The mix of birds is noticeably different to the spring passage. The birds also tend to be more approachable probably because the heat makes them more reluctant to move unnecessarily.
spotted flycatcher
spotted flycatcher turns its back
The photographic quality is so good because the bird was so close.
probable common whitethroat
Several common whitethroat have been seen over the past few days. However one warbler has caused me identification headaches and is shown. It has chestnut fringes to the wing coverts like a common whitethroat but the tail looks a bit long, the iris is not dark, the bill a bit short and pointed while the legs don't really look a shade of orange. I am asking experts if it could be anything else (with a larger array of photos than the two shown).
another view of a probable common whitethroat
I said the selection of birds is different from spring. In particular I haven't seen a single wheatear at the farm compared with wave after wave in spring. Nor has there been a white throated robin. This latter bird seems to migrate on a broad front in spring including through Riyadh but not so in autumn.
Last August, Brian James and I reported over a hundred while birding in the south west of the country. Lou Regenmorter has told me he observed the same phenomenon down there this August too. Its obvious they take a more funnelled route to get there in the autumn which doesn't include the centre of the country.
European roller
Its not all negative. I saw my first European roller at the farm while walking home last night.
Another view of the roller
I flushed the bird while walking round but was very pleased that all it did was fly off to the other tallest tree in the farm's garden.
roller on the tallest tree
It then returned to the first tree. Clearly it really didn't want to leave this small green oasis in the heat of the day.
"first winter" woodchat shrike
The passage of shrikes is strong in both spring and autumn here. At the moment I am seeing plenty of first year birds.
The most common is woodchat shrike but I am taken as to how different one can look from another. The two photos are of different young birds. One is heavily barred whereas the other has no noticeable barring at all.
Some are clearly staying a few days before moving on.
another young woodchat shrike
Second most common has been red-backed shrike followed by masked shrike.
"first winter" lesser grey shrike
One very tame lesser grey shrike stayed for two days. No red-tailed shrike of either species has been seen yet. When they do come, many of these will stay the winter in central Arabia.
shrinking pool
I mentioned in the last blog on about my walk to work that there is a temporary man-made lake next door. This has been housing water pumped up from the deep for reasons unknown to me. Well, over the last week, it hasn't been refilled and is slowly evaporating to nothing. However the one green sandpiper has remained loyal to the place for over 10 days and until yesterday a little ringed plover had joined it. He moved on over night.
little ringed plover
You may recall in my last farm I commented that white eared bulbul had multiplied during the summer but I hadn't seen any white spectacled bulbul.
white spectacled bulbul
I can confirm they are still present but look increasingly outnumbered.
rose ringed parakeet
At least one rose ringed parakeet is still there from the spring.
hoopoe
The resident hoopoe seem to be getting tamer towards me. I wonder if I am being recognised?
I will continue to visit the farm but I look forward to a little cooler weather which can't be too long off. It's still well over 40C when I walk through in the afternoon.
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