Another eight to the List of Ticks

What a day?  Thank God, it was one of my best day as far as birding is considered. Eight lifers. I have been birding in UAE for the last three years or so and I can say this is the best day as far as the lifers in day is concerned. It was magical!

The ticks list now includes the following:-

1. Lesser Kestrel
2. Common Buzzard
3. Lesser Grey Shrike
4. Nightingale
5. Artic Skua
6. Flesh-footed Shearwater
7. Sooty Shearwater
8. Wedge-tailed Shearwater

It all started around 3:00AM. Directly to FNDH (Fujeirah National Dairy Farms) in Dibba. Its around 250+ km from home. Reached there around 7:00. Steve was already birding inside the fields. For some reason, I prefered to stay outside the field in the comfort of my car.  It was getting hot and I dont want to take my gear and walk. I already have problems with my hand. I was not ready to walk.  But it looks the laziness paid the bills.

The first tick for the day was a Nightingale. I have seen Nightingale before. But I never took a photo of it.  And it happened almost within five minutes of starting the birding.  That was cool. I wish everyday is like this!

There were also three Rofous Bush Robin, a spotted flycatcher and a beautiful Blue Rock Thrush in the same area along with a number of European Rollers.  All of them were very cooperative and never cared my presence near to them and allowed me to the take some shots.

Soon after 30 minutes I saw Andrew birding on the same patch. He was also in his car and told me that there are some Lesser Kestrels, one Black-headed Bunting and couple of Lesser Grey Shrikes around. I also told him about my findings and contined my way of road to find the above.  Found around 6 Lesser Kestrel (second tick for the day) and took some record shots and headed to where Andrew's Lesser Grey Shrikes were. I could not find either the Lesser Grey Shrike or the Black-headed Bunting.

From there I decided to go to the farms and join Steve. But on my way, on the fence, I found this beautiful Lesser Grey Shrike.  Mambo!!! Third lifer for the day.  He was also quite co-operative and took some shot. He moved to another branch and I followed him. He stayed there and I left him.

As I countinued, I found a Buzzard sitting on the ground. The camera was on the back seat and by the time I took my camera, the bird flew. Fortunately for me, the bird went and sat on a small tree near by.  It was a Common Buzzard, tick number four for the day.  Soon the crows started mocking him and he flew away in to  Oman!

The list of bird from Dibba (Skipping the normal ones) 

1. Lesser Kestrel
2. Common Buzzard
3. Lesser Grey Shrike
4. Nighingale
5. Willow Warbler
6. European Bee-eater
7. Red-wattled Lapwing
8. Rofous Bush Robin
9. Blue Rock Thrush

The time was around 12:00PM and it was time to go to Kalba, which is around another 100km.  The pelagic trip starts at 2:00PM.  When I reached there around 2:00PM, everyone was ready. Took my both cameras and into the Boat. Abudulla is the name of the captain who is now supposed to do the rest of the magic.

I was quite confident that I will get at least one lifer on the trip. The Artic Skua.  Soon after we started, we started seeing Persian Shearwaters in huge number. We must have seen around 1000 or more Persian Shearwater in a span of 3 hours or so. 

There were also a good number of Terns, mainly Bridled Tern and Common Tern.

We also saw a Red-necked Phalarope.

For me, the fifth tick came as a Sooty Shearwater. And we saw a total 13 of them during our trip which is one less than the UAE record of 14 by Steve (who was also in this trip). They are quite bigger than the Persian Shearwater and more dark. 

But my wanted bird still was not shown. I spoke to Ahmed about it and he said, its quite difficult to photograph them. Sometimes you see them but far and they fly very high.  But to our suprise, steve shouted that there is a Skua in front of us.  Yes, that was the bird I wanted, the Artic Skua. Lifer number 6 of the day.  The bird was resting on one of the floats and gave some time to get some average photos.

As we continued, again, there was a shout from Steve. This time it was a Pale-footed Shearwater.  The day was getting much better than I dreamed. Its the 7th tick (lifer) for the day. Got some flying shot (at least for the record).

It was end of the day. And Abdulla wants to do his part of the magic.  Steve found another rare bird. This time it was a Wedge-tailed Shearwater. Lucky me! The eight tick for the day.  The bird was flying away from us and some of us said "Oh Sh!t". Abulla started following him and allowed us to have some great time. He was directing the boat in such a way that he knows where the bird is going.  We did that for a good 10 minutes and we were able to watch him all the time.

List from Pelagic Trip

1. Persian Shearwater
2. Flesh-footed Shearwater
3. Sooty Shearwater
4. Wedge-tailed Shearwater
5. Artic Skua
6. Red-necked Phalarope
7. Briddled Tern
8. Common Tern

That was end of the day.  A great day. By the time I reached home around 10:00PM, I was so tired and didnt have any energy left.  Just hogged something and directly to bed.