16 October 2015

The tenth Savi’s Warbler trapped and ringed – Sabkhat Al Fasl

Whilst ringing at Sabkhat Al Fasl on 10 October 2015 we caught a Savi’s Warbler, which was the tenth Savi’s Warbler we have trapped and ringed in the last two years at this site. Birds have occurred mainly in the spring with seven records from 20 March until 18 April and three in the autumn from 26 September until 24 October. Savi’s Warbler previously had a status until this ringing project of a scarce passage migrant but our ringing records show the species is in fact an uncommon passage migrant through the Eastern Province of the Kingdom at least. The subspecies fuss we get in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is darker coloured, has more obvious underrated cover tips and some streaking/spotting on the throat making it look more like a River Warbler than the nominate subspecies. The throat markings are not as dark and well defined and the undertail coverts more warm toned than in River Warbler though and the supercilious is more obvious behind the eye.