Now two Northern Lapwing - Dhahran Hills Football Fields

The Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus that has been seen on and off on the Football Fields for a week has been joined by a second bird, but they remain very timid and fly as soon as anyone or anything gets close to them. Last weekend I managed to get a few more photos but again the birds stayed at the far side of the football field and flew when a Western Marsh Harrier flew over. They disappeared in the direction of the percolation Pond / Lake Lanhardt, where I saw one of the birds at the back of the lake. We have been wondering where the birds goas they only spend a few minutes each day on the football fields, so maybe they go to the lake regularly, as Eric and Alma saw at least one there at a different time to me. The Golf course is another area they may send time as this is off limits and can’t be checked properly.

Black-winged Kite – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding Dhahran Waste Water Lake in November I came across a Black-winged Kite in the very early morning sitting on the overhead power lines. The first record of Black-winged Kite for the Eastern Province was only found on 17 April 2012, but since then has become more common with birds seen in almost every month and every year since the first record and it is now regarded as a scarce visitor to the province. All birds sub-specifically identified in the east of the Kingdom are the eastern subspecies Elanus caeruleus vociferous a subspecies that occurs from Pakistan east to southern & eastern China, Indochina and the Malay Peninsula.

Some waders & gulls – Al Uqair

Whilst birding at Al Uqair in November I photographed a few Greater Sand Plover on the edge of the Arabian Gulf. In Saudi Arabia it is an extremely rare breeding migrant, common passage migrant, common winter visitor occurring widely throughout Saudi Arabia on migration (Feb–Apr, Aug–Sep), especially on the coasts. A few Kentish Plover were also present along with a dark Phase Western Reef Heron. Apart from a few Socotra Cormorants about the only other birds were several Slender-billed Gull. A little further down the beach were Lesser Sand Plover, Dunlin, Sanderling and a few more Greater Sand Plover and Kentish Plover.

Slender-billed Gull

Kentish Plover

Kentish Plover

Kentish Plover

Kentish Plover

Greater Sand Plover

Greater Sand Plover

Greater Sand Plover

Greater Sand Plover

Heuglin’s Gulls – Al Uqair

Whilst birding the Uqair in early November I went to an area of public beach where a few gulls have been seen in the last few years. Although initially there only appeared to be a few waders present we managed to locate six Large White-headed Gulls that appeared to be mainly Heuglin’s Gulls. One of the Heuglin’s Gulls was much darker plumaged than the others in the group but was not a Baltic Gull which would be even darker, typically showing no contrast between upperparts and primary ground colour. Heuglin’s Gull almost always shows extensive neck streaking and are in primary moult at this time of year. This is not the commonest Gull in Saudi Arabia, with about 8% to 10% of all LWHG being this taxon, with the majority being Steppe Gull.

Pallid Swifts increasing – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

The number of Pallid Swift are still increasing in Dhahran, where now well over fifty birds are present in the early morning before moving off elsewhere as the day heats up. Pallid Swift is a migratory species that breed in southern Europe and northern Africa through Arabia to southern Iran and winter 3,000 km south and southwest in western Africa, from Senegal to South Sudan. In Saudi Arabia it is an uncommon breeding migrant that is common during certain periods. They are a northern breeding species in Saudi Arabia where birds occur north of Al Bahah and vacates its breeding areas mostly in June, but its subsequent movements, including its wintering destinations, are unknown. They feed by catching small flying insects, including ants, termites, flies, mosquitos and beetles and drink by dipping into water in flight. 

First Water Pipits of winter – Dhahran Hills

Birding the football and cricket fields in Dhahran Hills recently produced the first five Water Pipits of the winter. Numbers should now build up into February when up to fifty have been seen on these sites. This species is a common winter visitor occurring from October until April and the birds were happily feeding on the short grass of the fields. Although they are common in the Eastern Province, most records in Dhahran are of less than five. As I could drive the car close to the football pitch, I was able to get close to one bird with the others much further out on the fields. 

Hypocolius – Al Uqair

I went to Al Uqair in early November in the hope of seeing Hypocolius, a species that has wintered in the area the last few years. I saw over fifty birds with initially the birds being few and far between but as the sun rose they started flying in from other areas. They appeared to be mainly coming to drink from a small area of pools by the sea, where presumably there is some fresh water. Birds would gather in the trees near the water edge and then fly down to drink briefly before flying off. A few birds were continually calling their soft calls whilst in the trees. Hypocolius have been recorded at this location for the last four winters with the highest counts being 300 plus birds in December 2023.