Whilst checking out the birds at Dhahran Waste Water Lake recently and I saw a two Rose-ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameria fly over calling. They landed in a nearby tree out of sight but flew off shortly after landing allowing a few photographs to be taken. The species is a locally common resident in larger cities in Saudi Arabia. They are relatively common in Riyadh but outside the capital it is less frequent and rather scarce in the southwest. They are also a common resident to towns and villages of the Gulf, including my local patch of Dhahran and in Jeddah. They are probably an introduced species that have become a self-sustaining resident breeder although this is unclear as record keeping on birds of the region has not been so good over the years. Even though I see the species almost every day they remain difficult to photograph.
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
11 October 2024
29 December 2023
Rose-ringed Parakeets – Dhahran Cricket Field
Whilst checking out the birds on the Dhahran Cricket Field I saw a group of Rose-ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameria. The birds were trying to collect water from leaking air conditioning units on one of the buldings, as the weather was very hot and humid. The species is a locally common resident in larger cities in Saudi Arabia. They are relatively common in Riyadh but outside the capital it is less frequent and rather scarce in the southwest. They are also a common resident to towns and villages of the Gulf, including my local patch of Dhahran and in Jeddah. They are probably an introduced species that have become a self-sustaining resident breeder although this is unclear as record keeping on birds of the region has not been so good over the years. Even though I see the species almost every day I have never had the chance to photograph them properly so these photos are my best efforts so far.
20 November 2023
Regular species – Dhahran Waste Water Lake
Whilst birding the Dhahran Waste Water Lake I saw a good number of birds but mainly the regular species. Two pairs of Eurasian Coot breed on the pond most years and at least two birds are present all the time. The heron numbers have changed slightly with no Night Herons seen but still over ten Grey Heron, two Purple Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret and ten plus Squacco Herons. A few Great Cormorant are returning and at least two Gull-billed Tern were fishing although I saw eleven sitting on the nearby cricket field. Pallid swift are still common as are Rose-ringed Parakeets, but they are both only seen in flight in the early mornings.
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| Eurasian Coot |
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| Eurasian Coot |
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| Gull-billed Tern |
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| Gull-billed Tern |
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| Pallid Swift |
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| Pallid Swift |
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| Purple Heron |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet |
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| Squacco Heron |
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| Squacco Heron |
29 October 2023
Ducks and more – Dhahran Waste Water Lake
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| Ferruginous Duck |
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| Ferruginous Duck |
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| Common Greenshank |
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| Common Greenshank |
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| Common Greenshank |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet |
30 September 2023
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.
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| Common Kestrel |
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| Common Kestrel |
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| Crested Lark |
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| Eurasian Collared Dove |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet |
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| Ruff |
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| Ruff |
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| Ruff |
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| Ruff |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
14 March 2023
Normal birds - Dhahran Waste Water Lake
Whilst birdwatching around the Waste Water Lake in Dhahran recently I have been seeing the same species continually. The lake has a good gathering of Common Black-headed Gull which occasionally attract one or two passing Steppe Gull. They normally just fly in and fly off but occasionally settle briefly for a wash. The three Glossy Ibis are still present and have now been around for almost three months. They are always timid and never really allow close views, which is surprising as they have been around for so long and seldom get disturbed. Two Western Marsh Harrier are also present, that have also been around for months now and flew so close to me I could only just fit them in the photos. The number of Great Cormorant has decreased markedly over the winter with only a few tens remaining from the several hundred of their peak numbers with some birds are coming into fine breeding plumage. Overhead can be seen several Pallid Swift some of which drop down lower over the water but I have not seen any drinking water of wetting their feathers in the lake yet. Another species that fly over quite regularly is Rose-ringed Parakeet, a common species in Dhahran camp but one not so easily seen elsewhere. Eurasian Collared Dove is also a common species in Dhahran and can be seen flying over or perched on the nearby trees and shrubs around the lake.
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| Common Black-headed Gull |
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| Common Black-headed Gull |
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| Common Black-headed Gull |
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| Glossy Ibis |
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| Glossy Ibis |
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| Eurasian Collared Dove |
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| Pallid Swift |
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| Pallid Swift |
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| Western Marsh Harrier |
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| Western Marsh Harrier |
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| Steppe Gull |
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| Steppe Gull |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet |
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet |





























































