Malaki Dam Lake
Malaki Dam (also known as Malakiyah, Wadi Jizan Dam or Hakima Dam)
is probably the largest and most variable expanse of freshwater habitats in the
southwestern provinces of Saudi Arabia. This area is a large lake (17 04.72N,
42 97.88E) at the edge of the Asir foothills, 15km east of Abu Arish. It is fed
by four main wadis and at high water levels the lake spreads to over ten square
kilometres and has a large catchment area extending south into Yemen. The
reservoir is bordered to the north by basaltic lava plains and to the south several
rocky outcrops which form the edge of Wadi Juwwah, another excellent birding
Breeding Birds – Jubail
While birding the Jubail area in early May we came across obvious signs of breeding of a few species. Little Terns were sitting on eggs in one area of partially dried up sabkha and Black-winged Stilts were nesting in good numbers in similar habitat. One nest seen without an adult on had one egg and another had four eggs. Little Ringed Plovers were seen in many areas with well-grown young also seen and Kentish Plovers were seen performing their distraction display to move us away from a very young chick only a few days old. Signs of Black-crowned Night Heron breeding with adults and juveniles seen for the third week running and the Spur-winged Lapwing is in the same area where I think it may have a mate sitting on eggs. Some of these birds are unusual breeders such as Black-crowned Night Heron and Spur-winged Plover and others common. This is the first time we have seen Little Tern sitting on eggs but they are seen every year with young juveniles in the sam
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Large numbers of Shrikes – Jubail
Whilst birding Jubail at end of April, a number of migrants were recorded including more than sixty shrikes. The majority of shrikes were Red-backed Shrikes although good numbers of Turkestan Shrikes were also seen along with five Lesser Grey Shrikes. These were my first records of the spring for Lesser Grey Shrike, one of the least common of the passage migrant shrikes through the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Apart from shikes, the wader numbers were still quite good particularly for Wood Sandpiper with Ruff also seen in small numbers. A Common Nightingale was seen briefly along with Spotted Flycatchers, Yellow Wagtails and Common Redstarts. The Spur-winged Plover was still present in the same place, hopefully indicating breeding is taking place and plenty of Common and Clamorous Reed Warblers were singing. Resident Grey-headed Swamphens were seen in good numbers including well grown young. Slender-billed Gulls were still around and terns s