other species 
The Skylark Alauda arvensis is a winter visitor to some of the cultivated 
areas of Bahrain, and flocks of up to thirty were seen at all locations 
where Dotterels were present. Likewise, during winter. Water Pipits 
Anthus spinoletta and White Wagtails Motadlla alba can be found in 
Bahrain's alfalfa cultivation, the latter species usually quite numerous. 
The farms at Qurrayah are attractive to many birds. During the period of 
the Dotterels' stay one or two Grey Plovers Pluvialis sqmtarola were seen 
there; as was a Golden Plover P. apricaria, a scarce bird in the Gulf now 
reinstated on the Bahrain list after this sighting. During January, a flock 
of Cream-coloured Coursers Cursorius cursor visited the small desert 
area, but none of these larger birds was seen in close association with the 
Dotterels. 
Palfrey (1986) mentions the occurrence of migratory flocks of Caspian 
Plovers Charadrius asiaticus passing through the Dibdibah in spring. This 
species is an uncommon migrant through Bahrain. Interestingly, it was 
recorded at both Al Meerouge and Qurrayah during late March 1989 (15 
at CJurrayah on 31 March); and one was seen at the small sewage dump 
in March 1988, 
Previously, nugrating Stone-curlews Burhinus oedicnemus have been 
found roosting at the Saar burial mounds and Short-eared Owl Asio 
flammeus and Houbara Chlamydotis undulata were seen here during No- 
vember 1988. 
Influxes, usually small, of uncommon or rare wintering birds are a 
feature of the ornithology of the Arabian Gulf. For example, during 
January and February 1989 an influx of Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis was 
noted in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Reasons for these in- 
fluxes are unclear. 
Discussion 
The rainfall in Bahrain and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia was 
lower than average for the winter of 1988/89, and yet a Dotterel was seen 
in Jebel Ali UAE, 450 km southeast of Bahrain as early as 7 October 1988. 
This species does occasionally extend its passage or wanders. For ex- 
ample, two were seen on Das Island, 250 km southeast of Bahrain during 
August 1987, a very early date for such a southerly occurrence. From 
Oman, there is an unconfirmed record of two Dotterels on board a ship 
in the Arabian Sea approximately 80 km east of Masirah Island during 
April 1960. 
Alfalfa appears to be an important source of food for wintering Dotter- 
els, in areas where alternative food is inferior or scarce. It is tempting to 
speculate that other areas of alfalfa cultivation in Bahrain may have held 
wintering Dotterels. 
Apart from a severe sandstorm on 10 March, no adverse weather condi- 
tions were experienced by these Dotterels during their stay in Bahrain. 
14 
