Whilst birding Ash Shargiyah Development Company Farm,
near Jubail on 11 September 2015 I saw a juvenile Short-toed Snake Eagle over
one of the spray fields. The bird dropped down behind the horizon and looked
like it may have landed in the field. We drove around and saw the bird take off
and fly away but it then circled around and flew closer before drifting off and
being lost from sight. This is a good record as in the Eastern Province of
Saudi Arabia the species is a scarce migrant and winter visitor and has only
been recorded since
1979 although birds have been seen in all months of the year except July and
August. Most records have occurred in March and October & November
suggesting most birds just pass through the area although single records in
December to February show some birds may winter here. Birds have been seen from
the Dibdibah, Nariya and Manifa in the north to Haradh and Jawb on the edge of
the Rub’ al-Khali in the south. I have seen a few birds whilst being in Saudi
Arabia in the Eastern Province including a second calendar year, Dhahran Hills,
31st March 2011, two juveniles, Dhahran Hills, 22nd October 2011,
a second calendar year,
Dhahran Hills, 11th February 2012 and a second calendar year, Dhahran Hills, 26th March 2013.
