The number of Western Cattle Egrets around the camp seems to
dropping from a high point of about 100 birds. Good views can still be had of
the birds as they feed along the roadside grass verges finding insects in the
soft ground after the grass has been watered. The birds spend the evening
roosting in the pharagmites reed-beds of the percolation pond where they arrive
just before dark and leave just after first light. It was previously a scarce
species in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia but since the 2000’s good
numbers of birds were seen that have increased to toady’s numbers slowly over
the last ten years. The photographs below were taken on the grass area next to
the skate and BMX park close to the golf course where good views of the birds
can be had particularly in the late afternoon when the grass has been watered.
