A morning at Riyadh Cricket Club

On Saturday morning I was up before dawn to go out to an old haunt close by the Riyadh Cricket club.  The area is an old flooded quarry and I spend many a long day there watching the Little Grebe for one of my course projects.  Unfortunately this site has lost its water feed and I think there is little hope it will be there next year as its dropped a further 2 meters since I was here in April and it is now a shadow of its fomer self.  Still that is the way of the world.

I am pleased to say that despite the reduction in water level the numbers of birds at this site is still pretty impressive.  Water area is a little over 10 acres now yet I counted over 85 Little Grebe and 30 or more Coot plus a variety of other water birds and waders in the middle of the desert.

As we arrived we noticed a small flock of ducks (laybe 25) heading into the distance in their classic V shaped formation.  Unfortunately they were too far off to make out but a wonderful sight heading off into the sunrise.

I walked around the flat area to the east of the quarry and spotted a small flock of house sparrows, laughing dove and a pair of Blackstart in the trees, I did hear some crested Lark but did not see them until, a while later.

blackstart (Cercomela melanura)

I headed down to the lake and immediately was accosted by the Black Winged Stilt who effectively defend the area.  Every time someone comes or a bird of prey arrives they take to the air screaming warning calls.  I have often seen them mobbing the local Marsh Harrier, their long legs being very effective weapons when required

black winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Luckily they were only warning of my arrival rather than going on the attack.  Right in the middle of the smaller lake, as it is now split by a causeway, were a group of Little Grebe, clearly still asleep, although some were stirring and having their morning bath.

little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

I also began to notice the Pale Craig Martins (or Rock Martins), one or two at first but soon there were dozens flying about catching the bountiful crop of insects.  You will have to excuse the picture but it was the best I could capture as these little devils are fast.

pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta)

Over by the waters edge feeding away under the feet of the Black Winged Stilt were a host of Kentish plover who darted about from spot to spot catching invertabres on the mud with their little beaks

Kentish Plover

Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)

Beside these was one of the heavyweights of the beak world a single Common Snipe,  I have seen this on every visit here and I believe there is another one about, although i did not see it today. 

SNIPE

common snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Getting photos of these guys is a bit of luck without telephoto lenses as they tend to be very wary and are very adept at seeing you before you see them.

In the larger lake there was a much larger congregation of Little Grebe a large number of which did an impressive walking on the water type flight to nowhere when they saw me. At the far side were a number of Eurasian Coot which were feeding happily.  It is strange how these two water birds live side by side in the lake but keep to their own little areas, it is almost like gangs with their territories.

Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)

 

 At the side of the lake and in the trees in the surrounding areas were a good number of Little Green Bee-eaters, I counted 8 to 10 some of which were paired up.  There certainly was enough for them to eat at the minute as bugs were everywhere.

  

green bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

 

As always in this area there was the White Cheeked Bulbul hanginig about, howver, unlike previous visits to the area, this guy was literally the only one I saw.  Normally there are dozens.

 

 

white-eared/cheeked bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)

 

As I made my way further around the lake I disturbed a Grey Heron who flew off to one of the more inaccessible spots on the lake, I did not see any others

 

grey heron (Ardea cinerea)

 

One thing I flushed several times were a small group of 7 Spur Winged Lapwing (or plover) which then took off and flew a circuit around the lake before landing.

 

spur-winged lapwing or spur-winged plover (Vanellus spinosus)

 

Later I witnessed the arrival of the local Marsh Harrier, coming looking for breakfast I assume.

 



marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

 

A small flock of Rock Pigeons were present of the quarry walls and seem to be resident in the area.  

 

rock dove/pigeon (Columba livia)

 

Graceful Prinia were about in small numbers and could be heard singing everywhere although this is the only photo I managed to get of this active little warbler.

 

graceful prinia (Prinia gracilis)

 

Away from the lake were a reasonable number of Crested Lark (although I only saw 2), this guy was perched on top of a rock singing his heart out.  I managed to capture some of his song on tape and will load it to a new songs area, once I manage to get uploads working.

 

crested lark (Galerida cristata)

 

Also away from the main lake were a few Black Bush Robin

 

Black Bush Robin (Cercotrichas podobe)

 

At the far side of the lake I spotted a Moorhen, apologies for the poor shot, it was very far away and by that time the conditions were not great for photographs.  There were two in total which I was a little sad about because there had been about 15 last time I was here. I hope they got to somewhere safe.

Eurasian common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus chloropus)

 



Final photo of the day is a little Stint of which there were a fair few about, feeding on the musdy areas of the lake.



little stint (Calidris minuta) (or Erolia minuta),

SPECIES LIST FOR THE DAY.

