Saturday 18 October 2014

October visit to Bahri Sewage Pools

Marwa and I made a another visit to Bahri yesterday. There were a few migrants around, with several Glossy Ibises scattered among the resident Sacred Ibises. Wintering duck numbers were up significantly, with lots of Gargany and Northern Shovelers, plus a few Northern Pintail. There were also bigger numbers of White-faced Whistling Duck, with lots of immature birds present, and a single Hottentot Teal. There were quite a few waders around, with many more Green Sandpipers than usual. The best of the waders was probably a couple of White-tailed Lapwings. There were higher than usual numbers of Ethiopian Swallow, presumably, like the Whistling Ducks, boosted by recently fledged young (the bird in the photo below has a gape flange suggesting it is a juvenile). There were also quite a few Yellow Wagtails, with most seeming to be the Black-headed beema variety.


Glossy and Sacred Ibis, Bahri Sewage Pools 17th October 2014

White-tailed Lapwing, Bahri Sewage Pools 17th October 2014

Ethiopian Swallow, Bahri Sewage Pools 17th October 2014 


Yellow Wagtail, Bahri Sewage Pools 17th October 2014

African Purple Swamphens, Bahri Sewage Pools 17th October 2014 

The nesting season of the Northern Masked Weavers seems to be nearly over and we only caught two birds at our most regular netting site, both juveniles. We also caught a few Sedge and Reed Warblers, which were calling in big numbers from the reed beds.

Juvenile Northern Masked Weaver, Bahri Sewage Pools 17th October 2014

3 comments:

  1. Perhaps of interest in the light of the Crested Coot and other species nesting extralimitally around Khartoum... Allen's Gallinule breeding on Malta!

    https://www.facebook.com/download/1502664366684127/Allen_s%20gallinule%202014%20DB%2036%285%29327-330.pdf

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  2. Yes Paul, this is a species I have been hoping to find for a while, but without success. They may be around, but going unnoticed in some of the thick reed beds. Perhaps I should try and learn the call and listen out for them, or try tape playback.

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