Birds of Saudi Arabia: Crested Lark

Showing posts with label Crested Lark. Show all posts

01 October 2024

Late September at Dhahran Cricket Field

Whilst birding the Dhahran Hills Cricket field at the end of September I saw a few interesting birds. Western Cattle Egrets are back in good numbers and Eurasian Hoopoe numbers have increased significantly with migrant birds joining the local breeding birds. Another species that has been seen in higher-than-normal numbers is Black-winged Stilt with tens of birds on almost all grassy areas in the compound. Resident species seen included Common Myna, Eurasian Collared Dove and Crested Lark. Migrants noted have included Woodchat Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Spotted Flycatcher and Northern Wheatear.

Black-winged Stilt

Common Myna

Crested Lark

Eurasian Collared Dove

Eurasian Hoopoe

Spotted Flycatcher

Western Cattle Egret

Woodchat Shrike

11 May 2024

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

Tree Pipit

Crested Honey Buzzard

Crested Lark

Daurian Shrike

European Bee-eater

31 January 2024

Pallid Swift – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

An early morning trip to Dhahran Waste Water Lake in January produced a few good birds including the Red-wattled Lapwings still present. The lake still held two Tufted Duck and a small number of Great Cormorant, although significantly less than last year. Egrets and herons included two Squacco Heron, one Great Egret, thee Little Egret and ten Grey Heron. Several Daurian Shrikes are wintering at the location and the Pied Kingfisher was also seen in flight, hovering, and perched briefly. A small number of Pallid Swift are still around, dropping down occasionally to drink from the lake. Graceful Prinia are now singing again, with males calling from a lot of different locations. This species has increased significantly in numbers over the last ten years and is now a common sight when out at any time of year. Another species that is singing commonly around the lake is the Crested Lark, a common resident breeder.

Pallid Swift

Crested Lark

Creat Cormorant

Little Egret

Tufted Duck

30 September 2023

September on the Cricket Field – Dhahran Hills

September is a good month to check the cricket fields in the evening as they are watered thoroughly and the soft ground attracts numerous species of birds. A female Common Kestrel was around for most of the month, normally perched on the floodlights but occasionally dropping down to feed on the ground. Much more common species were Eurasian Collared Dove and Crested Lark with tens of birds scattered around the playing area. Waders were made up of Eurasian Whimbrel & Ruff whilst flyovers of note included a few groups of Rose-ringed Parakeet and an Osprey that was only ever seen as the sun was setting.

Common Kestrel

Crested Lark

Eurasian Collared Dove

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Ruff

Osprey

10 February 2023

Wastewater Lake – Dhahran Hills

The lake in Dhahran Hills has been holding a few birds recently with a number of Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Grey Heron and Western Great Egret. Three Glossy Ibis were a much more uncommon sight. Birds on the water included the wintering Great Crested Grebe, fifty plus Little Grebes ad a single Black-necked Grebe. Great Cormorant, Black-headed Gull and Gull-billed Terns were still present and European Stonechat, Daurian Shrike, Delicate Prinia and Crested Larks were in the vegetation and rough areas around the pond. Two Crested Honey Buzzards were seen in flight but at a great distance and on a grass area near to the waters edge was a single Eurasian Hoopoe.