Whilst birding at Sabkhat Al Fasl on 24 January Phil Roberts and I found
seven Black-necked Grebes on the main flooded sabkha area near the power
station. All were in winter plumage except for a single bird approaching summer
plumage. This bird was the closest of the seven and appeared to be happy picking
small insects off the surface of the water and was acting very much like a
Phalarope in its feeding behavior. The Black-necked Grebe is an uncommon but
regular visitor to the Eastern Province from late August through March but
becomes scarce in April and May and rare in the summer. It is usually local in
coastal waters but counts of over 40 are not unusual in Half Moon Bay. Small
numbers occur inland with up to four seen this winter on my local patch. Elsewhere
in Saudi Arabia birds have occurred in Riyadh, Tabuk and the Red Sea, as well as in the Jizan region.
