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RJSeargent · Saturday 10th March 2012, 05:38

First Oriental Skylark over this morning

RJSeargent · Wednesday 14th March 2012, 14:02

Male Variable Wheatear showing well on a TV arial this afternoon. Also Laughing Dove over.

RJSeargent · Friday 16th March 2012, 05:15

Two Lesser Kestrels over this morning and a flock of heard, but not seen, Crowned Sandgrouse high eastwards.

Ringmaster911 · Friday 16th March 2012, 05:22

Nice sharing, please add some more photos of that bird

RJSeargent · Friday 16th March 2012, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringmaster911

Nice sharing, please add some more photos of that bird

am trying but bandwidth is pretty poor in Helmand. Can't understand why.

RJSeargent · Saturday 17th March 2012, 13:56

A good late afternoon wander with 1 Southern Grey Shrike, a Turkestan Shrike, 6 Spanish Sparrows, and a Booted Warber. 2 Common Mynas over in the morning (both appear to have set up residence).

RJSeargent · Sunday 18th March 2012, 12:16

A six mile run was improved by a lone female Kestrel and a singing male Greater Hoopoe Lark.

RJSeargent · Monday 19th March 2012, 04:21

A massive sandstorm this morning. No chance of a single bird today.

RJSeargent · Tuesday 20th March 2012, 05:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJSeargent

A massive sandstorm this morning. No chance of a single bird today.

Wrong! Three Trumpeter Finches buffeted in the wind just over my head.

RJSeargent · Friday 23rd March 2012, 15:09

Whilst riding a Quad bike around today I flushed my first Rufous-tailed Chat of the year. Good passage of swallows strangely south.

RJSeargent · Saturday 24th March 2012, 04:36

Two Steppe Buzzards over this morning followed by an unknown accipiter. Good vis-mig with Swallows, alba Wagtails and finches over north.

RJSeargent · Sunday 25th March 2012, 05:51

A cracking morning - 4 Bluethroats, 1 Daurian Shrike, 3 Turkestan Shrikes, 1 Paddyfield Warbler (a lifer), 1 Wood Sandpiper and a single Little-ringed Plover. Things are picking up.

RJSeargent · Tuesday 27th March 2012, 05:42

5 Hoopoes overhead this morning. Strong northerly winds appear to be holding them in place.

Jos Stratford · Tuesday 27th March 2012, 07:06

Just a few words of appreciation, one of the more interesting of 'birding day' threads. Given the locality, don't your colleagues find it a little amusing (or alarming) that you are preoccupied with watching birds?

RJSeargent · Tuesday 27th March 2012, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jos Stratford

Just a few words of appreciation, one of the more interesting of 'birding day' threads. Given the locality, don't your clleagues find it a little amusing (or alarming) that you are preoccupied with watching birds?

Thanks. It has its advantages - I am always on the look out for things. They're all used to me by now - I had more stick in Canada last year!

RJSeargent · Wednesday 28th March 2012, 05:14

Lesser Kestrel over at last light, just as I had put away my bins. Bloody typical.

RJSeargent · Friday 30th March 2012, 05:46

First Desert (Small) Whitethroat of the year this morning along with two Daurian Shrikes behind the toilet block. Sadly not a place to hang around with ones binoculars! Two male Citrine Wagtails over in the same location.

RJSeargent · Friday 30th March 2012, 13:38

100+ Crowned Sandgrouse low over - magnificent.

RJSeargent · Saturday 31st March 2012, 08:47

Three Citrine Wagtails, a Spanish Sparrow and one (Red-spotted) Bluethroat this lunchtime. Also a possible male Hooded Wheatear (complete with white cap) - my only issue is that this bird appeared to have white wing bars and I cannot find a similar bird in the Helm Field Guide. Any ideas?

StuartReeves · Saturday 31st March 2012, 09:01

Mourning Wheatear would show white in the primaries and, going by the Collins guide at least, is perhaps more likely on range than Hooded. That said, range may not be the best guide in such an under-watched area at migration time.

