Whilst birding the desert near Jubail I came across a small vegetated valley with a little wet pool. It was very attractive to migrants with plenty of Common Chiffchaffs, several Eurasian Hoopoes, White Wagtail and a single female Blue Rock Thrush. Blue Rock Thrush is an uncommon passage migrant through Saudi Arabia that is seen […]
Category: Blogs
Picaflor tijereta (Swallow-tailed hummingbird) Eupetomena macroura
Durante el pasado mes de Enero y luego de un poco mas de 7 años sin que aparezca por mi casa, regresó una vez mas el Picaflor tijereta. De igual manera que en aquella primer oportunidad, importante para mi por el hecho de que era el primer registro con evidencia fotográfica para el sur de […]
One for the ringers out there
The above bird was photographed by me back on 31st December last year in Norwich and I’ve just heard that the bird has has been seen again. It was ringed in Aberdeen on 24th November as it arrived in the UK as a three year old female and then moved south to Norwich where I […]
Pharaoh Eagle Owl – Jubail area
I saw and photographed a Pharaoh Eagle Owl recently in the desert in the Eastern Province. Records suggest it is an uncommon bird in the Saudi Arabian deserts, although it is probably more common than records suggest as they are secretive and well camouflaged. The Pharaoh Eagle Owl is distributed throughout much of North Africa […]
Let’s go to Dungeness
I had arranged to meet the Jims this morning but had no plans set on where we’d go so at 5.30am we discussed a plan and with nothing really jumping out as a target I uttered the magic words “let’s go to Dunge” and then we were off. 7am and we were looking over the […]
Eilat day 1 – photo-bogey busted
Today (actually already yesterday – it’s late!) I headed down towards Eilat with Mark and Amity to join the Eilat Bird Festival /COTF / IBOC events. We made a quick stop at Har Amasa that was simply brilliant. There were birds everywhere, and what quality. I was really looking forward to arrive on site and […]
Still waiting
Despite afternoon temperatures reaching +6C, overnight frosts and thick snow and ice means that there are very few signs of spring. Apart from a couple of scouts, finches and thrushes have yet to arrive and that is no surprise as there would be no food for them to find. It is still a long way […]
Pond visitors
Its nice sometimes to just stay at home in the backyard and see what birds turn up at my small reflection pool. On this occasion one of the Long Tailed Tits that visit the feeders came down briefly for a drink, as well as the more usual Collared Dove, Goldfinch, House Sparrows, Great Tit and […]