1 Sep 15 - A Long Overdue Plover For My Poole Harbour List

Today was a lazy day. I tried Brands Bay this morning, but found the tide was already high when I arrived. So I planned to head out again around late afternoon to look on the falling tide. But mid afternoon, I received a call from Paul Morton to say Chris Thain, the Brownsea DWT warden, had a likely juvenile Kentish Plover on the reserve. The description sounded good, but it had flown before Chris had been able to confirm the identification & he hadn't been able to relocate it. On that basis, I decided to give it a go. Even if it wasn't there, then there would be better views of the Waders than at Brands Bay, where the late afternoon light can be very harsh. Paul was circulating the news to the locals & I rang a few others as I left the house. In the end, it was just Graham Armstrong & myself on the 15:00 boat from Sandbanks. We quickly headed up to the Mac hide, the main lagoon hide, as that is generally the better Wader hide. But thirty minutes later, we had not had any sightings. By this time, I had Marcus Lawson on the phone, giving me detailed directions to a pale looking Plover that he could see on the Birds of Poole Harbour web camera. The BoPH team have a remote control on the camera to allow them to pan across the lagoon. Remember the great BoPH find of Semi-palmated Sandpiper a couple of years ago by web camera (which sadly didn't stick around long enough for me to see). But the camera is mounted near the other hide & try as we could to follow Marcus's directions, we just couldn't see his Plover from our hide. In the end, Chris (who had rejoined us) & Graham decamped to the other hide: leaving me to keep scanning from the Mac hide. Five minutes later, Graham rang to say they could see the Plover: it must have been just behind some vegetation from the Mac hide. I quickly joined them & on arrival had a quick look through Chris's scope: it looked very hopeful. A few minutes later, we were all happy & passing the news back to Paul & Marcus. Unfortunately, there was no chance they could catch the last public boat to the island. Hopefully, it will still be there tomorrow.

Kentish Plover: Juvenile. Probably about 150x on the SX60 followed by a harsh crop

Despite being a roughly annual species in Dorset, this appears to only be the eighth Poole Harbour record. The last Poole Harbour Kentish Plover appears to be the long staying Winter individual which hung around Brands Bay & the Studland Houseboats from 17 Nov - 15 Dec 1991 (it then spent the rest of the Winter & the following Winter at Ferrybridge). I was on an extended Round the World trip at the time & so I didn't see this individual. There again, I had been living in Southampton before & after that trip, so there is no certainty I would have made the effort to see it (if I had been in the UK), given I had already seen several at Ferrybridge & one at Lodmoor.

Kentish Plover: Juvenile. An even harsher crop. But I'm amazed I managed to get anything identifiable given it was a small pale blog on the Canon 7D with the 400mm lens

Much closer was this Knot & roosting Spotted Redshank within the Redshank flock.

Knot, Spotted Redshank & Redshanks: The Spotted Redshank is behind & to the left of the Knot

2 Jul 15 - Turkey - Tuz Golu Estuary

We were treated to a later start and breakfast in the Demirkazik hotel. After which we departed for a coastal site called Tuz Golu, relatively close to the city of Adana. Not to be confused with a large lake called Tuz Golu to the North West of Demirkazik. We arrived at Tuz Golu after an uneventful couple of hours or so of driving. In my view, this wasn't a great site and was purely there as a padder site on the last morning of the tour for the others. However, it was about forty-five minutes away from Adana airport, where the others were flying out of and it may have been the best location available. We quickly stopped for this Squacco Heron just before reached the estuary.

Squacco Heron: This monotypic species occurs in the Southern part of the Western Palearctic, Africa & Madagascar

There were a few Waders on the estuary with the highlight being a lone Greater Sandplover, along with about thirty Kentish Plovers.

The coastal Tuz Golu was an a large coastal estuary

Some of the group

Black-winged Stilt: This monotypic species occurs in the Mediterranean & Sub-Saharan Africa to South East Asia & Taiwan

Black-winged Stilt: They are a very elegant species

Greater Sandplover with a closer Kentish Plover: This is the columbinus subspecies which breeds from Turkey to South Afghanistan and winters in the South East Mediterranean & Red Sea

Greater Sandplover: Taken with my Canon 7D Mark II

Greater Sandplover: Another example of the crap colour balance with the Canon SX60, compared to the previous photos taken with my Canon 7D Mark II. Although the SX60 had a more powerful zoom, the quality was poor at a high zoom and the higher zoom was generally too grainy to be worth using

After having a good look at the estuary, we headed off to a small restaurant on the edge of the estuary for an early lunch.

The local accommodation in these habitats always looks very basic and rundown

After an early lunch it was off to Adana airport to drop the others as the tour had ended. There were a few common species to photograph as the others were grabbing their bags.

