Glossy Ibis - Dhahran Hills

Back on the ‘patch’ on 20 August resulted in few birds but a couple of good ones with the best being a Glossy Ibis on the percolation pond. This is only the second time I have seen the species on the ‘patch’ and although distant stayed around until late evening when if flew off over the spray fields and out of the camp. Other good birds seen on the pond included a female Garganey and plenty of waders including ten Little Ringed Plovers, ten plus Wood Sandpipers, four Little Stints, several Kentish Plovers and 20+ Black-winged Stilts. A Yellow Wagtail and an Isabelline Wheatear were two other migrants seen on the muddy edge of the pond and a Clamorous Reed Warbler without a tail made a slightly unusual sight. The trees around the pond had a single European Turtle Dove and one European Bee-eater. The settling pond held very little with the exception of eight Little Grebes and spray fields likewise had little but did have a excellent adult male Red-backed Shrike an unusual sight at this time of year.

Glossy Ibis

Red-backed Shrike - adult male

European Turtle Dove & European Bee-eater

Bridled Terns – Al Jarrim Island South (Bahrain)

The Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus is a common summer breeding visitor to offshore islands in the Gulf and Red Sea. Brian Meadows (Bull B.O.C 2003) mentioned 175 pairs breeding on islets north of Yanbu al-Bahr 18 June 1993. Summer visitor to all coasts nesting on islands occasionally. In 1988 Jennings visited the Farasan Islands and found the species to be a very common breeding tern and a survey of summer breeding seabirds by SF Newton in 1994 in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea found they were the most abundant and widespread breeding seabird. The aerial count total of just under 20,000 is likely to be a gross underestimate. Most nests were under bushes but a few small colonies on Farasan use rock overhangs on cliffs in the absence of vegetation. Both the al Wajh and Farasan Archipelagoes hold large populations and the species is abundant on the well vegetated outer islands of the Farasan Bank where it co-occurs with Brown Noddy. Clutches were always of a single egg and hatching commenced in mid June. In the Gulf large numbers breed on the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian offshore islands with eggs hatching in early to Mid-June. 

Karan (27°44’N, 49°50’E) is the largest of the six coral islands measuring 128 hectares in size (2025m x 625m). This island has the largest breeding population of Lesser Crested terns in Saudi Arabia as well as good numbers of Bridled Terns and White-cheeked terns and a small number of Swift Terns.

Jana (27°22’N, 49°54’E) is the second largest island being 33 hectares in size (1105m x 300m). Large numbers of Bridled tern and small numbers of Lesser Crested Terns and Swift Terns nest here.

Juraid (27°11’N, 49°52’E) is the third largest coral island measuring 20 hectares in size (732 x 282m) and holds the largest breeding population of Bridled Terns in Saudi Arabia, with good numbers of breeding Lesser Crested Terns and White-cheeked Terns.

Kurain (27°39’N, 49°50’E) is the second smallest island with a size of 8 hectares (312m x 251m). Large numbers of Lesser Crested Terns along with good numbers of Bridled Terns and White-cheeked Terns nest on this island.

Arabian Wall Brown - Tanoumah

Whilst birding the southwest of Saudi Arabia in July 2014 we saw a number of Arabian Wall Brown Lasiommata felix a butterfly in the Nymphalidae family. It is found in southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen where it inhabits the western escarpment of the Arabian Peninsula. It can be found all the way north to Taif in Saudi Arabia but always in the mountains. The one photographed here was at Tanumah north of Abha in the Asir Mountains although we also saw then on the Raydah escarpment and elsewhere. They appear to be a common butterfly of the southwest mountains.

