In between the human and vehicular noises, the traffic that is our modern world, a precious miracle…. the town where we live has created a space where cars, people, birds and butterflies mingle and thrive. a metaphor for much needed coexistence.
Steppe Eagles – Abha
Whilst in Abha in April, Phil Roberts and I came across a number of Steppe Eagles that have presumably wintered in the area. These birds will soon be moving back to their breeding areas and are quite late stayers. Steppe Eagle is a common migrant and winter visitor to the south-west, northern Hejaz and Central […]
Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly
My favorite detail is the ringed antennae, alternately black and white. Pretty! Also note that it has a small thin “tail” on each hindwing; when perched the butterfly typically moves its hind wings and the tails move up and down. The butterfly also sports three orange dots on the lower surface of the hindwing. Eastern […]
African Wildcat – Abha area
Whilst out spotlighting in the Abha area recently I came across an African (Arabian) Wildcat where it was seen hunting high up in an area of large boulders. The subspecies of African Wildcat that occurs in Arabia isFelis lybica tristrami distributed from Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Jordan to northern Saudi Arabia. They occur in the northwest […]
Out Of Action
It is a month now since my last posting. I am presently recovering from hip surgery and it may be many weeks before I am able to get out and about again with the camera. To keep the blog alive I am therefore publishing a few images taken before I went into hospital Apart from […]
One good Tern
We had a good day out on Brownsea Island in Poole harbour, Dorset, where Terns were the main attraction, good numbers of Sandwich Terns and a few Common Terns nest on the islands here and great views can be had from the hides as they bring fish to the youngsters. deserves another… And a couple […]
Philby’s Partridge – Abha area
Whilst birding recently in the Abha area I came across a good number of Philby’s PartridgeAlectoris philbyi.This is a scarce resident of the south-west highlands and is related to the Chukar & Red-legged Partridge and is native to south-western Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It can be easily identified from other partridges by the black cheeks […]
Malabar Pied Hornbills in Kabini
We have often heard the vociferous Malabar Pied Hornbills in many national parks in India and then followed their noisy calls to spot them. However, Pied Hornbills are very shy birds and rarely sit quietly, especially on lower branches, making it a big challenge to photograph this species. On this trip to Kabini, all that […]