11 October 2014

Savi’s Warbler trapped and ringed – Sabkhat Al Fasl

Whilst ringing on 26 September we caught a Savi’s Warbler. Savi’s Warbler has a status as a rare migrant to all areas of Saudi Arabia but the number of records of birds seen, heard singing or trapped whilst I have been in the Eastern Province in the last four years makes the true status as an uncommon migrant in both spring and autumn. This is the second Savi’s Warbler trapped and ringed at this site in 2014 and we caught and ringed four birds in Bahrain in two years ringing there, where it previously had a status as a vagrant.  Although it was extremely hot for ringing we managed to catch a few birds including Yellow Wagtail, House Sparrow, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Little Bittern (Females & Juvenile), Graceful Prinia, Indian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler and a Sand Martin. Yellow Wagtail and Sand Martin were new ringing species for us so although numbers were not particularly high we had a good mornings ringing before it became too hot to continue at 40 degrees Celsius.
Savi's Warbler
Savi's Warbler
Savi's Warbler
Yellow Wagtail 
Sand Martin
Graceful Prinia
Great Reed Warbler
House Sparrow - adult male
Little Bittern - adult female