Juvenile Osprey – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

The juvenile Osprey is still hanging around the Waste Water Lake in Dhahran. It spends quite a lot of time siting on one of the high voltage signs next to the lake but can also commonly be seen flying over, where occasionally good photos can be captured of it. My daughter first saw the bird when birding with me at the lake in early August and it has remained ever since catching Tilapia from the lake at frequent intervals. This is easily the longest staying bird I have seen on my ‘patch’ and hope it stays longer.

Osprey – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding the Dhahran Waste Water Lake recently we flushed an Osprey from the waters edge, Luckily the bird flew around and gave some nice photographic opportunities as it flew past. This bird has been around fortwo months now and I have seen it fishing once at the lake where it caught a reasonably sized Tilapia. It has taken a liking to sitting on one of the danger signs and has also been seen flying over other areas of the camp on occasions. Osprey is an unusual species for the camp, although this one has taken a liking for the area and will hopefully continue to be seen.

Juvenile Western Osprey – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding the Dhahran Waste Water Lake in September and October I came across a juvenile Osprey a few times and eventually managed to get a few decent photographs of the bird. Initially it was seen perched at the ned of the lake but would not allow close approach, with the photos taken below at a time when it was fishing for Talapia. Osprey is uncommon at the location but is a regular passage migrant as well as resident breeding species in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Birds breed on islands along all coasts of the Kingdom where they are also a migrant sometimes occurring far inland. Birds of the Riyadh Region by Stagg 1994 mentions it is a passage migrant and winter visitor, in small numbers, that passes from March to April then again in September and October.

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

Common Kestrel

Crested Lark

Eurasian Collared Dove

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Ruff

Ruff

Ruff

Ruff

Osprey

Osprey