09 February 2022

Crested Honey Buzzard wintering - Dhahran Hills

In late January I managed to photograph two Crested Honey Buzzards, a male and a second calendar year bird. These birds and three other individuals have been around since mid-September in Dhahran a location where they have spent the last eight years at least wintering. It is not certain if the birds now stay all summer as well, but summer records are becoming more common. The status, of Crested Honey Buzzard in Saudi Arabia is a scarce passage migrant and winter visitor that also occurs rarely in summer. Most records are from the Eastern province in winter and spring with additional records in the west of the country in autumn, winter and spring.