6th Febuary 2023
This Pallid Harrier, at close range next to the track I was slowly driving along, was one of many harriers that were hunting the farm.
It was time to get out of the Salalah area and go north into the desert. I set off early to get to Al Beed Farm at first light and less than two hours later, I was entering the Farm. As the sun had risen, the first bird of note was 8 Namaqua Dove on wires that were put up by a passing Pallid Harrier. The harrier settled down on the side of the track that I was on, not that bothered of my close presence as I sat in the car. This was followed by a Steppe Grey Shrike on telephone wires. I poked around a patch of reeds and immediately I could hear Siberien Chiffchaff. There were 8 Chifffchaff in total flycatching from the same tree and though I couldn’t say which of them were calling, it appeared as though they were all Siberians. The same tree also held a single Bluethroat and what I wasn’t expecting to see out here, was an African Paradise Flycatcher. Maybe they’re regular in the desert? Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse were also very vocal overhead moving through in small flocks. More harriers included 3 Marsh, 2 Montagu’s and a crackin male Pallid Harrier. Both Desert and Isabeline Wheatear were in good numbers and overhead, I could hear Short-toed Lark and relocated a small group on the deck later on.
Steppe Grey Shrike
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse were moving in all directions throughout the morning with the largest flock of 60 birds
Up to 8 Siberian Chiffchaff were feeding together in a single tree
Where there was also this stunning Bluethroat sharing the same tree
However, a male Pallid Harrier coming into view is some else!
Boy, it was bloody hot out in the desert and I left mid-afternoon to arrive at Khawli East over two hours later back in Salalah. I was hoping to catch up with the 3 Collard Pratincole that the 4 Dutch birders let me know about yesterday. Sitting on one of the grass islands were all 3 pratincole and after ten minutes, they flew off north when a horse trotted by on the edge of the water. As always, terns, gulls, herons and waders were all over the shop and an Osprey caught a fish but I was too late with a photo. However, I did get onto a Caspian Tern flying off with it’s prey.
Up to 3 Collard Pratincole were on the small grass islands
Maybe I missed out on the Osprey catching a fish but I did manage to get this Caspian Tern
Whiskered Tern
Indian Pond Heron
Great White Egret
Palestinian ambassador calls out Israeli propaganda on Sky News [Arabic Subs][01/02/23]
Ambassador Husam Zomlot criticised comments made by the Israeli ambassador to the UK Hotovely as “cheap propaganda” in an interview with UK Sky News channel.
Kay Burley shuts the Palestinian ambassador up immediately as soon as he brings up the comparison with Russia occupying Ukraine and Israel Occupying Palestine.
SCILLYSPIDER 2 