The Lagoon Hide, a bird-watching site at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai, was opened to the public in March 2006.
But its approach road was soon blocked as Sama Dubai's Lagoon project took over. However, due to the economic downturn, the project seems to have come to a halt and the site is accessible once again.
My colleagues and I visited the Hide one day at around 7am and saw small waders like stint, Kentish plover, red shank, green shank and grey plover.
There were thousands of greater flamingos — all waiting for food. When we reached the spot, almost all the birds were asleep.
Some had tucked their heads into their back feathers, or had cocked up one leg. Some were lying on the wet sand. As the low tide reached its peak, most waders became active, picking food from the sand.
Meanwhile, smaller mallards and common teal were still asleep, perhaps waiting for the high tide so that they could dabble in water and pick up food from its surface instead of from the sand.
