Hanedh & Jabal Nayriyyah area

Phil and I went for our winter birding trip to the spray fields north of Jubail in the Qaryat Al Ulya area last weekend. We normally go to see if we can find any wintering birds of prey as well as winter larks and buntings but the trip is normally hard work with little return for the effort. We set off at 04:00 hrs to arrive at Hanedh at first light. It was a very cold morning with temperatures at 6 degrees Celsius at 06:00 hrs. We checked a few pivot irrigation fields and found a few birds we do not see so regularly including a Long-legged Buzzard first thing. It flew over the road and luckily landed on a power line pole where we had time to get our cameras and grab a few photographs. This is a species I have seen more regularly in the last year or so although sightings are still few. Some nearby fields held a few Eurasian Skylarks and Tawny Pipits as well as some Stonechats of various types including a nice male NCT Stonechat. A single Souther Grey Shrike was located hunting along the edge of the field using the poles as perches to find food. Along the roadside we found a few Desert Wheatears including a couple of smart adult males. After Hanedh we moved on to Kahfah near Nayriyyah to see if we could find any Hypocolius that have been seen there previously. We failed but did see plenty of Spanish Sparrows and a few Common Chiffchaffs as well as a fly over Pallid Harrier. We then went to Jabal Nayriyyah and saw a few Wheatears including Eastern Mourning and Desert but Deserts Larks that are normally in the area could not be found.

Long-legged Buzzard

Long-legged Buzzard

Long-legged Buzzard

Long-legged Buzzard

Desert Wheatear

NCT Stonechat

Southern Grey Shrike

Tawny Pipit

Pallid Harrier

Eastern Mourning Wheatear

Eastern Mourning Wheatear

NCT Stonechat – Sabkhat Al Fasl

A number of Stonechat have been seen at Sabkhat Al Fasl in recent weeks with all the ones I have seen appearing to be European Stonechat. I saw a male bird with a very white rump patch and plenty of white extending down the outside of the tail in a Wheatear type tail pattern. This bird turned out to be a NCT Stonechat the first one of the atumn for me. The latest data on the Stonechat Saxicola torquatus has found convincing reasons for recognising three species: European Stonechat S. rubicola, Eastern Stonechat S. Maurus and African Stonechat S. torqatus. The taxa breeding in the Caspian region, both of which winter in Saudi Arabia, were revisited and after studying the type description and various museum specimens it was concluded that the name variegatus should not be applied to the taxon breeding north of the Caucasus but rather to the population in eastern Turkey and Transcaucasia presently named armenicus. This means the former variegatus, northern Caspian population, needed a new name with hemprichii being the oldest available and valid name for the population. The paper also called hemprichii (formerly variegatus) North Caspian Taxon (NCT) and variegatus (formerly armenicus) South Caspian Taxon (SCT). The northern population NCT has a very characteristic male plumage with white portions on each side of the outer tail extending to half to three-quarters of the tail feather length, similar to many Wheatears and Red-backed Shrike. This can be seen easily when perched birds spread their tail or when birds fly but on perched birds with tails closed it can often not be seen. NCT also has a large unstreaked pale rump patch, buffish when fresh becoming white when abraded. In comparison European Stonechat has a streaked rump with usually limited white. Females are more difficult as they resemble both SCT and nominate birds and often need the tail coverts to be lifted to see the white (even in the hand), with a few females lacking any white at all. The South Caspian Taxon is similar to NCT birds but is larger, although a number of measurements overlap, has less white on the tail bases in male plumage (normally one-third to half the tail feathers white) often not visible in flight. Females invariably lack white in the tail. Eastern Stonechat Saxicola maurus is an uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor with NCT Saxicola maurus hemprichii and STC Saxicola maurus variegatus occurring but NCT birds being the commoner type. Migrants occur mainly from March to April and September to November with many birds spending the winter where they are often seen in open areas with scattered bushes and in reeds beds near wetland areas as well as open fields.

