Birds of Saudi Arabia: Willow Warbler

Showing posts with label Willow Warbler. Show all posts

03 May 2024

Various Warblers – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

The scrubby area next to Dhahran Waste Water Lake has had a lot of warblers passing through in recent days. The weather is cooler and wetter than normal for this time of year and the birds appear to be liking the climate. Graceful Prinia is a resident breeding species and a lot of birds are now singing as they are in their breeding season. Willow Warbler numbers have increased dramatically in the last couple of weeks with upwards of fifty birds seen on a single day. As the Willow Warbler numbers have increase so has the Common Chiffchaff numbers decreased with many days none seen and on a good day one or two. Barred Warbler is another species of warbler that has started to show up with four birds the day high for me. Lesser Whitethroat numbers have also been high this spring with birds seen on every visit in numbers up to seven. Another resident breeder that is singing now is Clamorous Reed Warbler. As there are phragmites reeds at the edge of the lake the birds have moved in to breed here and are very noisy first thing in the morning before the temperature increases too much.

Barred Warbler

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Common Chiffchaff

Graceful Prinia

Willow Warbler

30 March 2024

Common Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding Dhahran Waste Water Lake in late March I came across a large number of Common Chiffchaff and a single Willow Warbler which the first one of the spring for me. The birds were mainly in the large trees surrounding the lake but some would occasionally drop down and feed on the numerous insects. Both species are common to abundant spring visitors with Common Chiffchaff wintering in good numbers but many more occurring on passage. March is the peak month for migrating Common Chiffchaffs in Saudi Arabia whereas Willow Warbler migrates slightly later with peak numbers in April with Common Chiffchaff being the commoner of the two species.

Common Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

14 May 2023

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

Ortolan Bunting

Red-backed Shrike

Spotted Flycatcher

Whinchat

Willow Warbler

Yellow Wagtail - thunbergi

12 May 2023

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.