Whilst birding the Waste Water Lake in the very early morning in mid-November I saw a group of seven Common Black-headed Gulls drop in and wash in the waste water lake. Although I have seen a few elsewhere in the Eastern Province over the last three weeks these are the first for Dhahran this winter. This species is an uncommon passage migrant, very common winter visitor and erratic summer visitor. It is most common on the coasts in winter from November to March, and in recent decades has become a common and widespread winter visitor to inland water bodies such as the Dhahran Waste Water Lake where it is now seen every winter in good numbers. Most birds are adults, but a few younger birds also occur. Birds mainly stop off in the early morning to catch small fish and bath at the lake but are often seen flying over in the morning and evening to their main feeding and roosting areas.
