Ragu a birdwatcher from
Buraydah has been sending me quite a few photographs of birds seen in his area
in recent weeks. Some of these are from the winter months and others are from
the spring migration. Interestingly he appears to have wintering Masked Shrikes
in his area of northern Saudi Arabia just as we have a small number in the
Eastern Province each winter. This species is meant to be a passage migrant but
its status appears to have changed recently to an uncommon passage migrant and
scarce winter visitor to the northern half of the Kingdom at least. Other birds
seen in the winter were Little Egrets. Birds seen during the start of migration
(or possibly wintering birds) were Common Chiffchaffs and Common Sandpiper with
migrants including Eurasian Blackcap and Woodchat Shrike. I have not seen
Eurasian Blackcap yet this year in the Eastern Province but Woodchat Shrikes
have been seen on a few occasions.
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| Masked Shrike |
 |
| Little Egrets |
 |
| Common Sandpiper |
 |
| Common Chiffchaff |
 |
| Woodchat Shrike |