Purple Swamphen is not a rare bird in the
Eastern Province and large numbers can be seen at its main breeding site of
Sabkhat Al Fasl. Although this has traditionally been the only site to see
them. Phil Roberts and I also found a second breeding site for the species at
Khafrah Marsh a couple of years ago and other birds have been seen at Dhahran
Percolation Pond and Ash Shargiyah Development Company Farm in recent times, so
it looks like the species may be extending its range as these are the only
sites in the whole of Saudi Arabia. Arnold Uy sent me some details and a couple
of photos of a Grey-headed Swamphen he saw on a small wetland in Dammam. He
mentioned the bird was used to people and allowed close approach. This location
is close to Dhahran but 125 kilometres south of the main site of Sabkhat Al
Fasl again indicating the species is spreading out from its traditional core
area. I thank Arnold for allowing me to use the photos on my website some of
which are reproduced below.
