Lesser Kestrels – Jebal Hamrah

Whilst driving to Judah and Jebal Hamrah we came across two Lesser Kestrels perched on fence wires in the very early morning. This was the first time I have seen the species in Jebal Hamrah. Lesser Kestrel is an uncommon passage migrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia that migrates in small flocks. They are normally seen in areas where insects are common such as pivot irrigation fields where good numbers can sometimes be seen in spring. Small flocks are sometimes seen flying over at some height and not landing suggesting many move through the area unseen. Numbers are significantly lower in the autumn than the spring. Most birds occur in Saudi Arabia from the middle of February to mid-April in spring, and between the end-September and mid-November in autumn. 

Birds around Dhahran golf course – Bird Records by Paul Wells

Paul Wells has been looking at the birds around the old golf course in Dhahran and seeing some interesting migrants. Some of these birds like Lesser Kestrel, although quite common at the right time of year in the Eastern Province are much scarcer in Dhahran Camp and are not seen every year, with many of those that are seen just flying over. This makes the stunning male bird Paul saw and photographed a very good sighting. Another migrant see irregularly but sometimes in good numbers in Dhahran Camp in certain years is the Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. The Ortolan Buntings seen by Paul some days ago were still present with up to three birds seen in a similar area to where one was seen previously.

Lesser Kestrel

Ortolan Buntings

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush

Plenty of migrants near Tabuk – Bird records by Viv Wilson

Viv went birding to his local wetland area that is now growing significantly in size. It has started attracting good numbers of birds including plenty of migrants. Whilst there he saw a good number of water birds including both Grey Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron, the later species not so common in the Kingdom although regular in small numbers. Other water birds seen included mixed flocks of waders and terns as well as ducks with Northern Pintail being the commonest. Also a few Spur-winged Lapwings were present in the area. Both Common Kestrel and Lesser Kestrel were in the trees and flying over as well as two or three Montagu’s Harriers. Passerine migrants included Ortolan Bunting and Great Reed Warbler.

Grey Herons

Black-crowned Night Heron

Wetland 

Wader Flock

Duck flock including Northern Pintail

Glossy Ibis

Spur-winged Lapwing

Lesser Kestrel

Lesser Kestrel

Montagu's Harrier

Montagu's Harrier

Ortolan Bunting

Great Reed Warbler

Lesser Kestrels on the move – Haradh

Whilst birding the Haradh area in recent weeks a good number of Lesser Kestrels have been seen. Lesser Kestrel is an uncommon passage migrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia that migrates in small flocks. They are normally seen in areas where insects are common such as pivot irrigation fields where good numbers can sometimes be seen in spring. Small flocks are sometimes seen flying over at some height and not landing suggesting many move through the area unseen. Numbers are significantly lower in the autumn than the spring. Most birds occur in Saudi Arabia from the middle of February to mid-April in spring, and between the end-September and mid-November in autumn. Since 1987 birds have apparently started over-wintered on the farmlands south of Riyadh. I have not been birding in Haradh in the winter but will go back this winter and see if I can record any wintering birds in this area, as it is similar habitat and quite close to Riyadh. The indiscriminate use of pesticides is thought to have contributed to dramatic population declines in this insectivorous raptor.

Lesser Kestrel near Tabuk – Bird records by Viv Wilson

Viv Wilson went out looking to see if he could re-find the Black-winged Kite he had seen the day before but unfortunately failed in his mission. He did, however, see and photograph a few good birds despite the very poor weather conditions and heavy rain at times. One good thing about the rain was that it probably caused the male Lesser Kestrel to stay put in its tree rather than flying off allowing Viv to get an excellent photo of it.  At the wetland he birds at Viv saw a group of Glossy Ibis and a single White-tailed Lapwing as well as a Western Marsh Harrier but otherwise not much else. I would like to thank Viv for allowing me to use his photos on my website some of which are reproduced below.

Lesser Kestrel

Glossy Ibis

White-tailed Lapwing

Western Marsh Harrier

Hundreds of Bee-eaters - Ash Shargiyah Development Company Farm

Whilst birding Ash Shargiyah Development Company Farm recently we were surprised by the number of Bee-eaters present. We have seen European Bee-eaters before at the location in small numbers but this trip there were several hundred European Bee-eaters and well over ten Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters. Good numbers of European Bee-eaters have been passing through a wide area of the Eastern Province in the last few weeks but these were the first Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters either Phil or I had seen. Apart from the Bee-eaters that were all migrants several other migrants were seen. One was a smart male Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush on a stump by the side of the road but unfortunately it was always into the sun so the photo is not the best. Several other good birds were my first European Turtle Doves of the year when two were seen in a dead tree and two Ortolan Buntings in a spray field. Ne spray field had over 100 Greater Short-toed Larks and another plenty of Yellow Wagtails of several different races including lutea, beema and thunbergi. Another filed had eleven Lesser Kestrels sitting on the spray bars as well as flying over the field. Several other good birds were seen including good numbers of Spanish Sparrows, four Pied Wheatears, one Northern Wheatear, one Whinchat and two calling Common Quail. The pond had a Western Osprey plus several Little Terns and Barn Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins were flying over. Although there was nothing really good on the farm we saw plenty of interesting species and it is always a good place to bird. Now we have written permission to enter the location from the farm manager it is also a lot easier to access.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

European Turtle Dove

Lesser Kestrel

Ortolan Bunting

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush

Yellow Wagtail - lutea

More birds from Tabuk – Bird records by Viv Wilson

Viv has sent me a few batches of bird photographs seen in the Tabuk area in recent weeks. He has photographed a number of species that are rare or not recorded in the Eastern Province where I do my birding including Sinai Rosefinch. This species is restricted to the northwest corner of Saudi Arabia from around Al Ula towards the Jordon boarder. They are really beautiful birds to see and have very loud calls, but I have never managed to get good photographs of them as they were always on the move. Wintering Black Kites are not seen in the Eastern Province either but many hundreds winter in the Tabuk area. Although Desert Larks are relatively common in the right habitat of jebals and escarpments in the Eastern Province I do not often see them as my birding is not in these areas very often. I thank Viv for sending me his images and allowing me to use them on my website.

Sinai Rosefinch

Sinai Rosefinch

Black Kite

Black Kite

Black Kite

Desert Lark

Lesser Kestrel

Steppe Eagle

Western Marsh Harrier

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