Jeddah - September bird records from Tony Blake

Tony Blake went birding in the Riyadh River area on 15^th September and sent me these details which he kindly said I could put on my website.

7.00am – 8.00am

Site 1 – area near “bird ringing programme” sign, c8km to east of Al Hair

Night Heron	c.2
Purple Heron	c.3
Laughing Dove	P
Namaqua Dove	3 – two females and one male
Little Green Bee-eater	1
Crested Lark	c.3
Swallow	1
Yellow Wagtail – heard only	2+
White-cheeked Bulbul	A
Reed Warbler (heard only)	1
Spotted Flycatcher	1
Masked Shrike	1 – adult male
House Sparrow	P
Indian Silverbill – several flocks seen, but only one bird seen perched.  ID’d as Indian on range	P

                                               

8.00am – 9.00am

Site 2 – further east, and down road to south towards water works

Night Heron – picked up with broken wing by driver	1
Moorhen – juvs	3
Laughing Dove	P
Namaqua Dove	2
Crested Lark	1
Swallow	P
Sand Martin	1+
Yellow Wagtail	2 juv
Graceful Prinia	2
Avadavat	1 - male

Also here, c.20 Clouded Yellow type butterflies, and a Brown Argus type butterfly, but quite grey-cast and extensively speckled on underwing.

9.15am – 10.15am

Site 3 – date farm area to south west of Al Hair, and to south west of the watercourse, turning off south

Moorhen	1
Laughing Dove	P
Little Green Bee-eater	1
White-cheeked Bulbul	A
Golden Oriole – at least two seen	2 – male and female
Common Mynah	1
House Sparrow	P

10.30 – 11.00

Site 4 – c2km further west, along road

Harrier sp – juvenile.  At range, through poor quality bins, could not clinch ID.  But clearly slimline, so Monty’s or Pallid.	1
Laughing Dove	P
Namaqua Dove	c.3
Little Green Bee-eater	1
African Rock Martin	1+

11.30am – 12.00pm

Site 5 – Wadi Hanifa – signposted area adjacent to watercourse, near Mansouriah

Squacco Heron	1
Grey Heron	2
Little Stint – juv.  In roadside pool.  Dark “ridge” on crown, slightly split super and white Vs seen.	1
Common Sandpiper – flushed as I walked across watercourse.	c.5
Laughing Dove	P
Namaqua Dove	c.3
Little Green Bee-eater	1
Crested Lark	1
Yellow Wagtail	1 – adult ( feldegg).  Dark crown, slightly paler ear coverts