Ajban: There is absolutely nothing to report

Day Out: 19th Dec, 2010

Left to Ajban today around 8:30AM. Spend almost three hours to find nothing but the commons. The only slight interest was when I found a Thrush. Initially thought it as a Redwing, later understood it was only a Song Thrush.

Here are the findings:

1. Little Green Bee Eater
2. Laughing Dove
3. Little Egret
4. Red-wattled Lapwing
5. Little Stint
6. Little Grebe
7. Barn Swallow
8. Ruff
9. Kentish Plover
10. Red-tailed Wheatear
11. Isabelline Wheatear
12. Desert Wheatear
13. Indian Silverbill
14. Eurasian Hoopoe
15. White-cheecked Bulbul
16. House Sparrow
17. Red-vented Bulbul
18. Southern Grey Shrike
19. Grey Francolin
20. Crested Lark
21. Feral Pegion
22. Grey Plover
23. Song Thrush
24. Black-winged Stilt
25. Graceful Prinia

All photos in this blog is copyrighted to Shah Jahan. Please do not use it without written permission. For more information please contact sjahanmi@gmail.com.

The Barnie Owl

Day Out: 17th Dec, 2010

I have been spotting Owls for the last few days at Al Watbah Camel Racetrack.

The first time was when I went with Brent Larsson. That day we saw a Barn Owl and a Short-eared Owl. I was not able to get any photos during that trip. Then it was with Simon, Steve and Dave. We saw the Pharoah Eagle Owl. The next trip was with Yousef Al Habshi and yesterday with Salam and Abbas. The last two trips I didnt carry my camera with me. On the trip with Yousef, he got some decent photographs of the Barn Owl.

So I decided to go and try to get some shots of the Barn Owl and if luck favors, the Short-eared Owl and the Pharoah Eagle Owl. Myself and Salam went today to Al Watbah around 11:30PM. Searched the whole area for almost two hours and to our surprise there was nothing but a Common Kestrel just behind the Bilboard and some Feral Pigeons. There were no sign of either the Egyptian Nightjars or the Eurasian Nightjars. We saw three Hares and two foxes.

We tried our best and was planning to call it a day. It was then we found the Barn Owl. The Owl was quite corporative and allowed us to take some very close shots. I was able to take some videos too. Once he flew and landed on the ground and within a minute he came back to the place. It showed for a good 10 minutes before it flew into the darkness. Then we refound it behind the Billboard. But before I could get my camera, he again flew to the top of the Bunglaw and from there he disappeared into the darkness. We never refound the bird even though we looked for it for sometime.

It was getting too late and Salam had work tommarow. So we called it a day and returned home. Just before we left the place we checked the Pools and found some ducks (I guess Mallards), two Greater Flamingos, good number of small waders (probably Little Stints and Kentish Plovers) and two Egyptian Gooses.

I guess I need to go aroud 7:00 PM to see whether the other Owls (Short-eared and Pharoh Eagle Owl) are still there. I have seen them most of the time within the first two hours after the Sunset.

We finished and reached home around 4:00AM.

A good day.

All photos in this blog is copyrighted to Shah Jahan. Please do not use it without written permission. For more information please contact sjahanmi@gmail.com.

Eversmann's Redstart again...

Day Out: 11th Dec, 2010

Steve was guiding with some visiting birders today and is in Al Ain. He called me around 10:00 AM to inform me about the Eversmann's Redstart on the Crazy Golf ground at Jebel Hafeet (Mercure Hotel).

Started from home around 11:30. First went to Al Watbah to twitch for the Jack Snipe that was reported by Steve and Simon on Thursday. Spent a good hour or so trying to locate it. But luck was not with me. The Jack snipe is nowhere to be seen.

Saw Indian Silverbills (6 of them), Desert Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear and Crested Larks. There was also a unique looking Warbler. It never showed well to ID it or photograph.

A lot of butterflies where present including the Painted Lady.

Visited the pools near to the Camel Racetrack. There were a lot of waders and ducks present, including a Western Marsh Harrier. The ducks saw were Mallards and Teals. The Waders include one Green Sandpiper, Kentish Plovers, one Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Little Stints and Temminck's Stints.

Then headed straight to Jebel Hafeet to locate the Eversmann's Redstart. On reaching there found Huw Roberts and Dave Clarks. They saw the bird in the same spot around 20 min back.

It just took 5 minutes to locate the femal Eversmann's Redstart. Its lifer #5 for the month of Dec, 2010. I was targeting on 14 new species in December. Five done and nine to go. Tough but possible.

