2nd Calendar Year Common Gull – Sabkhat Al Fasl

Whilst birding Sabkhat Al Fasl on Thursday morning I came across a very large flock of Large White-headed Gulls (LWHG), comprising up to 1000 birds, sitting and resting on the wet mud in one of the concrete bunded areas of the site. The flock also consisted on many hundreds of Black-headed Gulls and as I have always been interested in Gulls I stopped and got the telescope out to check to see what was present. I was hoping to find to Baltic Gull or even better a Mediterranean Gull in amongst the large number of gulls but failed on both counts. Most of the LWHG were Steppe Gulls (85%) and Heuglin’s Gulls (10%) with Caspian Gull (5%) making up the remainder of birds. Almost at the end of the flock and right at the very back was a single second calendar year (first winter) Common Gull which is the first time I have seen the species in Saudi Arabia. This species is regarded as a vagrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia with the following records documented.
15th January 1975, Near Al Khobar
5th November 1976, Al-Uqayr
28th January 1978, Near Al Khobar
7th February 1982, Half Moon Bay, two adults
16th December 1982, Qatif, adult
2nd March 1984, Qatif, first year
3rd January 2013, Sabkhat Al Fasl (Jubail), second calendar year (first winter)

Records from other nearby countries are as follows:
Kuwait – Scarce winter visitor
Bahrain – Vagrant with records in August and March
Qatar – No records
United Arab Emirates - Former vagrant, now a near-annual but rare visitor.
Oman – Rare migrant and winter visitor

As can be seen from the records from surrounding countries, all with more birders present than Saudi Arabia, the species is scarce at best in the region and is rarer the further south in the Arabian Peninsula one goes. As I look at gulls extensively when I see groups it will be interesting to see if I locate any other individuals during my stay in Saudi Arabia. The photos are not great as the bottom ones were directly into the sun, although they are better than nothing.

There are four subspecies of Common Gull of which two may occur in the region Larus canus canus Linnaeus, 1758 – Common Gull. Europe and western Asia. Small size; mantle medium grey (palest subspecies) and Larus canus heinei Homeyer, 1853 – Russian Common Gull. Central northern Asia. Medium size; mantle dark grey (darkest subspecies). Most birds recorded in the region are assigned to Larus canus heinei but they are difficult to separate unless caught and measurements taken, with heinei being slightly larger than canus although measurements overlap. In East Asia Common Gull flocks contain a huge range of variation, and differences between heinei and kamtschatschensis and intergrades between the two are not well-known. There appears to be a large overlap in ranges of the two taxa with intergrades common and as a result it is probably unwise to try to assign a race to the bird I saw and leave it just as a Common Gull.

Red-tailed Wheatear – Dhahran Hills

Whilst birding the ‘patch’ on 6^th January 2013, I came across a small wheatear catching insects from a large boulder strewn area behind the percolation pond. I went to this area to see in anything interesting was there as it is quite good for Wheatears. I was, however, pleasantly surprised to see a Red-tailed Wheatear as this is a new species for me for Saudi Arabia and more importantly for me, for the ‘patch’ as well. I have now seen 186 species on my local bird-watching area and am hoping to progress further towards 200 species by the end of the year. Red-tailed Wheatear has been seen previously in Dhahran some years ago on the main jebals but there have been no records of the species in this area since I have been in Saudi Arabia. AbdulRhahman Al-Sirhan from Kuwait, found one last winter north of Qatif. The Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe chrysopygia is a scarce winter visitor to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia with birds occurring from late September until early April, especially in the vicinity of jebals, other rocky outcrops, dry scrub areas and semi-desert. It breeds in an area from north-east Turkey through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and western Pakistan while it winters to the south from southern Iraq, across the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-west India. Although they breed from 1200 – 4000 metres above sea level they winter down to sea level.

I was unable to photograph the bird as it was late in the evening but went back the next day to see if the bird was still present, which fortunately it was. As it was slightly earlier in the day I managed to take a few photos, although not the best they at least show the bird.

Lesser Whitethroat – Dhahran Hills

The patch has been reasonable for mid-winter with a few passerines seen. An unusual sight was a Lesser Whitethroat seen in the bushes by the percolation pond. These birds winter in southern Arabia, but I have not seen one in winter on the 'patch' before. Along with the Lesser Whitethroat were three Common Chiffchaffs. The pond held two Great Crested Grebes, one of which appeared to be building a nesting platform in the dense reed bed. Five Mallards were the only ducks and a Marsh Harrier was seen quartering the reed beds. Two Daurian Shrikes were in the bushes, one near the pond and the other by the side of the spray fields where 50+ White Wagtails were also present.  

