Purple Heron - Dammam / Al Khobar Wader Roost South

Whilst birding the Dammam / Al Khobar Wader Roost South I saw an unusual sight of a juvenile Purple Heron standing with the large waders in the sea some distance from shore. As the tide pushed in, the Purple Heron flew off and came inland and landed on a pile of building rubble dumped in the area by someone. This allowed me to approach the bird in the car but before I could get close to it, it flew, luckily towards me. I took a few flight shots of the bird some of which turned out quite nicely. Other herons seen in the area were three Grey Herons and seven Indian Reef Herons, five white morphs and two grey morphs. I have seen Purple Heron previously at this site, last autumn but the birds were in the sea vegetation at the high tide point and not right out in the water as this bird was.


Purple Heron

Purple Heron

Purple Heron

Purple Heron

Grey Heron