Whilst birding Jubail recently I came across a nice selection of water
birds some of which I have not seen so often this year. Terns are always common
in Jubail and Caspian Tern has been seen in numbers up to 100 birds in some
visits. It is a local breeding species and can often be seen trying to catch
fish from the flooded areas of sabkha. Whiskered Tern also uses the same habitat
and they can often be seen fishing together when the massive size if Caspian
Tern becomes more apparent. A bird I have seen few of this year compared to
most is Garganey, although I saw two males together last visit. Grey-headed Swamphen
is now spreading its range in Saudi Arabia bit the Jubail area is its
stronghold and I saw one very confiding bird along the side of a wet ditch. Little
Egret on the other hand is normally an uncommon winter visitor to the Jubail
area although this year numbers have ben high with plenty seen last visit
including a number that have moved well inland from their normal haunts. Other
water birds seen included both Spotted Crake with three birds seen and a single
Little Crake all of which were too fast for me to take any photographs. Little
Grebes are now in full breeding plumage and passage waders are still passing
with photographs of Wood Sandpiper and Ruff taken.
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| Caspian Tern |
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| Whiskered Tern |
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| Garganey |
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| Grey-headed Swamphen |
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| Wood Sandpiper |
 |
| Ruff |
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| Little Grebe |
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| Little Egret |