RJSeargent · Saturday 31st March 2012, 12:13

Stuart - thanks. Hooded is very much a SW Afghan bird - I am more south central. This bird had definate white wing bar as opposed to primaries. Mourning is not an Afghan bird so I did not consider it. Only Wheatears in Afghanistan are:

Isabelline Wheatear
Northern Wheatear
Kurdistan Wheatear
Red -tailed Wheatear
Pied Wheatear
Desert Wheatear
Finsch’s Wheatear
Variable Wheatear
Hume's Wheatear
Hooded Wheatear

Oh well, it was a flighty bird and disappeared over a berm before I got a good look. The one that got away?

RJSeargent · Sunday 1st April 2012, 06:46

A better day. One Pied Bushchat, a Hoopoe, a confiding Desert Warbler, a single Paddyfield Warbler, two Blyth's Reed Warblers and a fall of ten Hume's Whitethroats. Crested Larks singing all over the place.

RJSeargent · Tuesday 3rd April 2012, 06:14

Oh what a day! 2 Mountain Chiffchaff, 2 Hume's Whitethroat, 1 Desert Whitethroat, 1 Siberian Stonechat, a pair of Pied Bushchat, 1 overflying male Montegu's Harrier, a Bluethroat and finally another lifer, a stunning male Hume's Wheatear. Life is getting better.

RJSeargent · Tuesday 3rd April 2012, 07:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJSeargent

Oh what a day! 2 Mountain Chiffchaff, 2 Hume's Whitethroat, 1 Desert Whitethroat, 1 Siberian Stonechat, a pair of Pied Bushchat, 1 overflying male Montegu's Harrier, a Bluethroat and finally another lifer, a stunning male Hume's Wheatear. Life is getting better.

and now an Oriental Magpie-robin, a vagrant to Afghanistan, life does not get better.

RJSeargent · Thursday 5th April 2012, 02:24

Early mornings are always much better. Hume's Whitethroat, Spanish Sparrow, Shikra, Siberian Chiffchaff, Pied Bushchat, Green Sandpiper, Little-ringed Plover, Citrine Wagtail, Crested Lark, a ♂ Pallid Harrier and best of all an overflying Collared Pratincole.

Saturday 10th March 2012, 05:38	#26
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	First Oriental Skylark over this morning __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Wednesday 14th March 2012, 14:02	#27
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	Male Variable Wheatear showing well on a TV arial this afternoon. Also Laughing Dove over. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Friday 16th March 2012, 05:15	#28
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	Two Lesser Kestrels over this morning and a flock of heard, but not seen, Crowned Sandgrouse high eastwards. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Saturday 17th March 2012, 13:56	#31
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	A good late afternoon wander with 1 Southern Grey Shrike, a Turkestan Shrike, 6 Spanish Sparrows, and a Booted Warber. 2 Common Mynas over in the morning (both appear to have set up residence). __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Sunday 18th March 2012, 12:16	#32
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	A six mile run was improved by a lone female Kestrel and a singing male Greater Hoopoe Lark. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Friday 16th March 2012, 05:22	#29
Ringmaster911 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: london Posts: 4	Nice sharing, please add some more photos of that bird

