Plenty of birds – Jizan Corniche

Whilst birding the southwest of Saudi Arabia in early April we spent a few hours looking at Jizan Corniche. This is an excellent area for birding and has a fantastic small inlet which waders and other water birds get pushed up at high tide. Good views of the birds can also be had here and we saw plenty of species here including most of the common waders, Broad-billed Sandpiper which I had not seen in this area before and 13 Eurasian Spoonbills some in breeding plumage. The commonest birds seen here were Crab Plover and Bar-tailed Godwits although good numbers of Ruddy Turnstones and Lesser Sand Plovers were also present. The cornice itself has both Pink-backed Pelican and Black Kite on the lampposts by the side of the road and Black-crowned Sparrow Lark feeding on and around the boulders between the road and sea. Plenty of other waders, Greater Flamingos and Indian Reef Herons were along the shore and a couple of Striated Herons were also present. A few gulls were also seen with Steppe Gull, Baltic Gull, Sooty Gull and White-eyed Gull being commonest. I will post details from the fish market and harbour with photos of some of these species in a few days time.

Crab Plover

Eurasian Spoonbill

Bar-tailed Godwit

Broad-billed Sandpiper

Eurasian Spoonbills

Lesser Sand Plover

Ruddy Turnstone

Pink-backed Pelican

Black Kite

Black-crowned Sparrow Lark

Indian Reef Heron