06 May 2012

Great Reed Warblers - Dhahran Hills

The 'patch' yesterday still held a good number of migrants although in small numbers. The best birds were three Great Reed Warblers that were feeding in the grasses of the spray field. Great Reed Warblers tend to be seen in scrubby or vegetated areas on migration in the Eastern Provinceof Saudi Arabia rather than in the normal reeds that are associated with the species, maybe because the reeds are full of Clamorous Reed Warblers. The spray fields held very little else except a Northern Wheatear around the edge and groups of Barn Swallows and Sand Martins flying around. The only other birds of note were two Indian Silverbills which are the first ones I have seen for a couple of months.

Sand Martins


The percolation pond held a Squacco Heron, a Kentish Plover and three Black-winged Stilts. The scrub at the edge of the pond had two Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins and the fence at the edge had a pair of Eurasian Turtle Doves. Namaqua Doves are becoming more common with up to five seen today.

European Turtle Doves