Birds of Saudi Arabia: Lesser Sand Plover

Showing posts with label Lesser Sand Plover. Show all posts

19 August 2023

Returning Waders – Jubail

Whilst slowly driving around the flooded sabkha in mid-August I came across a small number of confiding waders. Most were Little Stint with smaller numbers of Lesser Sand Plover, Kentish Plover, Ruddy Turnstone and a single Little Ringed Plover and Curlew Sandpiper. Some of the birds were in partial summer plumage and looking nice in the sunlight. A single Grey Plover was also noted but not photographed. Wader numbers should build up over the next month and hopefully more photos can be obtained, and some different species seen.

Curlew Sandpiper

Kentish Plover

Lesser Sand Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Little Stint

Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone

20 March 2023

Plovers – Al Uqayr

As I had seen a few close Greater Sand Plover & Lesser Sand Plover on the coast at Al Uqayr I was planning on visiting this area earlier in the morning when the light is better for photography. As it turned out I went at almost the same time as the week before because the birding in the farm was good and I stayed longer trying to get some good photos of the Common Chiffchaffs. There were a few more Greater Sand Plover & Lesser Sand Plovers than the previous week with approximately ten of each and a couple of Kentish Plover were also seen close. I got some quite good photos of al the species mentioned which are shown below but will probably try again to see if I can get there earlier and hope some other species of waders have arrived.

Greater Sand Plover

Kentish Plover

Lesser Sand Plover

10 March 2023

Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers – Al Uqayr

Whilst birding the Al Uqayr area in late February we came across five Greater Sand Plovers and a single Lesser Sand Plover feeding on the coast. The birds were actively feeding on what looked like a small worm type creature. There was a track along the water’s edge allowing us to get close in the car without disturbing them. Greater Sand Plover is a common species on passage, with small numbers staying throughout the winter, but it is difficult to get close to them as they are normally out on the tide line or in the flooded sabkha. The Lesser Sand Plover is a common passage migrant, uncommon winter visitor and rare summer visitor that are found along the coast from August to May.