She was showing well. I was able to get some decent photos of the bird. She was just moving from one tree to the other. She prefers shades. She dont like to come to the sun. When she does she returned quickly back to a shaded branch quickly.

Also present was a Hooded Wheatear and three White-spectacled Bulbul. The Hooded Wheatear was chasing the Evermann's Redstart at times. Both Hooded Wheatear and the White-spectacled Bulbul showed very well and posed for some nice shots.

Visited the labours buidling where the Ring Ouzel was found, to see whether the Blue Rock Thrush is still present. Saw a couple Ring Ouzels. Earlier Huw and Dave has located 6 of them. There are no signs of the Blue Rock Thrush. I need a decent photo of it. Did not spent much time there as I wanted to visit the Green Mubazarah on my way back. So said good bye to Huw and Dave who where still birding there.

Visited Green Mubazarah on the way back. There is not much action apart from the Black Redstart. The place very was crowded.

It was getting late so headed straight back to home.

All photos in this blog is copyrighted to Shah Jahan. Please do not use it without written permission. For more information please contact sjahanmi@gmail.com.

Another day to remember

Day Out: 9th Nov, 2010

Ring Ouzels at Mercure Hotel grounds!!! Six of them!

Mercure Hotel is located at the top of Jebel Hafeet Mountains in Al Ain. Its around 150 kms from home. Left office and then straight to Al Ain. Just got time to reach there and photograph the birds. When I reached there I found Khalifa roaming around with a happy smile. Spent a good hour to photograph them. There were also one Black-throated Thrush, 2 Blue Rock Thrushs, 5 Egyptian Vultures and a Sand Patridge.

Got decent photographs of the Ouzel and returned to Al Watbah Camel Racetrack where Simon Aspinall, Stephen James (Steve) and Dave Clark was birding. The Egyptian Vulture was found on the way back from Jebel Hafeet. You see them on most of your trips to Jebel Hafeet. One see them flying high in the air. I have seen them very few times sitting on the ground. The one I saw today was sitting near the fence. The light was too bad for a decent photograph. Still managed to get an average photo of the bird.

One the way back just stopped for a few minutes at the Ain Al Faida Park (outside) to photograph the White-fronted Goose.

Reached Al Watbah around 7:15. They were looking at the Egyptian Nightjar. Its on the same place, near the bilboard hunting insects.

They could not locate the Barn Owl or the Short-eared Owl.

It was then we found the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl just landing in front of us on the backside of the bilboard. There were a number of feral Pegions resting on the back of the bilboard and it was to hunt one of them. Steve, Dave and Myself ran for the camera and tried to get some photos of it. The bird stayed there for almost 10 min or more just jumping from one bilboard to another. Great views we got. Dave got some decent photographs. I am not at all satisfied with my shots. But end of the day I felt very happy.

Soon Steve found a Eurasian Nightjar in the same location hunting for insects. That was much better. What can we ask for more?

Three Owls and two nightjars in three days. And all this in an area of 100m by 100m square!
Dec 5th (Trip with Brent Larson)

• Egyptian Nightjar
• Short-eared Owl
• Barn Owl

Dec 7th (with Simon Aspinall, Stephen James & Dave Clark)

• Egyptian Nightjar
• Eurasian Nightjar
• Desert Eagle Owl (Pharoah Eagle-owl)

Al Watbah a great place to bird especially in the night.

All photos in this blog is copyrighted to Shah Jahan. Please do not use it without written permission. For more information please contact sjahanmi@gmail.com.

A day to remember

Day out: 7th Dec, 2010

Brent Larsson from Sweden, a visiting birder wants to see Egyptian Nightjar. I met him while I was at Sila twiching for the Taiga Flycatcher and recommended him Al Watbah Camel Racetrack.

Brent Called me this morning to see if I am free in the evening. We agreed to meet outside Al Watbah Camel Racetrack around 5:00PM. We started twitching for the Egyptian Nightjar around 5:10. The sun was still up and we drove for sometime inside the racetrack. The findings are as follows:

Birds

• Issabelline Wheatear
• Desert Wheatear
• Desert Warbler
• Crested Lark

Mammals

1. Red-tailed Fox - 4
2. Cape Hare - 2

Once the sun is set, we went near to the Bilboard where the Egyptian Nightjar hunts for the insects. I was dead right. When we reached there the bird was hunting for Insects. Brent was happy to see it and took almost 25 minutes watching the bird hunting.

Brent wanted to see the bird sitting. We tried to find one but we were not successful. We drove for it inside the racetrack for more than 1 hour. But the luck was not in our favor.

Then everything changed in just two minutes. There was this Short-eared Owl who showed only for a couple of seconds. It then flew. We got a good look at the bird. I always loved seeing Owls. They are the most liked bird as far as I am concerned. I am obsessed with Owls. I don't know why. I have not see to many Owls. So far only 9 species.

In India:

• Brown-fish Owl
• Jungle Owlet
• Spotted Owlet

In Kenya:

• African Scops-owl
• Giant Eagle-owl
• Spotted Eagle-owl

In UAE:

• Little Owl
• Pallid Scops-owl
• Pharaoh Eagle-owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Barn Owl

And I have seen Short-eared Owl only thrice. One in Madina Zayed and two in Al Watbah Camel Racetrack. So this is my forth Short-eared Owl. Things are turning good for us today.

In 5 minutes after seeing the Short-eared Owl, there was another Owl very close to the first location. This time it was a Barn Owl. It showed very well. It stayed in the same place for more than 2 minutes. I tried getting a shot. But I was not succesful. By the time I got hold of my tripod, it flew away.
Left Brent around 8:30. I guess he is happy too.
The sighting for the night is :

• 1 Egyptian Nightjar
• 1 Short-eared Owl
• 1 Barn Owl.

Defenitely today is a great day to remember.

All photos in this blog is copyrighted to Shah Jahan. Please do not use it without written permission. For more information please contact sjahanmi@gmail.com.

Taiga Here Run!!!

Day Out: 5th Dec, 2010

That is what Tommy Pederson wrote on UAEBirding.com after seeing the Taiga Flycatcher in Sila. Is it the same bird that I saw on the second plantation day before yesterday? I am not sure. I checked my field guide for Middle East. There is no Taiga Flycather on it. That means its a real rare bird in here.

Just came back from Sila day before yesterday after twiching for Khalifa's Black-throated Thrush. Thinking of driving another 700+ kms itself was a tiring. At the same time I dont want to miss this golden oppertunety. I may never see a Taiga Flycatcher in UAE. Its a real rare bird.

Called Khalifa to see if he is going. He said he will be starting by 12:30 from Jebel Dhana as it is a working day for him.

Oscar has reported a Pied Stonechat at Mirfa. Stopped at Mirfa Park only to be thrown out of it. Reason given? No camera is allowed inside the park! Amazingly simple reason. I knew there is no point in fighting with them. So I continued my trip.

Reached Sila around 11:00AM. The first place to visit is the park. I want to locate the Eurasian Wryneck. If I can see it, it's a lifer for me. Spend almost three hours in the park. Saw a Common Kestrel and a load of Pipits. But no sign of the wryneck. Another set back.

The next place to visit is the small plantation. When I reached there I found the visiting swedish birder Brent Larsson. He just saw the Taiga Flycather. Khalifa reached soon. Brent wants to see the Black-throated Thrush. Before he left he asked us about his chances of seeing a Egyption Nightjar. Recommended him Watbah Camel Racetrack as the best place to see Egyption Nightjar. Told him that I stay close to the place and if he wants any help asked him to call and gave him my mobile no.

Myself and Khalifa started twitching for the Taiga and in 20 minutes or so we found the bird. It's very difficult to photograph as the bird is always moving inside the bushes. Managed a couple of shots we left the place. Khalifa went back to Jebel Dhanna as I continued my trip back to the park to see if I can locate the Eurasian Wryneck. Spend another hour and I saw the bird. But before I could move my camera the bird just vanished into nowhere. It's a lifer but for me i need to have a decent photograph. Searched for the bird for another 20 minutes but in vain.

Not a bad day. End of the day I missed two lifers, the Pied Stonechat and the Eurasian Wryneck (again). Drove another 750 kms.

At the same time, I got a very very rare bird as far as United Arab Emirates is concerned: The Taiga Flycatcher.

All photos in this blog is copyrighted to Shah Jahan. Please do not use it without written permission. For more information please contact sjahanmi@gmail.com.

Black-throated Thrush & European Wigeon

Day Out: 3rd Dec, 2010

Two lifers and a much wanted photo of a Eurasian Skylark. That was the summary of the trip. Was a very long drive and had a number of issues during the trip. Met some awesome guys and really understood the meaning of Arabic Hospitality.

