6 days and the UAE being sociable again.

Just 6 days to go now and it looks like we'll be starting just as the weather takes a turn for the worse, still, it might make seeing Jack Snipe easier!?

Tommy Pedersen in the UAE sent me news yesterday that three Sociable Plovers had turned up there in the Pivot Fields. I immediately issued instructions to nail their feet to the floor until we get there!



Sociable Plover © Tommy Pedersen



Here's the forum page about the sighting the from UAE Birding and some background information on Sociable Plover sightings in the UAE from Tommy.
http://www.uaebirding.com/forum/showthread.php?5758-Dubai-25.10.12
These birds are declining and incredibly rare now being classified ass critically endangered on the IUCN Red list. Although, recently a report told of a huge flock of four hundred or so in Uzbekistan http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/blog/2012/10/23/record-sociable-lapwing-flock-found-in-uzbekistan/

Vain hope, but fingers crossed that the UAE trio stay for our visit, at least one of them at any rate! Looking at the records some birds have lingered for many months, maybe these will feel settled at the Pivot fields and overwinter there. The Wader Quest glass is definitely half full!!!