Lesser Whitethroat

Daurian Shrike

White Wagtail

Location Details - Deffi Park (Jubail)

Deffi Park is located on the northern edge of Jubail Industrial City and is easily located by road signs when in the nearby area. The park is a large green area with many large trees which attract a lot of winter visitors which often feed in the leaf litter under the trees. The park can be busy at weekends with many local families picnicking in the area. As the park is the largest expanse of greenery in the area it attracts a lot of migrants and winter visitors at the right time of year.

Specialties seen at the site:

Robin
Eurasian Blackbird
Brambling
Chaffinch
Ring Ouzel

Rock Dove – Abqaiq Landfill

Whilst looking for Large White-headed Gulls on Abqaiq Landfill we found quite a good number of Rock Doves. Many of the birds appeared to be true Rock Doves although a number of less pure bred birds were about as well. Due to the less than pure individuals it is difficult to tell whether any birds are pure Rock Doves but plumage wise at least some do appear to be. Close views could be obtained of the birds feeding on the ground, but as we were concentrating on the gulls I did not manage to get any really good photographs. Also whilst driving around the site to try to get the best position for looking at and photographing the gulls we came across a good number of Wheatears including at minimum of ten Desert Wheatears and two Isabelline Wheatears.

Rock Dove

Rock Dove

Desert Wheatear - male

Dwarf Honeybee – Dhahran Hills

A number of Dwarf Honeybees Apis florea are currently active in and around our flowering plants in Dhahran Hills with the bees normally only seen in the cooler months of winter. Dwarf honeybees, also known as Red Dwarf Honeybee, is the smallest species of honey bee with the worker weighing 32 mg and approximately 600 bees in a colony.  The first records for Saudi Arabia were in 1985 when it was recorded in Riyadh but rapidly spread to Al Kharj and the eastern region as well as Jeddah, Makkah & Taif. The bees are attracted to flowering gardens of private homes in Dhahran and Al Khobar and have built their combs suspended from window ledges, under trellises and even attached to the security grills covering windows. The bees are native to India, and occur throughout southern and southeastern Asia and are about a quarter of the size of European honeybees who build many combs, whereas Dwarf Honeybees build just one comb. Although in some countries these bees make their hives in bushes or trees out in the open, in the Saudi heat the dwarf bees tend to look for a well-shaded area near flowering plants. They are probably the oldest form of all honeybee species and are believed to have separated from the other lineages of honeybee some 40 million years ago.

Abha animals & insects – Abha Region

Whilst in Abha and the surrounding areas we saw a number of interesting animals. The most common and easily seen were Hamadryas Baboons which were very common. The best site to see them was at the very top of Mount Soudah where a rubbish bin was very attractive to them. They could also be seen in various places along the roadside on the way from Abha to the top of Mount Soudah. Good photographic opportunities were available as they were in more natural habitat than at Baha where they always seemed to be around rubbish of one type or another. Quite a few were also seen whilst going down the Raydah Escarpment but as the road was very dangerous to drive the opportunities to photograph them here were limited. Whilst birdwatching the Mount Soudah pick-nick site area I found a butterfly on a number of occasions with a large eye on its under-wing and at the bottom of the cable car ride from Mount Soudah, which took about ten minutes and covered a distance of 5 kilometres, we saw an unidentified grasshopper as well as a number of butterflies including a very striking and confiding individual shown below. The cable car station is open from 09:00 hrs until 19:00 hrs and costs 80 riyals per adult with young children going free and is on the right hand side of the road just before the summit of Mount Soudah if going from Abha to the summit. A small unidentified lizard was seen at Habalah Hanging Village where it was seen basking in the sun on some steps of the old village and a brown butterfly was seen at Raydah Village at the bottom of the Raydah Escarpment. If anyone knows what any of these animals / insects are? please leave a message and let me know. 

