Whilst birding Jubail I came across a single Glossy Ibis in flight over
a wetland area. The bird flew around and landed in some flooded sabkha and then
flew again and disappeared. The species is seldom seen in the Jubail area with
only one or two records a year. Glossy Ibis is an uncommon but regular passage
migrant from March to early May and from August to November in the Eastern
Province as well as a scarce summer and winter visitor. It is more common in
Riyadh where it is predominantly a passage migrant and winter visitor but ones
and twos are normally present throughout the year. They pass through the Riyadh
area from March to early June, usually in small flocks but up to 40 together
have been recorded, and again from late July to November, often in groups of 20
plus. Winter populations vary but seldom more than a dozen present. Elsewhere
it is most commonly seen in the southwest of the Kingdom.
