Birds of Saudi Arabia: Jizan Sewage works outfall

Whilst in Jizan and looking for colour ringed Baltic Gulls we went down the coast towards Yemen. As there is unrest in Yemen and it is not too safe to go too close to the boarder we stopped at Jizan Sewage Works about 12 kilometres south of the city centre. This sewage works is a modern facility so few birds occur where the water is treated but some overflow goes out to a small area of mangroves and into the sea. This area proved to be a good new site with plenty of good birds seen. The mangroves held plenty of Eurasian (Mangrove) Reed Warblers, and many Greater Flamingo were around. Birds of prey seen included a single first calendar year Greater Spotted Eagle, tens of Black Kits and a single Long-legged Buzzard. Waders included Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Common Redshank and Pied Avocet. Hundred duck were recorded nearby with three species were there including Pintail, Northern Shoveller and Eurasian Wigeon.