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| Black-tailed Godwit - adult summer plumage |
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Little Stint |
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| Eurasian Spoonbill |
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| Eurasian Spoonbill |
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| Black-necked Grebe |
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| Great Crested Grebe |
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| Socotra Cormorant |
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
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23 October 2012
Some birds from early 2009 - By Bob Roberts
Here are a few photographs I have just been sent by Bob
Roberts of some birds he took in spring 2009 and which he kindly gave me
permission to use. They were taken are the Dammam – Al Khobar Wader Roost and
show two Black-tailed Godwits, taken on the 6th March 2009, which
are an uncommon passage
migrant and winter visitor to the coast and inland pools. The next photograph
shows an adult Black Tailed Godwit, male in
breeding plumage, which appears to have a damaged wing, hence it has overstayed
when most Godwits had already departed, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, 16th
April 2009. Little Stint is a
very common passage migrant and winter visitor to the coast with thousands seen
on occasions. In the spring and autumn many birds are seen in full breeding
plumage such as the bird shown here. This photograph was taken on 16th
April 2009.
European Spoonbill was
a rare bird to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia twenty years ago but now it
is scarce visitor which can be seen at any time of year although early autumn is
the best time to see the species when most birds seen are juveniles. This photograph was taken at Dammam Port Mangroves on 9th January 2009. Socotra Cormorant is
a very common breeding resident to the area with thousands occasionally seen
flying in large groups out at sea.
Grebes are not common
in Saudi Arabia with the exception of Little Grebe. Bob took the photograph of
the Black-necked Grebe at a lagoon that had been formed on the reclaimed land
at the side of the Dammam – Al Khobar Wader Roost. Although it is a regular
winter visitor to the Eastern Province I have so far failed to see any birds.
The Great Crested Grebe photographs were taken at Dammam Seafront and again
this is a bird that is uncommon and restricted in the number of sites where it
occurs both birds were seen on 9th January 2009.