Western White Stork - Abu Arish Municipal Dump

On 12 November Phil and I found a Western White Stork ciconia ciconia ciconia feeding on a municipal waste dump on the outskirts of Abu Arish in southwest Saudi Arabia. This is only the second time we have seen the species in Saudi Arabia, with the first a bird we found in Dhahran 17 September 2013. The Western White Stork is a scarce passage migrant and local winter visitor to all areas of Saudi Arabia mostly in autumn. They are usually seen singly or in small numbers, more often in the west of the Kingdom. Birds are thought to pass over the area unnoticed which is borne out by a paper on electrocution and collision of birds with power lines in Saudi Arabia by Mohammed Shobrak (2012) where he recorded 242 dead birds in 2008 with 150 dead birds found on 29 August 2008 alone. The power line surveyed was 100 kilometres south of Jeddah on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. The species is said to winter in the Tihamah, but records are very uncommon from here. The best location appears to be the Abu Arish Municipal Rubbish Dump, where we saw our bird, as 300 were present 9 February 1992 and 100 there December 1999, with one at nearby Malaki Dam Lake (Wadi Jizan Lake) on 7 May 2002 and 15 late October 2002.

Western White Stork ringing recoveries - Rafha

A number of ringing recoveries of Western White Stork Ciconia ciconia have recently been sent to me by Mike Jennings to who I am very grateful. The birds colour rings were collected by a hunter who shot them near Rafha Saudi Arabia (29º 38´N 43º 30´E) and were sent by Abdullah al Kaabi, an A license bird ringer from Bahrain to Mike. Mike sent the details off and received the below details of the birds involved. Although Western White Stork is a scarce bird in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia it is commoner on the west coast where large flocks are sometimes seen. These birds were in the north central part of Saudi Arabia near to the Iraq border.

Western White Stork route

Western White Stork

White Stork Ciconia ciconia

Ring Number: 1613, Colour rings MG/GU/RÖ
Ringing date: 3-Jul-2013

Ringing Place: SWEDEN, SKÅNE, VEBERÖD, VOMBS ÄNGAR (Co-ords: 55º 40´N 13º 30´E)
Status: Nestling, 2 young in brood
Finding date: 25-Aug-2014
Finding Place: Near Rafha Saudi Arabia Co-ords: 29º 38´N 43º 30´E
Finding Condition: Shot by hunter
Duration: 418 days
Distance: 3737 km
Direction: 128deg (SE)
Finder: Abdulla al Kaabi

White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Ring Number: 1639, Colour rings MG/RÖ/LG
Ringing date: 18-Jun-2013

Ringing Place: SWEDEN, SKÅNE, VEBERÖD, Ö TVET ÄNGAR (Co-ords: 55º 40´N 13º 31´E)
Status: Nestling, 2 young in brood
Finding date: 25-Aug-2014
Finding Place: Near Rafha Saudi Arabia Co-ords: 29º 38´N 43º 30´E
Finding Condition: Shot by hunter
Duration: 433 days
Distance: 3736 km
Direction: 128deg (SE)
Finder: Abdulla al Kaabi

White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Ring Number: 1645, Colour rings MG/LB/RO
Ringing date: 18-Jun-2013

Ringing Place: SWEDEN, SKÅNE, VEBERÖD, Ö TVET (Co-ords: 55º 40´N 13º 31´E)
Status: Nestling, 3 young in brood
Finding date: 25-Aug-2014
Finding Place: Near Rafha Saudi Arabia Co-ords: 29º 38´N 43º 30´E
Finding Condition: Shot by hunter
Duration: 433 days
Distance: 3736 km
Direction: 128deg (SE)
Finder: Abdulla al Kaabi

White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Ring Number: 1649, Colour rings MG/LB/LG
Ringing date: 18-Jun-2013
Ringing Place: SWEDEN, SKÅNE, SÖVDE, KARUPS NYGÅRD (Co-ords: 55º 36´N 13º 39´E)
Status: Nestling, 1 young in brood
Finding date: 25-Aug-2014
Finding Place: Near Rafha Saudi Arabia Co-ords: 29º 38´N 43º 30´E
Finding Condition: Shot by hunter
Duration: 433 days
Distance: 3725 km
Direction: 128deg (SE)
Finder: Abdulla al Kaabi

White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Ring Number: 1696, Colour rings MG/LG/MG
Ringing date: 25-Jun-2013
Ringing Place: SWEDEN, SKÅNE, SÖVDE, KARUPS NYGÅRD (Co-ords: 55º 36´N 13º 39´E)
Status: Nestling, 2 young in brood
Finding date: 25-Aug-2014
Finding Place: Near Rafha Saudi Arabia Co-ords: 29º 38´N 43º 30´E
Finding Condition: Shot by hunter
Duration: 426 days
Distance: 3725 km
Direction: 128deg (SE)
Finder: Abdulla al Kaabi

