KUWAIT

These exciting tours to the extreme southeast of the Western Palearctic are designed to ensure that we have the best chance to see many species which are either very rare or absent in the rest of the region. Although we will be based in Kuwait City with it's spectacular skyline, we will travel out every day to various sites. Specialities we will look for include Socotra Cormorant (spring), Red-wattled Lapwing, Crab Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Bridled, Great Crested and White-cheeked Terns (all spring), African Collared-dove, Black-crowned Sparrow-lark, Dunn's Lark, Hypocolius (winter), Red-vented and White-cheeked Bulbuls, Basra Reed-warbler (spring), Common Babbler, Bank and Common Mynas, Shikra (winter), Caspian Plover (spring) and Indian Roller (winter). There is also a good possibility of seeing vagrants with Lesser Flamingo, Hume's Wheatear and Purple Sunbird all seen in recent years. Migration will be more prevalent on the spring tour with wintering species a feature of the winter tour.

Day 1 We will take an overnight flight from London to Kuwait City.

Day 2 We arrive in the early morning in Kuwait City. By the time we clear immigration and go for breakfast, it will be getting light so we will visit one or two sites around the city as a gentle introduction to the birding of this country.

Days 3–8 Over these six days we will visit most of the following sites. The exact itinerary will depend on recent reports and migration conditions. Some of the sites require special permits and these will be arranged by our local guide.

Green Island In the Western Palearctic Red-vented Bulbul is found only in Kuwait and Green Island is noted for being the best place to see them amongst the more numerous White-cheeked Bulbuls. This site is also an excellent place for Hypocolius and a magnet for passage migrants.

Natural Reserve * This is an unspoilt area of desert which has recently hosted a wintering Hume's Wheatear whilst both Black-crowned Sparrow-larks and Dunn's Larks both breed here.

Jahra Farms * This area of small farms in the centre of the town is the best location for Bank Mynas, a species that can be found nowhere else in the Western Palearctic. It is also an excellent site for Hypocolius. Other species we may find here include White-throated Kingfisher.

Jahra Pool Reserve * This superb reserve has a variety of habitat ranging from seashore to freshwater lagoons and reedbeds. There is a healthy population of Basra Reed-warblers here and it is undoubtedly the easiest place to see them anywhere in the world! Moustached Warblers also breed and both Baillon's and Little Crakes can be easily seen.

Manchester Club This area of foreshore is named after the adjacent sports club and is now the premier wader location is the country affording outstanding views of Crab Plovers and Lesser Sandplovers amongst a multitude of other waders. At this time of year, Lesser Sandplovers will be in breeding plumage giving excellent comparison to their Greater cousins.

Al Abraq Al Khabari * This isolated farm in the western desert is noted for being a magnet to passage migrants and vagrants. Migrants include Shikra and Basra Reed-warbler whilst vagrants have included Indian Pond-heron, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Forest Wagtail and Radde's Accentor. African Collared-doves can also sometimes been found here. Unfortunately, it is also one of the main hunting sites in Kuwait.

Kabd, Sulaibiya * This small farming area is excellent for migrants and breeding Egyptian Nightjars.

Pivot Fields * This vast area of agricultural fields is a magnet to migrants. Spotted & Imperial Eagles regularly winter in the area and this is one of the best places to find Shikra. Numerous chats, larks, pipits, wagtails can be found here together with resident Namaqua Doves.

Khiran or Port Zour * If possible, we will arrange a boat trip out from Khiran to look for Socotra Cormorants, Bridled, Great Crested and White-cheeked Terns. If this isn't possible, we will visit Port Zour in the extreme south of the country where these species can be seen from shore.

Abdaly Farms * This remote area close to the Iraq border is famous for being the only place in the Western Palearctic where Common Babblers breed. Additionally, Red-wattled Lapwings can be found year round and occasionally breed. Passage migrants may include White-throated Robins and Ménétries's Warblers.

General Information The climate will invariably be either hot or very hot with rain unlikely. The tour pace is moderate with generally easy walks mostly on level ground but long days will be spent in the field. There are no long drives as all sites are within 1.5 hours of our base. There are no special health requirements. Please note that hunting is still widespread in Kuwait and there may be some evidence of this during our tour. Special permission is required in advance to visit areas marked *.

Group size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 4; maximum group size: 8 with 2 leaders; 12 with 3 leaders.