Adult Black-winged Kite - Qaryat Al Ulya

Whilst birding Qaryat Al Ulya in late November Phil and I came across a Black-winged Kite perched on the overhead wires. This is the first time we have seen this species at this locality and shows the continuing spread of this once rare bird. The first record of Black-winged Kite for the Eastern Province was only found on 17 April 2012, but since then has become more common with a current status as an uncommon breeding resident. This bird like all others seen in the Eastern Province is Elanus caeruleus vociferous, the subspecies that occurs from Pakistan east to southern & eastern China, Indochina and the Malay Peninsula. Whilst in this area of large pivot fields we also saw a few Corn Bunting a species not seen often in the areas we birdwatch, as well as a single Steppe Eagle flying over just south of this location. The best bird seen was a very close Shikra perched on a wire fence but unfortunately it flew before any photos were taken. This species is becoming commoner in the Eastern Province like is the case in the UAE.

Black-winged Kite

Black-winged Kite

Black-winged Kite

Black-winged Kite

Corn Bunting

Birding the Salwa area – Salwa

During late November I went to the Salwa area to see if there were any interesting birds about. I spent some time searching wet areas hoping to locate Prinias to try to identify what subspecies if any occurred there. On my previous visit in October I had not heard or seen any Prinias but the reed beds had be either burnt or destroyed by camels. This time the reeds had grown back nicely and more birds were seen. I only heard one Prinia briefly call and did not see it so am none the wiser as to what type, Delicate or Graceful, occurs there. Whilst looking for the Prinias I found an adult European Robin, which was my first record for the Kingdom but the bird was continually moving in the reeds and vegetation and I was not able to obtain any photos. Other birds seen in the reedy area included Spanish Sparrow, Eurasian Skylark and a small flock of about 15 Corn Bunting. These birds were continually coming down to some grain and allowed quite close approach. A Jack Snipe was seen on a large pool and a small number of European Starling were present. Three Black Redstart, several Common Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were seen feeding along the edge of some trees and an usual sight of a late Barn Swallow and very late Red-rumped Swallow together on a wire fence.

Corn Bunting

Corn Bunting

Corn Bunting

Corn Bunting

Black Redstart

Buntings & Larks – Jebal Hamrah

Whilst birding the Jebal Hamrah pivot irrigation fields recently with Phil Roberts, we came across a huge flock of Corn Buntings. The total seen was a minimum of one hundred birds and possibly many more. They were feeding in the grassy pivot fields but a couple of times all took to the air and landed on rough ground under the pivot irrigation equipment allowing reasonable views. In amongst the Corn Buntings were several small groups of Eurasian Skylarks and Greater Short-toed Larks. Corn Buntings are uncommon winter visitors to the region but this winter we have seen a few large flocks, like one in Tabuk and this one. Eurasian Skylarks are regular winter visitors in small numbers often seen in pivot irrigation fields. Greater Short-toed Larks are common passage migrants with flocks of several hundred often seen in suitable habitat.

Corn Bunting

Corn Bunting

Eurasian Skylark

Eurasian Skylark

Eurasian Skylark 

Eurasian Skylark

Greater Short-toed Lark

Huge flock of Corn Buntings - Tabuk

Whilst birding the Tabuk area in late January, Phil Roberts and I saw a flock of over 150 Corn Buntings in a stubble field. This is easily the largest flock seen in the Kingdom in recent years. The birds were very flighty and almost impossible to see on the ground but flew around a lot. They always remained distant and identification was difficult until we looked at photos. Corn Bunting is an uncommon and irregular winter visitor to the Kingdom with most records coming from the northern parts of the Kingdom.

Birding the pivot irrigation fields - Tabuk

Whilst in Tabuk we spent an entire day birding a few very large pivot irrigation fields and the surrounding scrub. This proved very rewarding with many species seen some in good numbers. Red-back Shrike was one of the most common species seen with over 75 recorded including adult males and juveniles. Pallid Harriers and Marsh Harriers were recorded as were Steppe Eagles and Common Kestrels. Spanish Sparrows and House Sparrows were common and several Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers and Graceful Prinias were seen. Five Corn Buntings could be hear singing at first light and a single Ortolan Bunting was located in a tree. A European Roller was in one large field along with 50+ Spur-winged Lapwings. Collared Dove, Namaqua Dove and Laughing Dove were all seen as were large numbers of Greater Short-toed Larks, Red-throated Pipits, Crested Larks and a couple of Tawney Pipits. We also saw two species of bird that according to the 2011 edition of "Birds of the Middle East", were not meant to be in the area. This is probably due to lack of observer coverage of the area as I know Viv Wilson who lived there recently saw both species. These birds were White-eared Bulbul that is not shown to be within 250 kilometres of Tabuk and Common Myna that is shown about 450 kilometres south near Yanbu.

