White-spotted Bluethroat – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding Dhahran Waste Water Lake in late March I came across a very smart male White-spotted Bluethroat Luscinia svecica cyanecula. It was sitting in a tall tree but ufortunately the light was not in a good position for photogrpahs so the ones below are all I managed. The White-spotted Bluethroat is a scarce passage migrant to the region, unlike the Red-spotted Bluethroat Luscinia svecica svecica which winters in good numbers. The White-spotted Bluethroat breeds locally in central & southern Europe wintering mainly in west & central Africa with a few in the Middle East (mainly Israel) and north-east Africa. Identification of the Bluethroat sub-species is very difficult unless you see a male in breeding plumage.