Whilst birding the Jubail area on 22
September I came across a Western Osprey. Initially it was seen flying over the
reed beds but soon disappeared from view. After a few minutes, the bird was
seen again in flight but this time flew and landed on a post nearby. Unfortunately, the bird was directly into the sun and no photos could be taken.
I move the car to a different track but the bird flew but landed again on a
similar post further down the track. Western Osprey is uncommon at the location
but is a regular passage migrant as well as resident breeding species in the Eastern
Province of Saudi Arabia. Birds breed on islands along all coasts of the
Kingdom where they are also a migrant sometimes occurring far inland. Birds of
the Riyadh Region by Stagg 1994 mentions it is a passage migrant and winter
visitor, in small numbers, that passes from March to April then again in
September and October.
