When birding at
Sabkhat Al Fasl 20 November 2015 with visiting birder Edward Pollard we found at
least two Citrine Wagtails Motacilla
citreola. This species was until the last few years a scarce winter visitor
to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, but more birds are now being seen
making it an uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Birds are mainly seen
from September until March with some adult birds amongst those seen in early
spring. Sabkhat Al Fasl is a good place to look for this species in winter with
birds seen occasionally, but not on every visit, throughout the winter months. They
are normally quite secretive and appear to like shrubs near to the water, such
as small Tamarisk bushes. Elsewhere in Saudi Arabia it is also a scarce winter
visitor with records of summer plumage adults seen in late March but the
majority of birds are first winters seen in August to October.