Monday 19th March 2012, 04:21	#33
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	A massive sandstorm this morning. No chance of a single bird today. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Friday 23rd March 2012, 15:09	#35
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	Whilst riding a Quad bike around today I flushed my first Rufous-tailed Chat of the year. Good passage of swallows strangely south. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Saturday 24th March 2012, 04:36	#36
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	Two Steppe Buzzards over this morning followed by an unknown accipiter. Good vis-mig with Swallows, alba Wagtails and finches over north. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13) Last edited by RJSeargent : Saturday 24th March 2012 at 10:37.
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Sunday 25th March 2012, 05:51	#37
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	A cracking morning - 4 Bluethroats, 1 Daurian Shrike, 3 Turkestan Shrikes, 1 Paddyfield Warbler (a lifer), 1 Wood Sandpiper and a single Little-ringed Plover. Things are picking up. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13) Last edited by RJSeargent : Sunday 25th March 2012 at 05:54.
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Tuesday 27th March 2012, 05:42	#38
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	5 Hoopoes overhead this morning. Strong northerly winds appear to be holding them in place. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Tuesday 27th March 2012, 07:06	#39
Jos Stratford Pondering the next... Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Exile in East Europe Posts: 11,513	Just a few words of appreciation, one of the more interesting of 'birding day' threads. Given the locality, don't your colleagues find it a little amusing (or alarming) that you are preoccupied with watching birds? __________________ For photographs and articles, Lithuania and beyond, click here for my website Last edited by Jos Stratford : Tuesday 27th March 2012 at 07:37.
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Wednesday 28th March 2012, 05:14	#41
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	Lesser Kestrel over at last light, just as I had put away my bins. Bloody typical. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Friday 30th March 2012, 05:46	#42
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	First Desert (Small) Whitethroat of the year this morning along with two Daurian Shrikes behind the toilet block. Sadly not a place to hang around with ones binoculars! Two male Citrine Wagtails over in the same location. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Friday 30th March 2012, 13:38	#43
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	100+ Crowned Sandgrouse low over - magnificent. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Saturday 31st March 2012, 08:47	#44
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	Three Citrine Wagtails, a Spanish Sparrow and one (Red-spotted) Bluethroat this lunchtime. Also a possible male Hooded Wheatear (complete with white cap) - my only issue is that this bird appeared to have white wing bars and I cannot find a similar bird in the Helm Field Guide. Any ideas? __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Saturday 31st March 2012, 09:01	#45
StuartReeves Casual Eurocrat Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Brussels, Belgium Posts: 3,676	Mourning Wheatear would show white in the primaries and, going by the Collins guide at least, is perhaps more likely on range than Hooded. That said, range may not be the best guide in such an under-watched area at migration time.

Saturday 31st March 2012, 12:13	#46
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	Stuart - thanks. Hooded is very much a SW Afghan bird - I am more south central. This bird had definate white wing bar as opposed to primaries. Mourning is not an Afghan bird so I did not consider it. Only Wheatears in Afghanistan are: Isabelline Wheatear Northern Wheatear Kurdistan Wheatear Red -tailed Wheatear Pied Wheatear Desert Wheatear Finsch’s Wheatear Variable Wheatear Hume's Wheatear Hooded Wheatear Oh well, it was a flighty bird and disappeared over a berm before I got a good look. The one that got away? __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13) Last edited by RJSeargent : Saturday 31st March 2012 at 12:28.
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Sunday 1st April 2012, 06:46	#47
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	A better day. One Pied Bushchat, a Hoopoe, a confiding Desert Warbler, a single Paddyfield Warbler, two Blyth's Reed Warblers and a fall of ten Hume's Whitethroats. Crested Larks singing all over the place. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
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Tuesday 3rd April 2012, 06:14	#48
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	Oh what a day! 2 Mountain Chiffchaff, 2 Hume's Whitethroat, 1 Desert Whitethroat, 1 Siberian Stonechat, a pair of Pied Bushchat, 1 overflying male Montegu's Harrier, a Bluethroat and finally another lifer, a stunning male Hume's Wheatear. Life is getting better. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13)
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Thursday 5th April 2012, 02:24	#50
RJSeargent Birding at the taxpayer's expense. Head down, bins up! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farnborough, Hants Posts: 656	Early mornings are always much better. Hume's Whitethroat, Spanish Sparrow, Shikra, Siberian Chiffchaff, Pied Bushchat, Green Sandpiper, Little-ringed Plover, Citrine Wagtail, Crested Lark, a ♂ Pallid Harrier and best of all an overflying Collared Pratincole. __________________ British List 340 (latest, Buff-bellied Pipit, Queen Mother Reservior, 14 Dec 12) World Life 1282 (latest, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Namche Bazaar, Nepal, 11 Apr 13) Last edited by RJSeargent : Thursday 5th April 2012 at 07:07.
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