Phil and I went to Sabkhat Al Fasl
on Friday and managed to see a few good birds including one species new to both
of us for the location. The species in question was Thrush Nightingale that we
flushed from the edge of the reeds a couple of times before we got good enough
view to identify it. Unfortunately no photos were taken of the bird as we were
busy trying to get conclusive identification features. Thrush Nightingale is an
uncommon or scarce species in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom but is more common
than Common Nightingale. We also saw a few other migrants including Turkestan
and Daurian Shrikes, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipits, Yellow Wagtails, Great
Reed Warbler, European Bee-eaters, Barn Swallows and Sand Martins. Numbers were
well down compared to September but there was enough to keep things
interesting. A few ducks were about with Northern Shoveler, Garganey and one
Eurasian Teal seen and plenty of Herons with hundreds of Grey Herons, one
Purple Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Indian Reef Herons and Little Egrets.
Waders were about in good numbers with most being Little Stints, Black-winged
Stilts, Kentish Plovers and Common Ringed Plovers. Dunlins, Marsh Sandpipers,
Common Redshanks, Common Greenshanks, Green Sandpipers and a single Common Snipe
were also seen in reasonable numbers. A single Common Kingfisher and plenty of
terns were also present with White-winged Terns being the commonest followed by
Caspian Terns, Little Terns and Gull-billed Terns. As always Grey-headed
Swamphens and Common Moorhens were plentiful. Western Marsh Harriers are back
in good numbers for the winter with well over ten birds seen during the day and
Greater Flamingo numbers are also increasing for the winter with several
hundred birds already on the flooded sabkha. A single Western Osprey was also
seen flying over but little else regarding raptors.
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| Turkestan Shrike |
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| Caspian Terns |
