Northern Shoveler increasing - Dhahran Hills

Yesterday at the 'patch' there were again plenty of birds. The water level at the pond is attracting plenty of waders with one Marsh Sandpiper, one Common Greenshank, one Common Ringed Plover, two Dunlin, two Green Sandpiper, four Wood Sandpiper, six Kentish Plover, 11 Common Snipe and 25 Little Stint. The waders all took flight at one point and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew over, but it looked like it had already fed on something as its crop was full. Ducks were again on the pond in good numbers with two Garganey, 33 Eurasian Teal and 74 Northern Shoveller. A group of six Blue-cheeked Bee-eater were catching insects over the pond along with 12 Sand Martin and 11 Barn Swallow and two Cattle Egret flew in at last light and landed in one of the tall trees to roost. The only other bird of note was a Caspian Reed Warbler in the reeds at the edge of the pond which is the first one I have seen there for a few weeks.

 Northern Shoveler

Eurasian Teal