Some bird records from Dhahran and Abqaiq from the 1980’s – Bird records by Cliff Peterson

Cliff Peterson a birder who birded extensively in Saudi Arabia in the 1980’s has sent me a number of photographs, taken on film but converted to digital images.  I have selected a number of unusual species most of which I have not seen, or not taken photos of in Saudi Arabia. I appreciate the time Cliff has taken to convert the photos to digital and send them to me

Eastern Greylag Goose - This pair was present in Dhahran's Lanhardt Lake (now replaced by the percolation pond) 9 November 1985 to 26 January 1986.  Initially four birds arrived 9 November 1985 but then two of the four birds disappeared.

Ruddy Shelduck - This species frequented the Abqaiq lagoons (now fenced off I understand) and was recorded in a all months between 29 October to 20 May during 1982-1985.  Thirty-seven were counted 12 January 1984.

Western White Stork - Nine birds were found at Dhahran's Lanhardt Lake 27 August 1984 and lingered for a few days.

Eurasian Bittern - This species appeared sporadically at Abqaiq Lagoons with a maximum of 4 present 20 October 1983.  All other records were in March.

European Scops Owl - This was a wild bird that someone pulled out of a shrub in Dhahran May 1983.  It was later released.  We never saw another.

Rose-ringed Parakeet - Commonly found in Dhahran Main Camp. I also saw this bird in Qatif and Abqaiq. I had flocks up to eight and they were conspicuous due to their color and call.  My thinking is that the population size was likely limited by nesting cavities.  I have one picture of a pair using a large conduit alongside a power pole as their cavity. This image is of the male.

Eurasian Golden Oriole - This male sang every morning from the acacia trees over our house in Dhahran. It was present 16 April until we departed on leave 16 June 1984. Until the time we departed, no female appeared. I've several other records from April-May and September to October every year we were in KSA.  This was the best shot I was able to get he was quite shy.

Western White Stork becoming more tame – Dhahran Hills

The Western White Stork is still showing well on the football pitch at Dhahran Hills and is now becoming more used to people. When I first found the bird on 17 September 2013 it was quite flighty and nervous and would fly off when anyone got to within about 50 metres of it. Over time it has become more used to people and now obviously feels safer in the area. Recently I got to within about ten metres of the bird and it showed no signs of being afraid and just kept on feeding on the grassy field. Luckily for the Stork the camp is a very safe area and no shooting is allowed, so as long as it stays in this area it will have no problems. The issue is if it moves away from here and thinks things will be the same outside it is in for a shock, as hunting goes on in many areas of Saudi Arabia and I would imagine a bird like this would attract attention and be a high priority for the hunters. It would be great if the bird stayed all winter, as this has happened once before in the Eastern province, but it is more likely the bird will continue on its migration to Africa.

Western White Stork showing well – Dhahran Hills

The Western White Stork is still about on the same football field as normal in Dhahran Hills. The bird has been about for almost a month now and gives fantastic views. It feeds around on the grass field by the sprinklers when they are on as it makes the ground wet and soft and the stork finds it easy to find food here. It also probably likes the cool spray as the spray heads are continually soaking it. I have not taken many photos of the bird recently as I do not want to disturb it too much, although it seems quite used to people now. These photos below were all taken on the same day when I got very close to the bird by hiding behind a row of trees.

Steppe Eagle a new 'patch' species - Dhahran Hills

The 'patch' turned up another new species for me this week when I saw a Steppe Eagle over the turf fields. I had seen a bird a couple of weeks before that was almost certainly a Steppe Eagle but it was just too far away to positively identify. The Steppe Eagle was seen whilst looking at the Western White Stork, which I had located in the dry turf field, the first time I had seen the bird anywhere else other than the football field. As I was walking to try to get some photos of the Stork I saw the eagle in flight but it was at too great a distance to identify. Luckily it flew a little closer to me and as it did it became apparent it was a Steppe Eagle a new species for me for the 'patch' taking my total number of species recorded there to 198. As the eagle approached it flushed the Western White Stork that flew around and over my head allowing a couple of flight photos and then joined the eagle circling around over the fields. The fields held a few migrants with plenty of Yellow Wagtails, seven Spotted Flycatcher and a European Bee-eater the best birds seen.

Steppe Eagle

Western White Stork

Western White Stork

Spotted Flycatcher

Western White Stork again - Dhahran Hills

The same Western White Stork as last month returned to the Dhahran Hills football field after going missing for over a week. Plumage wise the bird appears to be the same individual and as they are scarce in the Eastern Province it is also more likely to be the same bird. It allows close approach now as it is used to the runners and people playing on the playing fields and only flys when someone gets too close and then normally only up onto the floodlights where it stays a while and returns to the grass once it feels safe again. It is great to have such a good looking and scarce bird staying around the camp as it adds interest to the days birding.

