14 September 2012

Woodchat Shrike - Dhahran Hills

The trees at the edge of the percolation pond are proving to be a bit of a magnet for newly arrive migrants. Today a smart male Woodchat Shrike was in the trees although proved very flighty. This is the first one I have seen this autumn in Dhahran although I have seen a couple at Sabkhat Al Fasl in Jubail, 125 kilometres north this autumn. A Spotted Flycatcher was also in the same trees as the shrike. The percolation pond had no duck yesterday but the Western Cattle Egret numbers are slowly building up with nine seen. A single Grey heron and one Squacco Heron were the only other herons seen. Other migrants were thin on the ground with only a few Eurasian Hoopoe and 50+ Sand Martins seen. The wet ditch held three Little Stints, two Common Ringed Plovers and two Green Sandpipers.

Eurasian Hoopoe
Western Cattle Egret
Little Stint