Whilst looking for owls in the desert areas near Jubail in March I came across a single male Blue Rock Thrush located in a small valley at the side of a road. This species is an uncommon passage migrant to the Eastern Province but a widespread passage migrant through Saudi Arabia mainly between March and May and again September to October. It is also a widespread but scarce winter visitor between October and March occurring throughout the kingdom except the sand seas and northern plains although it is generally not seen on the coast, with most birds moving well inland before settling as this bird did.
