Abu Dhabi Islands - Breeding Terns 04.06.11

I was fortunate enough to be invited on a morning sail out to some of the islands close to Abu Dhabi in the UAE, including Futaisi.   Some of the islands hold breeding colonies of White-cheeked, Saunders's and Bridled Terns.  It was a chance to see these birds in Breeding Plumages.  Obviously these birds become very agitated when you approach their nest sites so we were very conscious of limiting our time to just a few minutes in these areas so that the eggs did not over heat in the very hight temperatures.  Numbers of breeding pairs did appear to be up on last year,  one of the reasons may well be the eradication of crows from the area,  only a couple being seen during the whole trip.  I was told there had some culling activities during the year.  Another highlight of the area is nesting Ospreys with several nests sighted.  We say 4 pairs of Ospreys,  beautiful birds !

Other birds seen :

Lesser Crested Tern,
Caspian Tern,
Gull Billed Tern
Sooty Gull (very unusual to see this side of the UAE)
Crab Plover
Bar-tailed Godwit
Redshank
Sand Plover
Terek Sandpiper
Turnstone
Socotra Cormorant

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

This is me working on the Osprey pics above !

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus - Nest on a hut

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus -

Keeping up with the Jones'

The large nest has been here for many years

White-Cheeked Tern, Sterna repressa

White-Cheeked Tern, Sterna repressa

 White-Cheeked Tern, Sterna repressa

White-Cheeked Tern, Sterna repressa

 Saunders's Tern, Sternula saundersi

 Saunders's Tern, Sternula saundersi 

Saunders's Tern, Sternula saundersi 

Bridled Tern, Onychoprion anaethetus

 Common Redshank, Tringa totanus

Western Reef Egret. Egretta gularis

Bridled Tern, Onychoprion anaethetus