Collared Pratincoles – Al Asfar Lake

As it is getting very hot now and walking around is unpleasant after about 07:00 hrs we decided to go to Al Asfar Lake, Hufuf where we could spend more time in the air-conditioned car. We have not been here before at this time of year and saw a few interesting birds. A Black-crowned Night Heron was located by Phil at the edge of the reeds but unfortunately, I only saw it in flight. A Collared Pratincole was standing on the main track and after a while flew off into the wet area where it was joined by two more birds, although one of my photographs shows there were actually four bird present and not the three that we noted. Another good bird seen was a single Pied Avocet. Egrets and herons were plentiful with lots of Squacco Herons and Little Egrets and a few Little Bittern. Little Terns and Kentish Plovers were also numerous with Kentish Plover chicks seen on a number of occasions. This is now getting to the slowest part of the year bird wise so we were quite happy with our records.

Squacco Heron

Collared Pratincole

Collared Pratincole

Collared Pratincoles – Dhahran Cricket Field

Whilst birding the Dhahran Cricket Field, I saw and photographed an adult Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincole. The bird was in the middle of the grass area meaning I had to walk out to get near to it, but luckily it was tolerant to people and allowed close approach. It was disturbed a few times by people exercising their dogs but on the first two occasions returning to the same area of the cricket field. On the last occasion, however, it flew off towards the percolation pond and I could not re-find it. The Collared Pratincole is an uncommon passage migrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, with a similar status in the Riyadh area where they occur from late March to May and in August and September. During the remaining summer months and in October it tends to be scarce and irregular. Records are more common in the autumn than spring in Riyadh with autumn movement from late July to late October, peaking late August to early September, when flocks of 40 plus (mainly juveniles) are regularly encountered. In the southwest, west and northwest of the country records are more common mainly at freshwater inland areas where flocks of over 100 have been recorded at Tabuk.

Juvenile Collared Pratincole - Dhahran Cricket Field

I recently saw three Collared Pratincoles on the cricket field, which was not a common occurrence. They departed after a few days but a week later another juvenile arrived. The bird was quite tame and allowed reasonably close approach, only walking off slowly when approached, suggesting it may have been a tiered migrant. Occasionally it would hop or fly a short distance to catch an insect (mainly beetle). This bird only stayed a single day before departing but spent a lot of time feeding to get it energy reserves up. The Collared Pratincole is an extremely rare breeding migrant and uncommon passage migrant in Saudi Arabia. Some years more birds occur than others, but in the Eastern Province where I do most of my birding I only see then once or twice a year.

Collared Pratincoles – Dhahran Cricket Field

Below are a few photos of the three Collared Pratincoles that have frequented the cricket field in the last few days. Originally only a single bird was present, but it was joined by two juveniles on its second day, all of which stayed for a few days before departing. I tried to get photos of birds on the ground as well as in flight to check the wing pattern, especially the underwing and pale trailing ende to the secondaries, to confirm as Collared Pratincole. The birds were quite tame and allowed reasonably close approach, only walking off slowly when approached. Occasionally one would hop or fly a short distance to catch an insect (mainly beetle) and on two occasions one flew a greater distance when disturbed by a runner. My flight shots did not turn out too well, and I did not want to disturb them to get more, so will need to wait till another occasion for the good flight photo.

Collared Pratincole – Dhahran Hills

Whilst birding the Dhahran Hills Cricket Field 15 September, I found and photographed a single Collared Pratincoles Glareola pratincola. This species is an uncommon passage migrant to the Eastern Province with birds seen in small numbers most years. They occur from late March to May and in August and September. During the remaining summer months and in October it tends to be scarce and irregular. Records are more common in the autumn than spring in Riyadh with autumn movement from late July to late October, peaking late August to early September, when flocks of 40 plus (mainly juveniles) are regularly encountered. In the southwest, west and northwest of the country records are more common mainly at freshwater inland areas where flocks of over 100 have been recorded at Tabuk. The bird I saw looked like it may have just arrived as it allowed close approach, even on foot, which is not common. They more often than not occur in groups rather than singly.

Collared Pratincoles – Jubail

Whilst birding the Jubail area, I found and photographed three Collared Pratincoles Glareola pratincola along the edge of a flooded area of Sabkha on 2 June 2017. This is quite a late date for the species to be recorded in the Eastern Province of the country. The Collared Pratincole is an uncommon passage migrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, with a similar status in the Riyadh area where they occur from late March to May and in August and September. During the remaining summer months and in October it tends to be scarce and irregular. Records are more common in the autumn than spring in Riyadh with autumn movement from late July to late October, peaking late August to early September, when flocks of 40 plus (mainly juveniles) are regularly encountered. In the southwest, west and northwest of the country records are more common mainly at freshwater inland areas where flocks of over 100 have been recorded at Tabuk.

Some great migrants on Taif to Riyadh road – Records by Saud Randhawa

Saud Randhava a local birdwatcher from Taif recorded a good fall of migrants whilst driving along the Taif to Riyadh road on 22 April. He said there is a wildlife reserve either side of the road before Zulfi town (approximately 500 kilometres from Riyadh) that is prohibited for hunting. Saud stopped his car at a petrol station and noticed lots of birds sitting on road side and some of them on walls. He managed to photograph a number of interesting species and has sent me the details and allowed me to use them on my website for which I am very grateful.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush

Red-throated Pipit

Collared Pratincole

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Some interesting birds - Haradh

Phil Roberts and I went to Haradh in late April to look for migrants and other birds. We set off at 03:00 hrs and arrived at 06:00 hrs. Birding was not exactly stunning but a few good birds were seen in our day out. Birds we do not see often in the Eastern Province included three Black-crowned Night Herons. A Spur-winged Lapwing appeared to be defending a territory aggressively from other birds suggesting it might be breeding. This species has not been recorded breeding in the Eastern Province before. We also saw four more Spur-winged Lapwings in another area of Haradh. A small group of Common Swift were over a large pivot irrigation field and a small group of five Collared Pratincole were in another field. A single Pallid Harrier was seen but no other birds of prey. The most common birds were Namaqua Doves and Crested Larks.

Black-crowned Night Herons

Black-crowned Night Herons

Spur-winged Lapwing 

Collared Pratincole

Collared Pratincole

Common Swift

Crested Lark

Namaqua Dove

Rock Dove