Army Birding

This week was quiet, partly because I had been lazy, and remained in bed due to the cold mornings but probably because the return migration is grinding to a halt. That said, the last two days produced four Red-breasted Flycatchers all around the bottling plant and this morning a rather drab Bluethro...

This week was dominated by Larks (Crested and Oriental Skylark) and Red-breasted Flycatchers which appear to be having a late migration surge. A possible Syke's Wagtail, if it had been positively IDd, would have been a lifer but the bird sadly flew before I could get to grips with it. One Bluethroat...

The usual suspect still remain around camp, mostly around the bottling plant but also in and around the accommodation during the heat of the day. A Red-breasted Flycatcher, still in breeding plumage, was a welcome find on Tuesday along with a Bluethroat and Juvenile Isabelline Shrike of indeterminat...

Two years since I last left and I am now back in Helmand - seems like two minutes ago. RSOI has been the order of the week but managed to see some species including an Afghan tick - Hoopoe Lark. Little chance to bird but Pallid Harrier (2), Crested Lark (20+), Common Myna (2), Mourning Dove (1), Hul...

For those of us lucky enough to be deploying on Op HERRICK XI a new fieldguide will aid bird identification. The 'Bird of Paikistan' has just been published by Helm and is much thinner and thus lighter than the 'Birds of the Middle East'. There is still not a guide for Afghanistan and judging by the...

Chris, sorry I haven't been in touch and replied to your ID email - been stuck on a course and I guess you are now back in the UK. I never saw Evermann's Redstart on the last birdfest but know they are present in N Pakistan and I guess, by default, Afghanistan. The population in N Pakistan winters i...

Roger,

cannot find - can you send the link please?

Richard

Chris,

try at the back of the Hospital. This used to be very productive, especially around the standing water near the pumping area. Otherwise a long run around the perimiter should produce a few birds.

Best of luck and enjoy the break.

Richard

There appears to be larger than normal number of Jack Snipe throughout the country. I have flushed two in the last week on my local patch, Tices Meadow, and have had prolonged views of one bird. The London Wetland Centre has turned up the odd one or two with one being taken by the local Peregrine. L...

Chris, the Dove is a Palm Dove, occasionally called Mourning Dove in some books and the Gull sounds like Baltic Gull, the nominate race of Lesser Black Backed Gull. It is a large bird - was the Dark Grey back obvious? Next time you see White Wagtail take a good look at it - they are obviously differ...

Interested to hear that the Queen's SUSAT is being used for extreme birding instead of slotting Terry T. Richard - Spoke to Chris about the Common Scoter but he can't find another explanation other than migration from the large Russian lakes down to the coast? Thoughts? Roger Roger/Chris, also chec...

Most House Sparrows are of the migratory race sometimes called Bactrian Sparrow. Check for large flocks overhead moving south at this time of year. Some will land and spend some time at standing water. The local House Sparrows I found in the waste ground at the back of camp.

Rich

Chris,

some great birds. I had Laggar Falcon in bastion so it is worth looking for them. Glad you finally got your Bee-Eaters! Keep your head down.

Rich

Mark, see my post below which was posted exactly one year ago. A longer than expected delay in Kandahar proved useful and a short birding trip to the settling pond near the RSOI accommodation was a great respite from the excessive coffee drinking in Tim Hortons and the Green Bean Cafe! A Little Greb...

I suspect the Somerset pair are not the only ones. Given that a number have summered in Cornwall there may be a small amount of supression going on in less secure locations. Cracking news though.