and has bred in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. It is also a not uncommon 
cage bird for sale in Bahrain. 
Female Namaqiia Dove, Badan, Bahrain, December 1990 (Photograph Erik 
HirschfeJd) 
Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei 
One, examined and photographed, Awali, 27 October 1989 (Dr Mike Hill). 
Second record; the other was found dead in October 1969. The Awali individual 
was fatally injured by children who had caught it, and the specimen is lost. Not 
recorded from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia but breeds in the UAE and 
Oman. 
Small Skylark Alauda gulgula 
At least five, Badan farm, 12 December 1989; four decreasing to one, Jasra farm, 
19 October - 10 December 1990; five, Badan farm, 23 October - 31 December 1990; 
and five. Airport fields, Muharraq, 17 November - 31 December 1990 (Erik 
Hirschfeld). The first record in the Middle East was in Bahrain (contra Shirihai 
1986), in the winter of 1978/79, and the above recordsbring Bahrain's total to five. 
The birds stay well away from Skylarks A. arvensis and prefer to skulk in high 
vegetation. There is one record of a small flock from the Eastern Province of Saudi 
Arabia (Brown and Palfery 1986), but it has not yet been recorded in the UAE or 
Oman. 
Richard's Pipit Anthus novae- 
seelandiae 
One, Jasra farm, 22 October - 16 
November 1990; up to five. Airport 
fields, Muharraq, 17 November - 31 
December 1990(see right); one, 
Maqabah, 22 November 1990; and one, 
Dimiistan lake, 24 November 1990 (Erik 
Hirschfeld). Only two acceptable 
records (in November and April) 
before 1990. There are four records in 
the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, 
and it is uncommon but more regular 
in the UAE and Oman. 
Richard's Pipit, Bahrain, December 
1990 (photograph Enk Hirschfeld) 
23 
