Blue-cheeked
Bee-eater is a common passage migrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
but the majority of autumn birds have passed through by late October. Rarely
they stay into November and once I saw one at Sablhat Al Fasl in December.
Whilst looking at the wet drainage ditch to see if any waders were present I
found a single Blue-cheeked Bee-eater sitting in a tree which was a little bit
of a surprise as I have not seen any definite migrants for a week or so. Another
possible migrant, although some do winter (mainly males) was a female Pallid Harrier
over the spray fields but too far away for photography.
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| Blue-cheeked Bee-eater |
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| Crested Lark |
Other birds
I saw were winter visitors including two Eurasian Skylarks allowing a couple of
moderate photos to be taken, but still the best I have managed since I have
been in Saudi Arabia. Desert Wheatear is another winter visitor and I saw one
in the scrubby desert area, which is the first one for the winter on the patch.
A Daurian Shrike in the spray fields and a male Northern Caspian Taxon (NCT) Caspian
Stonechat was also showing well in the spray fields. The fields also had a few
Meadow Pipits, three Tawny Pipits and several Crested Larks keeping the
Eurasian Skylarks company.
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| Eurasian Skylark |
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| Desert Wheatear |
+Caspian_Stonechat.jpg) |
| Northern Caspian Taxon - Caspian Stonechat |
+Caspian_Stonechat2.jpg) |
| Northern Caspian Taxon - Caspian Stonechat |