It all started when Khalifa found the Black-throated Thrush in Sila about 5 days back. Ever since I wanted to visit Sila and photograph the bird. Was kind of lazy when thought about driving 350km one way. So just waited for the right time to start. Well, it was today at 2:45AM when I started my trip. Was feeling really sleepy so two breaks in between. Reached Sila about 8:00AM after a long five hour drive (with two small nap breaks). Normally it only takes three hours to reach Sila.

The first place to visit is the dry fields. As usual they didnt let me go in saying its a public holiday. The Pakistani guard agreed to let me go in after a few minutes of buttering and pleaing. Saw around 40 Namaqua Doves and 6 Black-crowned Finchlarks. There were a couple of Tawny Pipits.

After coming out from the fields, thanked the Guard and then headed to the Plantation. Khalifa's Black-throated Thrush was present in the Small plantations nick named as Worker's Plantation. It took hardly 5 minutes to locate the cutie. It was unbelievable and I was over joyed. When I reversed the car to get a better shot, I went and hit the tree behind. My back door got jammed and there is big dent on it. But I didnt stop continued photographing the bird and end of the day, I was very happy to get some awesome photos. I just wished the bird came out to the sun. But you can not expect everything. The workers (Pakistani) on the plantation came to me asking for details. They said they saw a couple of europeans visiting the same area in the early morning. Since they can not speak English they dared to ask them. When they understood that I am Indian, they were happy to come and speak to me in Hindi. I explained them to my level best the importance of birds and nature and so on. (Are they laughing at me? My Hindi is so poor). End of the day they offered me Tea. Thanked them and went to the second plantation.

The place looked so empty. Suddenly there was a Crested Honey Buzzard just flying over me. I could not get any shots but I cleary saw it. There were three European Nightjars were also present in the second plantaion. One other bird was a Warbler and a unique looking flycatcher. It was very difficult to photograph it and ID it. And after a minute or so it just vanished to some bushes and never came back. The flycather just showed for a couple of seconds and left. There was nothing else present in the second plantation.

Left the place and went to the pools to find whether there is something interesting. Found the Eurasian Skylark and took sometime for me get a decent photo of it. The I saw some ducks. As I was trying to photograph some ducks, I got stuck on the sands. It took a long hour for me to pull the car out. Later went to the Mosque for Juma prayers and when I came back, I saw there were two cars parked behind my car. Waited almost 10 min before the local guy named Mohammed who came and said sorry to me. He was praying in the mosque. He saw my big camera on the seat and started asking more information about it. I explanined him what I am doing. Once he came to know that I am a birder, he asked me whether I can help me him ID one of the photos he took of a bird. He invited me to his house for lunch. I tried to skip the guy but he insisted. Ended at his house which is around 5 km from the mosque, had a great lunch (Fish Biriyani and a lot of fruits). In fact I dont eat fish, so I ended up having only rice. It was a unique experience. My self, Mohammed, his father and two his brothers all ate from the same plate. This is what they call the arabic hospitality. He then showed me the photo of the bird. It was a Water Pipit. Not a bad shot with a normal camera. I spent around 1 and half hour with them. They asked me to visit their house anytime. Mohammed and his family is based in Sila but they currently live in Abu Dhabi. They comes to Sila only on holidays. They called their watchman and asked him to let me come in whenever I come to Sila. What a treatment? I really enjoyed every bit of it.

Thanks Mohammed and his family for a great lunch and the greatest hospitality.

Left from Mohammed's house, I headed to the Park to locate the much awaited Eurasian Wryneck. As I entered the park, the guard stopped me and said its family day and you can not go inside. Phew!!! thats another set back. But this time the buttering did not work. So called Khalifa to see what is his plans. He said he is going to go the beack in Jebel Dhana which around 110 kms from Sila. Told him I will be there in one hour. Drove in around 160kms per hour to reach Jebel Dhana in 50 min or so. Speeding is something that I avoid these days. I loved speeding and even now I like to drive fast. But I think I am reaching maturity. Speeding thrills but it kills. May be thats what I am thinking. Anyway reached Jebel Dhanna around 4:15 and joined Khalifa. We had a long walk in the beach looking for waders. We found the Eurasian Wigeon and was able to photograph it. That was another tick for me.

Around 5:30 I left Khalifa and started home. Reached home around 8:30 safe and sound and sleepy. It was a 750 kms driven in around nearly 18 hours. What a day? Two lifers and some great people.

All photos in this blog is copyrighted to Shah Jahan. Please do not use it without written permission. For more information please contact sjahanmi@gmail.com.