Crested Honey Buzzard - Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Just after first light I saw a Crested Honey Buzzard fly over the Dhahran Waste Water Lake, quite close to me and was able to take a couple of photos shown below. This bird has been around since mid-September in Dhahran a location where they have spent the last ten years at least wintering with some occasionally staying through the summer as well. Most birds in Dhahran are seen over the golf course but the Waste Water lake is another regular location although they are seen here much less often. The species has a status in Saudi Arabia of an uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor that also occurs scarce in summer. Regular summer records from the highlands around Abha and north suggest birds probably breed there now. 

Birds in around & over – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

The last few visits to the Waste Water Lake during April and early May have produced a few new birds. A number of breeding Little Ringed Plover have been seen and heard calling and flying around suggesting they have young about. House Crows are now being seen in good numbers around the pond and nearby Cricket Fields. At least two Crested Honey Buzzards are still present and may well stay for the summer as they have done in the past few years. Migrants include Daurian and Red-backed Shrikes the later of which were not seen until late April which is quite late as they are normally seen early April and very occasionally in March. European Bee-eaters have been flying over in reasonably good numbers with flocks of twenty plus birds seen on many occasions. They are often heard calling before they are seen. Another migrant seen in larger numbers than normal this year has been Northern Wheatear, whilst Tree Pipit has been recorded less frequently than in recent years. 

Little Ringed Plover

Northern Wheatear

Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Tree Pipit

Crested Honey Buzzard 

Crested Honey Buzzard 

Crested Lark

Daurian Shrike

Daurian Shrike

European Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

Birding the scrubby area – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding the scrubby area next to Dhahran Waste Water Lake in March it was very apparent that the number of Common Chiffchaffs were increasing. Birds were scattered around the area but mainly preferring the larger trees. The birds were completely silent with not a single call heard whilst I was in the area. One the other hand Graceful Prinia were calling continually from the tops of reeds or trees and are now getting ready to start breeding. A single Lesser Whitethroat was also seen. Interesting birds flying over included a Crested Honey Buzzard and a few House Crow.

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Crested Honey Buzzard

Crested Honey Buzzard

Graceful Prinia

House Crow

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Crested Honey Buzzard - Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Just after first light I saw a Crested Honey Buzzard fly over and land on the ground some distance away. I slowly walked over to the area it appeared to land in and managed to find it on the ground. Unfortunately, it did not stay long as it was disturbed by some mountain bikers but only flew a short distance and landed on a bank. It stayed here for a while and then flew, luckily almost straight past me as I was hidden behind a tree. It then circled around a little and flew off over the golf course. This bird has been around since mid-September in Dhahran a location where they have spent the last ten 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 throughout the year, a location where they may well now be breeding.

Birding Deffi Park in winter

Deffi Park in the winter is an excellent place to see Crested Honey Buzzard that have been wintering there every winter for the past six years. The last couple of times I have been I have seen a Crested Honey Buzzard but they have not been very confiding. I also saw an active bee nest in the park, the food that the Crested Hone Buzzards prefer. The park is also one of the best places in the Eastern Province to see Masked Shrike in the winter where up to three birds spend the winter. Apart from a number of Common Chiffchaff the only other interesting species was Red-throated Pipit where up to seven birds were seen feeding on the grass along with two Water Pipits.

Crested Honey Buzzard

Honey Bee nest

Masked Shirke

Red-throated Pipit

Red-throated Pipit

Red-throated Pipit

Two Crested Honey Buzzard wintering - Dhahran Hills

In late December I managed to photograph a Crested Honey Buzzard, although another bird was also present that I did not manage to get any good photos of. These birds have been around since mid-September in Dhahran a location where they have spent the last ten 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 throughout the year, a location where they may well now be breeding.