Arnold Uy sent me a message to say he had found a Red-wattled Lapwing
near Shaybah 8 March. The bird was just off route 95 in a wetland area and is a
good bird for the Eastern Province. This is the second time the species has
been found in the Empty Quarter and may indicate breeding. The species is rare
in Saudi Arabia with the following records all the birds I know about. In
Riyadh & Central Arabia, birds were seen in January 1977, within the Riyadh
city boundary; one was seen 1 November 1985 near Mansouriyah; one on 2 December
1988 and another January 1989 on farmland adjacent to the lower reaches of the
Riyadh watercourse and another on 4 November 1989 at the Riyadh watercourse.
One was on Thumamah dairy farm 16-22 January 1994. One individual wintered at
Thumamah between 5 November 1999 and 17 February 2000 & from 27 January
onwards it was present at the old dairy farm. A second individual was seen at
Al Safi Dairy Farm on 25 January 2001. In the Empty quarter Up to five birds
were seen on three days at Sabkha 40 in 2010 where there was suitable breeding
habitat present. An adult was at Sabkhat Al Fasl 15 February 2014, an adult was
at Dhahran Saudi Aramco camp 1 June 2014 and one juvenile Sabkhat Al Fasl 8
June 2014. This species is resident at wetlands in eastern Arabia (United Arab
Emirates), and is gradually colonizing westwards. Although the minimum of two
pairs did not appear to be breeding (which would have been indicated by extreme
agitation and mobbing of intruders, the timing of this record suggests that it
might breed later in 2010 or in a future year. (The species tends to be present
in breeding areas for two or more years before attempting breeding). So far it
has not yet been recorded to breed in Saudi Arabia. In the Eastern province it
is regarded as a rare passage migrant and winter visitor and there have been sixteen
records prior to this one of single birds from October to December (especially
November), but also January, April, June and July. Birds have been seen at
Nayriyyah in the north, three times at Haradh in the south with the last
records being sixteen 24 November 1983, four times at Abqaiq and five times in
Dhahran with the last record 13 December 1985. I would like to thank Arnold for
sending me the details as well as allowing me to use his photos on my website.
