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09 June 2016

Late spring terns - Jubail


The late spring is an excellent time to see terns of various species around Jubail. The most common tern in late spring is the Little Tern. In the Eastern Province the Little Tern is a common passage migrant and summer visitor that is scarce in the winter. Care must be taken not to confuse it with the very similar Saunder’s Tern that also occurs in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in the summer and breeds on offshore islands. It has bred in freshwater and brackish areas of eastern Saudi Arabia and possibly the Red Sea also. Birds are scarce inland but have been recorded in all areas including Riyadh. As the summer wears on White-cheeked Tern becomes much commoner with hundreds of birds seen daily. Caspian Tern is also seen in small numbers seen rarely exceed ten.
Little Tern
Little Tern
Little Tern
Little Tern
Little Tern
Little Tern
Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern
White-cheeked Tern
White-cheeked Tern
White-cheeked Tern
White-cheeked Tern