Dubai Pivot Fields 22.10.10

Not had too much time to get out this weekend,  arrived back late from Kuwait on Thursday evening,  then attended a party last night which sort of limited my options today !  :-)

Anyway managed a few hours yesterday afternoon at the Pivot Fields.  Not too much of note, however a nice mixture of Pipits including Tawny, Richard's and Red-Throated !  Quite a collection of Yellow, Citrine and White Wagtails also present.   The weather is starting to improve each week, so now looking forward to spending more 'comfortable' hours outdoors now temperatures are down to the low 30's.   Here are a some of the pics captured yesterday.  I have also included a mall piece of video of one of the Red-Throated Pipits.

Red-Throated Pipit
(Anthus cervinus)

Red-Throated Pipit
(Anthus cervinus)

 Collared Pratincole
(Glareola pratincol)

Citrine Wagtail
(Motacilla citreola)

Tawny Pipit
(Anthus campestris)

Ajban Farms and Dubai Pivot Fields 18.10.10

Been working up in Kuwait for the last two weeks and not had a lot of time to update the blog.  However I now have remote access to my home machine from my hotel room in Kuwait,  how cool is that ?!!
On the 9th Oct I went over to Ajban Farms on the way to Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi to search out a Stone Curlew found by my friend Mohamed the day before,  unfortunately no Stone Curlew but there were a group of lovely Black-Winged Stilts feeding in the pools by the farms at Ajban.

Black-Winged Stilt
(Himantopus himantopus)

On the 16th October (in between trips to Kuwait) I visited my local patch (Dubai Pivot Fields),  it was a beautiful day, no haze or humidity to speak of, first time for many months - a good sign that winter is approaching.  Was not really looking for anything special just some good images.  A beautiful Daurian (Isabelline) Shrike gave me some excellent views and let me approach very close.  The sun was setting and the light was fabulous.  The bird also managed to perch in a situation that provided a lovely brown background.  Anyways, I have included a couple of examples.  Other captures were Crested lark, Isabelline Wheatear and Tawny Pipit

Isabelline Wheatear
(Oenanthe Isabellina)

Crested Lark
(Galerida cristata)

Daurian (Isabelline) Shrike
(Lanius Isabellinus)

Daurian (Isabelline) Shrike

(Lanius Isabellinus)

Tawny Pipit

(Anthus campestris)

Dubai Pivots 3.10.10

Returned from cold Prague where I had been on a training course for a week,  so stayed local and went to my local spot at the Dubai pivot Fields.  Weather was very humid ,  roll on Winter !!   Apart from the usual suspects several migrants were around including 8 Temminck's Stints, 20+ Yellow Wagtails of various Ssp , 1 European Roller (Juve) , 2 Little Ringed Plover (Juve) and 3 Isabelline Wheatear but the highlight was a very nice migrant in a lovely Richard's Pipit .  Some images below,  more from this day can be seen at Pbase.
(A link to some video of the Pipit is also included)

Temminck's Stint
(Calidris temminckii)

White-Tailed Lapwing
(Vanellus leucurus)

Red-Wattled Lapwing
(Vanellus indicus)

Richard's Pipit
(Anthus richardi)

Yellow Wagtail
(Motacilla flava )

Isabelline Wheatear
(Oenanthe isabellina)