07 December 2019

Hundreds of Steppe Eagles - Riyadh

Whilst driving back from Riyadh to Dhahran I came across a new landfill site on the side of the expressway. The site had plenty of Steppe Eagles in flight above it and almost as many sitting on the ground and scavenging in the rubbish. I estimated over 100 birds were present. I tried to gain access to the actual site which is fenced off but as it was a Friday the manager was not available to grant access and security would not allow entry. I do not know if it will be possible to enter even if the manager is there but if it is possible this will be a great location for photographing the birds. I was told the birds arrived in mid-October, fitting in nicely with their expected peak migration period of late September and early October.