ID Confirmation Requested

[cdn17]

Just returned from a great trip to the UAE where I was able to spend a day birding in Abu Dhabi. There are three birds for which I'm not 100% confident in my IDs ... and would appreciate your confirmation / correction. Thanks!

1. Tawny Pipit (on lawn with White Wagtails on lawn near palace)
2. Heuglin's Gull (near Emirates hotel)
3. Southern Red Bishop (female) (at the golf/horse club)

Chris

[MarkS]

Hi Chris

Good to hear you had a good trip.

Your pipit is a Water pipit - yellowish bill, big white supercilium and diffuse breast streaking.

You're right about the gulls - big, bulky dark-backed gull with pale eye good for Heuglin's.

I'd go with your diagnosis of the 3rd bird too. I don't have any books to hand, but Red Bishop sp is a distinct possibility, especially at the golf club. Can't remember whether Northern (Orange) or Southern Red are more usual there. Plastic, anyway.

Cheers

Mark

[cdn17]

Thanks Mark! Much appreciated. Chris