Migration slowing down – Sabkhat Al Fasl
An early morning trip to Sabkhat Al Fasl turned out to be fairly quiet. There were still plenty of Red-backed Shrikes, with over twenty seen during the visit, as well as Willow Warblers, but not really much else. Passerine migrants included an Upcher’s Warbler, ten Spotted Flycatchers, three Common Redstarts, one Daurian Shrike and a Eurasian Turtle Dove that appeared to be collecting nesting material. Several Sand Martins and Barn Swallows were flying over with one or two European Bee-eaters but very little else.
Common Redstart
Spotted Flycatcher
Herons were represented by seven Little Bitterns, two Grey Herons, one Purple Heron and ten Squacco Herons. Very few waders were seen but evidence of breeding was noted for Kentish Plovers and Little Ringed Plover with several very young Kentish Plovers seen with parents looking on and two juvenile Little Ringed Plover that must have bred somewhere nearby. Other passage waders included a fe
Migrants increasing in numbers – Jubail
Whilst birding Jubail recently there was good signs of increased migration. Migration this year has been a bit slow in the early period but now many migrants are passing such as Spotted Crake, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Great Reed Warbler, Yellow Wagtails, Red-throated Pipits, Tree Pipits, European Bee-eaters and both Turkestan and Daurian Shrikes. Good numbers of both White-winged and Whiskered Terns in almost full summer plumage were seen as well and the number of Little Terns are slowly increasing as summer breeding season arrives. The last Greater Spotted Eagle and Western Marsh Harrier remain, and a stunning White-throated Kingfisher was a nice surprise and may now be breeding in the area, although not 100% confirmed.
European Bee-eaters moving through – Dhahran Hills
The ‘patch’ has livened up slightly now September has arrived. As the temperature start to drop slightly, more passage migrants start to occur and the first groups of European Bee-eaters are now moving through the camp, although they have been seen elsewhere in the Eastern Province earlier. Normally you are alerted to their presence by their calls and then often they come down to rest in small numbers. The largest group I have seen so far is 23 birds with 35 birds being the most seen in a single trip. Many of the birds are juveniles but they still add a splash of colour to the days birding.
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Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - Jubail
This autumn there have been large numbers of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters passing over Jubail as well as many other areas of the Eastern Province. The species is a common passage migrant through the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia with good numbers of birds passing in the spring as well as the autumn. Numbers are commoner in the autumn when they outnumber European Bee-eater whereas the opposite is true in the spring. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater pass later in November than European Bee-eaters but both are common in the peak migration seasons. The birds below where part of a bigger group at Jubail and were very confiding allowing close approach in the car.