Return to Al Hayer dam

I last visited the dam area of Wadi Hanifah about 9 weeks ago. As I said in the last blog, the Persian wheatear was still there. However there were some subtle changes in the birds seen. Of course, the big change will be in another 9 weeks when the passage will be on.


One of the changes was the presence in small numbers of hypocolius. This was the first time I have seen them in Wadi Hanifah. 

There is some evidence that they have dispersed a bit since their arrival in central Arabia for the winter.

hypocolius near the town of Al Hayer

I find this area is a particularly attractive part of Wadi Hanifah. It is partly due to the fact there is no obvious vehicle access for picnickers. Their loss is my gain. 

part of the Riyadh river near the dam

The river is broad both sides of the dam but the reed cover is dense. I only saw three water bird species - moorhen, coot and grey heron. This may have been a result of the cover.

moorhen

The valley is surrounded on both sides by escarpments here. I actually had hopes of seeing an owl. The escarpments are pitted with seemingly ideal holes for owl hides.

grey heron

However once again I failed to see one though it is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. The grey heron were not always near the water. Sometimes they ventured onto the escarpments. I noticed, one of them has some sort of pigment problem and is partially white.

mix of rock dove and feral pigeon

Another reason for me to believe there must be owls there is the abundance of rock dove and feral pigeon on the escarpments. They can be good owl food! The area must certainly be worth a visit at dawn or dusk when most owl species are active.

old nest

Certainly some prey bird has nested in the area as the picture of an old nest high up the hillside certifies.

greater spotted eagle

On Thursday I did see two active birds of prey. One was a greater spotted eagle (which may be the same one we saw in the same place in October).

first winter marsh harrier

The other was a dark looking marsh harrier which is probably a first winter (or just conceivably a very dark adult female).

spanish sparrow

Another one of the changes since October was the presence of three or more large flocks of spanish sparrow. Spanish sparrow doesn't appear in the region until November but is now present in many places. The flocks near the dam were very mobile and very easily frightened. Close contact wasn't easy.

white cheeked bulbul

A few of the spanish sparrow mixed occasionally with the white cheeked bulbul.

white cheeked bulbul with streaked weaver

However the "best" mixed flock contained spanish sparrow, white cheeked bulbul and streaked weaver.  This is the furthest upstream (north) I have seen weavers since I arrived in Riyadh. They seem to be heading towards breeding plumage. 

little green bee-eater near the dam

This area is the best place I have found for "guaranteeing" seeing graceful prinia in the scrubby areas in the valley. However I was surprised not to see any blackstart this time round since they were so obvious on one particularly escarpment in October. I was less surprised not to see sand partridge. 

I wonder what spring will bring?

Bird species	27 October 11	5 January  12
Sand partridge	x
Grey heron	x	x
Purple heron	x
Greater spotted eagle	x	x
Marsh Harrier		x
Moorhen	x	x
Coot		x
Rock dove (feral pigeon)	x	x
Collared dove	x	x
Laughing dove	x	x
Little green bee-eater	x	x
Pale crag martin		x
Hypocolius		x
Desert lark	x
Persian wheatear	x	x
Blackstart	x
Blue rock thrush	x	x
Graceful Prinia	x	x
Asian desert warbler		x
Desert lesser whitethroat	x
White cheeked bulbul	x	x
House sparrow	x	x
Spanish sparrow		x
Streaked weaver		x