Laughing Dove: This is the nominate senegalensis subspecies which occurs from some of the Greek islands, to Turkey, Israel, West Arabia, Socotra & Sub-Saharan Africa

When I was looking into the potential Ticks for this trip, I was interested to see that Iraq Babbler had expanded into the Birecik area in the previous decade. This was a species that wasn't around in Turkey on my first trip in 1986 and I was keen to look for it, given there are no other realistic locations where it would be possible to safely see it in its range. I was nervous about travelling to Birecik, which was my most favourite location that we visited on the first trip, as it was only twenty miles North of where there had been an ongoing major battle with ISIS around Kobani. By the time the trip happened, it was a few months after ISIS had been pushed out of Kobani. When I checked with Soner's colleague, he assured me that Birecik town was safe to visit, albeit I wasn't going to carry on further East, as that province had a UK Government Essential Travel Only warning.

House Sparrow: This is the balearoibericus subspecies which occurs from Mediterranean Spain, the Balearic Islands & France, to the Balkans & Turkey

To be on the safe side, I had asked Soner if he would stay on for an extra day of private guiding with a hired car to go looking for the Iraq Babblers. He was happy to do that and so I arranged to fly back one day later than the others. I had invited Nigel, Simon and Bob to join me. Unfortunately, they had already booked their flights and it was very expensive to change them. I was happy to go on my own with Soner, who knew the best areas for the Iraq Babblers and more importantly, he would be able to check the local conditions on the day, in case, security in the area had suddenly become more dangerous. Fortunately, there were no risks in visiting and I will cover the Birecik extension in the next Blog Posts.

9 April 14 - Bonus Caspian Plover

It was another early start after being out for the Pharaoh Eagle Owl the previous evening. The plan was to get to the start of the Ovda Airport road, near to the Ne'ot Smadar kibbutz, for just after first light, to look for the previous afternoon's Caspian Plover. Soon after turning off the main road, we surprised a couple of Nubian Ibex crossing the road where the road cut through a hillside. Unfortunately, they were back up the hill & out of sight before I could get any photos.

Nubian Ibex: They are great looking animals as this roundabout in Eilat indicates (but not as large as this in real life)

The Caspian Plover had been found in an narrow green area around a dried up water course in a wider area of desert. But this area extended for 2 or 3 miles. We started exploring the area & were really impressed when Nigel announced he had relocated the female Caspian Plover soon after we arrived. We all had chance for good scope views, but without any reason the bird suddenly flew up & flew towards Ovda airport, before finally appearing to drop again after about 2 miles. Whilst disappointed I hadn't had the chance to get any photos, I was pleased to have seen this rare Western P species.

Caspian Plover: The illustration on the right gives you an idea what it looked like. The Pharaoh Eagle Owl was a tick for Edge & Simon

Crowned Sandgrouse: A party flew over, before finally landing. The short tail & black flight feathers on both upperwing & underwing rules out all the other Sandgrouse. This is the vastitas subspecies of the Israel, Jordon & the
Sinai deserts

The Caspian Plover area: The bird disappeared into the distance to the left

Another view of the Caspian Plover area

A more typical view of the area overlooking the Eilat - Yotvata valley: Which shows why the Caspian Plover area was a migrant trap

There was chance for a quick look at the Ne'ot Smadar kibbutz sewerage works, before heading back to Eilat for a late hotel breakfast.

Yellow Wagtail: Male of the feldegg subspecies also known as Black-headed Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail:  Yesterday's 'superciliaris' was a Black-headed Wagtail hybrid with another Yellow Wagtail subspecies. I really find it hard to see why the Dutch split the Yellow Wagtail complex into a number of species

Having had a filling breakfast, it was back to explore the saline water tanks at km 20 (North of Eilat). There is another fresh water tank at km 19 with a set of bush & scrub surrounded small pools between them. This whole area is great birding. It's possible to drive around the km 20 water tanks which is the best way to cover them & avoid disturbing the good numbers of Flamingos, Waders & Gulls. It's worth walking down to the km 19 water tank (from the km 20 water tanks) as there are a good selection of birds in the bushes, although the Dead Sea Sparrows & Indian Silverbills managed to elude us despite several visits. Migrants also funnel through this area, with Raptors on the move North overhead. The km 19 water tanks can also be reached from the main road. These are best watched by sitting on the bank & scanning with a telescope. We eventually found there was a small dirt/metalled road heading back towards the Eilat ringing area. This avoids the long detour North on the Yotvata dual carriageway to turn the car around & head back to Eilat. Wish we had spotted that local road sooner as we ended up going the long way back on the several visits.

