Birding An Namas

An Namas is an area north of Tanoumah in the Asir Mountain chain. It is the northerly most point where Asir (Arabian) Magpie can currently be found and is a good birding location. Whilst birding a small valley there I found a lot of good birds including Ruppells Weaver, Violet-backed Starling, Crested Lark, Gambaga Flycatcher, Red-breasted Wheatear, African Pipit, Long-billed Pipit, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and Arabian Wheatear. The African Pipit is also the furthest north this species has been recorded in the Kingdom in the last forty years proving the area is rich for birdlife. Most birders and photographers who come to the Asir stop at Tanoumah and go no further north but there are plenty of great areas north of this location with much to be discovered.

African Pipit

Arabian Wheatear 

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Crested Lark

Gambaga Flycatcher

Gambaga Flycatcher

Long-billed Pipit

Red-breasted Wheatear 

Ruppell's Weaver

Violet-backed Starling

Ruppell's Warbler at Sharma – Bird record by Euan Ferguson

Euan Ferguson was in Saudi Arabia with a couple of other birdwatchers in spring 2017, conducting an environmental survey and found a male Ruppell's Warbler at Sharma in the far northwest coast of the Red Sea on 19 March 2017. This species is a rare migrant to western regions of the Kingdom with early to mid-March the best time to see it. I thank Euan for sending me the details of this bird and allowing me to use his excellent photo on my website. This is made even better by being the first time I have been able to show a photo of the species on my website.