When I arrived the tide was very low and about 600m out. This was a bit frustrating as most of the birds had followed the falling tide. I spent some time scanning the coast with my bins to see what was out there. There were large numbers of Greater Flamingos and a big flock of mixed Western Reef Herons (dark and pale phase). I saw an Osprey flying along the coast with a fish in its claws lined up head first in the direction of flight to reduce drag. There was a small party of Crab Plovers (6) feeding out on the flats. I tracked a flock of Common Black-headed Gulls flying along the coast. Also present was a Grey Heron and a Great Cormorant perched on some rocks. As I drove along the coast I came across a Steppe Grey Shrike and two Greater Hoopoe-Larks. The Hoopoe-Larks have not seen for a few months so it was good to catch up with them again. At a small lagoon I came across a Common Redshank, a Greenshank and a Grey Plover. The raptor trapping hides were still in operation up in this area. Fuwairit Beach was very quiet, with the usual flocks of Terns or Gulls not to be seen. Back at Al Khor harbour it was also quiet with only a Slender-billed Gull , a Caspian Tern and a Lesser Crested Tern patrolling overhead. All in all not the most productive day, but it still beats the hell out of jacket and tie at the office. Steppe Grey Shrike The Common Kestrel at one of the trapping sites A grey Plover in winter plumage
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