Paul Watson sent me an e-mail kindly
informing me of a Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus present on a bit of
grassland in Dhahran Hills. I had not seen the species before on my local patch
but was unable to look for the bird until the next day when luckily it was
still present in the same area. It lingered for over a week until late November
as Mats Ris also alerted me to the birds presence a few days later. Northern
Lapwings have been seen at least once whilst I have been on the camp but I was
away and did not see it so this was a nice addition to my local patch list. The
Birds of the Eastern Province 1989 mentioned Northern Lapwing were a scarce and
somewhat irregular visitor with records from November to early April but
chiefly from November through January.
In 1979-71 up to 15 wintered in Dhahran but this proved to be
exceptional, showing how large this flock was. Elsewhere in Saudi Arabia, high
counts have been at 425 at Haradh 5 February 2016, at Al Safi Dairy farm,
Central Province, where at least 111 individuals were seen 25 January 2001.
Birds of Thumamah 1988-1994 said maximum numbers were 100 in the winter
1992/1993. Its status in the Kingdom is as an uncommon winter visitor to all
areas north of a line from Hofuf, through Riyadh to Hail. Small flocks of birds
have been seen this November at a couple of sites near Jubail with the largest
count being 26.
