I came across this male Yellow-spotted Agama sunning itself on a rock the other day. It was in partial display showing a blue throat and orange tail. It was the first one I had seen displaying like this so it was an interesting sighting for me.
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I have not been out to the farm for about two months so it was good to be back and reacquainting myself with the place. The line of trucks parked outside the gate was there. The drivers chatting to each other as they waited for opening time were there. The security guard at the gate was there and smiled when he recognised me again. Once through the gate I stopped to watch the tractors out in the fields cutting and baling the Pasture grass and Lucerne in preparation for loading. The Centre pivot arms were busy rotating and spraying water onto the pastures. Everything looked in order, and it felt as if I had not ever been away. This Greater Hoopoe-Lark perches on a rock facing into the prevailing breeze thus allowing it to pass between its body and wings to cool it down A male Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark A female Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark A male Namaqua Dove A female Namaqua Dove A Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin in soft early morning light
I visited the local patch and was excited to come across my first few migrants of the season. Hopefully this signals the start of a bumper Autumn with loads of birds passing through, including a few specials to add to the list. A male Ruff still sporting a few collar feathers from his summer breeding plumage A Whimbrel And for comparison the larger Eurasian Curlew A Greenshank seen feeding together with the Ruff
I apologise for the lack of recent postings on my blog. Summer conditions in Qatar are enough to test the most ardent of bird lovers. The only birds to be seen are the hardy residents who have adapted to these harsh conditions. When one feels like baking in an oven or sitting in a sauna all you have to do is get into your vehicle and drive out into the country side. If you leave your aircon operating and then later take out your camera the lens mists up as soon as it is exposed. So all in all not for the feint-hearted. Having said that I will be gung-ho and start checking out the spots for early migrants. Here are two images I managed from an early morning visit to the local patch the other day Western Reef Heron Mallard type male
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April 2024
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