Numbers and diversity were both down on the farm today. Have the bulk of the birds passed through? This is my first full Spring migration here in Qatar so I have nothing to compare it with. Speaking to a long time local birder he tells me he feels it has been quieter than usual this season. Despite this I am satisfied with what I have found. I watched this female Pallid Harrier consuming a small bird, possibly a Quail. Whilst it was busy with its meal I was able to approach and take a few images. At one of the water storage dams I came across a few waders. Numbers are way down and other than a small party of Wood Sandpipers most of the other sightings were all single birds. I also saw a Common Sandpiper but did not get a photo. Green Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Black-winged Stilt. Notice upper left leg shape I came across two Squacco Herons. This one is taking a short break from hunting Dragon-flies A Corn Bunting was perched on a plant in the middle of one of the fields, happily singing away Shrike numbers have also tapered off. This Turkestan Shrike has a rather broad supercilium, is grey-brown above rather than the rich earth brown of earlier birds, and has almost no visible rust colouration on the flanks. Other species included: Crested Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Red Vented Bulbul, Lilith Owl, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin, Red-wattled Lapwing, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Isabeline Wheatear and the rest.
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