Western White Stork still present – Dhahran Hills

The Western White Stork, was still present at the same football field along with the juvenile Collared Pratincole yesterday. This time the light was better as I got to the field earlier in the evening and managed to get a few better photographs. Yellow Wagtail numbers had increased with a few smart looking beema types about. The wet ditch still holds three Little Stints, one Green Sandpiper and one Wood Sandpiper and the Great Reed Warbler is still flitting about in the small patches of reeds growing along the edge of the ditch. Very few other birds are around in this area apart from a few European Bee-eaters flying over calling and several Eurasian Hoopoes looking for food in the soft banks.

Western White Stork

Western White Stork

Western White Stork

Western White Stork

Collared Pratincole - juvenile

Collared Pratincole - juvenile

Collared Pratincole - juvenile

 The best bird seen around the spray fields and pond was an adult Southern Grey Shrike in the bushes near the pond. The only other real sign of migration was plenty of Yellow Wagtails on the fields and scrubby desert area and several Sand Martins flying over the settling pond where waders included Black-winged Stilt, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper and Kentish Plover in varying numbers. A juvenile Purple Heron was seen in the ate evening flying over the scrubby desert area as it was getting dark.

Yellow Wagtail - beema

Western White Stork new 'Patch' species – Dhahran Hills

On 17 September I found a Western White Stork ciconia ciconia ciconia feeding on a grassy football field at the bottom on Dhahran School near the scrubby desert area. The bird was quite happy feeding on the insects on the grass until a runner came by and flushed it up the field. Then another runner flushed it again this time onto a tall floodlight pole where it stayed until I left after about an hour. On the way back home a quick check of the area failed to locate the bird. Phil mentioned this was the first record of Western White Stork for Dhahran since the early 1990's and was a new 'Patch' as well as Saudi Arabia tick for both Phil and myself. The last record for the Eastern Province that I know of was a single bird at Sabkhat Al Fasl 25 May 2012 foud by Sander Willems.

The Western White Stork is an uncommon migrant to all areas of Saudi Arabia mostly in autumn. They are usually seen singly or in small numbers but once a group of 70 occurred in Riyadh. Winter records are rare but a single bird wintered at Tabuk one year. In the Eastern Province they are a scarce and irregular migrant. Most records have been in the autumn from August to mid-October with a well marked peak in late August. The latest record was one 15 kilometres north of Haradh 2 November 1965. The largest flock was 71 which came to roost at Abqaiq 9 October 1982. Most birds move on quickly although a group at Haradh stayed for a week from 28 September 1894. Spring records are very scarce with birds seen in late April and early May. In 1986 when conditions were exceptionally favourable small numbers overwintered at an inundated area to the west of Dammam Second Industril City during January to March. Birds are thought to pass over the area unnoticed which is borne out by a paper on electrocution and collision of birds with power lines in Saudi Arabia by Mohammed Shobrak (2012) where he recorded 242 dead birds in 2008 with 150 dead birds found on 29 August 2008 alone. The power line surveyed was 100 kilometres south of Jeddah on the west coast of Saudi Arabia.

Western White Stork – Sabkhat Al Fasl (Bird records by Sander Willems)

Sander Willems visited Sabkhat Al-Fasl on Friday 25 May 2012. It was a windy day, with poor visibility but a comfortable 30 degrees Celsius. He found a good bird for the Eastern Province in the shape of a White Stork. White Stork is much commoner than Black Stork in the Eastern Province but is still a scarce migrant and one I have yet to see in Saudi Arabia. The bird was seen briefly in flight and later feeding on the sabkha area by the new Power Generation buildings. Another highlight was the tern diversity, with six different species being seen at the site including 20 Common Terns which are also an uncommon but over-looked species in the Eastern Province. Sander had four new species (lifers) so had a great day.

Other birds seen include:
Little Grebe 10
Greater Flamingo 600
Squacco Heron 2
Cattle Egret 1
Little Egret 15
Western Reef Heron 25
Great Cormorant 1
Western Osprey 1
Black-winged Stilt ++
Pied Avocet 10
Kentish Plover ++
Lesser Sand Plover 8+
Little Stint ++
Curlew Sandpiper 2
Terek Sandpiper 6+
Common Greenshank 3
Slender-billed Gull 100+
Caspian (?) Gull 1
Caspian Tern 50
Little Tern 20
Saunders's Tern 2
Common Tern 20
White-cheeked Tern 10
White-winged Tern 2 (adult summer plumage)
Crested Lark 20
Sand Martin 40
Barn Swallow 8
Laughing Dove
Yellow Wagtail (flava?) 1
House Sparrow