29 September 2014

Waders still passing through – Dhahran Hills

Although migrants are still passing through the numbers are small, that is with the exception of waders. Wader numbers have been very good this autumn and the last few days have been no exception. All the normal wet places have had good waders on them and wet ditch has been particularly good. Here there has been Common Redshank, Temminck’s Stint, plenty of Little Stints, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper. Views and photographic opportunities are good on the ditch as can be seen from the photos below. The percolation pond has also had some good wading birds with two Marsh Sandpipers, four Common Greenshanks and plenty of Little Stints and Wood Sandpipers. The other favourite place for waders is the settling pond where there have been up to eight Ruff, Little Ringed Plover, ten Kentish Plovers, two Temminck’s Stints, two Dunlin, one Curlew Sandpiper and 15 Little Stints. A group of 15 Black-winged Stilts were also seen flying over one night. Other interesting birds seen in these same areas this week have been a juvenile Little Crake on the wet ditch, and four White-winged Terns on the percolation pond.
Temminck's Stint
Little Stint
Temminck's Stint & Little Stint
Wood Sandpiper