Gull movements at Jebel Aulia

I was down at the 'Escape' camp at Jebel Aulia at the weekend with my family and some friends. There was little time for birding as it was mainly a time for camping, relaxing and chatting, while eating one of Pantelis' amazing spit-roast lambs. However, there were good birds around without having to search for them, including two Egyptian Plovers feeding along the beach in front of us and a couple of Pied Kingfishers.

Egyptian Plover, Jebel Aulia 21st February 2015

Pied Kingfisher, Jebel Aulia 21st February 2015

I noticed some groups of gulls moving north along the reservoir. Once I found my binoculars I was able to identify four groups of Slender-billed Gulls totalling about 40 birds. There were also some large gulls moving through as individuals and in small groups, with about half being Yellow-legged Gull and half Lesser Black-backed Gull, with maybe 10 to 15 of each. By the time I found my camera I had missed the Slender-bills, but I managed a few distant shots of the Yellow-legged Gulls.

Yellow-legged Gull, Jebel Aulia 21st February 2015

Caspian Tern, Jebel Aulia 21st February 2015

Some recent photos from Khartoum Sewage Pools, by Mohamed Ismael

Mohamed Ismael visited Khartoum Sewage Pools on Thursday and sent me these photos to post.

Gargany, Khartoum Sewage Pools 12th February 2014

Common Moorhen, Khartoum Sewage Pools 12th February 2014 

Hottentot Teal, Khartoum Sewage Pools 12th February 2014

Little Grebe, Khartoum Sewage Pools 12th February 2014

Crested Coot, Khartoum Sewage Pools 12th February 2014 

Second visit to Omdurman Islamic University

This was my first proper trip out since my winter break in Cambodia. Marwa and I decided to return to the small sewage site at Omdurman Islamic University that we discovered back in May, and we were joined by Mohamed Ismail. Once again, we were impressed with this site. Although it is small it has a thick reed bed with a good selection of birds. We have only ever been able to get brief views of one Hottentot Teal chick at Khartoum sewage pools, so we were surprised how open they were in Omdurman. We estimated that we saw about 15 chicks that appeared to be from four different pairs. We also had our first sighting of an African Purple Swamphen at this site, though it was no surprise that they are present. We have now recorded them at all four of the sewage sites we are studying and they are clearly a common bird in the region in suitable habitat.

Hottentot Teal with chicks, Omdurman Islamic University 31st January 2015

African Purple Swamphen, Omdurman Islamic University 31st January 2015

There were a few other good birds present, including a Common Redshank, some Common Snipe, and a Common Swift.