Hamadryas Baboon

Hamadryas Baboon

Hamadryas Baboon

Birding the ‘Patch’ in 2012 – Dhahran Hills

In 2012 birding at the ‘patch’ I have done reasonably well I think and have recorded 160 species in total compared to 170 species in 2011. The 160 species seen including a number of rare or unusual birds such as Black Stork, Egyptian Nightjar, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Little Crake, Great Black-headed Gull, Black-winged Kite & Black-headed Bunting. Birding has been good on the whole, with spring migration starting very early this year compared to 2011 with the first migrants seen in January and numbers increasing through February with a peak in March and April when most species where recorded as well as the most number of birds. Spring migration was much slower and fewer birds recorded both in terms of numbers and species compared to 2011. Autumn migration was again much slower and more prolonged but again with some good birds seen including Spur-winged Lapwing, Red-breasted Flycatcher, good numbers of Greater Spotted Eagles and Citrine Wagtail. The below graph shows the number of different species seen on the ‘patch’ per calendar month to give an indication of which months are the best for birding out here. Part of the reason for the low numbers in winter are the days are short and evening birding is limited after work so time spent in the field is much lower than in the spring and summer months. Numbers in the summer months of June and July may be slightly higher than expected as I was able to go birding more often due to the longer days and the fact the family were on summer vacation. I have now recorded 185 species on the ‘patch’ in two years, which shows what can be seen in the area if you stick at it and spend the time in the field. Let us hope 2013 brings more good birds and my ‘patch’ list grows towards 200 species.

The Birding Year 2012 (Part 2) – Eastern Saudi Arabia

A single juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia was at Dammam Port Mangroves 18th June with five juveniles at Sabkhat Al Fasl 26th July. One adult Crab Plover Dromas ardeola was at Dammam – Al Khobar Wader Roost South, Tarut Bay, 18th June with numbers increasing gradually to four by the 10th August. Other birds included an adult and begging juvenile at Batinah Island, Abu Ali, 26th July and two adults at Dammam Port Mangroves 27th July. A single Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius was at Sabkhat Al Fasl 5th, 12th & 19th July with two 26th July.

Egyptian Nightjar

An adult Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus was at Dhahran 8th August which was only the fifth record for the Eastern Province. 162 Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus were at Dhahran Expro High tide roost, Tarut Bay, 10th August.

Broad-billed Sandpiper

A Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis was at Dhahran 24th September. A juvenile Little Crake Porzana parva was at Sabkhat Al Fasl 27th September along with a high count of 106 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia. An adult Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla was at Dhahran 8th October with a Red-breasted Flycathcer Ficedula parva at the same site 10th October. An adult Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus was at Ash Shargiyah Development Company Farm, Fadhili 12th October which was only the seventh record for the Eastern Province, along with a moulting adult Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva. A single Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura was at Dhahran settling pond 24th October. Eleven Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, including eight first calendar year birds were at Sabkhat Al Fasl 1st November with two first calendar year birds at Dhahran on 29th October. Three juvenile Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus were an unusual sight inland at Dhahran settling pools 23 November and three Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, were still around the Dhahran percolation pond 30th November.

Greater Spotted Eagle - juvenile

The Birding Year 2012 (Part 1) – Eastern Saudi Arabia

357 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, the largest flock for some years at the site, were at Sabkhat Al Fasl 6th January along with 19 Western Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus which was a high count. Six adult and two first year Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia were at Dammam Port Mangroves 13th January with six adults still present 10th February. Thirteen Greater Spotted Eagles Aquila clanga at Sabkhat Al Fasl 2nd February was the highest count of the winter and were accompanied by two second calendar year Eastern Imperial Eagles Aquilla heliacal. Six Corn Buntings Emberiza calandra were at Dhahran 9th February with four still present the next day. Two adult Armenian Gulls Larus armenicus were at the Dammam–Al Khobar wader roost (south) 10th February, the status of this species in the Eastern Province is uncertain but it appears to be scarce or rare. A second calendar year Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus was over Dhahran 11th February. A single second calendar year Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons was at Sabkhat Al Fasl 17th & 18th February which is a vagrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Greater White-fronted Goose

A juvenile Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus was at Dhahran 29th March while an adult Black-winged Kite Elanus (caeruleus) vociferus was there from 29th March until 17th April. This bird appeared to be of the eastern sub-species Elanus (caeruleus) vociferus as it had very dark under-wing markings on the secondaries unlike the more western race Elanus (caeruleus) caeruleus and was the first record for the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Black-winged Kite

Two adult male Little Crakes Porzana parva were at Dhahran 29th February with four (three males and a female) 4th & 5th March with singles seen until 20th March. An Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius was seen in the evening of 4th March at Dhahran with an adult male Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii at the same site in the evening of 7th March. An adult White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos was at Sabkhat Al Fasl 30th March which appears to be only the second record for the Eastern Province. A Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia was at Dhahran 1st April. An adult Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia was at Sabkhat Al Fasl 4 May. A female Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala was at Dhahran 8th & 9th May and an immature Black Stork Ciconia nigra at the same site 23rd May.

Black-headed Bunting