We saw eleven Cream-coloured Courser on some grass areas near the coast at Al Uqair where Umer had seen them the previous weekend. We did not get to the area until the sun was well up, as were birding elsewhere in the early morning. The harsh light made photographing the birds difficult as did the fact they are very timid and run away quickly when approached. This is a species I do not see very often and one I am still to get photographs of that I regard as reasonable. The Cream-coloured Courser is a common breeding resident and uncommon winter visitor to Saudi Arabia. It is found mainly in the north and east of the Kingdom and prefers flat open areas of sand and gravel steppe deserts, sometimes with sparse, low scrub. It often winters in pivot irrigation fields where it can be seen in ploughed as well as stubble fields.
