Wader numbers increasing – Dhahran Expro Wader roost
The weather
was overcast and cold last weekend with a sprinkling of rain and as a result
conditions were not great for photography or birding. I had a couple of spare
hours in the afternoon and went to Dhahran Expro Wader roost. The tide was far
out but a lot of birds were feeding around the bunded areas. There was a
significant increase in waders although the species make up was almost
identical to the weekend before. Many more Lesser Sand Plovers were seen but
they all kept their distance. A few more Whimbrel often in the grassy areas and
Bar-tailed Godwit numbers had doubled. The very large numbers of Black-headed
Gulls had decreased significantly but plenty of Slender-billed Gulls, some with
a nice pink wash, were still present. Thousands (5,000+) Socotra Cormorants
were flying past in a southerly direction to the east of the roost. Plenty of
Ruff were still present with a couple if fine males in breeding plumage and a
few more Ruddy Turnstones, Grey Plovers and Marsh Sandpipers were also seen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jCB0zt82PfOPjtpbOFiXFVhN6F3QmDHgj2XR1sH7z_sa2cgNtx6-4tQE3ypqpXEdnTYZGqtyFaKbF5fXJyELW6N_gCllVgClTskmIQyKPbklr7gtQ8uE9GW-SlS342S6qs-HWaxNPyE/s1600/Marsh_Sandpiper.jpg) |
Marsh Sandpiper |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjWMdiutCUdSBLzFKGHFVLw2Pa4r11JJZRgikuAB5xW8jUciEyjzNEWj-GTtD9yB56miguRTw61Gt9lprc8vJBpjdABfbrKi6kRZULcmcPsEsHqBNnx_M_PN1rSY10BYs5p93ZgO__bY/s1600/Eurasian_Whimbrel.jpg) |
Whimbrel |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MprfX45IkOw6mEEOtzLqim3XuNh1TgilNJLkFs1gswoc5XlS_0qMg-mZ1yCANHUMc4vOV0HN9iJkbiS0O-dGQGliVNluHBBoTV8cLx7Fi9jahGAI5McOzxp4hn-qg1ta-4PFQmeWlso/s1600/Bar-tailed_Godwit.jpg) |
Bar-tailed Godwit |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEQHsw7Zd06MNlFZUgZKi6t1TMBNYkr0HXQyv8NWQ0jTVNEgwFjGw6pRbs_Zbf0ae_mL8Ujv92Px4CBwtqAseEowuUmNpAovuO6ppAl-GbYpWYhX-4knfSv6MU-jXFjdh-YZcg_RyH30/s1600/Slender-billed_Gull1.jpg) |
Slender-billed Gull |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_-RJ7aqZ0jElesojdNVjOz2Hc8BPJR8DzZTlIWhqBUYid7jZKqG1Cfg_yR5wbS2TXavPpm1bnEnp5r3Gv5UcvxPM6wCvajDsCBvu4Y6vtkBOGQKIODZWi7woy_Hkxwr9z111ljZwRiY/s1600/Grey_Plover.jpg) |
Grey Plover |