Blue-cheeked
Bee-eater is a common passage migrant to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
but the majority of autumn birds have passed through by late October. Rarely
they stay into November and once I saw one at Sablhat Al Fasl in December.
Whilst looking at the wet drainage ditch to see if any waders were present I
found a single Blue-cheeked Bee-eater sitting in a tree which was a little bit
of a surprise as I have not seen any definite migrants for a week or so. Another
possible migrant, although some do winter (mainly males) was a female Pallid Harrier
over the spray fields but too far away for photography.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBzKcZNb2FTCN3xdmjgvKkiOCM6XfzefqfgqgQsOB7We-SlI1szM28DeITNBbfFVX0HlwAQsVIHORVnxcSeje-YtVvph9-kM2gPftT0NOkl53H_occOr4GC96oO7xPK7xt4iPFWcwO2o/s1600/Blue-cheeked_Bee-eater.jpg) |
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lxZEiL3g6IbwA5Jrq8qakqA7c9R-8a8hD2xFV9PJ5SIY0nsHMZBWrQJsO6mS4Bz07HxMMBdhdVArHgVOlZMHtPPIAT8iv34segnpPXl8VIVv9S8GpA4iRZ61xzkLqEfXjUj3WnGRDFQ/s1600/Crested_Lark.jpg) |
Crested Lark |
Other birds
I saw were winter visitors including two Eurasian Skylarks allowing a couple of
moderate photos to be taken, but still the best I have managed since I have
been in Saudi Arabia. Desert Wheatear is another winter visitor and I saw one
in the scrubby desert area, which is the first one for the winter on the patch.
A Daurian Shrike in the spray fields and a male Northern Caspian Taxon (NCT) Caspian
Stonechat was also showing well in the spray fields. The fields also had a few
Meadow Pipits, three Tawny Pipits and several Crested Larks keeping the
Eurasian Skylarks company.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVNHrrhJwSUAU8sYpdLVWcgJ7455XfADkkoBtMqLnxMN36252rRRf1IGMK17aEreGPs1F8fIHMrBQmeHcon-JHpxAfaRNSbgBT3K3WgQYJh_EKJOZGuGFjPv3kdaYpTNNVCo58qC3X60/s1600/Eurasian_Skylark.jpg) |
Eurasian Skylark |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNN7jKgEyQTCNdvB3t-tF2og76EwmGwAlJ3VIciEirRWj0LCdF1WcO6KortZoJwHfhIfUSXacz_PbZY9VuIray2cCRFgYygXGL0Z6c4fP62jHK-VuD8T_QEZlqm1uuzlZdfRjCAY1Pgro/s1600/Desert_Wheatear.jpg) |
Desert Wheatear |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxrnn9DJxQRS1jsI6C3EU6zYKJFh8-1xcG2T4z2g5i5h6b5N5jyKpzBWzTGM4oTu640keAp-GNCEnnAqYD0-AfuaaUaICkMlzdA7RiVIaBV3MlwS_bNqekBiZZgJJKpERofhH8RAhuqU/s1600/(NCT)+Caspian_Stonechat.jpg) |
Northern Caspian Taxon - Caspian Stonechat |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFggFhkgW5YuiKglvcAQOlU_fI7uWH_uB1s_BBdyJBCT9yKtS_uJjmo_crLJ8HU06NluznGGVtqp7gOi_HIzODJrOs9ego4mFNTaC49-aH9-Gns0_wPoWEqXPirjaVpIHm8cWoh3KfbI4/s1600/(NCT)+Caspian_Stonechat2.jpg) |
Northern Caspian Taxon - Caspian Stonechat |