Basra Reed Warbler? – Dhahran Hills

On 14 May 2014 I found an odd looking warbler in the reeds at the percolation pond at Dhahran Hills. This is a good location for seeing Indian (Clamorous) Reed Warblers but this bird looked a little different and gave me the impression it may be a Basra Reed Warbler. The bird was not a classic Basra Reed Warbler so I tried to photograph it and managed to get a single photograph before it moved on. Despite searching the area over the next few weeks I never saw the bird again. I sent the photo to Mike Pope in Kuwait as they see the birds occasionally there and he replied “Not easy this one, but I think the choice is between Basra and Indian Reed – Indian Reed is resident and Basra also present in summer months. Primary projection may be too long for Basra, but is not short enough for Indian Reed. Indian Reed also has slender bill like Basra (it is difficult to make out the base colour of the bill), but has a shorter super that doesn’t go past the eye…It is probably closer to Basra than Indian.” These were my thoughts as I thought the bill looked too long and thin for Indian Reed Warbler but it may be a trick of the angle of photo. The tail looked quite long but I am not sure how this appears in the field. In the hand the tail is much shorter on Basra Reed Warbler than in Indian Reed Warbler. The problem was that Indian Reed Warbler is very common in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia whereas Basra Reed Warbler is a scarce passage migrant. May is, however, the best month for locating them. Other comments received mentioned “Body structure being heavy more towards European Reed Warbler or Indian Reed Warbler. But judging the length of tail compared to primaries, I think it is an Indian Reed Warbler the bill fits this species rather than Great Reed Warbler”. Peter Kennerley mentioned, “The relatively slim bill and what appears to be a proportionately long primary projection suggest Basra Reed. I would not expect brunnescens Clamorous (Indian Reed Warbler) to share this structure. The overall cold tone to the plumage also favours Basra over brunnescens, but I recognise that plumages will fade and bleach so this could be misleading. If pushed I would go for Basra Reed”. All in all this was a very interesting bird that I am leaving as unidentified. Like me most people think it may be a Basra Reed Warbler but unless I relocate the bird I will not be able to say for sure.

Churchyard Beetle – Sabkhat Al Fasl

Whilst birding at Sabkhat Al Fasl Phil found a beetle that appears to be a Churchyard Beetle Blaps kolari. This is a medium to large beetle measuring up to 40mm in length with an elongated body. The thorax is oval in shape and it has long legs and short antennae. The adult has an opening in the vicinity of the anal projection from which they can discharge a jet of foul-smelling liquid to defend themselves. They are widespread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and are mainly active during the cooler months of the year from September to April. The beetle feeds on plant materials and often store food in burrows of rodents and other insects. If anyone thinks I have made a mistake with the identification please let me know as I know very little about beetles.

Male Little Bittern – Dhahran Hills

Little Bittern is an unusual species to see on the ‘patch’ but they are occasionally seen, primarily on the percolation pond. This year I have seen less than normal, probably as the reed beds are not very well developed from their clearance last year. In April I saw a male in the spray fields, which may well have been the same bird as I saw on the percolation pond. The lack of cover on the main pond meant that the Little Bittern had limited places to hide and after watching the bird for some time I was able to see it fully out in the open. At one point it even flew and landed on a very small piece of vegetation in the pond itself where it proceeded to catch what looked like extremely small fish. As it is unusual to see birds out in the open I stayed and watched this Little Bittern for a long time, although I was unable to move to a better angle for photography as the bird was behind the main pond fence. The species has a status as an uncommon passage migrant to all areas of Saudi Arabia and is a locally common breeding resident in some Gulf wetlands such as Sabkhat Al Fasl and the Riyadh wetland areas. Birds bred in the reed beds of the percolation pond in 2011, but there have been no further signs of breeding at the site since this time, although the species is often very secretive in nature. Migrant birds normally occur from March to early June and again from August to October and can be found in most habitats with at least some water.

Arabian Horned Viper at Abqaiq Jebel 234 – Record by Cliff Paterson

The Arabian Horned Viper Cerastes gasperettii is found in desert and semi-desert habitats, and is well adapted to life on arid sandy and stony ground, and occurs up to elevations of 1,500 metres. It has sandy-coloured upperparts, marked with faint, light brown crossbars along the back, and white or yellowish underparts. The head is broad and roughly triangular, while the body is covered with keeled scales and it has a short tail. The purpose of the horns, which can be depressed, is not known and not all individuals have the horned scales. Like other vipers, this species has hinged, hollow fangs, which lie flat when the mouth is closed and swing forward when opened, and are capable of injecting large quantities of venom. They are 60 – 80 centimeters in length and are active from dusk until dawn, and well-camouflaged amongst the sand and rocks, the most obvious sign of their presence is usually the sinuous tracks it leaves while employing its sidewinding method of movement. They use both active pursuit as well as ambush to capture prey and often bury their body and head beneath the sand using rapid side-to-side wriggling, until only the eyes and snout are exposed. The snake then lays in wait for prey such as lizards, small birds and rodents to approach, before striking with lightning speed and injecting the animal with its powerful venom killing it quickly. When threatened, this species coils its body and rubs its keeled scales together to create a rasping sound, and it will also hiss and inflate its body before resorting to striking. They are found in the Middle East and throughout the Arabian Peninsula. There are two subspecies with Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii, the one found in Saudi Arabia as well as the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq & south-west Iran.

