Breeding Squacco Heron & Little Egret – Jubail
Whilst birding the Jubail area in late May through to early June we found an area where Squacco Heron & Little Egret were breeding in good numbers. We estimated about 100 Squacco Heron nests and fifty Little Egret pairs. Both these species were only found breeding for the first time in the Eastern Province at a nearby site last year although had been suspected of doing so for a few years. This breeding location is an area we have not visited before so birds may have been breeding here for some years. These new breeding birds will be monitored over the next few years to see if they continue using the area and if their population increases.
Some birds starting to breed – Jubail
Whilst birding Jubail recently I saw quite a few signs of breeding behaviour. Some of the water birds such as Common Moorhen and Grey-headed Swamphen have young with other such as Little Tern showing courtship behaviour as shown in the below photos. Little Ringed Plovers are paired up for breeding and a Spur-winged Lapwing that has been about for a few weeks may have a mate sitting on eggs? A Black-necked Grebe was found in full breeding plumage but no mate was about and these birds do not breed in the kingdom. Many herons are still around in fine breeding plumage including Squacco Herons, Little Egrets and BBlack-cronwed Night Herons but proving breeding is difficult – with the first confirmed breeding of Squacco Heron and Little Egret last year and no confirmed records of the Black-crowned Night Herons.