Name	Number	Name	Number
Little Grebe	80	Rock Dove	8
Grey Heron	1	Laughing Dove	20
Western Marsh Harrier	1	Green Bee Eater	8
Common Moorhen	2	Crested Lark	2
Eurasian Coot	26	Pale Crag Martin	20
Black Winged Stilt	13	Barn Swallow	2
Spur Winged Lapwing	8	White Eared Bulbul	1
Kentish Plover	12	Graceful Prinia	2
Little Stint	6	Black Scrub Robin	2
Common Snipe	1	Blackstart	2
House Sparrow	20

A Lancashire Walk

Colne Water and Wycoller Beck

Just a little description of a walk I took on my last trip home to Lancashire, so different to the deserts of Saudi as at that time of year everything is green and vibrant.  This does not help trying to spot birds as they are easier to hear than see but enjoyable nonetheless. No Pics as I had not brought my camera but in some ways that was liberating as I just watched.

A trip back to the UK in late July allowed me the opportunity to visit my old patch which essentially follows a stretch of Colne Water from Coal Pit Lane parallel with the A6068 along the river, east for about 4 kilometers towards Wycoller along Wycoller Beck and back again.

Most of the walkway was put in as a recreational walk called Ferndean Way and was originally developed by the local authority in the mid 80's.

The walk took me along some walkways by the river and into a number of small areas of woodland. On leaving the house I immediately spotted a small group of Jackdaws (Coloeus monedula) gathering on a TV aerial making their familiar sqwaking noises.  A little further down the path I came to the feeders maintained by some neighbours.  These kind folk keep the feeders full all the time so attract a wide range of birds all year round.  Today there were some Great Tits (Parus Major) and some Blue Tits (Parus caeruleus) feeding on nuts.  A single female Blackbird ( Turdus merula ) took exception as I approached and flew off into the trees.

Further along in a field there were a collection of Crows in the distance feeding in the grass and a pair of Magpie (Pica pica) flew over.

Walking down Carry Lane I cross the bridge at Coal Pit lane hearing a lot more than I'm seeing thanks to a full covering of leaves on all of the trees and bushes.  I did hear a number of Great and Blue Tits working away amoung the foliage gathering food. 

I took the walkway across a field towards the river making my way to the small wood at the top of the hill.  I got to the first style and climbed over looking back to the trees I saw what I am sure was a Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) but did not get my binoculars up quick enough to be sure!! Not one for my eBird record then!!

Halfway across the next field I spotted a Carrion Crow (Corvus corone ) in a tree preening itself and a couple of Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) flew by, one alighting on a tree branch before spotting me and moving off rapidly.

Across the river there is an old friend, a common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) who resides at the end of the field, a male who makes a hell of a racket every spring when looking for a mate.  This guy has been in this same area for about 2 years as far as I can see. Unusual given that this is only yards from a pretty built up area.

Overhead I noted some House Martins (who nest in some buildings on the Trawden Road, B6250) and some Swallows buisily feeding overhead.

As I entered the little wood at the top of the hill I flushed another Pheasant, who scurryed off into the undergrowth.

Further down the hill I came across a couple of very active Great Tits and an even more active pair of Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes). They were chasing each other through the bushes and undergrowth and came really close at one point as I think they forgot I was there.

I crossed the B6250 and entered Ball Grove a  largish common area with childrens play area and nature walk.  There are two ponds in the the Grove the first quite large and filled with about 35/35 Mallard and usually a selection og gulls, although in this instance it was only Black Headed Gulls that were about. 

Further along I came to the second pond which normally has some Mallard and relatively tame Coot and Moorhen, this time however someone had decided to drain it so there was little water left and much of the reeds had begun to die off.  There were still a family of Coot there, two adult and two young ones.  I was watching a couple of rabbits feeding at the other side of the river when I noticed a Grey Heron standing in a tree about 15 ft off the ground, it was a young one and soon flew off but one of those things, I had not expected to see it there so missed it until the last moment.  It flew along the river for about 500m and landed in a field by the old walkway bridge. 

Crossing the bridge I watched some Jackdaws feeding in the fields and then spotted an adult Grey Heron standing in the middle of a field, adopting that fixed concentrated pose they do just before they strike.  I watched it for a while and it did make a couple of attempts, presumably at a frog, but failed each time. 

Crossing the river again I noticed a couple of Moorhen on the river but no sign of the Grey Wagtails that are normally found around the area.  A lone female Phesant was seen rooting around in grass tufts, almost invisible ue to her camoflaged colouring.  On reaching the road at School Lane, I had a call from home, back to reality. But a nice afternoons walk in the pleasant Lancashire countryside.

