Recently there have been a number of reeling Savi’s Warblers around Jubail
with three heard in late February and seven heard by Phil Roberts on 25 March 2016.
Whilst ringing at Sabkhat Al Fasl ten Savi’s Warbler we have trapped and ringed
in the last two years. 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 as 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. These seven birds reeling also indicate numbers are increasing in the
region. The subspecies fuscus we get
in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is darker coloured, has more obvious
under-tail covert 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 supercilium is more obvious behind the eye.
