Birds of Saudi Arabia: Plenty of different species of waders

A trip to Sabkhat Al Fasl in late August was very good for waders. The numbers on the flooded Sabkha were high but surprisingly there were plenty of waders of various species over the remainder of the location, which is not so usual. The first surprise was a flock of over twenty Pied Avocets flying over the area near the concrete bund. This species is seen in reasonable numbers at the location but normally it is confined to the Sabkha area and occurs much later in the winter. Other waders seen in larger than normal numbers were Common Ringed Plover with well over 100 birds seen and Ruddy Turnstone with 15+ in various locations. A large lock of Whimbrel were also seen away from the flooded Sabkha with eleven birds together. Terek Sandpiper numbers have alos increased with 30+ birds in one area. My first two Saudi Arabian Caspian Plovers, both juveniles, were located on the edge of the flooded sabkha and a scattering of Ruff were in the same area and two juvenile Collared Pratincoles were also seen along the main track but at some distance. These were the first two birds of this species I have seen this autumn. A single Dunlin moulting out of summer plumage was located in amongst the large numbers of Little Stints and Kentish Plovers. Other waders seen but not photographed were Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew and Lesser Sand Plover.