Birds of Saudi Arabia: Wetland birds Dhahran Hills Lake

Whilst birding Dhahran Hills Lake in late December I saw a few good typical wetland birds. A singing Caspian Reed Warbler was in full song on the edge of the lake in the reedbeds and Delicate Prinias were also singing and making claim to their territories on the lake edge. A tree on the lakeside was full of Cattle Egret and much more unusually two Glossy Ibis. It also had a good number of Great Cormorant. Most of the birds flew as soon as the sun got up, presumably to feed elsewhere. On the lake itself was a single Eurasian Coot and a rather fine plumaged Great Crested Grebe, with 33 Little Grebes. Herons were around in good numbers including eleven Grey Heron, two Great Egret, three Squacco Heron and two Little Egrets. Two Gull-billed Tern were also feeding over the lake and a single Western Marsh Harrier was also present causing the birds to move around as it flew over.