27 September 2024

Ruff – Dhahran Football Fields

I visited the fields in Aramco Dhahran compound in late September and located at least three Ruff Philomachus pugnax feeding on the grass. These birds were very confiding as I could get the car close to the edge on the fields. The Ruff is a common migrant and uncommon winter visitor with high counts for the Eastern Province being several hundred. In the Eastern Province they are often common on pools inland and recorded in all months but mostly in September to March. The grassy fields available in Aramco are very valuable habitats for this species with birds seen every year in the spring and autumn.