Viv found and photographed
a Eurasian Stone Curlew in early October 2014 near Tabuk and has allowed me to
use his photos on my website. This is a species I am still yet to see in the
country and was a good find by Viv. The Eurasian Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus is a scarce migrant in the Eastern Province although
probably annual especially at Haradh. It has occurred in widely scattered
localities across the region. Most records have been in March and October. It
has occurred in February to early May, once in July and from September to
November with up to seven found together but normally singly. Elsewhere they
are a scarce migrant and
winter visitor. A few birds winter in open sandy areas even in the Empty
Quarter where it was commoner previously. In
the southwest they are an uncommon bird although a flock of 100 were seen
roosting on a plateau near Qarnayn 28 December 1991. Elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
they are an uncommon migrant and probably a winter visitor to the Tihamah,
coastal plain near Jeddah and central Arabia south of 25°N.