Corn Bunting

Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Spanish Sparrow

Spur-winged Lapwing

Tawny Pipit

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Corn Bunting - Sarrar

Whilst birding the Sarrar area at then end of February I found a singing Corn Bunting. I could hear the bird singing but could not locate it, but after some time and moving around to try to pinpoint it I saw it at the edge of a large pivot irrigation field sitting on the ground. The Corn Bunting is an uncommon and irregular winter visitor to the Eastern Province and a bird I see infrequently. Although I have seen birds in Dhahran I mostly see them in the large pivot fields to the north around Qaryat Al Ulya Qaryat. This bird was well south if these fields showing that they can be found around any pivot field in the winter if conditions are right. The bird was very happy singing and allowed close approach and was even in the same place thirty minutes later when I went past the area again.

Larks, Pipits and Buntings – Qaryat Al Ulya

Phil and I went for our winter birding trip to the spray fields north of Jubail in the Qaryat Al Ulya area last weekend. We normally go to see if we can find any wintering birds of prey as well as winter larks and buntings. We had three large eagles at some distance but were unable to identify any of them with a few Common Kestrels in the spray fields. Most birds seen were larks, pipits and buntings with plenty of Tawny Pipits and Water Pipits in the fields. We found two Corn Buntings feeding in a short crop field, a not too common species as well as a large flock of 50+ Greater Short-toed Larks with ten Eurasian Skylarks. Larks seen on the edge of the fields included Desert Lark and Black-crowned Sparrow Lark and a single Bar-tailed Lark a species I have seen on only three occasions in Kingdom so a good bird for me.

Tawny Pipit

Corn Bunting

Corn Bunting

Bar-tailed Lark

Bar-tailed Lark

A flock of Lesser Kestrels – Hanidh

Phil and I went on a trip ‘up north’ last weekend to look at the large pivot irrigation fields and other habitat that is present. We normally go up to Jubail and on to Nayriyyah but this time went the other way via Hanidh. This turned out to be a good move when we spotted a Kestrel sitting on a wore fence whilst driving just after first light. We did not identify the species so I turned the car around and we drove back to where we had seen the bird. On arrival it became apparent there were a number of Kestrels in the area and they all turned out to be Lesser Kestrels . This is an uncommon migrant to all areas of the Kingdom with birds generally occurring from late February until mid- April and again from late September until mid-November. Lesser Kestrels tend to migrate in small flocks and this group was no exception with a total of 10 – 15 birds present. As it was very early morning it was difficult to get in a position to photograph the birds but eventually three flew and landed on the telegraph wires on the side of the road away from the rising sun allowing some photos to be taken.

Lesser Kestrel - male

Lesser Kestrel - male

Lesser Kestrel - female

Soon after this we found a couple of large pivot irrigation fields and saw 10+ Turkestan Shrike, and three Pied Wheatears along the fence line. After getting out of the car we walked around one field and had a number of good birds including a Corn Bunting that was singing at one point. There were a few Lesser Short-toed Larks present singing along one scrubby desert edge of the field and many Tree Pipits were there along with at least one Red-throated Pipit. A small flock of House Sparrows had at least one really smartly plumage Spanish Sparrow and a Common Chiffchaff was nearby feeding along the edge of a track where the pivot irrigation wheel had driven.  After spending some time in the field we drove to Nayriyyah and on the way found a single Black Kite migrating very fast along the road. This is my first record this spring of this species, which is an uncommon passage migrant through the areas I bird in the Eastern Province.

Corn Bunting

Lesser Shrot-toed Lark

Black Kite

Corn Buntings – Dhahran Hills

The spray fields have been very wet recently and spraying has been going on almost constantly. This is good in it makes the area green and good for birds, but bad in the fact that you can not bird the area properly as it is impossible to enter the fields without getting a soaking. Yesterday the spray heads were only putting out a small amount of water and as I saw the Caspian Stonechat I thought I would attempt to enter the fields in the hope of getting a few pictures of the bird. This idea did not work out as planned as I found two Corn Buntings in the field and started following them instead. Corn Bunting is still an unusual bird in Dhahran although i have seen a few every winter/spring I have been in Saudi Arabia. I managed a couple of photos but unfortunately they were slightly into the sun but turned out reasonable. Then I could not find the Caspian Stonechat just a Common Stonechat that would not allow close approach at all. Other birds in the spray fields included 20+ Water Pipits and three Tawny Pipits. A few Caspian Gulls and Steppe Gulls flew over going to roost somewhere and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk put in a fast flypast across the fields before circling up high in the sky and off.

Corn Bunting

Corn Bunting

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Eurasian Sparrowhawk