27 August 2013

Crab Plovers – Dhahran Expro Wader Roost


An evening trip to the Dhahran Expro Wader roost meant the light was in the wrong direction for viewing on the flooded back area of the site. Luckily many of the birds were on the front area of exposed mud and these waders included three Crab Plovers. One adult was on its own with a group of 11 Eurasian Oystercathcers and the other two an adult and juvenile. Although I have seen Crab Plovers at the nearby Dammam Al Khobar Wader Roost South I have not seen them at this site before so this was an interesting sight. Crab Plovers pass through the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in small numbers form July to October.
Crab Plover with Eurasian Oystercatchers & Bar-tailed Godwits
Crab Plover
Crab Plovers

Plenty of other waders were present including ten Broad-billed Sandpipers, ten Whimbrels, 50+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 12 Ruddy Turnstones, two Common Greenshanks, one Marsh Sandpiper, 25 Common Redshanks, 200+ Greater Sand Plovers, 100+ Lesser Sand Plovers and 50+ Little Stints.