First spring Whinchat & Lesser Grey Shrike – Dhahran Football Field

Whilst birding the Dhahran Football field in mid-April area recently I saw my first records this year of Whinchat and Lesser Grey Shrike. Both these species are seen each year in Dhahran but only on one or two days in the spring. Migration of shrikes has been good through Dhahran this year with the majority being Turkestan and Daurian Shrikes but also Woodchat, Great Grey and Masked Shrikes have been seen. Other migrants seen have been a few Northern Wheatear, a species seen rarely in Dhahran, tens of Eurasian Hoopoe and one Whimbrel 

Eurasian Hoopoe

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike

Northern Wheatear

Northern Wheatear

Whimbrel

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Hundreds of Shrikes – Jubail

Birding the Jubail area in early May produced a good number of migrants. On arrival it became apparent there were plenty of shrikes around and by the end of the day I had counted 142 Red-backed Shrikes, 12 Lesser Grey Shrikes and six Daurian Shrikes. Although shrikes are common in Saudi Arabia on passage this was an exceptional number for a single day and single location. Warblers seen were mainly Willow Warbler and Barred Warblers with a few Common Whitethroat. Other migrants included a few European Bee-eaters flying over calling, several Spotted Flycatchers, several small groups of Ortolan Bunting and four Whinchat. Yellow Wagtails were seen in various locations in several large groups with most birds being male thumbergi. A single Common Nightingale and two Rufous-tailed Scrub Robins were also seen. Wader numbers are building again with most birds being Little Stints and Kentish Plovers.

Common Whitethroat

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike

Ortolan Bunting

Red-backed Shrike

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Yellow Wagtail - thunbergi

Yellow Wagtail - thunbergi

Yellow Wagtail - thunbergi

Yellow Wagtail - thunbergi

Migration in full swing – Dhahran Hills

Birding the Dhahran Wastewater Lake in early May produced a good number of migrants. Shrikes were plentiful with up to ten Red-backed Shrikes and at least two Lesser Grey Shrike, a species not seen commonly in Dhahran. The birds were feeding on beetles on a grassy area but also in the scrubs beside the wastewater lake. A single large Acacia tree has a minimum of thirty warblers in it, most being Willow Warbler but at least two Barred Warbles, a single Eastern Olivaceous Warbler and a Common Whitethroat were also present. Other migrants included a flock of nine European Bee-eaters flying over calling and double figure numbers of Spotted Flycatchers. Whinchat, another scarce visitor to the Dhahran area was seen in the highest numbers since I have been here with at least seven birds recorded. Yellow Wagtails were seen in various locations in small numbers but totalled 26 birds in total with some nice male thumbergi seen at close range. A few pipits were seen flying over calling with all being Red-throated and one or two were also in the grassy areas feeding on insects.

European Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike

Lesser Grey Shrike

Red-throated Pipit

Red-backed Shrike

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Yellow Wagtail - thunbergi

Yellow Wagtail - thunbergi

Yellow Wagtail - thunbergi

Plenty of Shrikes - Jubail

In early May in the Jubail area we saw many shrikes in a relatively small area. We started seeing shrikes as soon as we got to the location and by the end of the day we had seen six different species (Red-backed Shrike, Turkestan Shrike, Daurian Shrike, Masked Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike and Woodchat Shrike) with some birds relatively easy to get close to, suggesting they may be freshly arrived migrants. We saw about thirty Red-backed Shrike, five Turkestan Shrike, ten Daurian Shrike, one Masked Shrike and three Woodchat and three Lesser Grey Shrikes. Lesser Grey Shrike, is a species I do not see very often, and one I have struggled to get good photos of over the years so my efforts below were quite good for me regarding this species. I always enjoy seeing shrikes (except when they are in a mist net as they are ferocious on the hands) as they have great characters and beautiful plumage. I did not try to hard to photograph other species of shrike as the weather was very overcast, windy and dusty,