07 April 2015

Birds on the Al Khobar Corniche – Bird records by Mark Jasmin

Mark Jasmin has just sent me a few photographs of birds he has seen in Al Khobar in the last few months near KUDU Corniche. He chooses to go birding in this area as he doesn’t have a car and it's only a walking distance away from his flat. Mark started birding in Kingdom in January 2015 after seeing my website a few months back and being amazed at the bird species available in the Kingdom. Mark currently has a D610, 300mm f/4D AF-S and a TC17EII and choose the gear knowing that it is not easy to bring with you into Saudi Arabia, large lenses especially if you don't have a car. Mark also goes birding at Al-Shubaily together with my friends, but this is only possible if they are also available, as you need to drive to this location. Mark has taken a few excellent photographs that he has allowed me to use on my website, for which I am very grateful and which I have posted below. These photos show a mix of migrants and winter visitors to the Eastern Province and shows what can be found even if you go birding on the edge of a very large city.
Desert Wheatear
Desert Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Common Chiffchaff
Common Chiffchaff
Common Kingfisher - female
Common Kingfisher - female
Yellow Wagtail - beema
Yellow Wagtail - beema