Salbukh 13 September 2014

To the north of Riyadh there is a waste water lake which primarily takes water from a local factory but is also used to off load waste water from tankers which arrive throughout the day from the city.  The area has been used for some time and there is a considerable growth of reeds across the entire area with some clear areas and areas of Tamarisk bushes.  There is quite a lot of fish which brings in fish hunters and some muddy shallows which bring in the waders.  The entire area is surrounded by desert.

Temperatures were a cool 28 degrees centigrade and there was a slight breeze which developed into a stronger breeze later and temperature rose to about 35 degrees before I left.

On arrival we saw a Moorhen disappearing into the reeds and while I heard lots of these thereafter I did not see any others, too quick for me I'm afraid.  That said I can't blame them as that morning I was outnumbered by hunters 8:1, so in a way its surprising I saw any birds at all.

All through the morning Yellow Wagtails were much in evidence.  There were a couple of subsecies represented and a few younger birds which did not quite have full adult plumage yet.





Yellow Wagtail (feldegg)



Young Yellow Wagtail (flava)

In all I spotted about 30 Yellow Wagtails all along the edge of the lake.
Larks were also about, though not is great numbers, the ubiquitous Crested Lark which have a habit of following you, perching on a rock or mound and watching what you are up to, I suppose here they replace the White Cheeked Bulbul at Al Hayer which I did not see at all at this site.



Crested Lark
 

Another I managed to get a shot of was the Great Short Toed Lark which popped down for a drink at a little mudhole.  This was a new bird for me and a handsome addition to the life list (thanks to Rob Tovey for helping with the ID).


Greater Short Toed Lark (thanks Rob)

All along the marsh were copious numbers of Blue Cheeked Bee-eater which were feeding in a small flock together.  Occasionally they stopped in a group on the power lines for a rest but were pretty active all morning.




Blue Cheeked Bee Eater

A little way out into the surrounding desert I noticed a pair of Hoopoe feeding on bugs and worms in the damp soil.




Hoopoe

And on a nearby reed was a woodchat Shrike that we have seen in this same location on a number of other occasions.



Woodchat Shrike



Woodchat Shrike

Waders were also about in smallish numbers including this very sedate Black Winged Stilt which was all alone, however on my way back I saw anothe 6 or 7 heading over to join him.

Black Winged Stilt

Two little ringed plover were buisy feeding away on the lake edge and were not at all bothered by me


Little Ringed Plover

The Kentish Plover were pretty common again this time, they were breeding last time we were in the area and we were given the old diversion technique by one as we must have been getting too close to its nest.  We followed the direction the bird was giving as that was the most certain to take us away from where its nest was.


Kentish Plover

None of the waders were present in large numbers the little Stint in the photo were all I saw around the site and the Wood Sandpiper numbered just two, still nice to see them both.

Little Stint

Wood Sandpiper

Cattle Egret were all over the place this time, in most instances in pairs but this relatively young looking one was monitoring the scene from atop a bush near the entrance to the area.


Cattle Egret

This Little Egret was boldly standing in an open patch by the lakeside.  Not a very prudent move considering the number of men with guns that were floating about.  On my way back I was preceeded by a pickup which stopped at this spot and did take a shot at something but I did not see any evidence that he hit anything.


Little Egret

There were also a good number of Squacco Heron in the air throughout the morning.


Squacco Heron on the move

As I walked out of the lake area again into the desert this little chap accompanied me.   Not seen one of these around the area recently as they were off on their travels.



Isabelline Wheatear

I did not get much in the line of warblers but I'm quite proud of Common Whitethroat, not often these sit still long enough to get a pic.

Common Whitethroat

The process of identification can be a painful one at times, though I generally get there by sticking at it or calling on more knowledgable friends. There is one more photo to come once I have worked out what it is.

Other species seen and heard but not quick enought to get photos included the Marsh Harrier which was always too distant to get a useful photo and a lot of quite boisterous Graceful Prinia, always too quick to scatter before the camera could focus. 



Species List
Species	Count	Species	Count
Little Ringed Plover	2	Hoopoe	2
Kentish Plover	6	Black Winged Stilt	6
Cattle Egret	6	Woodchat Shrike	1
Squacco Heron	10	Barn Swallow	35
Little Egret	1	House Sparrow	25
Marsh Harrier	1	Graceful Prinia	15
Laughing Dove	10	Little Stint	3
Blue Cheeked Bee-eater	11	Wood Sandpiper	2
Yellow Wagtail	30	Common Whitethroat	2

A very pleasant morning :-)