Crested Honey Buzzard – Wadi Juwa

Whilst birding Wadi Jewa near Malaki Dam Lake in early August we found a female Crested Honey Buzzard. The species has only been seen six times previously in the summer in the Kingdom. Last summer we saw an adult female in mid-May and the summer before an adult female flying just overhead in the Bani Saad area and another adult female at some distance at the bottom of Wadi Wadj in Taif. An adult Male was at Dhahran 5th & 6th May to 30 July 2011 with two second calendar year birds 5 July 2014 in Dhahran. A second calendar year was at Tanoumah 5 July 2013. These new records mean that birds have been seen along most of the Asir mountain range in summer and show a few birds may regularly summer there. As most birds seem to be females there is a chance birds could be breeding in the area and this additional record adds to the data.

Nine Sociable Lapwings – Qarat Al Ulya

On 30 October 2020, Phil Roberts and I set out from Dhahran early to visit the pivot irrigation fields near Qarat Al Ulya to the north of Dhahran. As we had seen eleven Sociable Lapwings at Haradh a couple of weeks previously we hoped we may be able to locate some here. This area has never had Sociable Lapwings before unlike Haradh where Phil and I found wintering birds in 2016 and every year since. We spent the entire day looking around fields the area and towards the end of the day came to a short grassy field with 44 Northern Lapwing present. On scanning the field I saw a bird that resembled Sociable Lapwing in its general colour but it was a long way away and viewing into the sun. On driving around the field I found some more birds that on counting turned into nine. The birds kept to the middle of the field but were always in a group, sometimes joining the Northern Lapwings feeding. We will return later in the winter to try to establish if the birds are wintering at this location or were passing through. It is becoming obvious the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is becoming an important passage and wintering area for this critically endangered species.

Shrikes in good numbers

Shirkes have been seen in good numbers in Jubail through the autumn with all species seen, some in good numbers. Daurian Shrike are the most common with good numbers of Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes also occurring and slightly lower numbers of Turkestan Shrike. Single Lesser Grey, Masked and Great Grey Shrikes were also seen. The area is very good for shrikes with hundreds seen in ideal conditions, although numbers were nowhere near this high this autumn.

Woodchat Shrike

Woodchat Shrike

Turkestan Shrike

Daurian Shrike

Daurian Shrike

Raptors in October – Eastern Province

Whilst birding several areas of the Eastern Province in October I have come across and photographed a number of raptors. In Haradh I saw two Pallid Harriers over the pivot irrigation fields. This is a regular species at this time of year with some remaining for the winter. Another bird of prey seen in Haradh was an adult Steppe Eagle. It was located circling high above the ground but luckily, we managed to drive the car to be directly underneath the bird. Steppe Eagle is a common passage migrant and winter visitor to the Kingdom and can be seen at Haradh throughout the winter. Common Kestrel is as its name suggests common in the Kingdom. Many are seen over pivot irrigation fields but the one I photographed was in Daffi Park, Jubail, perched in a tree. Jubail also held several Black Kites and by mid-October good numbers of Greater Spotted Eagles. Greater Spotted Eagles will now remain over winter and can be seen at most large wetland areas where they are often seen perched on power line structures.

Pallid Harrier

Steppe Eagle

Steppe Eagle

Common Kestrel

Black Kite

Black Kite

Greater Spotted Eagle

Greater Spotted Eagle

Black Scrub Robin Al Khobar – Bird record by Raheel Mohammed

Raheel Mohammed’s was staying in Saudi Arabia in 2009 and saw and photographed a Black Scrub Robin in the Al Khobar area close to the corniche. The bird was seen on 26 March 2009 when the species was a vagrant to the Eastern Province. They have since spread eastwards from the Riyadh area and become a scarce breeding species with birds mainly seen in the Al Hassa and Sarrar areas where they now breed. I thank Raheel for allowing me to use his photos on my website.

