Whilst birding Al Uqair im mid-April I came across a few migrants bit a lot less than previous days. One unusual species seen was a Barred Warbler which is an uncommon but widespread passage migrant in Saudi Arabia. This bird was on a barbed wire fence but normally they occur in dense undergrowth, tall scrub, overgrown plantations and hedges. They are very distinct and are a large, gray warbler with crescent markings on the breast and a prominent pale yellow eye. It is usually shy but occasionally appears in a very exposed position, and as a result it may be more common than it seems. It sometimes sings in spring.
