Grey-headed Swamphen – Jubail area

Whilst birding Jubail last weekend we found a lot of Purple Swamphens some in unusual places due to the drainage of large areas of the wetland site. Other areas had the reed beds removed and now there is not many good areas for them to live. Graceful Prinia on the other hand still has large areas of reedbeds and scrub to move around in and are still plentiful. Eurasian and Clamorous Reed Warblers were also common in these same areas. Migrants were around in small numbers including Woodchat Shrike, Isabelle Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, European Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin and Yellow Wagtail. Less common birds for the site included Eurasian Oystercatcher, House Crow, Bar-tailed Godwit and Common Myna.

Isabelline Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear

Grey-headed Swamphen

Graceful Prinia

White-cheeked Terns - Khafra Marsh

Whilst birding Khafra Marsh we have been seeing quite a few White-cheeked Terns. These birds have obviously bred offshore close by and are now feeding inland a little. Most of the birds are now heavily worn and will be moving off to their wintering grounds in the next month or so. On the wet area with the terns were a few Black-wined Stilts which have also bred nearby. The resident and very vocal Graceful Prinia is also commonly seen at this location and sometimes sits out in the open for photographs.

Black-winged Stilt

Graceful Prinia

Graceful Prinia

White-cheeked Tern

White-cheeked Tern

White-cheeked Tern

Summer at the Lake – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

The summer in Saudi Arabia is very hot with few birds about. The Waste Water Lake in Dhahran has many fewer birds than the other seasons but birds can still be seen if you stick at it. A few Pallid Swift are flying around, often dropping down to to the water to drink or wet their breast feathers. Graceful Prinia, European Reed Warbler and Clamorous Reed Warbler are the only warblers seen recently all of which are calling loudly from the reeds. Herons are still present about in ones or twos with Great Egret, Squacco Heron, Grey Heron, Little Egret and Purple Heron all seen along with the more common (now) Little Bittern. Common species seen regularly in the scrub and around the lake include White-eared Bulbul and House Crow.

Graceful Prinia

Great Egret

House Crow

Pallid Swift

Pallid Swift

Purple Heron

Squacco Heron

White-eared Bulbul

Not much visible – Khafra Marsh

Whilst birding Khafra Marsh the last couple of weekends I have not really seen very much at all. The temperature is now very high, and birds are few and far between at most sites. I did see a few migrants in the form of Wood Sandpiper at a small pool formed by all the recent rain and a Red-backed Shrike and Common Whitethroat in the scrubby areas. A Blue-cheeked Bee-eater was present on the same place es the breeding birds from last hear so looks like it may well be breeding again. Eurasian Collared Dove and Graceful Prinia are resident breeders that were the only birds seen in good numbers.

Common Whitethroat

Eurasian Collared Dove

Graceful Prinia

Red-backed Shrike

Wood Sandpiper

Various Warblers – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

The scrubby area next to Dhahran Waste Water Lake has had a lot of warblers passing through in recent days. The weather is cooler and wetter than normal for this time of year and the birds appear to be liking the climate. Graceful Prinia is a resident breeding species and a lot of birds are now singing as they are in their breeding season. Willow Warbler numbers have increased dramatically in the last couple of weeks with upwards of fifty birds seen on a single day. As the Willow Warbler numbers have increase so has the Common Chiffchaff numbers decreased with many days none seen and on a good day one or two. Barred Warbler is another species of warbler that has started to show up with four birds the day high for me. Lesser Whitethroat numbers have also been high this spring with birds seen on every visit in numbers up to seven. Another resident breeder that is singing now is Clamorous Reed Warbler. As there are phragmites reeds at the edge of the lake the birds have moved in to breed here and are very noisy first thing in the morning before the temperature increases too much.

Barred Warbler

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Graceful Prinia

Graceful Prinia

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

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

Residents and migrants – Abha Area

Apart from the endemics the area also held resident African Stonechat, Dusky Turtle Dove, Pale Crag Martin, Fan-tailed Raven, Graceful Prinia, Hamerkop and Long-billed Pipit. Migrants had just started passing through with a few Barn Swallow and lots of Common Chiffchaff seen. Two White-winged Tern in full breeding plumage were seen on one lake visited.

African Stonechat

Barn Swallow

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Dusky Turtle Dove

Fan-tailed Raven

Graceful Prinia

Graceful Prinia

Hamerkop

Long-billed Pipit

Pale Crag Martin

White-winged Tern

White-winged Tern