Whilst birdwatching the An Namas area of the Asir Mountains, 150 kms north of Abha, I came across a Yemen Rock AgamaAcanthocercus yemensis. The Yemen Rock Agama occurs in northern Yemen and adjacent Saudi Arabia, but the limits of its distribution in Saudi Arabia are currently not well known, although I have seen it as […]
Arabian Woodpecker – An Namas
Whilst birding the An Namas area of the Asir mountains, 150 kms north of Abha recently I photographed a pair of Arabian Woodpecker Dendrocopos doraeat at their nest hole. The hole was positioned in the trunk or major branch of a large tree about five metres above ground level and comprised of a small freshly […]
Little Owls – An Namas
Whilst birding the An Namas area of the Asir mountians 150 km north of Abha we came across two Little Owl Athene noctua. This was a new species for me in the Kingdom and both birds were found sitting on dry stone-walls where one bird entered when disturbed. The second bird did not allow close […]
Asir (Arabian) Magpie – Tanoumah and An Namas
Whilst in the southwest on the Kingdom in May I saw at least five Asir (Arabian) Magpie at two different locations. Old nests were discovered near Tanoumah and near An Namas with adults and at least one juvenile seen near the nests. These birds remain very difficult to photograph and are constantly on the move […]
Eurasian (Eastern) Curlew – Jubail
Whilst birdwatching the Jubail area I saw an Curlew N. a. orientalis. The Eastern Curlew occurs throughout central Siberia eastwards through central Russia to northeast China and winters in east and south Africa, Madagascar, and from the southern Caspian Sea south to the Persian Gulf and east through south Asia to east China and south […]
Dozens of Dunlins
A couple of weeks ago I visited one of my favourite locations. Rossall Point has easy access and is a favoured roosting site for waders. There were good numbers of dunlin present and most of them were wearing their summer finery. They will have now probably departed for their Arctic breeding grounds with the current […]
Oare
Yesterday saw a quick trip down to Oare Marsh in Kent. Arriving early we enjoyed a quartering Barn Owl and a Little Owl with a pair of Marsh Harrier along with the usual waders, Egrets and ducks. We heard a Turtle Dove calling in the distance and eventually picked it up sitting in the trees […]