The grounds of the Emirates Palace Hotel
Caspian Tern
Daurian Shrike
Had a run out to the Emirates Palace on the morning of 12th November. A beautiful morning, but got unseasonably hot later. These days one can only walk around the outside so a little frustrating. A Caspian Tern flew over, but the grass was largely devoid of birds only 4 White Wagtails & 2 Daurian Shrikes of note among all the introduced species.
Mushrif Palace Gardens
13th November saw me birding around Mushrif Palace Gardens & an early surprise were 2 low flying Great Cormorants over the trees. I was there for three hours, best birds were:
Front wood
Too manicured these days!
Oriental Honey Buzzard
Purple Sunbird
Chiffchaff
Oriental Honey Buzzard 1; Common Kestrel 1; Indian Roller 1; Hoopoe 2; Song Thrush 1; Eastern Black Redstart 1; White Wagtail 12; Chiffchaff 23; Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 2; Lesser Whitethroat 1; Desert Lesser Whitethroat 16.
I met up with Maarten late afternoon for a quick trip to Al Wathba Camel Racetrack. The reason for going was to stay on after dark to try for any Nightjar species. But nothing was seen. In the day time we saw:
Southern Grey Shrike
Western Marsh Harrier 3; Common Kestrel 1; Pale Crag Martin 4; 1 Hoopoe; 43 White Wagtail; 28 Water Pipit; 4 Tawny Pipit; 2 Southern Grey Shrike; 4 Isabelline Wheatear; 2 Desert Wheatear & 2 Siberian Stonechat. Slim pickings indeed!
On 17th November I once more went around Mushrif Palace Gardens but it was slow going, just the same birds as previously.
Eurasian Kestrel 1; Indian Roller 1; Eastern Black Redstart 1; Chiffchaff 11; Desert Lesser Whitethroat 13 & Lesser Whitethroat 2.
I then moved on to the Umm Al Emarat Park across the road. This was the first time I had been inside & a very pleasant place it is. Lots of people & very manicured landscape doesn't make for lots of birds but did see 3 Hoopoe; 4 Water Pipit & 17 White Wagtail.
On my way back to the car I swung by my old family villa where we spent 13 very happy years. It brought back lots of great memories. We left in 2012 to move to Mohammed Bin Zayed City. but it still looks the same.
Paul & I met up with Maarten for an afternoon trip to Lulu Island on 18th November. It was a glorious afternoon & after a short sea crossing we landed & began to explore the island. It quickly became apparent that the place had been largely destroyed. Bulldozers had scraped & removed large areas of vegetation. Migrants were scarce & the only thing of note were 70 Grey Hypocolious. This island has always been a great spot to see this scarce species.
Best birds:
Mallard 325; Northern Pintail 2; Common Pochard 4; Little Grebe 8; Greater Sand Plover 2; Common Sandpiper 1; Grey Heron 5; Western Marsh Harrier 2; Little Green Bee-eater 4; Alexandrine Parakeet 6; Daurian Shrike 2; Clamorous Reed Warbler 2; Chiffchaff 2; Desert Lesser Whitethroat 1; Bluethroat 2; Desert Wheatear 1; Desert Warbler 1; Grey Hypocolious 70+.
This was once a green & pleasant land!
Large areas have been cleared of vegetation.
I met up with Maarten late afternoon for a quick trip to Al Wathba Camel Racetrack. The reason for going was to stay on after dark to try for any Nightjar species. But nothing was seen. In the day time we saw:
Grey Francolin
Crested Lark
Tawny Pipit
Western Marsh Harrier 3; Common Kestrel 1; Pale Crag Martin 4; 1 Hoopoe; 43 White Wagtail; 28 Water Pipit; 4 Tawny Pipit; 2 Southern Grey Shrike; 4 Isabelline Wheatear; 2 Desert Wheatear & 2 Siberian Stonechat. Slim pickings indeed!
On 17th November I once more went around Mushrif Palace Gardens but it was slow going, just the same birds as previously.
Eurasian Kestrel 1; Indian Roller 1; Eastern Black Redstart 1; Chiffchaff 11; Desert Lesser Whitethroat 13 & Lesser Whitethroat 2.
A nice place to walk around.
Eurasian Hoopoe
White Wagtail
Graceful Prinia
I then moved on to the Umm Al Emarat Park across the road. This was the first time I had been inside & a very pleasant place it is. Lots of people & very manicured landscape doesn't make for lots of birds but did see 3 Hoopoe; 4 Water Pipit & 17 White Wagtail.
The old family villa.
On my way back to the car I swung by my old family villa where we spent 13 very happy years. It brought back lots of great memories. We left in 2012 to move to Mohammed Bin Zayed City. but it still looks the same.
Leaving the harbour
It is quite an impressive surrounding
as one leaves the harbour.
Western Reef Heron
Looking back to the city from Lulu Island.
Unfortunately large areas of vegetation have been
cleared since my last visit.
Paul & I met up with Maarten for an afternoon trip to Lulu Island on 18th November. It was a glorious afternoon & after a short sea crossing we landed & began to explore the island. It quickly became apparent that the place had been largely destroyed. Bulldozers had scraped & removed large areas of vegetation. Migrants were scarce & the only thing of note were 70 Grey Hypocolious. This island has always been a great spot to see this scarce species.
Paul.
Little Grebe
Eurasian (Western) Marsh Harrier
Alexandrine Parakeet
Grey Hypocolious
Female
Best birds:
Mallard 325; Northern Pintail 2; Common Pochard 4; Little Grebe 8; Greater Sand Plover 2; Common Sandpiper 1; Grey Heron 5; Western Marsh Harrier 2; Little Green Bee-eater 4; Alexandrine Parakeet 6; Daurian Shrike 2; Clamorous Reed Warbler 2; Chiffchaff 2; Desert Lesser Whitethroat 1; Bluethroat 2; Desert Wheatear 1; Desert Warbler 1; Grey Hypocolious 70+.
Looking towards the city at dusk.
Ethiad Towers, close to where we dock the boat.
No comments:
Post a Comment