Birds of Saudi Arabia: Pied Kingfisher a new ‘patch’ species

17 February 2015

Pied Kingfisher a new ‘patch’ species – Dhahran golf course

A Pied Kingfisher was found on a small pool on the edge of the golf course a Dhahran on 13 February and as this was a new species for me on the ‘patch’ I went to have a look for it first thing in the morning the next day. Although I saw some god birds during this visit I failed to find the Pied Kingfisher. I was then busy with the family until late afternoon when I decided to have another look for the bird. This time I was successful and the Kingfisher was busy feeding at the pond. It would often come by and do its normal hovering over the water before flying off and landing in the top of a tall acacia bush. Pied Kingfisher is a scarce winter visitor to the Eastern Province and although I have seen the species before in the Eastern Province I had until this sighting not do so on my local birdwatching area so I was very happy with this record. Unfortunately the light was poor for taking photographs as it was cloudy and there was a lot of dust still in the air from the previous days strong winds. Other good birds seen included a female Common Kingfisher and several Clamorous Reed Warbler and a Bluethroat that may have been a White-spotted Bluethroat. Recent records from the Eastern Province have included as many as six Pied Kingfishers 25 February 1999, outside Al Jubail, a single present at Sabkhat Al Fasl 6 November to 1 December 2011 and one at Al Fanateer marina, Jubail 24 January 2014.