Black-headed Bunting & Indian Silverbill - Dhahran Hills

I went straight back to the patch of grass where the Black-headed Bunting was present yesterday at the edge of the spray fields to see if I could see the bunting again. When I got to the spot these was a small flock of 18 Indian Silverbills which is the largest group I have seen in Dhahran. Keeping them company was the female Black-headed Bunting and today although I only got a couple of photos they were better than yesterday’s efforts. The bird remained very flighty and nervous and did not allow close approach and remained silent during the time I was present. I did not want to disturb the bird unduly so left it in place, hopefully to give better views tomorrow.


Indian Silverbills



Indian Silverbills



Black-headed Bunting



Black-headed Bunting

Other birds seen around the spray fields were three Namaqua Doves including two males and two Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins. A small number of Willow Warblers and one Spotted Flycatcher were also present on the scrubby bushes with two Daurian Shrikes. The percolation pond remains very quite with just one Little Ringed Plover and three Black-winged Stilts. At one stage all the Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot and Little Grebes took fright and on looking up a nice adult Western Osprey was flying over and landed in the trees on the far side of the pond. Whilst walking around the pond I flushed a European Nightjar from under some trees and had good flight views but was unable to relocate the bird. The only birds of note seen were two European Bee-eaters.