Whilst birding Sabkhat Al Fasl on 13 June we found the
juvenile Red-wattled Lapwing again in the same place as we originally found it.
The bird was feeding actively and allowed quite close approach in the car. It
was feeding along the edge of the main flooded sabkha and as cars and busses
regularly drive up here it has presumably become used to the traffic. Last
weekend if flew off when a bus came along but this time one passed right by and
it stayed put. This gave us confidence we may be able to approach with the car
and not disturb it, which is what happed. Initially we were again photographing
into the sun but after passing the bird we came back about a hour later and got
the sun behind us allowing me to take the best photos yet of the species in
Saudi Arabia. The Red-wattled Lapwing is a scarce species in the Eastern
Province of Saudi Arabia and rare elsewhere in the country.
