Bonelli’s Eagle – Al Asfar Lake

Whilst birding Al Asfar Lake near Al Hassa on 10 December we came across a second year Bonelli’s Eagle sitting on a power pylon. It was early morning and was raining slightly so the light was poor and photography difficult. The bird appeared to be trying to dry out spreading its wings occasionally. Bonelli’s Eagle is a rare migrant and winter visitor to all areas of the Kingdom. Records from the Eastern province are very limited with the only records being a first year at Dhahran 2-9 January 1981, one Dhahran 4-27 February 1981, one captured exhausted 20 kilometres south of Safaniya 14 July 1984, one at Qatif 11 December 1991, a juvenile in flight at Jabal Nariyyah 25 January 2007, a juvenile Sabhka al-Fasl 10 December 2015, a juvenile in flight Dhahran 11 March 2017 and a juvenile Al Asfar Lake 18-25 February 2021.

Bonelli’s Eagle – Al Asfar Lake

Whilst birding Al Asfar Lake near Al Hassa on 25 February we saw a juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus perched on a power line pylon. It was early morning and the light was in the wrong direction, so the photos were not so good – see below. Bonelli’s Eagle is a rare migrant to all areas of the Kingdom and is possibly a winter visitor to Tihamah, Hejaz and Asir. Records from the Eastern province are as a vagrant with the only records being a first year at Dhahran 2-9 January 1981, one Dhahran 4-27 February 1981, one captured exhausted 20 kilometres south of Safaniya 14 July 1984, one at Qatif 11 December 1991, a juvenile in flight at Jabal Nariyyah 25 January 2007 and a juvenile Sabhka al-Fasl 10 December 2015 and a juvenile in flight Dhahran 11 March 2017

Bonelli’s Eagle – Dhahran Hills

Whilst birding the Dhahran Camp area I saw a juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus fly low over my head. The species is a rare migrant to all areas of the Kingdom and is possibly a winter visitor to Tihamah, Hejaz and Asir. Records from the Eastern province are as a vagrant with the only records being a first year at Dhahran 2-9 January 1981, one Dhahran 4-27 February 1981, one captured exhausted 20 kilometres south of Safaniya 14 July 1984, one at Qatif 11 December 1991, a juvenile in flight at Jabal Nariyyah 25 January 2007 and a juvenile Sabhka al-Fasl 10 December 2015.

Lilith Owl and more near Tabuk – Bird records by Viv Wilson

Lilith Owl is an uncommon but widespread species in Saudi Arabia and one I have personally not seen in the Kingdom yet. They favour escarpment edges and rock formations such as the one that Viv photographed a pair of birds at near Tabuk. This area is also good for birds of prey and Viv photographed Egyptian Vulture a species becoming less common and more difficult to see away from its stronghold on the Farasan Islands in the Red Sea I the extreme southwest of the country. He also saw both Bonelli's Eagle and Common Kestrel here recently. I thank Viv for allowing me to use his photos on my website.

Lilith Owl

Lilith Owl

Egyptian Vulture

Bonelli's Eagle

Common Kestrel

Juvnile Bonelli’s Eagle near Jubail – Bird records by Arnold Uy

Arnold Uy sent me a photo of an unusual bird of prey he had seen on the pylons in Jubail. This bird on closer inspection turned out to be a fresh juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus a species that is a rare migrant to all areas but is possibly a winter visitor to the Tihamah, Hejaz and Asir in the southwest of the Kingdom. In the Eastern Province the species is a vagrant with four records of four birds. One first year Dhahran 2-9 January 1981, one Dhahran 4-27 February 1981, one captured exhausted 20 kilometres south of Safaniya 14 July 1984 and one at Qatif 11 December 1991. This is an excellent record and shows the more birdwatcher there are, the better the chance of finding good species. I thank Arnold for sending me the photographs and for allowing me to use them on my website.