Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
12 July 2012
Greater Hoopoe-Larks – Dammam/Al Khobar Wader Roost South
A trip to
the Dammam – Al Khobar Wader Roost South at high tide produced a pair of
Greater Hoopoe-Larks. I have never recorded proof that the species breeds here
but they seem to be present in the summer months and the habitat was suitable.
It is now no longer suitable for the species as the scrubby desert area behind
the wader roost has now been flattened ready for building houses on. As a
result the two birds were feeding along the edge of bank by the water edge as
well as occasionally flying down to the salt-marsh area to feed. Greater Hoopoe-Lark is a reasonably common pecies in the Eastern Province but they are never
easy to see and always make my day when they are located. They can be very
timid at times but these birds allowed reasonably close views as I was in the
car.