Birds of Saudi Arabia: Plenty of Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins and Turkestan Shrikes

The last trip to Sabkhat Al Fasl produced a good number of migrants. There were plenty of Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins a species that passing through the location in both spring and autumn but is much commoner in spring. Several birds were seen along the tracks and near the reed bed edges and one gave particularly good views flicking its tail and wings constantly. The other species that was about in very good numbers were Turkestan Shrikes. They have now replaced Daurian Shrikes and well over twenty birds were seen during the morning including a couple of odd looking Karelini type grey plumaged birds. As in most places in the Eastern Province recently a lot of European Bee-eaters were seen with one area of reeds holding thirty birds in a small group. They looked really amazing in the early morning light. Several Tree and red-throated Pipits were about and four Common Quail were seen in the reed edge at one point. Hundreds of Squacco Herons many in full breeding plumage and good numbers of Little Egrets were seen along with a couple of Little Bitterns and ten Grey Herons. Purple Swamphens showed will with 41 birds seen during the morning. Warblers were mainly European Reed Warblers & Clamorous Reed Warblers but we also saw a single Common Whitethroat and several Willow Warblers. The most unusual bird seen was probably a Black Kite flying over with a Long-legged Buzzard also seen perched and in flight on the way into the location in the very early morning.