15 September 2012

Purple Swamphens - Khafrah Marsh

A visit to Kafrah Marsh, which is the site where Phil and I found Purple Swamphens breeding last year, produced more Purple Swamphens indicating that the site is still active. This was only the second site in Saudi Arabia where the species breeds and is easily accessible right next to the main Dammam to Kuwait highway (Abu Hadryah highway). The site is a large marsh with extensive phragmites reed beds and looks really good but produces few birds although good ones have been seen including Egyptian Nightjar, Great Crested Grebe and Moustached Warblers. Other birds seen on the marsh were Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe with a few Namaqua Dove flying around in small groups. I have not really found a good route around this site yet, and I am sure when I do I will see more birds. Clamorous Reed Warblers were in full song in the reed beds.

Purple Swamphen
Little Grebe
Namaqua Dove - male