13 October 2015

A few waders and migrants in Tabuk – Bird records by Viv Wilson

Viv Wilson goes birdwatching to his local wetland area of Tabuk most weekends and sends me a few photographs of what he sees. Most of the birds seen and photographed in the last couple of weeks have been birds of prey but there are also quite a few waders passing through. One common wader at present is Common Ringed Plover a species we are seeing in very high numbers in the Eastern Province compared to previous years suggesting large numbers are passing throughout the country at present. Other waders seen in good numbers include Black-winged Stilts and Little Stints. Other water birds seen on the wetland include Grey Herons, that have again been passing in very large numbers through the Kingdom this autumn and small groups of Northern Shoveler. Other migrants seen in good numbers include Barn Swallows, Sand Martins, Eurasian Hoopoes, European Bee-eaters and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters. It has been a good migration season so far and appears to be continuing into October. Hopefully good birds can still be found as the season here lasts into early November.
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Hoopoe
Grey Heron
Grey Heron
Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
Common Ringed Plovers
Common Ringed Plovers
Wetland
Wetland
Sunset
Sunset