Phil
and I went to Deffi Park, a large municipal park in Jubail. The park is an area
of mature trees and nice grass areas but is popular with locals during the day.
As a result we always arrive just before first light and look around and have
found a few good birds over the years. The last visit was no exception when we
found a White-throated Kingfisher in some trees next to a small stream at one
edge of the park. White-throated Kingfisher is a scarce bird to the Eastern
Province of the Kingdom although they breed at Al Hair, Riyadh and appear to be
coming more common in recent years. This is the first record for the park
although birds have been seen at nearby Sabkhat Al Fasl in recent years. Other
good birds by the stream included Grey Wagtail, Common Kingfisher, Common
Greenshank and Indian Reef Heron. Looking around the trees and grass areas of
the park produced a wintering Masked Shrike, and uncommon winter species that
are more often seen during passage in the Eastern Province. There were plenty
of wintering Chiffchaffs, as is normally the case for this location, as well as
a few Water Pipits and plenty of White Wagtails.
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| Masked Shrike |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Common Chiffchaff |