The Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius is an uncommon
bird in Arabia although since 2006 birds have been located in the Eastern province
of Saudi Arabia near Jubail, every year in August with the highest count being fifteen
birds together in August 2015 & September 2017. Birds have been seen every
year since 2006 in Jubail with the earliest record on the 27 June 2014 until
this year when Phi Roberts and I found a bird sitting on the main track under a
bush on 16 June. There have been a number of early records this year including
in Dhahran in March and at Khafrah Marsh in April. Hopefully, birds will be
seen in larger numbers again through August and September as has occurred in
previous years.
