The first known Saudi Arabian record of a Yellow Bittern was made at KAUST on August 15, 2018. The bird was found in the mangroves of Nature Conservation Area near the King Abdullah Monument. The Yellow Bittern has a small breeding area in Oman but had not been recorded within the Kingdom until now. This species is usually associated with South East Asia.
This bird is very similar to another KAUST resident bird of the mangroves, the Little Bittern. However, the Little Bittern adult has a black back which is a softer tawny color on the Little Bittern. The bird was photographed by HSE Biodiversity Conservation Coordinator – Brian James, and avid overseas birder alerted HSE the possibility it was a rarity. After further research, and checking with other authorities it was confirmed as a Yellow Bittern. It is unclear yet whether the bird was migrating through the area or whether there is a small resident population in the area.