Whilst ringing at Sabkhat Al Fasl we trapped a female Siberian Stonechat
of the sub-species maurus known as
Western Siberian Stonechat. The bird was looked at closely and the rump and
uppertail feather moved to see if there was any white extending down the tail
feathers, but on this bird there was not. This was a new ringing species for Saudi
Arabia although I had trapped and ringed ne in Bahrain some years ago and it
was interesting to see the bird in the hand at close quarters. The rump
appeared warmer in the hand than when seen in the field but it was completely
unstreaked as would be expected. The white wing patch was also well developed
on the bird. There has been a good passage of Siberian Stonechats of various types through the Eastern Province in the last few weeks so it was not so surprising to trap one.
