Ringing

Ringing of wheatears has hit an all time high with seven species including Mourning, Northern, Isabelline, Desert, Pied, Black-eared and Red-tailed Wheatears, all caught in the past 2 weeks. We have only ringed two mourning wheatears in the past, both of these in January. A blue rockthrush was also trapped this week, which is unusual for this time of year. Abdulla, who has vast experience of wheatears, has never seen such a large and diverse migration in October before. However migration patterns are dynamic and weather conditions have a dramatic effect on a daily basis.
Most of the birds have been trapped on the new lands at Busateen and Northern Newtown, two large areas on the northern shore of the Kingdom which are almost devoid of vegetation.

Mourning Wheatear

Blue Rockthrush