Birds of Saudi Arabia: Red-throated Pipit

Showing posts with label Red-throated Pipit. Show all posts

26 November 2024

Pipits on the Cricket & Football Fields – Dhahran Hills

The numbers of Water Pipit have been building nicely over the last couple of weeks and now up to thirty can be seen on a single visit. They are not shy at all and allow very close approach even on foot. In the last few days a small number of Red-throated Pipit have joined them but these are not so tame and fly quickly when you try to approach them. A single Tawny Pipit was also seen, but not photographed, on a single day and they should become more common over the next few weeks.

Water Pipit

Red-throated Pipit

29 April 2024

More Red-throated Pipits – Dhahran Football Field

Whilst birding the Dhahran Cricket field/football field area recently the number of Red-throated Pipits this spring has been much higher than normal. Most days between fifty and one hundred birds were seen between the two adjacent grassy areas with some birds feeding close to the road and allowing some fine views and conditions for photographs. Below is a selection of birds I have photographed over the last week.

02 April 2024

Red-throated Pipits – Dhahran Hills

Birding Dhahran Hills football fields recently I came across a large flock of Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus. Some of the birds were coming into nice breeding plumage showing why they are called the name they are. The birds were actively feeding, particularly in areas that had just been sprayed, and many were close the the edge of the field allowing close approach and good photos to be taken. Red-throated Pipit is a common passage migrant to all areas of the Kingdom mainly recorded from mid-March to May in spring, with a noticeable peak in middle of April. Lower numbers are seen in autumn between early-October and late-November when it is generally uncommon with a few wintering in Central and eastern areas as well as Tabuk.

13 January 2024

Birding Deffi Park in winter

Deffi Park in the winter is an excellent place to see Crested Honey Buzzard that have been wintering there every winter for the past six years. The last couple of times I have been I have seen a Crested Honey Buzzard but they have not been very confiding. I also saw an active bee nest in the park, the food that the Crested Hone Buzzards prefer. The park is also one of the best places in the Eastern Province to see Masked Shrike in the winter where up to three birds spend the winter. Apart from a number of Common Chiffchaff the only other interesting species was Red-throated Pipit where up to seven birds were seen feeding on the grass along with two Water Pipits.

Crested Honey Buzzard

Honey Bee nest

Masked Shirke

Red-throated Pipit

12 May 2023

Migration in full swing – Dhahran Hills

Birding the Dhahran Wastewater Lake in early May produced a good number of migrants. Shrikes were plentiful with up to ten Red-backed Shrikes and at least two Lesser Grey Shrike, a species not seen commonly in Dhahran. The birds were feeding on beetles on a grassy area but also in the scrubs beside the wastewater lake. A single large Acacia tree has a minimum of thirty warblers in it, most being Willow Warbler but at least two Barred Warbles, a single Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and a Common Whitethroat were also present. Other migrants included a flock of nine European Bee-eaters flying over calling and double figure numbers of Spotted Flycatchers. Whinchat, another scarce visitor to the Dhahran area was seen in the highest numbers since I have been here with at least seven birds recorded. Yellow Wagtails were seen in various locations in small numbers but totalled 26 birds in total with some nice male thumbergi seen at close range. A few pipits were seen flying over calling with all being Red-throated and one or two were also in the grassy areas feeding on insects.