Jess Crumpton photographed a Black-necked Grebe that came up on the Half
Moon Bay beach at the weekend. She had never seen one there before in five
years of visiting the area. The Black-necked Grebe is an uncommon but regular
visitor to the Eastern Province from late August through March but becomes
scarce in April and May and rare in the summer. It is usually local in coastal
waters but counts of over 40 are not unusual in Half Moon Bay. Small numbers
occur inland and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia, away from the Eastern Province,
birds have occurred in Riyadh, Tabuk and the Red Sea, as well as in the Jizan
region. This record was a good one as it is late for the species and it was an
adult in full summer plumage a sight I have not seen myself in the Kingdom. I
thank Jess for sending me the details and for allowing me to use her photos on
my website that are reproduced below.
