Green Island, Kuwait, August 2012

Green Island is a small area of reclaimed land, popular with weekend picnickers, adjacent to the coastline of Kuwait City. Picture ‘The Palm’, or ‘The World’ in Dubai, but on a much more prudent scale. There had been some spectacular eBird lists compiled here, but I noted that they were mainly towards the end of April as the north-bound migrants passed through. I was hoping that they had enjoyed themselves there and might drop in on their return. Despite any whinges that I may have self-pityingly uttered during a hot bicycle ride earlier in the day, I was quickly reminded why I hate using taxis. Nevertheless, I arrived (at Google Earth ref; 29°21'51.64"N 48° 1'31.31"E) physically unscathed and paid 1KD entrance fee.

Anyone with a jet-ski seemed to be out on the water this evening. The backdrop lent the scene the air of an action sequence from a James Bond Movie.
As evening was fast approaching, people were arriving with barbeques and picnics. It looked as though it would be a busy Friday night. The sun was already quite low and I could not find much variety in the birds to start with. Eurasian Collared Doves, Laughing Doves and White-eared Bulbuls were all very common. 

Only once I reached the inlet at the centre of the island did I find a few more species. White-cheeked Terns, Greater Sand-plovers and Ruddy Turnstones were casting long shadows across the small beach as they prepared to roost for the evening.

The highlight of the visit came when I went to investigate some very noisy birds near a densely foliaged tree. Whilst checking the tree thoroughly  for owls, I came across a couple of Spotted Flycatchers and a small plain warbler. It was a Hippolais species, but I find this family very difficult. Luckily, it swished its tail around in the characteristic manner described in the Upcher’s Warbler section of the field guide.

As the sun set and I made my way back to the entrance gate, an Isabelline Wheatear and a Rufous-tailed (nee Isabelline) Shrike were seen in the dim light. 

Green Island did not provide the glut of lifers that I had hoped for, but there was a lot of smoke and noise from the weekend socializing and entertainment. During the week, it may prove a better proposition as the southern movement gets underway.

Birds seen; 14

Greater Sand-plover 12, Kentish Plover 8, Ruddy Turnstone 15, Whiskered Tern 15, Lesser Crested Tern 1, Eurasian Collared Dove 65, Laughing Dove 25, Rufous-tailed Shrike 1, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Red-vented Bulbul 6, White-eared Bulbul 25, Upcher’s Warbler 1, Isabelline Wheatear 1, House Sparrow 400.

 Visit the dedicated Middle East Page for more from the region including Safa Park, Dubai and Qurm Natural Park in Muscat

Erada Square Beach, Kuwait, August 2012

I am beginning to regret my New Year’s List resolution to use scheduled public transport or my own energies to build an annual total. 45°C of heat and a bicycle do not make a good combination. No-one had used the flying club’s bicycles for a year and the concierge had forgotten where he had put them. Once he eventually found them, he couldn’t release the lock as he had also forgotten the combination. The brakes were broken, so we had to release the other bike which had flat tyres. 

All of this kerfuffle wasted about 40 minutes and when I arrived at Erado Square Beach, the tide had begun to recede and the birds were moving away from the promenade and my camera. This may make it sound as if the concierge was somehow at fault, but perhaps if my sense of direction had been more reliable, I would not have struck out at 90° to my intended direction.

The beach at Erada Square (Google Earth ref; 29°22'7.31"N 47°57'38.37"E ) was not my planned destination, but since I found myself there and there were birds, I stopped. The tide was ebbing gently back into the almost perfectly flat Kuwait Bay. Tiny ripples lapped about 10 meters from the promenade and birds could be seen scuttling among the small rocks. Greater Sand Plovers and Kentish Plovers were first with Curlew Sandpipers and Common Ringed Plovers further along to my left, south-west.

 

A concrete jetty pokes out into the bay and by the time I reached it, the tide had pulled back far enough for me to walk damply around its furthest reach. Slender-billed Gulls flew along the beach or rested on the surface of the water. 

A Sandwich Tern roosted on the exposed mud and White-cheeked Terns patrolled close to the water’s edge. A number of Larus-type gulls were seen, but it was difficult to identify them straight away. After much viewing, photographing and comparison with my field guide, I decided upon Caspian Gull, but I am expecting a query from eBird.

The promenade leads past a boating ramp and opens up to another beach beyond. Gulls and terns were roosting on the wet sand here with other birds such as European Oystercatcher and Whimbrel seen in the distance. 

Back in the opposite direction, the path comes to an end at the palace. A small beach here provides a popular roosting spot for the gulls, but I felt a little uneasy peering through my binoculars and taking pictures towards the palace's defences.

Terek Sandpiper

Bird seen;

Western Reef Heron 4, Greater Sand-plover 15, Kentish Plover 15, Common Ringed Plover 12, Eurasian Oystercatcher 1, Terek Sandpiper 6, Common Sandpiper 6, Common Redshank 1, Whimbrel 4, Ruddy Turnstone 6, Sanderling 4, Curlew Sandpiper4, Slender-billed Gull 10, Caspian Gull 40, Little Tern 1, White-cheeked Tern 2, Sandwich Tern 2, Eurasian Collared Dove 40, Laughing Dove 15, Eurasian Hoopoe 1, Barn Swallow 1, White-eared Bulbul 60, House Sparrow 120.

Visit the dedicated Middle East Page for more from the region including Safa Park, Dubai and Qurm Natural Park in Muscat.