The saline water tanks at km 20

The surrounding track was wide enough to allow you to drive around the tanks

Birding the saline tanks: Nigel, Simon & Edge

Bird Hide overlooking the saline tanks: Israeli Army design (large)

Squacco Heron

Glossy Ibis: The diagnostic shape with the mountains of Jordon behind

Greater Flamingo

Greater Flamingo

Egyptian Goose: These 3 individuals were considered to be introduced birds, rather than genuine vagrants from Egypt's Nile Valley or Sub-Saharan Africa

Osprey: Adult. The dark tail band & dark central band on the underwing indicates this is an adult bird

Osprey: Adult. The uniform upperwing also indicates this is an adult. This is the nominate haliaetus subspecies of the Palearctic, which winters to Africa, India & the Philippines

Osprey: Adult. Two minutes after the first photos, the Osprey was leaving again with lunch. Osprey or Swallow is probably the species I've seen in more countries than any other species

Imperial Eagle: Unfortunately, this North bound Imperial Eagle didn't pass close to us to allow a decent photo

Coot: There was a reasonably large flock on the km 19 water tank of the nominate atra subspecies

Black-winged Stilt: This was no consolation for missing 2 BW Stilts in Poole Harbour whilst I was in Israel (the first PH record since an unsubmitted Brownsea record in 1978)

Collared Pratincole: This is the nominate pratincola subspecies which is occurs from South Europe to Pakistan & winters South to Northern Sub-Saharan Africa 

Collared Pratincole: Collared Pratincoles aren't easy to separate from Black-winged Pratincoles or Oriental Pratincoles when seen on the ground, but in flight the reddish underwing & white trailing edge to the secondaries are diagnostic

Spur-winged Plover: This was a very common bird where ever there was a little bit of water

Ringed Plover: This is the tundrae subspecies (which are slightly smaller & darker) than the typical UK breeding subspecies (which is the nominate histicula)

Little Ringed Plover: This is the curonicus subspecies of the Norther Palearctic, which winters to Africa, Arabia, East China & Indonesia. Seems surprising that the nominate subspecies occurs in the Philippines, New Guinea & Bismarck Archipelago. I would have expected the type specimen to have been described somewhere in Europe

Kentish Plover: Male of the nominate alexandrinus subspecies which occurs from the Western Palearctic to Eastern China & Southern Japan, with 2 other subspecies in SE India to Sri Lanka and SE Asia, respectively

Kentish Plover: Female. It was fitting that my first KP was seen at Cliffe Lagoons in Kent

Kentish Plover: Chick. We think this was a KP, but there was no adult with it, although a KP was fairly close & was the nearest bird

Black-tailed Godwit: This is the nominate limosa subspecies. The birds I see in Dorset are the islandica birds which are part of the Iceland breeding population: which have the red of the breast extending further onto the lower breast & flanks compared to limosa individuals

Green Sandpiper

Little Stint: A fairly common migrant with up to 100 birds present at km 20 on our visits

Little Stint: Flight shot of a different individual

Ruff: It was good to see flocks of 20 to 40 Ruffs. In Poole Harbour, a couple of flocks of 4 last winter were the biggest I've seen in the harbour in 17 years of living there

Slender-billed Gull: Adult

Pied Kingfisher: This is the nominate rudis subspecies of Sub-Saharan Africa, Egypt, Israel, Turkey to Iran

Red-throated Pipit

Graceful Prinia: This is the palaestinae subspecies of East Sinai, South Israel, Lebanon, South Syria, North & West Jordon & NW Saudi Arabia. The deltae subspecies occurs further North in West & Central Israel

Spanish Sparrow: Male. The breeding birds are the transcaspicus subspecies of Israel to Turkey, Central & Eastern Asia to NW India. The nominate hispaniolensis subspecies of Southern Europe, North Africa & the islands off North Africa of Cape Verde, Canaries & Madeira is a less common winter visitor & migrant

Finally, by early afternoon, we decided to get out of the heat & retreated to the hotel to recharge the batteries in more than one way. Firstly, a chance to catch up on lost sleep as all these early starts and late nights were taking their toll. Secondly, it also gave me the opportunity to find a camera shop to recharge one of the camera batteries (as I had foolishly decided I could manage on my 2 batteries and had taken so many photos that the battery power was looking decidedly low & the charger was at home). After a lot of looking I tracked down a decent camera opposite Eilat airport, where the owner kindly recharged the battery for me. Late afternoon saw us heading to the beach, not for swimming, but because there were 2 or 3 White-cheeked Terns hanging around Aqaba on the Jordanian side of the border, but which sometimes came closer & fed off Eilat's North beach. This is a World Tick that I didn't think we had a chance of seeing, as they generally don't appear until much later in the Spring: but these sub adult birds had been around for a while.

Eilat's North Beach: The border is just behind these trees with Aqaba, Jordon in the background

Eilat's North Beach: Looking South with the Jordon - Saudi Arabia border somewhere in the picture

Caspian Tern: No mistaking this bill

White-cheeked Tern: My one chance when a bird came into Eilat waters & I blew it. Still it does show the fine bill & contrast between the inner & outer primaries

Finally, it was on to Eilat's Dolphin Reef where 2 Little Green Herons had been hanging around. The light was starting to go now, but we were all happy when I picked up a bird flying from the pontoon surrounding the Dolphin enclosure. A great end to a day with a World Tick & 2 additional Western P ticks: none of which were on my expected trip list.

Bottle-nosed Dolphin: Dolphin Reef - not a place I would be prepared to pay to see Dolphins. They should be in the sea & swimming free, not in a sea cage as these Dolphins are (note, we were looking from a public car park, not the Dolphin Reef attraction)