Hi Alan, Thanks for posting this image. Do you have any others? I obviously can't dispute what you saw in the field but I don't think there's enough evidence in the image to be certain of the bird's identity. Lesser Spotted Eagle is a pretty rare bird in the UAE with only 5 accepted records, and only 2 in the last 20 years, following a review of all records by EBRC in 2015/16 which found insufficient evidence to support many early records. My thoughts on the image are that it’s too heavily cropped for many details to be assessed with any certainty. Yes, there does appear to be a double comma on the right wing, but could this be an artefact? Further images could determine if this is real or not. The clarity of the image and angle of the bird also makes it impossible to accurately determine how many primary fingers the bird has and if any are missing. The general colour of the body & underwing coverts looks rather like the fulvescens form of GSE, of which there are many more records in the UAE than of LSE, and impossible to exclude based on this one image. I also think the impression of a pale rump patch and nape is a lighting effect - harsh sunlight on the upperparts being over-exposed on the image. If you strongly believe that the bird is a LSE, or have further images, EBRC would be delighted to receive a Rare Bird Report to assess – a form can be downloaded via https://www.uaebirding.com/report and sent to ebrcuae@gmail.com. Kind regards, Mark

Lesser Spotted Eagle is even rarer than Black Drongo, Alan. Could you post pics, please?

Greater Spotted - the gape does not extend to the rear of the eye.

No1 looks OK for Isabelline. 2 is Kentish - note the white collar. 3 is Swift Tern 4 is Dunlin - traces of black belly feathering still visible

Without a clear view of the wings, it is not possible to confidently identify it, but in the middle of May, Marsh Warbler is by far the most likely candidate as they are one of the last species to pass through the UAE during spring passage and do so in huge numbers.

It's a female Menetries' Warbler. Note the long tail, soft, slightly pinkish underparts that contrast with the white throat, mousy grey upperparts and pale eyering.

Agreed.

Hi guys, Since you've found this forum, I assume you're aware of the wealth of information available on the UAEBirding.com website - in particular the pages listing the main birding sites in the UAE? This is the page for the greater Dubai area: https://www.uaebirding.com/central-region. As a former Dubai-based birder (2009-2019), I know how fast development can change things and that even some of those listed are already no longer accessible, but most should still be worth checking out. Above all the sites listed, I can strongly recommend my former patch of Mamzar Park where I found many good birds, including a couple of UAE 'firsts' (Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Oct 2014 & Collared Flycatcher, Oct 2015). To stand any chance of success, you need to get there early - try to be the first ones in - and slowly work the park methodically, checking the Ghaf trees for warblers whilst watching for stuff dropping down to drink, flying between the trees or hopping around the hedges. Don't bother on a weekend after 11am - too hot & too busy. Spring can be excellent for migrants, but the real good stuff is Sept-Nov and continuing through the winter. There have hardly been any good birds reported from there since my departure early in 2019. Unless it's undergone massive changes, this has got to be because it's not worked regularly & thoroughly, so if you fancy a challenge, this is the site to try. Be warned, it's not always easy birding - leaf-blowers drown out bird calls & the birds don't offer themselves up easily, often giving tantalizing glimpses amongst the branches, but the potential rewards make it very much worth the effort. Sadly, Safa Park is now a shadow of it's former glorious self since over half was lost to the Dubai Canal construction. It's worth the occasional visit, but for me, Mamzar was a must at least once a week outside of the summer months. Good luck and I look forward to seeing lots of Rare Bird Reports from you!

The eagle is an adult Eastern Imperial - very contrasty neck shawl and white undertail coverts. The duck is a Mallard - blue speculum with thin white bar.

The white breast sides look a bit odd (and may be lighting artefacts), but otherwise this looks fine for a juvenile Common Starling.

Do you have any other pics of the second duck, too? Looking at it on a larger screen, I think it could be aTeal.

Hi Greg, I'd suggest juvenile Bonelli's Eagle rather than EIE for the first, based on tail length & fine barring. The wader is a Green Sandpiper and the first duck a Shoveler (bill surely too long for anything else?). The second duck is possibly Gadwall based on head/bill shape. I don't think the second last eagle is identifiable with confidence but does appear to have a pale crown & neck shawl, so possibly either Golden or adult EIE. The final image shows a GSE & young Lappet. Cheers, Mark

It's a Water pipit, Camilo. Note the generally greyish look, rather grey (not black) streaking & blackish legs (visible in 1st image).

This is an Arctic Skua, Ross. Note the pointed central tail feathers and relatively slender body in the profile shot.

I'd say Purple-blushed Darter, Trithemis annulata, Howard. Compare with these in the gallery: https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-9p7hf/i-LfXVsSr

Agree with Tommy. The blackish legs are diagnostic in any plumage.

Agreed.

Sadly, Qudra is full of released species, Alan. There was a large release of Woodpigeons a couple of years ago. Can you share some images of your shrike, please? Brown Shrike is a major rarity.

Seven primary fingers eliminate LSE, so GSE for me.

I'm not seeing anything to suggest it's not a GSE, Howard. Do you have any images of the open hand or a close-up of the barring on the secondaries?