Two Glossy Ibis - Dhahran Hills

Yesterday whilst birding the 'patch' I found two Glossy Ibis in one of the corners of the percolation pond, feeding quietly on the muddy edge and at the reed sides. This species is not rare in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia but is uncommon ocuring mainly on passage although winter records have also occurred. I have seen birds before in Saudi Arabia at Sabkhat Al Fasl & Khafra Marsh and the species has been seen before on the percolation pond but before I arrived in Saudi Arabia. This is the 181 species I have seen on my local 'patch' with ten new species being added this year as follows:
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), 26th August 2012
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), 9th July 2012
Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor), 30th June 2012
Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala), 8th May 2012
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), 18th April 2012
Common Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia), 31st March 2012
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla), 31st March 2012
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), 29th March 2012
Finsch's Wheatear (Oenenthe finschii), 7th March 2012
Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), 5th March 2012


Glossy Ibis



Glossy Ibis

Little else was seen with the exception of an Isabelline Wheatear at the edge of the spray fields and two Northern Shoveller on the percollation pond with the hundreds of Common Moorhen and Little Grebes. Three Clamorous Reed Warblers incuing a bgging youngster were seen in the reeds of the percolation pond and a summer plumaged Western Cattle Egret was also in the same area.