Mallard (adult male)
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
27 October 2011
Mallard - Dhahran Hills
The pond is being flattened by a large digger and many of the reed beds have been dug up. This is making for more open areas and more muddy edges so there are still plenty of birds about. Waders included one Green Sandpiper, two Marsh Sandpiper, two Kentish Plover, two Common Ringed Plover, 23 Little Stint and 25 Black-winged Stilt. The pond was almost covered in duck with two Garganey, six Mallard, 44 Eurasian Teal and 96 Northern Shoveller. This is only the second time I have seen Mallard on the pond. The only other bird of note was an adult Greater Spotted Eagle sitting in the trees at the edge of the pond before flying off over the nearby jebels.