A pair of Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus
roseus with two recently hatch young, 12 August, were the first record of
breeding for the species in the Kingdom. An unprecedented influx of Eurasian
Bittern Botaurus stellaris were seen with fifteen 30 kilometers east
of Zulfi 8 November, six together 40 kilometers north of Zulfi 11 November and
40 at Sakaka near Al Jouf 6 – 12 November. A Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
returned to KAUST 22 October until 5 November at least. A Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus at Sabkhat Al Fasl 7 October. Two winter plumaged Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus
lobatus at Sabkhat Al Fasl 7 October. A Eurasian Scops Owl Otus scops
was at KAUST, 1 & 2 October a first record for the site. A Pied Cuckoo
Oxylophus jacobinus was at Al Mefah Park, Tanoumah 7 July with another well
north of its normal range at Wadi Thee Gazelle 25 June. Two male Diederik
Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius were still at Al Mehfar Park, Tanoumah 7
& 8 July. Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius were at Sabkhat Al
Fasl throughout the summer until 16 September, with a maximum 13 recorded. A
minimum of three Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus were at Al Mehfar Park, Tanoumah 7
& 8 July.
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| Arabian Magpie |
A White-throated
Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis was at Sabkhat Al Fasl 28 October. A Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis were at KAUST 23 September
to 3 October only the third documented record from the west coast and four were
at Sabkhat Al Fasl 28 October until 11 November at least. Five Arabian Magpie Pica (pica)
asirensis, two adults and three juveniles, were at Al Mehfar Park, Tanoumah 8 July with six at nearby Sallal al-Dahna 28
October.
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| Blanford's Lark |
Four Blanford’s Lark Calandrella blanfordi
were at Talea’a Valley including adults and juveniles 6 & 9 July. Four Oriental
Skylarks Alauda gulgula were at Sabkhat Al Fasl 11 November. A European Robin Erithacus
rubecula was on the west coast at KAUST 11 November with another on the
same day on the east coast at Sabkhat Al Fasl. Eight African Pipit Anthus
cinnamomeus eximius including two adults feeding young were in
Al Mefah Park, Tanoumah 7 & 8 July with another in song flight in the
Talea’a Valley 9 July.