Two adult
Western Cattle Egrets were present on the settling pool at Dhahran Hills on 24th
June which is an early return date for the species to the Eastern Province.
They are now being seen in every month and are progressively becoming a
commoner species as the years go by. The two birds were in full breeding
plumage, but there have been no indications of the species breeding in Dhahran.
A Western Cattle Egret was also seen at Jubail Corniche a few days earlier so
they are obviously returning now. Eastern Cattle Egret has been seen
occasionally in the United Arab Emirates, but I have not seen any birds
resembling this type in the Eastern Province so far although I am always on the
lookout for them.
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| Western Cattle Egret |
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| Black-winged Stilt (juvenile) |
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| Masked Shrike |
Other birds
seen in Dhahran Hills included 58 Black-winged Stilts, including many well
grown juveniles, 15 Kentish Plovers, thee Little Ringed Plovers and seven Rock
Doves. Three Barn Swallows and two Sand Martins were catching insects over the
percolation pond and Clamorous Reed Warblers were busy catching insects in the
reeds, presumably to feed to their newly hatched young? With other Clamorous Reed
Warblers still singing from the reeds. Five Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters were
present in the trees surrounding the pond and a single European Bee-eater was
present in the same area. The Masked Shrike was still present in the same area as normal and has now been around for more than a month.
