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<\/a>Purple Swamphens (Porphyrio porphyrio) did breed successfully this year, but the numbers have been difficult to estimate; certainly less than 10 off-spring were hatched<\/p>\n
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\n Little Grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis) had a very successful breeding year at JPR<\/p>\n \n Even though it is mid-summer, birds that have completed their breeding cycles in the northern breeding grounds slowly start trickling back for the start of the Autumn migration. Initially it is the Hirundines that arrive first, so we have Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)<\/p>\n \n Together with Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) in the skies above the pools and occasionally roosting on the fences if the wind is blowing dust<\/p>\n \n They are followed by numbers of waders, typically Green Sandpipers and Wood Sandpipers (Tringa glareola)<\/p>\n \n and Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) are the early arrivals<\/p>\n \n A Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) stayed a few days and stood head and shoulders above the minions<\/p>\n \n Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) are winter visitors to Kuwait, so it was a surprise to find one enjoying the pools (even though it was being harassed by some Marsh Terns) in the middle of summer.<\/p>\n \n Finally a few birds of colour start appearing and then you feel that Autumn migration is kicking off; Blue-cheeked Bee Eaters (Merops persicus) arrive before the European Bee-eaters<\/p>\n \n Black-headed Wagtails (Motacilla f. feldegg) is the first race of Yellow Wagtail to arrive, a few in adult plumage followed by drab 1st year birds<\/p>\n \n However, you need to check all birds carefully and by doing so I found a Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola), that could have easily been overlooked<\/p>\n \n Even during the heat of July, we has a handful of pretty good rarities; two Black-winged Kites (Elanus caeruleus) have been present for around 2-weeks. In Kuwait, there are less than 20 records for this species, so it does create some excitement<\/p>\n \n \n The 4th record of the striking Masked Wagtail (Motacilla a. personata) was another great record for JPR where it has previously been recorded and is still considered a race of White Wagtail (for now)<\/p>\n \n \n Even better, was the 2nd record of Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) in breeding plumage. The first was a winter bird. This bird was initially found by one of our local birders and then disappeared. I put in a few hours trying to re-locate it and finally found it roosting a way off in the reeds after the sun had set; so these are just record images of a great record for Kuwait. This bird has oiled underparts, so it has been a little spoiled – but it didn’t appear to affect the mobility of the bird<\/p>\n \n \n As birders our focus is predominantly on birds, but obviously any other species encountered whilst birding further enrich the outing. I came across a small bat flying over the pools in broad daylight. It was a challenge to find it in the reeds, but I finally did to discover it was a diminutiveKuhls Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii), a species of Vesper Bat which is also known as an Evening Bat.<\/p>\n \n There is quite a variety of Dragonflies around the pools and they do make interesting subjects, even with big glass on the camera. Unfortunately there aren’t many resources available in Kuwait to help identify them – perhaps one of our contributors or readers can offer an opinion<\/p>\n \n \n \n