Tuesday, 30 January 2007

Saturday 06 Jan 07 Basrah Iraq

08:15 Recent Thunderstorms but now Sunny and Mild

Good start to the day with 11 Cormorants flying over.
Many Common Swifts hawking around Air Traffic Control.
1 Collard Dove
1 Un Id Warbler in Reed Bed
1 White Tailed Plover

08:50
1 Kentish Plover
Brilliant views of a Laughing Dove, down to ten feet, beautiful little Bird, the bronze breast band showing very well in the sunlight.
2 Further Laughing Doves on the path to Div HQ
1 Flock of what looked like Starlings flew over, but no positive ID

Got stopped by roving patrol after they had had a report of a suspicious character in the Reed Bed!! After explaining to a very bemused Army Captain he took the time to check out the White Tailed and Red Wattled Plovers.

09:10 EFI Coffee shop (Nice coffe for $1:00!)

House Sparrow sonce again very numerous.
2 Collard Dove
Feral Pigeons

The main pool in front of Div HQ only held a White Wagtail today
2 Crested Larks on the way up to the EFI.

Pool by BFI

1 R ed Wattled Plover
2 Red Necked Stint
2 Black Winged Stilt
1 Kentish Plover

Pool by MT, completely devoid of all birds.

Wednesday, 24 January 2007

Wednesday 24 January 2007 Basrah Loop

13:10 Hot and Sunny!!

Good start on Div HQ Pool with Moorhen plus a Bluethroat feding on the path.
House Sparrow Flock 40+ in tree.
2 Common Snipe feeding out in the open showing very well. Bill length twice the lenght of head, two very prominant pale stripes on the back and a very obvious eyestripe.
1 Collared Dove
2 Red Wattled Plover (calling to each other on the cricket pitch area)

13:30 Beautiful day with plenty of birds. Finding it is better to leave birding later in the day when it has heated up and the insects are moving.

1 White Tailed Plover far pool (not the usual pool)
2 Black Winged Stilt
1 Kentish Plover

14:00 Still nice and hot.

BFI Pool

2 Black Winged Stilt
2 Red Necked Stint
1 Little Stint
2 Kentish Plover
1 White Wagtail
House Sparrows
Another 1 Common Snipe

Saturday, 20 January 2007

Saturday 20 January 2007 Basarh "Loop"

07:50 Sunny, slight chill, nice day!
Pools in front of Div HQ.
Numerous House Sparrows.
1 White Tailed PLover
2 Small Warblers in Reeds, Similar if not slightly larger than Willow Warbler, olive above, paler below, obvious eyestripe, dark legs, very active feeders constant flicking of wings and tail, thin "tseeep" contact call. Not a clue what species!!

Another White Tailed Plover
2 Black Winged Stilt
1 Red Wattled Plover

Large flock of Starlings over far side near Civilian Airport Terminal, New Secies for tour!

09:00 Coffee stop!

Had more Starling in the location above, ended up about 200 individuals

Not a bad day weather wise, supposed to be raining later so is probably best i came out early.

1 Red wattled Plover flew into the cricket pitch area in front of Div HQ, giving loud call. However the rest of the area fairly quiet.

09:20 Welcome to Basrah!! Just finished my coffee left the EFI and the camp was hit by a rocket, however as I lay in the mud two white wagtails started breeding display.

09:50

BFI Pool

Very quiet today;
1 Red Wattled Plover
2 Kentish Plover
1 Little Stint

Wednesday, 10 January 2007

Wednesday 10 January 2007 Basrah Iraq

07:45 Chilly Bright
Brilliant views of White Tailed Plover at the pools in front of Div HQ
1 Commin Snipe Flushed form reed fringed pool

08:05
1 Ruff feeding in main pool in front of Div HQ. Feeding alongside 2 Black Winged Stilts 1 Avocet and Common Redshank
1 Snipe roosting on pool edge
Numerous House Sparrows
1 White Wagtail

10:20
BFI Pools after Coffee and Haircut!

1 Crested Lark
3 White Wagtail
2 Black Winged Stilts
1 Avocet
5 Kentish Plover
2 Little Stint
1 Red Necked Stint, bit of confusion over the identification between winter plumaged Red Necked Stint and Little Stint, but got very good comparisons on them both today,so happy that both species are present.
1 Red wattled Plover

Monday, 1 January 2007

Happy New Year 2007

Okay not a very inspiring start to the year, but being on shift meant i can only scrape a walk to work to get my list for 2007 started.

Pool by MT:
06:30
1 Little Stint

12:00
2 Black Winged Stilt
Numerous House Sparrows

Pretty poor way to start the year, but things can only get better suppose!