A Pied Kingfisher was
found at Wadi Hanifa, south of Riyadh three weeks ago and photos were sent to a
birdwatcher who informed the Riyadh birders of the sighting. On 21 November
Mansur and Mohammed went to look for the bird and found it again. Mansur
managed to take a couple of photos of the bird as well as some great photos of
both White-breasted Kingfisher and Common Kingfisher. It has been a good year
for photographing Common Kingfisher by others but I am still to get and decent photographs
of the species. The Pied Kingfisher is a rare and irregular winter visitor to coastal
creeks and wetlands although there have been a number of inland records such as
the one at Riyadh. Mansur also saw one at Al Hayir in 2008 and Mohammed saw one
in Zulfi around the same year. In the last few years there have been birds at
Sabkhat Al Fasl in Jubail and Al Fanateer Harbour also Jubail. White-throated
Kingfisher is a scarce visitor to the Eastern Province but an uncommon resident
breeder in the Ryadh area where the below photo was taken. I thank Mansur for
sending me the photos and details and for allowing me to use them on m website.
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| Pied Kingfisher |
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| Pied Kingfisher |
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| White-throated Kingfisher |
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| Common Kingfisher |