Birding the Ash Shargiyah Development Company
Farm, Fadhili, near Jubail on 4 September proved to be one of the best days
birding I have had in Saudi Arabia. Migrants were thick on the ground with a
number of good birds seen including the third record for the Eastern Province
of Black-winged Kite (see previous post). Shrike numbers were very large with
almost 100 birds seen during the day of eight species (Southern Grey Shrike,
Lesser Grey Shrike, Steppe Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Turkestan Shrike,
Daurian Shrike, Red-backed Shrike and Masked Shrike). Other good birds included
a female type Eurasian Golden Oriole, a Eurasian Wryneck, five Cream Coloured
Coursers, 17 European Rollers and nine Collared Pratincoles. Other migrants
included a few Spotted Flycathcers, three Black-eared Wheatears, two Pied
Wheatears, four Northern Wheatears and ten plus Isabelline Wheatears.
Bee-eaters were around in good numbers with both Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters and
European Bee-eaters in about equal numbers with hundreds of both. Many of the
European Bee-eaters were finding plenty to eat on the ground where the alfalfa
crop was being cut. In this cut field were tens of Yellow Wagtails and close by
were a large flock of thirty plus Greater Short-toed Larks. A small number of
birds of prey included the Black-winged Kite, one Common Kestrel, two Pallid
Harriers including one male and a juvenile Montagu’s Harrier. Barn Swallows and
Sand Martins were plentiful and a few waders were seen including Little Stint,
Kentish Plover and Black-winged Stilts. The only species of warbler noted were
a few Common Whitethroats and Graceful Prinias. Three Brown-necked Raverns were seen flying over a species that is not so commonly seen by me in the region.
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| Eurasian Hoopoe |
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| European Bee-eater |
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| Brown-necked Raven |
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| European Bee-eater |
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| Greater Short-toed Lark |
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| Greater Short-toed Lark |
