On 5 February Phil Roberts and I travelled to Haradh
an area of extensive pivot irrigation fields three hours drive from Dhahran. We
left at 03:00 hrs to allow us to be at the site at first light. After plenty of
searching we eventually came across a very damp newly ploughed field that had a
single Northern Lapwing in it, but as we got closer more and more birds flew
out. After an hour or so of checking through the Northern Lapwings we came
across an odd looking wader at some distance that on putting the telescope on
was obviously a winter plumaged Caspian Plovers. After looking further we
found an additional winter plumaged bird as well as one in summer plumage
making three in total. Caspian Plover is an uncommon but regular passage migrant in the Eastern
Province in small numbers during March and April and again from late July until
early September. The peak passage of adults is during March and again from
August when juveniles are also frequently seen. A flock of 500 was seen in late
March 1982 on the northern steppes with other good numbers from the same area
including 45 on the Dibdibah 14 April 1983, 30 there 4 November 1983 and 100 in
the same area 28 March 1985. Most sightings occur away from the coast but they
are often near inland waters.
