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Whilst birding Jubail recently I came across a nice selection of water birds some of which I have not seen so often this year. Terns are always common in Jubail and Caspian Tern has been seen in numbers up to 100 birds in some visits. It is a local breeding species and can often be seen trying to catch fish from the flooded areas of sabkha.<\/p>\n
Bridled Tern also uses the same habitat and they can often be seen fishing together when the massive size if Caspian Tern becomes more apparent. A bird I have seen few of this year compared to most is Garganey, although I saw two males together last visit. Grey-headed Swamphen is now spreading its range in Saudi Arabia bit the Jubail area is its stronghold and I saw one very confiding bird along the side of a wet ditch.<\/p>\n
Little Egret on the other hand is normally an uncommon winter visitor to the Jubail area although this year numbers have ben high with plenty seen last visit including a number that have moved well inland from their normal haunts.<\/p>\n
Other water birds seen included both Spotted Crake with three birds seen and a single Little Crake all of which were too fast for me to take any photographs.<\/p>\n
Little Grebes are now in full breeding plumage and passage waders are still passing with photographs of Wood Sandpiper and Ruff taken.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n