3rd March 2020
There were up to 12 Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse at Bedouins Planet, Dahab including this cracking male
Arrived at Dahab last night and settled into my digs, Blue Divers Hostel, in the center of the city. The following morning I was scanning the shores of Dahab Lagoon, just south of the city, and with the Grey and Kentish Plover were some 9 Greater Sandplover. There were also a single Western Reef Heron and my first ever ‘fuscus‘ Lesser black-backed Gull was a single adult with over 200 Slender-billed Gull. Birds were pushed off constantly by so many people walking all over the area including in the lagoon area itself. However, I managed to find a single Short-toed Lark with 2 Isabeline Wheatear on the sand.
Looking down at Dahab Lagoon surrounded by the Red Sea and in the distance, Saudi Arabia
I’ve seen 100s and 100s of Greater Sandplover but the Dahab individuals were my first ones in summer plumage
Western Reef Heron
My first ever race of ‘fuscus‘ Lesser black-backed Gull, was this adult
Short-toed Lark
There were 2 Isabeline Wheatear on the sand
Later in the afternoon I made the short drive to a wadi looking over the city that leads to Bedouin Plant. Here I had amazing views of 12 Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse as they continued to feed while quad bikes and vehicles passed only meters away from them! Otherwise not much else except a single Blackstart, 2 Hooded Wheatear and 16 Brown-necked Raven. Just before dark over the city there were at least 40 Pallid Swift with smaller numbers of Swalow and House Martin hawking in the sky.
Up to 12 Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse showed superbly at very close range inside the wadi
The track leading to Bedouins Planet, where is a cafe, inside the wadi where the sandgrouse were
SCILLYSPIDER 2 