20 October 2014

A few more birds – Dhahran Hills

There have been a few more birds around recently but things are still very quiet. An immature Greater Spotted Eagle has been seen around the spray fields ad percolation pond often perched in the large trees. Duck numbers have increased on the pond with 21 Northern Shovellers, 12 Ferruginous Ducks, three Garganey and the Common Pochard is still present. The pond also had an adult Grey Heron and a single Little Egret, a species that is not seen very often on the ‘patch’ as well as 20+ Western Cattle Egrets. A small fall of Pied Wheateras occurred on one day with seven birds, mainly first year males present in the scrubby desert area. The spray fields had a single Turkestan Shrike, one Red-backed Shrike perched on one of the spray heads and a single White Wagtail was still around the settling pond.
Pied Wheatear - first year male
Red-backed Shrike
Common Pochard