Some good migrants – Jubail

Whilst birding the Jubail area I came across a number of good migrants throughout the autumn. Birds seldom seen in the area included Eurasian Wryneck and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, whilst Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Purple Heron, European Roller and Barn Swallow were all seen in higher numbers than usual. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Grey-headed Wagtail, Ortolan Bunting and Eurasian Hoopoe were also seen.

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush

Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush

Purple Heron

Purple Heron

Ortolan Bunting

Grey-headed Wagtail

Eurasian Hoopoe

Eurasian Wryneck

Eurasian Wryneck

European Roller

Barn Swallow

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Common Kingfisher

Sociable Lapwings continue to winter in Eastern Province of KSA - Haradh

On 16 October 2020, Phil Roberts and I set out from Dhahran at 3:00am to drive the 300km south to Haradh for a day’s bird watching with our primary objective to see if we could once again find any Sociable Lapwings. In addition to desert, Haradh has large areas of modified habitat created by pivot irrigation fields, growing primarily fodder crops.  In the winters of 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 Phil and I found wintering Sociable Lapwings in this area an amazing discovery as previous to us finding the birds in 2016 there had only been a single record of a single bird in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom. That bird was also at Haradh. We know that recently ploughed fields hold a great attraction to the Sociable Lapwings, but checked the grassy fields as well. We soon located several Spur-winged Lapwings and then a single Sociable Lapwing. One additional searching we located six birds in a grassy field. Moving on towards some ploughed fields nearby, we located a flock of five Sociable Lapwings blending in extremely well with the soil and keeping partially hidden down the furrows. Whilst searching we came across a few Northern Lapwing. This is now the fifth successive ywinter that we have found Sociable Lapwings in this location, showing Haradh has become an established new wintering location for this Critically Endangered species.

Ringing again – Jubail

Phil Roberts and I have again been allowed to ring at Sabkhat Al Fasl by the Saudi Wildlife Authority. Our first trip ringing was good for us with 25 birds caught of 15 species and some good birds. We ringed Kentish Plover, Eurasian Blackcap, Menetries Warbler, Moustached Warbler and Savi’s Warbler amongst others. The hot temperatures meant we had to stop ringing early to ensure safety of the birds but it was and enjoyable return to the nets. 

Eurasian Blackcap

Kentish Plover

Kentish Plover

Moustached Warbler

Spotted Crake at Jubail – Bird record by Munzir Khan

Whilst birdwatching the Jubail in mid-October, Munzir Khan came across a Spotted Crake at the edge of a reed bed area and took the below photograph which he has kindly allowed me to use on my website. Spotted Crake is an uncommon passage migrant with a few birds overwintering in some years. It is probably an overlooked species, due to its skulking nature with birds in spring from late February to mid-May and in autumn occurring from September to December but mainly in October and November. The Birds of the Riyadh Region (Stagg 1994) says they are a spring and autumn passage migrant. Passes late February to mid-May with main movement occurring in April. Return passage extends from late August to early November, peaking in October. Sightings have considerably increased with wetland expansion in the region. Up to 30 in a day have been seen in April along the Riyadh watercourse. These numbers are no longer seen in the Riyadh area although birds are still seen quite commonly at the correct time of year.

Hypocolius at Khafra Marsh – Bird records by Jibin Jayan

Whilst birding the Khafra Marsh area near Jubail on 17 October Jibin Jayan came across a young Hypocolius. This is an early date for birds in Saudi Arabia and a very nice find as they are a regular but local winter visitor from November to April. In the Eastern Province it has been noted at widely scattered locations from Hanidh in the north to Haradh in the south. The highest counts have been 85-120 at Salasil in December 1983. Migrants have been seen in November and April, with odd males at Haradh and Al Kharj away from the normal palms suggesting migration during those months. In Saudi Arabia as a whole they are an uncommon, but may be a locally common winter visitor to Central Arabia, Northern Hejaz, Hejaz and Northern Red Sea. Flocks of over 100 birds have been recorded in Riyadh each winter. Jibin kindly allowed me to ushers photos on my website which are shown below.