding Babylon just thought i would give updates on species i am encountering in Southern Iraq. Any other birders out there please feel free to add sightings.
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