I have been seeing the same Daurian Shrike throughout the winter in the scrubby areas at the edge of the Waste Water Lake. The bird has been seen catching insects, lizards and once a small bird and normally sits on top of the trees that Saudi Aramco have planted in the area. Many of these native trees are now growing well and are tall enough to give the shrike a good lookout post to sit on. Its main hunting method is to drop down on any unsuspecting insect or lizard and then fly back up to its perch to eat its prey. Daurian Shrike is a common passage migrant and common, but local, winter visitor to central and coastal areas of Saudi Arabia. They prefer bushy areas near wetlands, farmland and parks and gardens.
