Whilst birdwatching the Jubail area
in early February we came across a number of small flocks of Pallid Swifts Apus
pallidus. The species is a common passage migrant and breeder with a peculiar
pattern of occurrence. The species is common from late January to May, scarce
after this and only recorded again in good numbers from November. Breeding takes
place in the winter months from November to April. Pallid Swift are always good
to watch but rarely come down low and allow photography. On the occasion we saw
the birds in Jubail there were a number of birds that put on a good aerial
display and allowed a few reasonable photographs to be taken.
