The last couple of weeks at KFUPM there has been a splendid show of
Red-backed Shrike, numbers probably peaked about a week ago, and there were lots,
it seemed like they were everywhere. There were a good few Lesser Grey Shrike
among them as well, and one beautiful male Masked Shrike that is rarely seen
here. Just as the shrikes were at their most numerous Lorna started to hear and
see Golden Orioles and their numbers seem to have been pretty good as well
although probably not quite so many as a couple of years ago. Lorna mentioned
they were tricky to see when they're feeding on the figs and they seem to have
a peculiar trick of invisibility among the leaves, even the brightest males
virtually disappear into them. As far as other birds go it has been pretty
quiet otherwise, a few small warblers still around but most of them seem to
have moved on.
