Phil and I went to Deffi Park, a
large municipal park in Jubail on 12 February 2016. 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 time we visited on 22 January
we found a White-throated Kingfisher in some trees next to a small stream and
the bird was still present and calling loudly on 12 February, so appears to be
wintering in 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. Other birds seen in the park
included Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kingfisher, two Common Greenshanks and five
Indian Reef Herons. Looking around the trees and grass areas of the park
produced a number of wintering Chiffchaffs as well as a single Lesser
Whitethroat.
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| White-throated Kingfisher |
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| Common Greenshank |