11 September 2013

A lot of waders, gulls & terns – Dhahran Expro Wader Roost


A high tide visit to the Dhahran Expro Wader Roost allowed for good viewing conditions as the sun was behind for most of the time. Four Garganey were out on the water near the small reed patch and a common Kingfisher flew past and into the reeds as I was checking for crakes. These are the first records for both species for me this autumn. A minimum of fifty Slender-billed Gulls and twenty Gull-billed Terns were present with a single Caspian Tern amongst the Gull-billed terns.
Garganey
Waders make up the majority of birds at this site and there were 50+ Greater Sand Plovers with a similar number of Lesser Sand Plovers. The most numerous waders were Dunlin with at least 500 birds. Other waders included 200+ Little Stints, 20+ Terek Sandpipers, five Ruddy Turnstones, six Broad-billed Sandpipers, 100+ Bar-tailed Godwits, one Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Eurasian Oystercatchers, 50+ Common Redshanks, six Marsh Sandpipers, two Common Ringed Plovers, two Crab Plovers (adult & Juvenile), eight Sanderlings, 30+ Grey Plovers and three Whimbrels.
Dunlin Flock
Dunlin
Lesser Sand Plover

Marsh Sandpiper
Whimbrel