Counting birds

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is an international NGO basically responsible for the monitoring of wetland birds and waterfowls around the world.

This year, January 15 and 31 were earmarked for the UAE for counting its birds.

I started the day by visiting Safa Park around 7am on January 31.

Despite inclement weather, I could still count many species and in sizeable numbers.

I counted over 200 black-headed gulls, six northern shovelers, 24 common teal, 30 or so mallards, seven northern pintails, two little grebes, one each of Indian moorhen and little green heron, two grey herons, eight white wagtails, two yellow wagtails, 12 common sandpipers and four garganey.