Whilst birding the Khafra Marsh area in mid-March I saw a few wintering species still present. A few Western Siberian Stonechats were seen in the reeds and bushes along the side of a track with some resident Graceful Prinia for company.
The waters edge held both Purple Heron and Squacco Heron as well as a nice Citrine Wagtail. Quite a few wintering Red-spotted Bluethroats were around but very difficult to photograph as were the Water Pipits seen in good numbers.
Migrants were also around with up to ten singing Savis Warblers a notable record and plenty of Common Chiffchaffs. A nice Turkestan Shrike was present but kept its distance. Many of these winter species will be disappearing in the next month to be replaced by migrants and summer breeders.
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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