Morjim Beach

To reach Morjim Beach you do not need to cross the river by ferry as the new bridge indicated in Harris has been completed. We did not visit Morjim Beach at low tide when the mudflats are exposed but visited the beach twice at high tide for the gulls and terns. As stated in Harris get the taxi to park in the shade under the palm trees and then walk straight onto the beach. The gulls and terns will be obvious from this point.

At this site hundreds of Brown and Black Headed Gulls were seen with smaller but good numbers of Slender-billed Gulls. Low numbers of Yellow-legged (Barabensis) or Steppe Gulls and Heuglins Gulls were present, the adult birds being easily picked out amongst the smaller gulls. A single Pallas's Gull was noted on our initial visit but 14 were seen on the second visit.

The birds appeared to be in greater numbers just before high tide, soon moving elsewhere as the tide receded.

Of the terns the majority were Lesser Crested with only two Greater Crested observed on the first visit and none on the second. Small numbers of Sandwich and Gull-billed Terns were seen and a couple of Caspian Terns, one Roseate Tern and two Little Terns were also noted.

Higher up the Beach to the right of the parking area were roosting waders, mainly Lesser Sand Plover and Kentish Plover with reasonable numbers of Greater Sand Plover. The odd Dunlin and Sanderling were also observed. During our second visit a birder from the Beira Mar informed us that three Great Knot had been seen along the tide line 30

minutes before our arrival. Unfortunately we missed these birds.

Later in the week (last week of November) reports of a Crab Plover on Morjim Beach were heard. However, according to Abhi Mandrem Beach, slightly further north is a better site for Crab Plover. I would suggest a visit at low tide when more mud is exposed for the more interesting waders.

Across the road from the beach is an area of Scrub with a large tree located in the centre of it. This is the roosting tree of 2 or 3 Black-crowned Night Herons. Red Avadavat were also seen by other sin this area. We saw Plum-headed Parakeet, Ashy Woodswallow and Brahminy Starlings around this area.

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