27 March 2013

Short-toed Snake Eagle – Dhahran Hills


Whilst birding the ‘patch’ last night I found a Short-toed Snake Eagle just taking to flight from the large boulders behind the percolation pond. I was in the car with my camera at the time so jumped out of the car and grabbed a few photographs, some of which turned out reasonably well. The species is scarce in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, but I have now had four different sightings of five birds.
A second calendar year 31st March 2011
Two juveniles 22nd October 2011
A second calendar year 19th February 2012
A second calendar year 26th March 2013
The bird was a very pale one on the underside with very few markings typical of a second calendar year but the head pattern and primary pattern were typical.