Ducks on Dhahran Hills Lake – Dhahran

I visited Dhahran Hills lake at first light in late December I found a group of four Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, two males and two females. They kept close to the lake edge near to cover and due to the cover around the lake I was able to get reasonably close to them before they noticed me a flew off. Also on the lake were seventeen Eurasian Teal, a mix of males, males in eclipse plumage and females. They were out in the middle of the lake but flew when a Marsh Harrier flew overhead. In the Eastern Province Mallard is an uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor that generally occurs from late August until May, with peak numbers from September to March. It occurs mainly in the coastal zone where they often frequent coastal areas and inland pools. The only regular sites are the Dammam area where birds are often seen in Tarout Bay and the Jubail area that regularly has small flocks of up to 35 birds in the winter. Inland records have come from Dhahran Saudi Aramco camp percolation pond and Abqaiq lagoons where birds are seen each winter in numbers up to 15 birds. The species is extremely weary in the Kingdom and getting close to birds is extremely difficult. Eurasian Teal is a common passage migrant, common winter visitor and erratic summer visitor that is widespread throughout Saudi Arabia both as a broad front migrant from February to March and again from September to October). Many birds overwinter from November to February such as the birds I saw.

Mallard

Mallard

Mallard

Mallard

Mallard

Mallard

Mallard

Mallard

Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Teal

Birds of Prey – Jubail

The last visit to Jubail produced at least six Greater Spotted Eagles, mainly seen perched on the power pylons, but occasionally in the reedbeds as well. Other birds of prey seen included a single Long-legged Buzzard and well over ten Western Marsh Harriers including a male. One female remained perched in a tree which is unusual for the species as they normally fly before you can get close, so a couple of photos were taken (shown below). Other birds seen included a few wintering Daurian Shrikes, plenty of Squacco Heron and Little Egret as well as a number of Grey Heron and Great Egret and a few Greater Flamingo. Common Moorhen numbers are remaining steady but at much reduced numbers compared to those of several years previously and Grey-headed Swamphen remain common at the location. White Wagtail and Water Pipit numbers are slowly increasing as winter progresses.

Greater Spotted Eagle

Western Marsh Harrier

Western Marsh Harrier

Common Moorhen

Little Egret

White-throated Kingfisher – Deffi Park

Whilst birding Deffi Park I came across a White-throated Kingfisher a species that has now become resident in very small numbers in the Jubail area. White-throated Kingfisher was recently classed as a vagrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (Bundy et al 1989) with only two records, one at Dhahran 4-5 October 1984 and one overwintering at the Dhahran Hills percolation pond early November 1985 until March 1986. Since then, there have been many records in various places in the Eastern Province, including Deffi Park, with most birds seen in the Jubail to Dhahran areas. Birds now almost certainly breed in nearby Sabkhat Al Fasl, but they remain scarce and only a few records have been recorded from Deffi Park. This bird was seen by me a few weeks ago, so may well be wintering in the park.

Hypocolius flock still present – Uqair

A visit to Uqair in early December to see if the large flock (400 birds) of Hypocolius were present was rewarded with more than 300 birds being seen. This suggests these birds may be wintering which will be great and we will look again later in the winter to see if they are still present. Birds were not on view at first light but as the sun started to rise they came out of their roosting trees and started flying around and calling. It seems quite difficult to get the birds perched in the open and the best chance of photography seems to be to get them in flight. The below photos are the best ones I obtained on the day.

Greater Hoopoe-Lark - Uqair

Whilst birding the Uqair area and looking at a group of gulls Phil noticed a  Greater Hoopoe-Lark running aroud on the sand. It was quite an obliging bird and stayed fairly motionless for a while before moving right next to car, but it was running too fast to get and really close photos. The Greater Hoopoe-Lark is a common breeding resident in all sandy desert areas of the Kingdom including the Empty Quarter, the desert regions of the Southern Red Sea and the Tihamah. They are uncommon in the North-west. 

European Robin – Deffi Park

Whilst birding Deffi Park at first light on 16 December I saw a European Robin feeding on the ground at some distance. After alerting Phil Roberts we tried to get closer for some photos. European Robin in the UK is a very confiding species allowing close approach, but this bird had not been taught well and was very timid. It quickly flew up high in a dense tree where we could not see it. Eventually we relocated it, but again it flew quickly into another tree. I managed to get a single poor photo (see below) of the bird before it flew off some distance and could not be relocated. This is only the second time I have seen the species in Saudi Arabia, with the first an adult bird near Salwa, between Al Kuwaifriah and Al Bartha 26 November 2021, of which I could not get any photos. The European Robin is a scarce winter visitor to Saudi Arabia with the following records from the Eastern Province of the Kingdom. One adult male Abqaiq lagoons 11 November 1983, one adult male Dhahran Saudi Aramco camp percolation pond, 16 December 1983, one adult male Dhahran Saudi Aramco camp percolation pond, 22 February 1984, One at Jubail Lagoons 15 November 1991, one Duffi Park, Jubail 15 February 2014, one Jubail 1-12 December 2015, one Sabkhat Al Fasl 9 December 2015, one between Al Kuwaifriah and Al Bartha 26 November 2021, one male Aqua Park, Jubail 10 September 2022 and one Deffi Park 16 December 2022. 

Bonelli’s Eagle – Al Asfar Lake

Whilst birding Al Asfar Lake near Al Hassa on 10 December we came across a second year Bonelli’s Eagle sitting on a power pylon. It was early morning and was raining slightly so the light was poor and photography difficult. The bird appeared to be trying to dry out spreading its wings occasionally. Bonelli’s Eagle is a rare migrant and winter visitor to all areas of the Kingdom. Records from the Eastern province are very limited with the only records being a first year at Dhahran 2-9 January 1981, one Dhahran 4-27 February 1981, one captured exhausted 20 kilometres south of Safaniya 14 July 1984, one at Qatif 11 December 1991, a juvenile in flight at Jabal Nariyyah 25 January 2007, a juvenile Sabhka al-Fasl 10 December 2015, a juvenile in flight Dhahran 11 March 2017 and a juvenile Al Asfar Lake 18-25 February 2021.

Steppe Gulls - Uqair

Whilst birding Uqair in December we saw a few Steppe Gulls on the beach. Although this species is common it is not so often close views are obtained of them on the ground, so this sighting allowed some close photos to be taken. Steppe Gull barabensis, is a taxon making up approximately 90% of the large white-headed gulls in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. These birds leave their steppe breeding grounds in August, and are thought to migrate along the coast of the Caspian Sea, then cross northwest Iran, through the Tigris valley and on to the Arabian Gulf. They start appearing in the Jubail, Dhahran and Uqair areas from mid-August and build in number through the winter. It is a common passage migrant and very common winter visitor from mid-August to April.