Birding Bahrain

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Post details: Out and about this weekend

2007-11-11

Out and about this weekend

07:19:29 am, Categories: Observation by Howard

I finished visiting most of the sites around Maharraq this morning even though development and reclamation continues at every point along the shore so many new lagoons and mudflats have been created that the number of waders terns and gulls has not diminished. The problem is now one of gaining access across the soft sand in the newly reclaimed areas. For the best light most sites are best visited in the morning and on an incoming tide.

Flocks of terns are everywhere - here largely Lesser Crested and Little Terns.
mixed terns

enlargement of section from photo above
mixed

as are mixed flocks of Back-headed and Slender-billed Gulls, these right along side one of the new roads. Great as long as you don't stop when they have a tendancy to up up and away.
mixed gulls

Waders are numerous but often when the tide is out distant, as was the case this morning.
curlew sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper, the only one seen and always towards the sun

Ringed Plover a common species

Oyster Catcher

Very little of the old coastline still exists but near Dair I was able to find a few other species
Skylark Skylark
Water Pipit

Namaqua Doves

Black-winged Stilts
Black winged stilts
on old regular seen everywhere in Bahrain the Crested Lark