Migration thinning out

Week 40, 03 October 2013 - Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City

I was back at Sea City and spent the morning on the islands and the main lagoon. The temps are now a lot more pleasant in the early mornings as the season starts changing again. 

Not many passerine migrants were seen walking the four islands, a Great Reed Warbler was pretty vocal near the top of a tree.

Vocal Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

A small flock of Ortolan Buntings were feeding on the smaller island

Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana)

And a wary Mauryan Grey Shrike was skulking in the foliage

Mauryan Grey Shrike (Lanius lahtora pallidirostris)

A Heuglin's Gull cruised by overhead, an early winter arrival

Heuglin's Gull (Larus f. heuglini)

Back on the boat we headed off-shore, where a small number of Socotra Cormorants were roosting on the buoy. However there was a variety of Terns on the other buoys; Lesser Crested

Lesser Crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis)

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)

and White-cheeked Tern

Juvenile White-cheeked Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

On the way back to the jetty, we found a small flock of mixed waders on the beach; Common Greenshank

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Grey Plover

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

a single Greater Sand Plover (possibly a different sub-species, as this had a thinner bill than others I have seen)

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)

and around 4 Lesser Sand Plovers and another Greater Sand Plover (this one with a shorter, thicker bill than the one above) which were good to see

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)

Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius atrifrons)