Whilst birding the Jubail area 12 February, Phil Roberts and I saw a Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus. This was a new species for the Eastern Province for me although Phil had seen one previously. They are a common and widespread breeding resident on the Tihamah and southern Red Sea coastlands, less common in the Northern […]
Tag: saudi arabia
Spur-winged Lapwing – Haradh
Whilst biding the Haradh area on 5 February 2015 Phil Roberts and I found a Spur-winged Lapwing in a pivot irrigation field next to the NADEC dairy farm. The species is still scarce in the Eastern Province with all records shown below: Haradh 24th October 1986; Dhahran 22nd November 1986; Sabkhat Al Fasl 30th October […]
Saudi Arabia largest flock of Northern Lapwings – Haradh
As mentioned in a previous post Phil Roberts and I travelled to Haradh an area of extensive pivot irrigation fields three hours drive from Dhahran and found some access to some very good looking fields in various stages of growth from ploughed to fallow to newly growing. We eventually came across two very damp newly […]
Three Caspian Plovers – Haradh
On 5 February Phil Roberts and I travelled to Haradh an area of extensive pivot irrigation fields three hours drive from Dhahran. We left at 03:00 hrs to allow us to be at the site at first light. After plenty of searching we eventually came across a very damp newly ploughed field that had a […]
Sixteen Sociable Lapwing – Haradh
On 5 February Phil Roberts and I travelled to Haradh an area of extensive pivot irrigation fields three hours drive from Dhahran. We left at 03:00 hrs to allow us to be at the site at first light. We tried the big farm complexes first but were not allowed entry to any so tried a […]
Wintering Greater Spotted Eagles – near Jubail
At least seventeen Greater Spotted Eagles Clanga clanga were recorded at a wetland site near Jubail on 20 November 2015, the highest single day count for the site. Since this time numbers have decreased but there are still at least eight and probably more Greater Spotted Eagles remaining for the winter. Birds winter at a […]
Second Woodlark for Saudi Arabia – Sarrar, Eastern Province
Phil Roberts and I found two Woodlark Lullula arborea at the edge of a pivot irrigation fodder field near Sarrar on 15 January. Initially the birds were feeding along the edge of the field giving good views but eventually moved into the crop where they were not possible to see unless flushed when they could […]
A second calendar year Eastern Imperial Eagle – Sabkhat Al Fasl
Whilst birding at Sabkhat Al Fasl in January I saw and photographed a second calendar year Eastern Imperial Eagle. The species is rarely seen at Sabkhat Al Fasl although the Greater Spotted Eagle is seen almost every visit during the winter. The Eastern Imperial Eagle is an uncommon winter visitor to Saudi Arabia with most […]