11 December 2012

Sinai Rosefinch and Long-legged Buzzard (Tabuk) – Bird records by Viv Wilson

Viv Wilson sent me some very interesting photos from Tabuk that he took at the weekend. One bird is a Sinai Rosefinch, a bird I have yet to see in Saudi Arabia, and one that has not been recorded in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus roseus is a breeding resident in the north-west of Saudi Arabia mainly in the Northern Hejaz south to Wadi Sawawin. The location co-ordinates for the Sinai Rosefinch are 28 deg 33 min 12.14 N and 35 deg 44 min 52.95 E. The other bird was a Long-legged Buzzard a bird I have only seen twice in the Eastern Province although they breed in the area. Viv also saw Eurasian Hoopoe, Siberian Stonechat and black Kite and kindly gave me permission to use his excellent photos which are reproduced below.
Sinai Rosefinch
Sinai Rosefinch
Sinai Rosefinch
Long-legged Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Eurasian Hoopoe
Siberian Stonechat
Black Kite
Black Kite