Wag a tail

One of the most irregular migrants to the UAE is the forest wagtail Dendronanthus indicus.

It is found in southeastern Russia, northeastern China, Korea and Japan where it breeds during summer and then dashes to a warmer southerly destination with the onset of winter in October or late autumn.

Early record

The earliest record of its landing in the Arabian Peninsula dates back to the winter of 1987 in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, birdwatcher P. Bourdin first saw it on October 30, 2000, at Safa Park. It was also seen last year and we have spotted it this year too at Safa Park.

Wagtails are famous for swaying their tails up and down but the forest wagtail sways it from side to side.