This individual was at Jebel 234 near Abqaiq. Cliff left camp before sunrise with his long lens hoping to catch a dramatic sunrise. He climbed up the Jebel to gain some elevation then lay prone on the ground to steady the lens. As he was shooting, he felt something against his left arm and pushed it away without looking as he was focused on the shot. Again, he felt something against his left arm, and pushed the assumed insect away with more vigor. This happened again a third time upon which his attention was quickly refocused by what sounded like a rattlesnake. Cliff assumed it select him for a warming cuddle on this particular cool winter day.

Changing Status of Eurasian Spoonbills in Saudi Arabia

A trip to Sabkhat Al Fasl, Jubail on 16 May produced four Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia on the flooded sabkha. All four birds were adults and with the majority of birds seen at this site being in spring and summer it is a nice thought to think they may be breeding somewhere nearby or at least thinking about doing so. This is, however, unlikely, as records still remain uncommon, although birds do breed in nearby Kuwait Bubiyan and Warba Islands, to the north. The status of the species has changed over the years in the Eastern Province, with it being regarded as a rare and irregular visitor usually involving immature birds until the end of the 1980’s. Records occurred from November to December and April and June with most on the coast at Taraut Bay, Qatif, Abu Ali and Al Khobar. The only inland record was one at Abqaiq 30 September to 1 October 1976. Today it is an uncommon visitor in all months to the province. In Central Saudi Arabia the status of the species has also changed with the List of Birds of Saudi Arabia (Jennings 1981) saying there were no inland records for the country. By the mid 1980’s the Birds of the Riyadh Region (Stagg 1994) stated that prior to 1987 the Spoonbill was a rare autumn visitor. Since then it made frequent appearances along the Riyadh watercourse and became a spasmodic spring and autumn passage migrant and a regular winter visitor in growing numbers. Wintering birds arrived occasionally in November but mainly January and were seen thereafter until May with the largest group 11 on 23 November 1990. In the late 1990’s the species was not recorded at all by the local birders and is still regarded as a scarce bird in the area. The main stronghold for the species in Saudi Arabia is the Red Sea where it is a common resident breeder. Largest numbers are seen in the southwest near Jizan but birds have been recorded all along the coast to north on Yanbu.

Arabian Red Foxes - Dhahran Hills

I saw two Arabian Red Foxes for the first time in several weeks and managed to get close and photograph them. The last few sightings I have had, have been very brief including once of an adult and three small cubs. I almost always see the animals as it is getting dark so the light is never the best but the photos show then animals quite well especially their well-adapted large ears. At this time of year the animals are never at their best and look a bit worn and tiered, probably after having to bring up a family earlier in the year. No matter how many times I see the animals and how close I get I always enjoy seeing the foxes and it normally makes a very nce ending to the evenings birding.

Slightly odd looking Isabelline Shrike type – Dhahran Hills

On 7 May 2014 I found a slightly odd looking female shrike that looked like an Isabelline Shrike type  on my local 'patch' that had a couple of hybrid type features also. It had a darker tail and whiter looking outer tail feathers than normal but darker areas in the tail can be quite evident in some Isabelline Shrikes and a pale margin to the outermost tail-feather is also normal. However, in Isabelline the pale margin is creamy rather than white (as in collurio). The quite saturated brown component in the hue of the upperparts and the well-marked dark chevrons on the underparts (including an obvious scaly ‘malar’) are a better match for Turkestan Shrike than Daurian Shrike (as perhaps is the all dark bill) but the throat and lower cheeks would normally be whiter in Turkestan Shrike. There is a lot of variation in females (and first-winter) Turkestan and Daurian Shrikes and, although some ‘classic’ individuals can be distinctive, many are not and assigning passage individual females and immatures to form is quite tricky and often best left unassigned. Even more difficult can be excluding the possibility of some hybrid influence. While ‘mixed’ characters are usually quite evident in adult males, the same cannot be said of females and immatures. All the ‘confidently’ assigned hybrids in the literature are males and I’m not aware of any females or immatures that have been confidently assigned (e.g. some purebred female and imm collurio can have quite obvious rufousy hues in the tail). I thank Alan Dean for his very useful comments on this bird.