Birding from a Cupola.

[Lesser Spot Finder]

The avi-fauna in Bastion is becoming repetitive. That said, I am seeing Red-breasted Flycatchers on a daily basis and do wonder if some of these are the fabled ‘Taiga’ Flycatcher. The field guide ‘Birds of Pakistan’ does not have this bird listed and is possibly an East Asian migrant. However, where else can you become complacent about the numbers of RBFs on your patch? On a positive front one was seen next to my new accommodation in Bastion 2 which bodes well given that I did believe it was devoid of birdlife. The only other late migrant was a late adult Hulme’s Lesser Whitethroat at the bottling plant on Tuesday. A ‘mega’ this week was the House Sparrow found in the same location again on Tuesday – my first for Bastion!

My second foray into Helmand took place this week and increased the birds on my Afghan list. Birding from top cover does have its advantages with wide panoramic views of Helmand but the disadvantage of making you a target for every AK47 toting insurgent. The trip to FOB Silab provided extremely good views of Crowned Sandgrouse with one flock easily totalling 1000+ The Mastiffs, used as force protection, flushed many larks and the fields around the compounds, some now flooded, provided good views of both Short-toed and Hoopoe Larks. As we waited west of Silab to enter the FOB I had spectacular, and perhaps my best ever, view of a stunning adult Long-legged Buzzard. This bird was flying level with the graveyard and adjacent to the canal and was mobbed by a Kestrel before disappearing south.

Again Great-White Egret appeared by the canal and a juvenile Grey Heron was ‘foraging’ at the end of the graveyard as a pair of Kestrels stalked the treeline East of the compounds.

The night at the canal crossing point at Blue 22 was uneventful although flocks of Masked Wagtail going into roost allowed me to use my binoculars. Two Buzzards, perhaps of the Long-legged variety appeared at first light but were distant.

It would appear that most of my birding will now be done outside the confines of Bastion. Watch this space for later additions.

[roger dickey]

Thanks for another great report Richard.

Any help that we can give with the Taiga?

You'll be kicking yourself that you missed the Water Pipit and Jack Snipe at Barnes WWT this morning but such is life?

Keep 'em coming!

Roger

[Larus]

I must echo Roger's appreciation, great report. I am looking forward to the next installment.

With regards to the Tiga Flycatcher have a look at the following

http://www.birdskorea.org/Birds/Identif ... illa.shtml

[Lesser Spot Finder]

Thanks - I now have a number of links and will drag myself out of bed tomorrow for a shufty!