Whilst birding the Jubail area in
early June I came across four Greater Sand Plovers feeding on a small area of
sabkhat. The birds appeared to be juveniles so are presumably returning from
their breeding grounds to their wintering areas. Greater Sand Plover is a
common species on passage but it is difficult to get close to them as they are
normally out on the tide line or in the flooded sabkha. As a result of the
location of these birds I managed to get quite close and take a few photos of
two birds that are shown below. The only other waders seen were Kentish Plovers
and Black-winged Stilts in very high numbers as well as a single Ruff. Close by
the area where the waders were seen were also a few Egyptian Nightjars that
gave good views both in flight and on the ground. Thousands of Greater Flamingos
were also seen in a large flooded wetland are, where only six had been two
weeks previously.
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| Greater Sand Plover |
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| Greater Sand Plover |
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| Greater Sand Plover |
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| Kentish Plover |
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| Little Tern |
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| Egyptian Nightjar |
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| Egyptian Nightjar |
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| Egyptian Nightjar |