Dubai March 2015 - 16th March 2015

Our last day in Al Ain area, so it was spent at Zakhar Pools.

The following birds were spotted:
Black-winged Pratincole
Spotted Redshank
Greenshank
Saunder's Tern
Reed Warbler
Isabelline Wheatear

Views from the Mecure Hotel, Jebel Hafeet

Birds seen at the Mecure Hotel on 17th March 2015.

Sand Partridge 2
House Martin
Kestral
Brown-necked Raven

Dubai March 2015 - 16th March 2015

An early morning birdwatch and a stroll after breakfast around the hotel gardens yielded for the following birds:

Striolated Bunting
Pale Crag Martin
Northern Wheatear
Desert Wheatear
Chukar Partridge
Common Whitethroat
Blue Rock Thrush
Desert Lark

 Chukar Partridge

 Hume's Wheatear

Specticuled Bulbul 

 Blue Rock Thrush

Black Redstart 

 Egyptian Vulture 

Pallid Swift

Dubai March 2015 - 15th March 2015

Whilst staying at Jebel Hafeet near Al Ain we stop at Zakher Pools for a few hours.

Marsh Sandpiper
Long-billed Pipit
Gadwall
Pochard
Egyptian Goose
Dunlin
Little Stint
Squacco Heron
Wigeon
Kentish Plover
Ringed Plover
Ruffous-tailed Rock Thrush
Little Tern
Common Tern
Coot
Black-necked Grebe
Slender-billed Gull
Pallid Swift
Greater Sandplover
Lesser Sandplover
Swallow

Zakhar Pools

Before heading to the hotel, we stopped in the Green Mubazzarah where we recorded
Arabian Partridge
Woodchat Shrike
Southern Grey Shrike
Indian Roller

 Laughing Dove

We were staying at the Mercure Hotel up Jebel Hafeet mountain and it is noted that the gardens are a haven for birds.

Egyptian Vulture
Hume's Wheatear
Black Redstart
Specticuled Bulbul

Egyptian Vulture

Dubai March 2015 - 15th March 2015 (Garden Birds)

Before heading to Al Ain, I had time to take a few photos of the garden birds.

Dubai March 2015 - 14th March 2015

The afternoon was spent at the Pivot Fields, followed by a late afternoon look at Al Warsan lake.

Birds seen at the Pivot Field.
Crested Lark
Richards Pipit
Marsh Harrier
Tawny Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Cattle Egret
Daurian Shrike
Turkmenistan Shrike (see photograph below)
White-tailed Lapwing
Temmincks Stint
Little-ringed Plover
Bank Myna
Citrine Wagtail
Black-headed Gull
Buff-bellied Pipit

Turkmenistan Shrike

Hoopoe

Al Warsan Lakes

Mallard
Shoveler
Garganey
Wood Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Black Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Little Grebe
Common Swift
Scrub Warbler

Dubai March 2015 - 14th March 2015

On Friday 13th March I flew out of Newcastle International Airport  to Dubai, arriving in the early hours of Saturday 14th March.

Awaking up on Saturday morning in a warm sunny Dubai was very pleasant, with no cold fingers from the winds that was a constant along the East Coast of England. Looking out the window, the first bird of the holiday was a House Sparrow with a couple of pairs having a heated discussion in a Palm tree alongside the house.

Within the minutes the birds were showing, with a Laughing Dove, White-cheeked Bulbul and a Hoopoe flyby across the road and into a neighbouring garden. During breakfast, a House Crow was sitting on a nearby rooftop and around the bird table Common Myna, Grey Francolin, Red-vented Bulbul and Ring-necked Parakeets were all busy feeding.

Off to Ras La Khor, Wetland Bird Reserve where the following birds were spotted:
Great White Egret
Grey Heron
Western Reef Heron
Little Egret
Greater Flamingo
Common Sandpiper
Red-wattled Plover
Teal
Pintail
Common Snipe
Kingfisher
Spoonbill
Glossy Ibis
Collared Dove
Graciful Prina
Moorhen
Ruff
Cormorant
Black-tailed Godwit
Black-crowned Night Heron
Yellow Wagtail
Greater Spotted Eagle
Black-winged Stilt

Hartlepool Headland - 7th March 2015

I spent the afternoon a seawatching at Hartlepool Headland. The wind direction was a gusty South-Westerly which isn't good, but it was good to get out and relax by the sea.

Start 13:00
Finish 14:30

Cormorant 9
Shag 2
Oystercatcher 90
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Sanderling 5
Great-crested Grebe 2
Turnstone 9
Redshank 6
Knot 1

Numerous Herring, Great Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls were seen too.

A single Harbour Porpoise and two Grey Seals were also seen.

Driving along Marine Drive I came to the town moor where there was 15 Linnets and a large flock of Starlings feeding on the grass. Also present were Turnstone, Redshank and Oystercatcher.

On the way home I stopped at Dorman's Pool where I added Green-winged Teal, Glaucous Gull and Pintail to my year list.

Garden Birdwatch Update - Week Starting 22nd February 2015

Blackbird 3
Blue Tit 3
Great Tit 2
Coal Tit 2
Goldfinch 5
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 4
House Sparrow 7
Dunnock 2
Starling 2
Robin 1
Jackdaw 2
Collared Dove 1
Woodpigeon 1
Feral Pigeon 4
Magpie 1
Chiffchaff 1
Long-tailed Tit 1
Sparrowhawk 1

Food: Peanuts, Sunflower Hearts, Fat Balls and Seed.
Water

Mammals; Wood Mouse.