07 February 2012

Terek Sandpiper - Dammam / Al Khobar Wader Roost

As the weather was cold and windy I decided to go to Dammam – Al Khobar Wader Roost to see if the weather had brought in anything new or pushed the birds closer to the shore. There were not that many waders about although still over a hundred of each of Little Stint and Kentish Plover. A Terek Sandpiper was sheltering from the wind on a small pool by the side of the creek and allowed close approach and a few photographs to be taken. The problem was trying to get a picture without any rubbish, such as plastic bottles or rags in the frame.
 Terek Sandpiper

 Kentsih Plover
Further up the coast 22 Greater Flamingo had been pushed close to the shore by the strong wind, which can be seen in the photograph by the waves being created. Other waders included six Ruddy Turnstone, one Eurasian Curlew, 22 Grey Plover and ten Dunlin. A gull-billed Tern was finding it very difficult flying in the strong wind as were about ten Common Black-headed Gulls.
Greater Flamingo
Grey Plover
A trip to the nearby Dammam Port Mangroves produced very little except a few more Greater Flamingos and small groups of ten plus Common Starling in a number of places.