The Grey-headed Swamphen is a common resident
breeder at Sabkhat Al Fasl and has recently (August 2011) expanded its breeding
range to Khafrah Marsh a wetland site 30 kilometres south-west of Sabkhat where
six adults and a yound bird were found. The species favoured habitat is large Phragmites
australis reed-beds with associated water which is available at all the
sites the species has been seen at in Saudi Arabia. The range expansion appears
to be quite quick as the first record for Saudi Arabia was on 8th August 2003
at Sabkhat Al Fasl core area 2 with breeding confirmed in 2007 and numbers
increasing each year since this date. Other signs of the species expanding its
range include a record from Dhahran percolation pond, 130 kilometres to the south
of Sabkhat Al Fasl in October 2009 with two birds there in December 2014 and a
sighting of one and possibly two birds at Ash Shargiyah Development Company
Farm, Fadhili 31st January 2013. Ash Shargiyah Development Company Farm is
located approximately 40 kilometres due west of Sabkhat Al Fasl and although in
the desert has an area of Phragmites australis reed-beds in which the
bird was located. The most recent records are three adult birds at the same
site 4 September 2015 showing a very high likelihood of breeding here as well. It
appears that the rapid population increase observed at Sabkhat al Fasl over the
past five years has created pressures on territories and prompted some birds to
move to alternative suitable habitats within the Eastern Province and thereby
expand its range.
