06 May 2016

Land birds around Jubail

This spring has been a very good one for Common Redstart with hundreds of birds seen throughout the region including many very smartly plumaged males. My last visit to Jubail provided more than 50 sightings of this species roughly divided 50/50 between males and females. Another couple of migrants that have occurred in good numbers this spring were Red-throated Pipit and Tree Pipit with tens of each of these species seen. The last few Daurian Shrikes were seen amongst a larger number of Turkestan Shrikes, with two male Red-backed Shrikes and a couple of hybrid type birds also seen. A good ‘fall’ of Willow Warblers had occurred as birds were seen everywhere including many in the reeds themselves instead of their favourite tamarisk as these were already full of birds.
Common Redstart
Common Redstart
Common Redstart
Common Redstart
Red-throated Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Daurian Shrike
Daurian Shrike
Pallid Swift
Pallid Swift
Willow Warbler
Willow Warbler
Tree Pipit
Tree Pipit