A trip to Dhahran Hills golf course in early
April allowed me to scan the grassy fairways near to the walking path. Here I
saw plenty of pipits of two different species. The majority were Red-throated
Pipit Anthus cervinus with up
to ten in small flocks in a couple of places. Tree Pipit Anthus
trivialis was also seen but in much smaller numbers of twos or threes. The
Tree Pipits were seen on the grass as well as in the nearby trees and hedges.
Red-throated Pipit is also a common passage migrant to all areas of the Kingdom.
Recorded from mid-March to May in spring, with a noticeable peak in middle of
April. Lower numbers are seen in autumn between early-October and late-November
when it is generally uncommon with a few wintering in Central and eastern areas
as well as Tabuk. A large flock of 250 were seen at TADCO farm, 20 February
2009 in the north of the country that may have been wintering birds or early
migrants. Tree Pipit is a common
passage migrant to all areas of Saudi Arabia that are recorded in spring mainly
from mid-March to late-April, in numbers up to 20 birds, and in much lower
numbers, during autumn between September and October and also occasionally
November. Early birds are sometimes seen in January and February and numbers
fluctuate widely each year with sometimes very few and other years hundreds.
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| Red-throated Pipit |
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| Red-throated Pipit |
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| Red-throated Pipit |
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| Tree Pipit |
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| Tree Pipit |
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| Tree Pipit |