18 March 2015

Little Ringed Plover a new ringing species for Saudi Arabia – Sabkhat Al Fasl

Whilst ringing at Sabkhat Al Fasl we caught and ringed a Little Ringed Plover. This is the first time we have caught this species in Saudi Arabia and was a new ringing species for Nicole. We caught the bird in a small 12 metre double panel mist net set for pipits, in a relatively open area, and the bird was accidentally flushed into the net as I was walking to see what was in the triple 18 metre five panel nets set over the water. The bird was in a small wet area near to the small net and flew fast a low straight into the net when flushed. At first I thought it was a shrike as it was so white on the underside but as I got closer to the net it became obvious it was a wader and a Little Ringed Plover. We had probably seen the same bird earlier in the morning sitting on top of the mound of sand I park by when we arrive at the location. Little Ringed Plovers are early passage migrants occurring in February, with some birds staying to breed in the area.
Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover