Young Hollow Grasshopper – Record by Vinu Mathew

Vinu Mathew took some excellent photos of Hollow Grasshopper Pygomorpha conica in Dhahran recently as already posted. The Hollow Grashopper is found where grass grows in wadis, farms and gardens and is widespread and generally numerous. The grasshoppers vary in size and colour depending on the location. He recently sent me some more photos of a young Hollow Grasshopper and I thank Vinu for allowing me to use his photos which are shown with permission below. Mansur Al Fahad identified the Grasshopper for me as his knowledge is amazing.

Ortolan Buntings in Dhahran – Bird records by Paul Wells

Whilst on the old golf course in Dhahran Paul Wells came across and photographed a small group of Ortolan Buntings. This species in an uncommon passage migrant throughout Saudi Arabia but is seen in good numbers in some years particularly on the Red Sea coast. Most birds pass from March until mid-May and again from late August to early October and can often be seen in small groups rather than singly. Birds are equally as likely to be seen feeding on the ground, as they are perched in trees, where they normally occur if frightened from their feeding area. I thank Paul for allowing me to use his photos on my website which are reproduced with permission below.

Western pygmy Blue in Dhahran – Record by Vinu Mathew

Vinu Mathew found and photographed a Western Pygmy Blue Brephidium exile, the smallest butterfly in the USA, and one that entered Saudi Arabia more than 20 years ago in the Dharan area. The wings are copper brown, marked with dull blue on the upper-sides, and flecked with white on the underside of the hindwings. The wings are also fringed with white, and there is a row of black spots on both the outer margin and near to the base. In the USA they are on the wing between May and November. A weak flier, the western pygmy blue flies close to the ground, and is restricted by its short proboscis to collect the nectar from small flowers. I thank Vinu for sending me the details and photos and for allowing me to use them on my website. Mansur Al Fahd identified the species of butterfly and Vinu also came to the same conclusion after sending them to me.

Little Crake at Al Kobar Corniche - Record by Arnold Uy

Whilst at Al Khobar Cornice Arnold saw and photographed a juvenile Little Crake feeding out in the open, possibly the same bird as seen by Mark see previous post). Birds occur during autumn migration from September to October with a peak in October so this bird fits in well with the records. I thank Arnold for sending me the details of his sighting and allowing me to use his photos on my website which are shown below.

Hollow Grasshopper in Dhahran – Record by Vinu Mathew

Vinu Mathew took some excellent photos of Hollow Grasshopper Pygomorpha conica in Dhahran recently. The Hollow Grashopper is found where grass grows in wadis, farms and gardens and is widespread and generally numerous. The grasshoppers vary in size and colour depending on the location. I thank Vinu for sending me the details of the Grasshopper and allowing me to use his photos which are shown below.

Passage of Spotted Flycatchers – Eastern Province

This year has seen a good autumn passage of Spotted Flycathcers through the Eastern Province with numbers seen from Dhahran to Jubail. The Spotted Flycatcher is a common passage migrant. Recorded between mid-March and mid-June but peaking in May in spring and mid-August to late October in autumn with a peak in September. Birds have been recorded throughout the Kingdom even in the Empty Quarter. They are likely to turn up almost anywhere and gardens and parks are favourite places for locating them.

Waders and Herons – Jubail

Whilst in the Jubail area recently we saw plenty of species of waders and many kinds of herons. There were hundreds of Grey Herons present as well as the largest number of Little Egrets I have seen at the site, well over 200 birds. A few Little Bitterns and Squacco Herons were also present along with Indian Reef Herons and a single Western Great Egret. Waders were also seen in reasonable numbers with Dunlins, Common Redshanks, Little Stints, Common Sandpipers and Marsh Sandpiper present. Most were on the large flooded sabkha areas but some were on wet puddles or ditches.

Grey Heron

Common Redshank

Common Redshank

Little Stint 

Marsh Sandpiper

Little Crake at Al Khobar – Bird record by Mark Jasimin

Whilst at Al Khobar Cornice on Friday Mark found a juvenile Little Crake feeding out in the open. The species is seldom recorded in the Eastern Province although is probably an uncommon migrant through the region. Previoulsy it was regarded as a scarce but regularly recorded passage migrant in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, mainly in marshy areas or pools overhung by vegetation. Birds generally occur during spring migration from February to end of April with peak numbers in March where up to five birds were present in Dhahran Saudi Aramco Camp in the wet areas by the percolation pond in February and March 2012. Birds occur during autumn migration from September to October with a peak in October so this bird fits in well with the records. The grassy irrigated areas of Haradh have previously been the best place to locate the species where surprisingly high numbers have been located. Few birders visit this area now but we are going next week and would be very happy to see a Little Crake on our visit. I thank mark for sending me the details of his sighting and allowing me to use his photo on my website which is shown below.

Pied Wheatear - Jubail

Whilst birding at the end of September I found a confiding Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka. The species is a common spring migrant through Saudi Arabia that is less common in autumn. They are mainly recorded in spring between early February and mid-May, peaking in March. Autumn records spanned from early September to mid-December. They appear more common in the east of the Kingdom than elsewhere. During peak times large falls of birds can be seen but the bird I saw and photographed was the only one I saw during the day.

Grey-headed Swamphen - Jubail

Whilst birdwatching near Jubail I saw a number of Grey-headed Swamphens including one that stayed very close and came so close I could not fit it all into the frame. Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio has been split into five species largely in accordance with Sangster 1998 and Garcia & Trewick 2015 into 5 species with Grey-headed Swamphen P. poliocephalus occurring in Saudi Arabia. This has been confirmed by Steve Trewick from DNA samples I sent to him for analysis. Swamphens from Saudi Arabia now comprise both breeding Grey-headed Swamphens in the Eastern Province and African Swamphen P. madagascariensis which is a Vagrant with two records. A record of an adult at KAUST near Jeddah in September 2013 remained for at least three weeks before being killed by a car and two together at Dhahran percolation pond in December 2014 for several days.