Whilst birding the percolation pond yesterday I found a female Little Bittern hiding amongst the reeds. I managed to creep up quite close to the bird but it was always behind reeds of some sort, which is probably why I managed to get so close. Last year a pair of Little Bitterns bred for the first time in Dhahran and last week I saw a male Little Bittern at the same site. Little Grebes are nest building now the pond is at a low level and the weeds are easily accessible. The Black-winged Stilt is still on her nest and Eurasian Coots and Common Moorhens are feeding young. The only wader on the pond with the exception of the Black-winged Stilts was a single Kentish Plover.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiYZ-zO3LPrwWUzLwFTpSUUWd2BOEDCYMsunfU8DTaSr-DCZO3J35z2yhRsHrDt2obiRcwDio1G3JOoPGVQBYXOkRCQCLJ6UMiHx7M-546Uz3rFl7T-ZEwt4w-CU09L6TB05Kvm3ydDU/s1600/Little+Bittern+(adult+female).jpg) |
Little Bittern - adult female |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXKUxH7wLwHIUX7FK91Rg85vP5bcKIClXXjsjzu-PyDIo-EXVU1LjdVnj3y1toeM_M2qFfcAFLsVzKyQLThaPB6VbF6Wj9ItwAPXY8mUkW7CvI8Ph122j9yTDn6qohJHQJzRJmkMUUsU/s1600/Little+Bittern+in+flight+(adult+female).jpg) |
Little Bittern in flight - adult female |
A walk around the pond produced three Spotted Flycatchers, three Eastern Olivaceous Warblers in full song and a Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin. A European Turtle Dove was seen perched in an acacia bush and 20+ Barn Swallows and two Common Swifts were flying over.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4tdGFDKuT66UrpT2NnXsfJPQzV9gAtTSTWW7ObBt6x-1Gk2eVEXweBnZSIZMeHOKboOTS_Jav5XuWv4s1QU7hNmy6Fo9MFDvDNQXrt1tRMlYEMXnafQUYKhh6PCGmll1YMkwBtZV3QA/s1600/European+Turtle+Dove.jpg) |
European Turtle Dove |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetowetykPtzgEFq2qJd4260EtsJRh8DE7fFhd9UlP47XnMpqHqnWli4_wvzpNVHN9pfVPa18zhuBgAd2ZRIsvL6JwFi3aZvVGeYwJEBOwFEn9kOG1j9l69_Ib2TsIZa_BaKIO-84q7NY/s1600/Rufous-tailed+Scrub+Robin.jpg) |
Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin |