To add to the growing collection of images of the city as seen from our balcony I can now add the fireworks display that took place on the Corniche as part of the Independence day celebrations recently. See earlier posts dated 25/11 - Storm over the City, 21/10 - Nightjar checks out the view, and 14/10 - Changing faces of the City for others.
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I bumped into this Fox early the other morning. I presume it was on its way back to a burrow to rest up for the day after a night out scouting for food. It gave me a momentary glance before continuing on its way.
I was lucky enough to watch how this GSE used the overhead irrigation structure to still hunt for rodents. It sat and carefully watched the ground looking for prey that were being flushed out by the irrigation water. In the time that I observed the bird it dropped to the ground twice, its second attempt being successful. It perches and watches intently for any movement below Having seen something it drops to the ground It comes up trumps with a field mouse A satisfied looking Eagle Further down the overhead irrigation line another three GSE's were using the same tactic. Four GSE's in one sighting. That is a first for me in Qatar.
Pallid Harrier 1 Pallid Harrier 2 Pallid Harrier 3 Montagu's Harrier 1 Montagu's Harrier 2 Montagu's Harrier 3
After many failed attempts to capture a sharp, in-frame image sequence of a bird at take-off, I have finally managed to tick all the boxes with this Common Kestrel as it launched into flight It lifts its tail alerting me to a possible take-off Luckily I am up-wind of the bird so it takes off towards me I remember to track to the right and follow the bird as it leaves the rock it was perched on An example of a close but no cigar sequence. This Harrier was hunkered down behind this clump of grass warming up in the sun The extent of the vertical helicopter launch caught me a little by surprise. Thus the almost perfect two frame sequence is spoilt by the tips of the primaries being clipped.
Here is a collection of the species I managed to see and photograph at the irrigation storage dams the other morning A couple of Red-wattled Lapwings from the flock that have recently been seen A Squacco Heron gives me the beady eye Here it blends in with the long grass A confiding Bluethroat A Green Sandpiper resting up on the wall A Common Moorhen feeding on an algae bed
The Eagle had been down onto the ground whilst hunting and was wet. It flew up onto the overhead irrigation line to perch and dry out in the early morning sun. Here it ruffles its feathers to shed some excess moisture It perches facing the sun with its wings extended to assist in drying Later it starts to preen, here it is busy arranging its tail feathers Some under wing maintenance Sorting the trousers out A good old head scratch All good to go
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March 2024
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