Dotterels in Bahrain, winter 1988/89 
Tom Nightingale 
Introduction 
This paper considers the occurence, habitat preferences and observation 
of Dotterels Charadrius morinellus in Bahrain during Winter 1988/89. 
The wintering grounds of the Dotterel are understood to extend in a 
relatively narrow band from Morrocco to northern Saudi Arabia, Iraq 
and western Iran. Dotterels are rare winter visitors to the Arabian Gulf 
States, and have been recorded in small numbers from Kuwait, Bahrain 
and the United Arab Emirates. Their nearest known wintering grounds 
to Bahrain are on the plains of the Dibdibah in the Eastern Province of 
Saudi Arabia, approximately 450 km northwest of Bahrain island (Palfrey 
1986). 
Previous records 
Prior to the winter of 1988/89, there were only three records of Dotterel 
in Bahrain: 
One at a sewage stream West Rifaa during 15-20 December 1970; 
Seven near Hamalah on 28 December 1983 (sand desert and rimrock); 
Two near Hamad Town on 25 January 1984 (sand and stone desert and 
limestone outcrops). 
These areas are in the west and northwest of the central region. 
Records in winter 1988/89 
Dotterels appeared in unprecedented numbers in this winter. They were 
recorded as follows: 
One at Dumistan pools on 31 October 1988 (inland saline water, sand- 
bars and sparse vegetation). Northwest Bahrain. 
13 to 27 at Qurrayah during 26 December-25 March. Northwest 
Bahrain. 
Two at a small sewage dump in the desert southeast of Awali, 27 
January -20 February 1989. Central Bahrain. 
Two and then one at Al Meerouge Farm during 20 February-2 April . 
West Bahrain. 
Six at Saar burial mounds in the third week of February. Northwest 
Bahrain. 
Taking Qurrayah as a focal point and treating the Dumistan record as of 
a passage bird, the distances from CJurrayah to these locations are: 
Sewage dump 16.5 km southeast. 
Al Meerouge Farm 15.5 km south. 
Saar 2 km east. 
A report of 11 Dotterels on recently cleared and levelled land in a 
compound at Dhahran, eastern saudi Arabia, on 18 November 1988 is 
interesting, with five remaining there the next day. Dhahran is approxi- 
mately 40 km northwest of Qurrayah. 
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