‘Superciliaris’ type Yellow Wagtail – Dhahran Hills

Whilst birding the Dhahran Hills football fields I came across a large group of wagtails including many types of Yellow Wagtails & a White Wagtail. In amongst the Yellow Wagtails, I saw a ‘superciliaris’ type bird. I managed to get a few distant photos but came back after work in the evening and got some much closer photos. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava supeciliaris are an intergrade between feldegg (Black-headed Wagtail) and lutea (Yellow-headed Wagtail), flava (Blue-headed Wagtail) or beema (Sykes’s Wagtail). They resemble feldegg except for having a conspicuous pale supercilium and pale eye-ring, although the eye-ring is not always present. The supercilium also varies in colour from yellow to white with birds with white supercilium called ‘superciliaris’ and those with yellow ‘xanthophrys’. They are reported to be a rather frequent intergrade.

Common Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding Dhahran Waste Water Lake in late March I came across a large number of Common Chiffchaff and a single Willow Warbler which the first one of the spring for me. The birds were mainly in the large trees surrounding the lake but some would occasionally drop down and feed on the numerous insects. Both species are common to abundant spring visitors with Common Chiffchaff wintering in good numbers but many more occurring on passage. March is the peak month for migrating Common Chiffchaffs in Saudi Arabia whereas Willow Warbler migrates slightly later with peak numbers in April with Common Chiffchaff being the commoner of the two species.

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Bladderdock – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst walking around the Dhahran Waste Water Lake recently I came across some Bladderdock Rumex vesicarius. This is an abundant annual found on rocky land and shallow sand and can be seen in various places in Dhahran Aramco camp. It is most noticeable when fruiting, when it bears large, long clusters of papery winged fruits that are often pink, red or pale straw in colour. Sandwiched between the wings is the seed. The leaves are glabrous and slightly succulent. They are the favorite food of the Striped Hawkmoth caterpillar, which in a rainy year, can be seen feeding on these plants in large numbers. Its height is up to 35 centimetres, and it has been used in traditional medicine to cure stomach complaints and toothache. 

 

White-spotted Bluethroat – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding Dhahran Waste Water Lake in late March I came across a very smart male White-spotted Bluethroat Luscinia svecica cyanecula. It was sitting in a tall tree but ufortunately the light was not in a good position for photogrpahs so the ones below are all I managed. The White-spotted Bluethroat is a scarce passage migrant to the region, unlike the Red-spotted Bluethroat Luscinia svecica svecica which winters in good numbers. The White-spotted Bluethroat breeds locally in central & southern Europe wintering mainly in west & central Africa with a few in the Middle East (mainly Israel) and north-east Africa. Identification of the Bluethroat sub-species is very difficult unless you see a male in breeding plumage. 

Painted Lady Butterfly – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

The first major sightings of Painted Lady butterfly tend to appear in late March possibly as a result of the occasional rains that fall during the month. Although the Painted Lady can survive in Saudi Arabia in most years the majority of butterflies are probably migrants. The Painted Lady is the most widely distributed butterfly in the world occurring on all continents except Antarctica. It is a large butterfly with a buffy-orange background colour to the upper-wings. The forewings have black tips marked with white spots and the hind-wings have rows of brown or black circular spots. The underside of the wing is pale buff brown than the upper-wing. Newly emerged butterflies are brighter coloured, with the colouring becoming muted with age.

Birding the scrubby area – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding the scrubby area next to Dhahran Waste Water Lake in March it was very apparent that the number of Common Chiffchaffs were increasing. Birds were scattered around the area but mainly preferring the larger trees. The birds were completely silent with not a single call heard whilst I was in the area. One the other hand Graceful Prinia were calling continually from the tops of reeds or trees and are now getting ready to start breeding. A single Lesser Whitethroat was also seen. Interesting birds flying over included a Crested Honey Buzzard and a few House Crow.

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Crested Honey Buzzard

Crested Honey Buzzard

Graceful Prinia

House Crow

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Heron numbers building – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding the Dhahran Waste Water Lake in March it was very apparent that the number of herons were increasing. Six Great Egrets and more than ten Grey Herons were present with double figures of Squacco Heron also seen. A single dark phase Western Reef Heron was an unusual sighting. Great Cormorant numbers were also increasing woth around fifty birds present perched in the waterside trees and fishing on the lake itself. Three Ferruginous Duck were still around as were a single Gull-billed Tern and Common Black-headed Gull

Common Black-headed Gull

Common Black-headed Gull

Ferruginous Duck

Gull-billed Tern

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Western Reef Heron

Wader flock – Al Uqair

Whilst birding the Al Uqair area in March we came across a gathering of waders on the beach. This is an excellent place to see Sanderling and this flock held nine birds, and increase from the two seen the prevous visit. A single Greater Sand Plover and a single Kentish Plover were also in the group feeding on the coast. The commonest wader was Ruddy Turnstone with over ten birds. Greater Sand Plover is a common species on passage, with small numbers staying throughout the winter, but it is difficult to get close to them as they are normally out on the tide line or in the flooded sabkha. Kentish Plover and Ruddy Turnstone are common passage migrants and winter visitors with Kentish Plover staying to breed in good numbers. Sanderling is a migratory bird that is a common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor in Saudi Arabia. It occurs on both coasts during migration (Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct) and occasionally inland, especially in spring but is more common on the west coast than the east coast. It prefers sandy beaches but is also less commonly seen on muddy shores and saline lagoons.

Greater Sand Plover

Greater Sand Plover

Kentish Plover

Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone

Sanderling

Sanderling