Dubai itself is a cosmopolitan society with an international lifestyle, yet with a culture deeply rooted in the Islamic traditions of Arabia. Since earliest times, Dubai has been a meeting place, bringing together the Bedouin of the desert interior with the pearl-diver, the merchant of the city with the sea-going fisherman.

Based at: Metropolitan Palace Hotel, Dubai
Local time: GMT +4
Approx noon temp: 25C
Weather: Overcast, but warm and sunny by early afternoon

Still cold, snowy/sleeting in the UK with a strong wind blasting in off the continent - Kuwait was raining a few days ago, let’s try Dubai this time - where it has to be better weather surely…

Actually it was overcast, but my misgivings about the dodgy weather were soon forgotten once I got myself outside and started seeing some birds, and the day turned out rather well indeed! Not only did I find the Pivot Fields this time (I failed completely just a few weeks ago), but the two beautiful and very rare Sociable Plovers were still there - as was, remarkably, a good friend of mine, Steve James, who I hadn’t seen for about fifteen years! On top of that Steve - who was birding with his mate, top UAE birder Simon Aspinall - asked if I’d be interested in twitching the UAE’s second ever Dusky Thrush…and to think I almost went to bed this morning instead of going out…

 
Steve James (top) and Simon Aspinall

Access:
The easiest way to get to both the Pivot Fields and the Wimpey Pits (both unofficial name that taxi-drivers - at least my taxi-driver - won’t recognise) is to go down the Ras Al Khor road to the Dragon Mart (or China Mart, as the driver knew it as). At the far end of the mart there is a tarmac road to the right which leads to the water treatment plant.

To get to the Pivot Fields take an almost immediate left towards a tamarisk hedge/fence. About 500m further on, on a bend in the road, there is a small entrance on the left with a barrier. The “guard” here will let you in and you can more or less roam around at will. Be aware though that crops and vegetables are grown here and take care not to wander onto them. The fields as you’d expect are fantastic for pipts, wagtails, and larks, and frequently host many of the area’s rarities.
To find the The Wimpey Pits stay on the tarmac road instead of bearing left. After about 1500m the road goes up a slight incline. On the left side of the road are three huge silver tanks, on the right - about 200m across the sand - are the gravel pits. Alternatively look for a huge building site with some water in the middle of it…

Dubai Pivot Fields:

Sociable Plovers

According to BirdLife International, the Sociable Plover has declined by around 95 per cent during the past 15 years. Its global population is now believed to be between 200 and 400 individuals and it was declared critically endangered in 2004. It now breeds only in northern Kazakhstan and parts of Russia, and the decline is thought to be to due to massive conversion of the steppes into agricultural farmland. Found in the New Year (2005) these two particular birds were present throughout January and February. A check by local birders on March 10th failed to find them, and they were presumed to have moved on.

 

 

Black-headed Wagtail Photos © Charlie Moores

Wimpey Pits:

White-tailed Plover Photo © Charlie Moores

 

 

Cattle Egret Photo © Charlie Moores

 

 

Black-winged Stilt Photo © Charlie Moores

 

 

Marsh Harrier Photo © Charlie Moores

Al Jazera Hotel and Resort:

Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanni eunomus - 2nd record for the UAE. Photos © Charlie Moores

 

 

Isabelline Shrike Photos © Charlie Moores

 

 

Hoopoe Photos © Charlie Moores

 

 

Female Blue Rock Thrush Photo © Charlie Moores

 

 

Red-vented Bulbul Photo © Charlie Moores

For up to date information on what birds are being seen in the UAE have a look at the twitchers guide section of the UAE interact website at www.uaeinteract.com/nature/bird/twitch

Trip List (note, numbers marked with a “+” are approximate): English and scientific names mainly from “Birds of Abu Dhabi - Checklist”, Aspinall S, Twitcher’s Guide, 2001:
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 10+; Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis c) 10; Grey Heron Areda cinerea 5 - 6; Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 3; Common Teal Anas crecca 10+; Shoveler Anas clypeata; Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca 3; Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 10+; Black Kite Milvus migrans 1; Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 1; Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus c) 10; Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus c) 10; Red-wattled Lapwing Hoplopterus indicus 20+; SOCIABLE PLOVER Chettusia gregaria 2; White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura c) 20; Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 1; Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 3; Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 100+; Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 3; Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto +; Palm Dove Streptopelia senegalensis +; Ring-necked Parakeet Psitticula krameri 3 - 4; Pallid Swift Apus pallidus 1; Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 4; Hoopoe Upupa epops 6; Crested Lark Galerida cristata 10+; Sand Martin Riparia riparia 10+; Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 20+; Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica 1; Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus 2; Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta 1; Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava sp 10+; Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla (flava) feldegg 2; White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba 20+; White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys 10+; Red-vented Bulbul Pyconotus cafer 10+; Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura 1; Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius 1; DUSKY THRUSH Turdus naumanni eunomus 1; Graceful; Warbler Prinia gracilis 1; Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus 2; Menetries’ Warbler Sylvia mystacea 1m; Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica 2; Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus 4 - 5; Southern Grey Shrike Lanius (meridionalis) aucheri 1; Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis 10+; House Sparrow Passer domesticus +; Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica 1- 2