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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. G

    Accipiter north Iraq

    Yes, I agree that the size makes a laughing dove more likely. My friend (who wouldn't call himself a bird watcher) says he was definitely focused on the hawk, but agrees the prey could definitely have been a dove. Since laughing doves are a small dove and fairly plentiful in the area, it seems...
  2. G

    Accipiter north Iraq

    Yep, laughing dove is one of our common birds here - I hadn't thought of that! I'll ask my friend about his impressions outside the photo. How would you imagine the hit on the window took place? Would the sparrowhawk drive a bird into the window and then pounce on it? Or perhaps pin it...
  3. G

    Accipiter north Iraq

    I agree that it's really hard to tell about the prey: the pics were from a phone, and I'm sure the focus was on the hawk. My friend heard a big thunk at the window and then saw this scene. Seeing how it was on the porch I had it down 99% as house sparrow, since they are always hanging out...
  4. G

    Accipiter north Iraq

    The lack of orange on the breast makes it a female, right?
  5. G

    Accipiter north Iraq

    Hi, my friends saw a little drama outside their window today (it included a window strike too apparently). We're in NW Iraq. Would this be a Eurasian Sparrowhawk? I had initially hoped maybe it was a Shikra, but it seems that that's not right.
  6. G

    Iraq - lark?

    Ah, my first thought was a bunting. I've never seen a Corn Bunting before, but I see it is a fairly large bunting, and larger than some of the lark choices I considered. The song does make much more sense for a bunting. Looking at pictures I was reminded that the birds I saw had some, but...
  7. G

    Iraq - lark?

    I saw several birds the other morning here in the northern-most (western) bit of Iraq. The birds were usually perched quite prominently on wires, tops of bushes and in trees, and singing incessantly. This is partly why I thought they were larks - I thought I could figure out which one when I...
  8. G

    Loon Gathering?

    I don't know about this either, but at some point will they be gathering to migrate? Is their territorial nature just evident while they're raising chicks and they don't mind company once the youngsters are on their own?
  9. G

    Birds of the middle East

    Well, I decided to get Birds of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. It is a bit smaller than some full guides, but that's because it squeezes 860 birds onto its 420 pages. I haven't really used a photo guide in quite a while, but am happy with how it complements the drawings in the old...
  10. G

    Hong Kong birding

    Thanks for the direction! Will look forward to seeing what you're seeing there. I've been working on ebird entries, and haven't managed to do so much here, but as I get my feet under me, we'll see :)
  11. G

    Hong Kong birding

    Ah, Mike, I've been away a long time! Are you going to be relocating? Lots of movement in that part of the world. I miss it much, and yet... Do you know what place with what new bird opportunities is next?
  12. G

    Birds of the middle East

    Hey, now that the new Birds of the Middle East (Eriksen and Porter) is out, I'm wondering what people think they most recommend for a guide (specifically for northern Iraq). I already have the first (1996) version of the Porter guide with drawings and am looking for a second guide. I'm also...
  13. G

    Iraq - June

    Thank you! The coloring is quite clear (therefore a 3cy I guess) which made me more confident, but still I wanted to be sure before putting it up on ebird. I may put up some less clear pictures in coming days and see if you can help with those too.
  14. G

    Iraq - June

    My husband has been seeing a lot of raptors while taking walks in a valley. We are in the northernmost part of Iraq (western Kurdistan) and this picture is from this past week. Getting pictures with his phone hasn't been easy, but I thought this might be pretty easy to identify. It looks to me...
  15. G

    San Tin Fishponds (and beyond), Hong Kong

    Nice to see the common birds well and with appreciation! I'm always pleased to see the female Koel - and to get a nice pic is great. It's a nice comparison too to see the Kingfishers' coloration change with light direction. And wow - that's a lot of Pied Kingfishers - could it be a family?
  16. G

    Panjin Birding by the Old Fat Man

    Wonderful to see a family of Hoopoe - I've never seen that! So glad you have a birding partner! My husband has become an excellent "non-birder" - and actually is the first to sight about half the birds we see, so I definitely list all the ebird submissions with him as a party of two :) Your...
  17. G

    San Tin Fishponds (and beyond), Hong Kong

    I loved the Phalarope too, and the cuckoo - very nice pictures overall! Glad for some good sightings!
  18. G

    Panjin Birding by the Old Fat Man

    Sounds like it's time to get a second pair of binoculars ! My husband still doesn't feel very interested to look through my binoculars, but once in a while I think he is glad to have had a look.
  19. G

    Panjin Birding by the Old Fat Man

    Hi Owen, just getting caught up a bit - you've had excellent outings, and it's so encouraging to hear about the WeChat group! It's hard to single out individual sightings or pictures, but I'm very impressed about the lovely rock thrush, and love the pond heron picture. (The cocoon was...
  20. G

    Northern Iraq - Warbler?

    Yes, that seems to be it! Ebird has it listed as Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin - a lot of name for a small bird! Yes, I should have thought of it being in that group, but it's not a very familiar one to me. Thanks very much!
  21. G

    Northern Iraq - Warbler?

    I got a fairly decent look at this bird - but getting a picture was beyond us amateur bird photographers! This bird was seen today, in northern Iraq (Kurdistan), in the foothills of low mountains, in a scrub and garden area on the edge of the city (Duhok). The bird was first seen on the...
  22. G

    Anyone birding in Kurdistan?

    Well, I am now :) Rather a late reply, but will put something up in case anyone else is around. Currently in Duhok and have just started seeing a few birds, including what I suppose are some migrants.
  23. G

    Exploring Lantau

    Really fun to (finally) read your adventures! Congrats on getting such unusual birds so close to home, while keeping up with family commitments! Spring and lots of new birds must be well underway now... PS - wonderful the way you've been connecting with owls!
  24. G

    Panjin Birding by the Old Fat Man

    Been overwhelmed with moving (now located in Iraqi Kurdistan), so just seeing this. Not a bad set of sightings for Feb up north! Very nice to see both waxwing species together. I wonder if they were interspersed in the trees or if they segregated themselves. Do the flocks fly like pigeons? I...
  25. G

    San Tin Fishponds (and beyond), Hong Kong

    Nice report as always, but one surprise: Yellow-rumped Warbler? Not the north American kind?
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