North Caspian Taxon Eastern Stonechat S. m. hemprichii trapped and ringed in Bahrain – Alba Marsh

The latest data on the Stonechat Saxicola torquatus has found convincing reasons for recognising three species: European Stonechat S. rubicola, Eastern Stonechat S. Maurus and African Stonechat S. torqatus. The taxa breeding in the Caspian region, both of which winter in Saudi Arabia, were revisited and after studying the type description and various museum specimens it was concluded that the name variegatus should not be applied to the taxon breeding north of the Caucasus but rather to the population in eastern Turkey and Transcaucasia presently named armenicus. This means the former variegatus, northern Caspian population, needed a new name with hemprichii being the oldest available and valid name for the population. The paper also called hemprichii (formerly variegatus) North Caspian Taxon (NCT) and variegatus (formerly armenicus) South Caspian Taxon (SCT). The northern population NCT has a very characteristic male plumage with white portions on each side of the outer tail extending to half to three-quarters of the tail feather length, similar to many Wheatears and Red-backed Shrike. This can be seen easily when perched birds spread their tail or when birds fly but on perched birds with tails closed it can often not be seen. NCT also has a large unstreaked pale rump patch, buffish when fresh becoming white when abraded. In comparison European Stonechat has a streaked rump with usually limited white. Females are more difficult as they resemble both SCT and nominate birds and often need the tail coverts to be lifted to see the white (even in the hand), with a few females lacking any white at all. The South Caspian Taxon is similar to NCT birds but is larger, although a number of measurements overlap, has less white on the tail bases in male plumage (normally one-third to half the tail feathers white) often not visible in flight. Females invariably lack white in the tail. We caught a first year male NCT Eastern Stonechat S. m. hemprichii at Alba Marsh 28 November 2014 and studied the bird in the hand. It was sexed as a male due to the dark axillaries and dark feathers on the throat when these feathers were moved to expose the colour below. This is only the second Stonechat we have caught with the first not assigned properly due to the fact I did not lift the tail coverts to expose any white on the base of the tail feathers that it appeared to lack. I would like to thank Yoav Perlman for informing me of the need to lift the tail coverts to see the white on some birds in the hand, allowing me to do this on this bird and any subsequent ones we catch. Eastern Stonechat Saxicola maurus is an uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor with NCT Saxicola maurus hemprichii and STC Saxicola maurus variegatus occurring but NCT birds being the commoner type. Migrants occur mainly from March to April and September to November with many birds spending the winter where they are often seen in open areas with scattered bushes and in reeds beds near wetland areas as well as open fields.

A better days birding – Sabkhat Al Fasl

The winter has been very poor in Saudi Arabia for birds so far with my last few visits to Sabkhat Al Fasl producing very little. The trip Phil and I made last weekend was a better days birding, although we failed to find anything significant. We had six Greater Spotted Eagles which although a low number for recent winters is the highest number I have seen at the site this winter. Most birds were distant but one bird flew right overhead giving good views. Other birds of prey included two Eurasian Sparrowhawks and 10+ Western Marsh Harriers including a fine adult male.

Greater Spotted Eagle

Greater Spotted Eagle

Clamorous Reed Warblers were singing loudly at every patch of reeds we passed and must have a very high breeding density here. Plenty of Common Chiffchaffs were seen and heard in the reeds and a male Daurian Shrike was also hunting from the tall reed stems. A few terns were flying over the reed beds with most Caspian Terns but one Gull-billed Tern was also seen.

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Common Chiffchaff

Daurian Shrike

Down by the scrape area we had a couple of Song Thrushes one of which stayed long enough for a distant photo. This is the first time I have photographed the species at this location as although I have seen them there before they are shy and retiring birds. In this same area a couple of European Stonechats and two North Caspian Taxon Stonechats were seen and hundreds of Water Pipits were also present. About four Bluethroats were seen with one being a fine Red-spotted male and all were seen above ground level in the red beds.

Song Thrush

North Caspian Taxon Stonechat

Red-spotted Bluethroat

Water Pipit - coutelli

Other birds seen included a large number of Western Great Egrets (20+), two Common Kingfishers, four Common Snipe, twenty Squacco Herons, 14 Western Cattle Egrets, 20+ Little Egrets, one Kentish Plover, one Green Sandpiper and a couple of Little Grebes. Approximately 5000 Greater Flamingos were present on the flooded sabkha which is still at a very high level after all the winter rain. The Flamingos, as can be seen from the photograph below, are wading in the water up to their bellies which is an unusual sight.

Greater Flamingo

A few flyovers & Stonechats – Sabkhat Al Fasl

A trip to Sabkhat Al Fasl was relatively quiet but still good birding was had. The winter has had and extended period of cool weather with temperatures on arrival at first light being only 10 degrees Celsius. Plenty of birds were seen flying over with 20+ Western Marsh Harriers along with a Greater Spotted Eagle and a Western Osprey. The Western Osprey was seen later on in a different area where it was seen trying to catch fish but without luck. Other birds seen flying over in good numbers included Black-headed Gulls, LWH Gulls and Great Cormorants. A few terns were also flying about all of which were Caspian Terns.

