Although such concentrated falls are apparently not uncommon during 
spring passage in North Africa (Cramp 1988), I am not aware of any 
comparable observations in Arabia. The maximum number observed at 
Azraq, Jordan, by Wallace (1982) on any one day was 80 birds. 
The majority of nocturnal passage migrants that utilize the mangroves at 
Yanbu appear to use the stands primarily for roosting rather than 
feeding. During this event most of the Redstarts were actively feeding: 
flycatching, and taking insects from shallow pools following a high tide. 
All the Redstarts appeared to be of the nominate race save two male P. p. 
samanisicus on the day of the maximum count. Accompanying the falls 
were up to nine Woodchat Shrikes Lanius senator, and several Red-tailed 
Shrikes Lanius isahellinus and Masked Shrikes Lanius nubicus. These are 
regular spring migrants at Yanbu. One Black Redstart Phoenicurus 
ochuros, either P. o. phoenicuroides or P. o. rufiventsis, was present on 15 
April. 
In addition to the fall of 13-22 April, there was a second wave of Redstarts 
between 14-16 May, inclusive, but with a maximum concentration of 
only four birds (otherwise 1-2). 
Counts in the landscaped areas in the city of Yanbu al-Sinaiyah showed 
birds present during 13-22 April and 14-16 May but only in ones and 
twos. 
References 
BALDWIN, P. J. AND MEADOWS, B. S. (1988) Birds ofMadinat Yanbu al - 
Sinaiyah and its hinterland. Royal Commission for JubaU and Yanbu, Riyadh. 
CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1988) The Birds of the Western PalearcHc. Vol. V. Oxford 
University Press. 
MEADOWS, B. S. (in press) On the occurrence of Palearctic land migrants in 
Red Sea mangrove stands. Proceedings of the Vllth Pan-African Ornithological 
Congress, Nairobi, 1988. 
WALLACE, D. 1. M. (1982) Observations on migrant birds at Azraq and north- 
eastjbrdan, up to April 1%7. Sandgrouse 4:77-99. 
Brian S Meadows, 9 Old Hall Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex C014 8LE, 
England. 
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