Icterine Ylarhler Hippolais icterina Bait 
Al Falaj, 11 May 1991; Masirah, 28 
September 1991. MAL Cummins, CM 
Greaves 
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Bait Al 
Falaj, 14 September 1991. MAL 
Cummins 
Saudi Arabia 
Great crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 
Two adults in summer plumage, in the 
sea off Al Khobar 15 March. G Ramsay 
Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita Two, at 
Ta'if, throughout March;one in to April. 
There are several records in south- 
west Arabia since 1984, the most re- 
cent in April 1991 (cf Birding World 4: 
161) leading to continued surmise that 
there may be undiscovered colon(ies) 
in this region. P Symens 
Ruddy Shelduck Tadornis ferruginea 
Male, Al-Farah Dam, Yanbu al-Nakl, 
14 February. First in Yanbu area since 
19S6. B S Meadows 
Steppe Eagle Aquila rapax at a rubbish 
dump, Al Khobar, from November 
1991 to April. G Ramsay 
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo 
Total of at least 4,000, t/a'il. Central 
Province, 19-31 March. P Symens 
Caspian Flover Charadrusasiaticus 300, 
near Riyadh, March. Unusually heavy 
passage (cf first and second spring 
records in UAE in 1992). P Symens 
White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura 
Two pairs bred in Black-winged Stilt 
Himantopus himantopus colony, Al 
Khobar. Three young fully fledged by 
13 June. G Ramsay 
Black-winged Still Himantopus 
himantopus About 30 pairs bred. Al 
Khobar, young seen from 1 May. G 
Ramsay 
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta 
Jubay, 21-24 August. P Symens 
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse Pterocles 
lichtensteinii Three, Madeira, 16 April. 
Second record for this locality. First 
was three years ago. B S Meadows 
Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles 
senegallus Male, Rabigh, 8 May. First 
recent record from this area. B S Mead- 
ows 
Short-toed Lark Calandrella 
brachydactyla About 2,000, Yanbu al- 
Bahr airport, attracted to recently well- 
vegetated area following heavy win- 
ter rainfall, 21-24 March; about 1,750 
Yanbu al-Bahr barley store, 24 March. 
Largest flocks at Yanbu since record- 
ing started in 1979. B S Meadows 
Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella 
rufescens Singles at two sites about 100 
km north of Medina along disused 
Hejaz railway, 1 7 April . Possible breed- 
ing area. B S Meadows 
CrigMartin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Al 
Khobar, 8 April G Ramsay 
Citrine WagtailMotod//<7 citreola Adult 
male, Al Khobar, 25 March with Yel- 
low YJagtailM.flava feldegg, Al Khobar. 
G Ramsay 
Little Tern Sterna albifrons At least two 
pairs bred, Yanbu al-Bahr salt-pans, 
fledging up to six young, June-Au- 
gust. The salt-pans ceased to be used 
two years ago. The water is brackish 
and is overgrown with reeds, but there 
are numerous patches of open water. 
First evidence of breeding in Western 
Arabia. B S Meadows. Eight pairs bred, 
Al Khobar, young fledged from 18 
June. G Ramsay 
Shining Sunbird Nectarinia habessinica 
Two males and a female, along Bader- 
Mediwah highway, 13 March; male 
there, 16 April. Significant northerly 
range extension. B S Meadozvs 
Pygmy Sunbird Anthreptes platurus 
Two to three, Bir al Furaysh, 70 km 
southwest of Medina, 17 April. New 
locality for north of Tropic of Cancer. B 
S Meadows 
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Pair 
rea red three young, Yanbu a 1-Sinaiyah . 
Second definite breeding record. B S 
Meadows 
Red-backed Shrike Lanius coUurio Ju- 
venile, Yanbu al-Sinaiyah, 24 July - 6 
August. Early migrant. B S Meadozvs 
43 