Western Osprey

Great Cormorant

Caspian Tern

The main reed beds and lagoons were lacking birds but 20+ Purple Swamphens were seen and the reeds were alive with the calls of Graceful Prinias and Clamorous Reed Warblers, two species that breed early in Saudi Arabia. Three Daurian Shrikes and both European Stonechat and NCT Stonechats were present in small numbers. Heron numbers are increasing with 30+ Squacco Herons, several Grey Herons, 17 Western Cattle Egrets a scarce bird at Sabkhat Al Fasl, and 50+ Indian Reef Herons.

Purple Swamphen

Common Stonechat

North Caspian Taxon Stonechat

North Caspian Taxon Stonechat

Squacco Heron

The flooded Sabkhat is very extensive this year due to all the rain we have had and thousands (3000+) Greater Flamingos are enjoying the area. There were only four duck present, all Eurasian Teal with no sign of the regular Common Shelduck. Thousands of Black-headed Gulls with a few Slender-billed Gulls mixed in were also in this are with small numbers of the common waders.

Stonechats in the spray fields – Dhahran Hills

The spray fields have been reasonably quiet in recent weeks but there are always a few Stonechats to see. The trouble is they are often seen at some distance and in poor evening light. Yesterday I saw three stonechats at close range of which two were Common Stonechats, but I saw them very late in the day and was unable to photograph them. I also saw one North Caspian Taxon (NCT) Stonechat at some distance but it kept flying closer and closer to me allowing a few photos, although the light was poor as it was quite late. The stonechats in Dhahran normally stay around until late spring so I hope I can photograph these birds in better light conditions, as the days get longer. The only other birds seen in the spray fields were a couple of Western Cattle Egrets which is a very small percentage of the 121 birds I counted going to roost in the red bed of the settling pond.

North Caspian Taxon (Siberian) Stonechat

North Caspian Taxon (Siberian) Stonechat

North Caspian Taxon (Siberian) Stonechat

Ducks & Grebes are back on the pond – Dhahran Hills

The percolation pond is full of water again and has been for about a month. Birds have just started finding the pond again with a few Great Cormorants being the first closely followed by Black-headed Gulls and Little Grebes. In the last few days duck numbers have increased with 28 Eurasian Teal, six Northern Shoveller and six Tufted Ducks seen. The Great Crested Grebe has also returned which was slightly surprising as very little in the way of reed beds are still present. The areas around the pond have a few Common Chiffchaff and a single Daurian Shrike with a flock of 100+ Pallid Swift and a single House Martin over the pond. This maybe the first signs of spring migration starting as it occurs early in Saudi Arabia and lets hope it will be a good one. The spray fields are holding a few birds now and my first singing Graceful Prinia of the year was seen there along with a few Water Pipits and White Wagtails. The North Caspian Taxon (NCT) Stonechat was still present in the same area along with plenty of Painted Lady Butterflies. Apart from this a single Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew over at last light and the Red-tailed Wheatear was still present on the same rocks where it has been for over a month.

White Wagtail

Water Pipit

Graceful Prinia

North Caspian Stonechat

Painted Lady

NCT Caspian & Common Stonechats – Sabkhat Al Fasl

Whilst birding at Sabkhat Al Fasl last weekend I saw a good number of wintering Stonechats. Most were NCT Caspian Stonechats (Eastern Siberian Stonechat) but I also saw a single male Common Stonechat. Both these species winter in Saudi Arabia with Common Stonechat much scarcer in the Eastern Province than Caspian Stonechat. The male Stonechats add a splash of colour to the drab winter scenery of many of the areas I bird and trying to work out what species or sub-species you are looking at adds a challenge to birding. The status of Common Stonechat is not very well know as all old data includes Siberian Stonechat with Common Stonechat under one species as they were previously regarded as the same species. Since I have been in Saudi Arabia, at least in the Eastern Province it is clear then Siberian Stonechat maura is an uncommon passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor, varigatus also has the same status but is less common on passage migrant and more common in winter. Common Stonechat appears to be a scarce passage and winter visitor but more data needs collecting on its status.

Common Stonechat - male

Common Stonechat - male

Common Stonechat - male

North Caspian Taxon Stonechat - male

North Caspian Taxon Stonechat - male

North Caspian Taxon Stonechat - male