Birds of Mida Creek and Watamu Beach

Carmine Bee-eater, a migrant which roosts in thousands on the mangroves of Mida Creek

Mida Creek is an important passage and wintering area for Palaearctic migrant waders. Counts of over 6,000 waders have been made on Mida Creek including notable species such as the striking black-and-white Crab-plover with its unique heavy bill for crunching crabs. The populations of Greater and Lesser Sandplover and Crab-plovers here are internationally important, and a total of 69 aquatic bird species have been recorded to use the site. The creek is a significant feeding area for Dimorphic Egrets, Lesser Crested Terns and a resident though non-breeding population of Greater Flamingo. Other common migrant shorebirds here include Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Terek Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Grey Plover, and Greenshank.

The lists below cover all species that are found on the creek itself and those found within c.200m of the high water mark. As the latter consists of diverse habitats, the number of species is quite high.

Read the Birds of Mida Creek and Watamu Beach (application/pdf, 106.1 kB, info) report in Adobe PDF format.