Much better

[Lesser Spot Finder]

This has been a cracking week with two days out on an IRG to PBs Wahid and Pimon and thus a chance to bird whilst on top cover.

The move to Wahid took us through the desert to the start of the compounds and the ever expanding fields where the local population was busy sowing Poppy seeds for next year. This requires a certain amount of water and thus fields were flooded and attracted various Larks, most notably Crested but the occasional Short-toed and Hoopoe Larks. The whole area has a Biblical feel to it and this was compounded by the flocks of Crowned Sandgrouse of Biblical Proportions. These flocks, some over a thousand strong at least, were to be seen throughout the patrol and appeared to prefer the arid areas between the compounds. Given the numbers I did wonder whether or not this species winters in Helmand.

PB Wahid has potential with a marsh to the east and a canal to the west. Grey Herons were seen here along with Kestrel and Shikra and Masked and ‘Flava’ Wagtails roosted just beyond the walls of the PB. A large and flourishing Tree Sparrow colony exists within the PB and appears to survive on scraps provided by the Company.

The trip to Pimon saw the convoy come under inaccurate RPG fire which appeared to have been fired by someone with little experience of firing anything above a Pea Shooter. This provided the most excitement until I found a Water Pipit in one of the flooded fields along with numerous Short-toed Larks.

Pimon is bordered by a small hedge line with mature trees and provided excellent views of three Long-legged Buzzards and a Shikra circling above the PB. All the features present in the guide book for LLB were available to see on this stunning species. Again Wagtails were to be seen flying over the PB and an Oriental Skylark made a brief appearance. Our return was mundane with little to see. On leaving Pimon I found another Hoopoe Lark at the old Soviet trench system behind the graveyard then nothing until Bastion.

Crested Larks appear to be the only species in Bastion 2 at present so no change there then.

[Turnstone]

Hi Rich, Just caught up with your blog. Sounds like you are managing to bird well despite everything. I won't bore you with my trip to the salt pans in S Portugal last week but I did have Great White Egret on my reserve yesterday!