He was initially planning to show me some areas around Doha – in fact we started at the Doha sewage treatment plant, a site near Doha but unfortunately when we got there we found that a nice wetland habitat (based on a sewage treatment plant like most others in the region) was altered beyond recognition in a matter of a few days. The rapid development in Qatar and other neighbouring countries has been putting immense pressure on the local wildlife. We saw a few birds here the most significant was the below photographed - Streaked Weaver (Ploceus manyar)
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Realising that the habitat wouldn’t yield much Thaju decided that we should go to check some other birding sites near the city of Al Khor Qatar. Al Khor is some 45 minutes North of Doha. Please refer to the following post of google map indicating the location of the two birding sites that we visited today.
The first location was the Al Khor Public Garden:
This is a public park just outside the city. Being a relatively secluded green patch in a desert landscape it attracts quiet a few species of birds. Here are a few snaps that I took in the park followed by a list of all the birds I saw there.
The first couple of snaps are of Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
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And an Isabelline or Rufous-tailed Shrike (Lanius isabellinus isabellinus).jpg)
And the Bulbuls - I understand these are White-cheeked Bulbuls (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
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The following 4 snaps are of a Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)
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I am not 100% sure of the Pipit ID, any ID help will be appreciated.
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And the last snap from the Garden is of the only butterfly species I was able to photograph and identify - Here's a Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya)
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Here's a list of all the birds I saw at the Al Khor Gardens:- Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
- Isabelline or Rufous-tailed Shrike (Lanius isabellinus isabellinus)
- Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus mecranensis)
- Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
- White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)
- Common or Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops epops)
- Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto decaocto)
- Laughing or Palm Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis senegalensis)
- White-cheeked Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
- Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
- Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)
The next location was the Al Khor sewage treatment plant and its surrounding runoff area:
This is another sewage treatment plant based wetland. You need a 4WD vehicle to make the most of this vast wetland area. There were lots of interesting birds especially waders. This area has development into an excellent habitat and supports a large no. of species. Keep your eyes on the larger ponds in the centre of this area for some interesting larger birds. Caution: This site is very close to an existing airport and it is advisable not venture too close to that area and there also seems to be active hunting taking place in this area (We saw some empty cartridges lying around).
The first 3 snaps are from the sewage treatment plant -
The first photo below is a Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
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The next snap is a distant snap of a lifer bird - Black-necked or Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis)
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And the next snap is of the Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) which is has Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East. It is a migrant, wintering in Africa. It is quiet similar to the Indian Pond Heron but with a whiter-back. Yet another Lifer for me!
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The rest of the photos in this post are from the runoff area of the sewage treatment plant. This is a large area that has developed in an excellent wetland habitat over the years. The below snap gives an idea of the edge condition of this habitat where the water meets the surrounding desert.
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The next couple of photos are of a one of the huge flocks of Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) that we saw here.
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In the centre of this area there are some larger water bodies that are mostly surrounded by reeds. But every now and then there are gaps in the reeds from where you can see these larger ponds. We saw quiet a few Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) over this area. Below is a photo of three Glossy Ibises (Plegadis falcinellus).
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Below a Greater Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon alaudipes) yet another Lifer : ) !!.jpg)
And the last snap is of wheatear. Most likely an Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
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Here is a list from this site :
- Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
- Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
- Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus)
- Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius curonicus)
- Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)common redshank
- Black-winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus)
- Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus)
- Glossy Ibises (Plegadis falcinellus).
- Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
- Greater Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)
- Crested Lark (Galerida cristata brachyura)
- Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus)
- Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis)
- Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
- Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
- White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)
- Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto decaocto)
- Laughing or Palm Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis senegalensis)
- White-cheeked Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
- Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
- Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus alboaxillaris) (?) Seen in flight
- Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) (?) Seen in flight
Unided Tern
Unided Duck (?) Seen in flight
It was getting late in the afternoon and we decided to call it a day but if we had patiently waited and gone thru the waders in more detail for sure we could have racked up a few more species of waders. But all in all a really great day of birding!
Thanks a lot Thaju for a great day!!!
(Check Thaju's amazing photos here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/keralabirder/)
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