Arnold Uy sent me a message to say he had found an amazing twenty-four
Red-wattled Lapwing near Shaybah in late February. This is the third time the
species has been found in the Empty Quarter and may indicate breeding,
especially due to the numbers involved. 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. An adult Shaybah 8 mrch 2016. This species is resident at wetlands in
eastern Arabia (United Arab Emirates), and is gradually colonizing westwards. 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 seventeen records prior to this one of single birds from October to
December (especially November), but also January, April, June and July. I would
like to thank Arnold for sending me the details as well as allowing me to use
his photos on my website. The photos were taken using a mobile phone.
