A trip to Jubail in late April was very productive for Red-throated Pipits and Tree Pipits. The majority were Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinuswith up to thirty in small flocks in a couple of places. Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis was also seen but in much smaller numbers of twos or threes. Red-throated Pipit is also a common passage migrant to all areas of the Kingdom. Recorded from mid-March to May in spring, with a noticeable peak in middle of April.
Lower numbers are seen in autumn between early-October and late-November when it is generally uncommon with a few wintering in Central and eastern areas as well as Tabuk. A large flock of 250 were seen at TADCO farm, 20 February 2009 in the north of the country that may have been wintering birds or early migrants.
Tree Pipit is a common passage migrant to all areas of Saudi Arabia that are recorded in spring mainly from mid-March to late-April, in numbers up to 20 birds, and in much lower numbers, during autumn between September and October and also occasionally November.
Early birds are sometimes seen in January and February and numbers fluctuate widely each year with sometimes very few and other years hundreds.
Jem Babbington
Jem Babbington is a keen birder and amateur photographer located in Dhahran, Eastern Saudi Arabia where he goes birding every day. Jem was born in England and is a serious local patch and local area birder who has been birding for almost forty years and has birded in more than fifty countries. Jem is learning to ring birds in Bahrain as a perfect way to learn more about the birds of the area. Saudi Arabia is a very much under-watched and under-recorded country.
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