First spring Whinchat & Lesser Grey Shrike – Dhahran Football Field

Whilst birding the Dhahran Football field in mid-April area recently I saw my first records this year of Whinchat and Lesser Grey Shrike. Both these species are seen each year in Dhahran but only on one or two days in the spring. Migration of shrikes has been good through Dhahran this year with the majority being Turkestan and Daurian Shrikes but also Woodchat, Great Grey and Masked Shrikes have been seen. Other migrants seen have been a few Northern Wheatear, a species seen rarely in Dhahran, tens of Eurasian Hoopoe and one Whimbrel 

Eurasian Hoopoe

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike

Northern Wheatear

Northern Wheatear

Whimbrel

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Football Fields – Dhahran Hills

After the amazing number of birds seen on the football fields last weekend, I decided to see what was present. It was clear from general birding that the large fall of birds (Shrikes, Wagtails etc) had departed, and the fields had no migrants at all, just a few local residents. Nine Eurasian Hoopoe were nice to see, with some close to the edge allowing photos and a few Common Myna were present on the grass with one flying off after being disturbed by the gardeners and flying right over my head. The only other birds I saw were House Sparrows which were numerous and mainly picking insects off the grass with a few perched on weeds to the side of the fields. 

Eurasian Hoopoe

Common Myna

Common Myna

House Sparrow - female

Slow migration but a good bird - Jubail

Birding Jubail on 1 October proved quite slow with very few migrants seen in the first hour of light. Things picked up slightly, later, with a few good birds seen by the end of the day. The best bird was a Eurasian Hobby perched on a small shrub for a while before departing and not being relocated, which was my first sighting of the species at this location. More common migrants seen were a few Yellow Wagtails, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Blue-cheeked and European Bee-eaters and a Eurasian Wryneck. Herons were around in very large numbers with 500+ Little Egrets, 200+ Squacco Heron, 150+ Grey Heron, four Purple Heron, two Great Egret and a Eurasian Spoonbill. Interesting waders were Marsh Sandpiper and two Pied Avocet with 300+ Caspian Tern and 30+ Gull-billed Tern. Numbers of Purple Swamphen are on the increase with 50+ seen for the first time in many months. Three Ferruginous Duck were a nice record of this uncommon species in Saudi Arabia.

Eurasian Hobby

   Eurasian Wryneck

                                                                     

Eurasian Hobby – Jubail

Whilst birding near Jubail in September I found an adult Eurasian Hobby sitting on the small tree in the early morning. The weather conditions had been foggy and large numbers of birds had been grounded by the weather most of which appeared to be Spanish Sparrows. I assume the Eurasian Hobby was part of the movement halted by the weather as the bird appeared to be tired and allowed close approach before moving off only a short distance. As the bird was tiered we left it in piece after getting a few photos and as the light was poor due to the fog the below photos are not as good as they may have been. I have only seen Eurasian Hobby a few times before in Saudi Arabia with all records being in Dhahran Camp with the exception of a single bird seen at near Jubail. Most records are from the spring migration period, so this record was a slight surprise. The species is an uncommon passage migrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia where it often hunts small birds and insects over wetlands and fields. Birds are mainly seen in the early morning and late evening.

Plenty of migrants and Eurasian Hoopoes in Tabuk – Bird records by Viv Wilson

Viv Wilson a birdwatcher from Tabuk was out birding at the end of August and found and photographed plenty of good birds. Viv said he saw up to nine Eurasian Hoopoes together in his compound, the largest number he has seen together at the location. Eurasian Hoopoe appears to be migrating in good numbers on a broad front across Saudi Arabia at present and has been recorded in high numbers in many different locations. Other migrants were about in good numbers including both Black-crowned Night Herons and Glossy Ibis. Viv also saw both Red-backed and Masked Shrikes as well as Spotted Flycathers and a few more brightly coloured species such as European Roller, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters and Yellow Wagtails. It is obvious migration is well underway across much of the Kingdom and this is a little earlier than many previous years. Hopefully it will continue for a few more weeks and allow some good birds to be found.

Eurasian Hoopoe

Eurasian Hoopoe

Eurasian Hoopoe

Black-crowned Night Heron

Glossy Ibis

European Roller

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Yellow Wagtail

Red-backed Shrike

Masked Shrike

Spotted Flycatcher

Eurasian Hobby – Dhahran Hills

Whilst birding the spray fields I found an adult Eurasian Hobby sitting on the ground by a wet patch where the field had recently been flooded. This was the first time I had seen the species in Saudi Arabia sitting on the ground. I have only seen it a few times before with all records being in Dhahran Camp with the exception of a single bird seen at Sabkhat Al Fasl. Most records are from the spring migration period. The species is an uncommon passage migrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia where it often hunts small birds and insects over wetlands and fields. Birds are mainly seen in the early morning and late evening.

The Eurasian Hobby is a long distance migrant from Europe and northern Asia to southern Africa. They migrate on a broad front crossing water freely, without concentrating along specific routes and is mainly regarded as an uncommon passage migrant throughout Arabia. Birds are mainly seen from early April until May and then from late August to early November.

Kuwait – Uncommon passage migrant.
Saudi Arabia – Uncommon passage migrant
Bahrain – Passage migrant, March to May and August to November
Qatar – Uncommon passage migrant early April to mid-June and late August to mid-October, first winter birds until mid-December
UAE - Uncommon spring and common to fairly common autumn migrant.
Oman – Fairly common migrant

Garganey & Eurasian Hobby - Dhahran Hills

The 'patch' was quite lively again today with Phil Roberts seeing Woodchat Shrike and Daurain Shrike in the spray fields as well as a flock of 50 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. I also saw the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater but only 15 of them. The percolation pond area had three Red-rumped Swallow which were new for the autumn as well as 11 Barn Swallow and seven Sand Martin. A calling Eastern Olivacious Warbler was present in the thorny scrub by th edge of the pond and eight Yellow Wagtail were at the muddy edge including a single Black-headed Wagtail. Waders included four Common Snipe, Seven Green Sandpiper, six Wood Sandpiper, 31 Black-winged Stilt, 45 Little Stint, 37 Kentish Plover, one Ruff, three Common Ringed Plover and a single Little Ringed Plover. Other birds on the pond included two Grey Heron, two Little Egret and one Indian Reef Heron. All the birds were flushed by a falcon which flew quickly across the pond and disappeared from view allowing poor views only. It looked quite large and had a pale looking underwing but otherwise resembled Eurasian Hobby in appearance and was the first bird of prey I have seen this autumn. This is only the second Eurasian Hobby I have seen in Dhahran Hills with the first being last winter.

 Garganey

 Garganey

 Eurasian Hobby