Birding Alsharaf Park - Tanoumah

Alsharaf Park is a beautiful park in Tanoumah with the highest oeak in the area in it. It has excellent habitat nearby and plenty of the resident common species can be seen. Dusky Turtle Dove is common as is Yemen Thrush that can be heard calling commonly in the area. Brown Woodland Warbler is a common bird but one that is difficult to get excellent views of as it is normally deep in cover. White-spectacled Bulbul, however, perch out on the open frequently, often along the roadside. Violet-backed Starling is a summer breeding visitor and not too easy to photograph which is the same for African Shikra. Fan-tailed Raven are often seen flying over the large rocks calling.

Brown Woodland Warbler

Dusky Turtle Dove

Fan-tailed Raven

Fan-tailed Raven

Gambaga Flycatcher

Shikra

Violet-backed Starling

White=spectacled Bulbul

Yemen Thrush

Yemen Thrush

Some good birds – Abha Area

Whilst birding the Abha area in March we came across several good birds. Phil Roberts had been there the day before I arrived and saw a flock of Arabian Partridge but unusually a group of Philby’s Partridge. This is the first time in a number of years the species has been recorded in this area as far as I am aware. Other good birds seen included Tihalma Shikra, Hammerkop, Arabian Serin, Violet-backed Starling, Yemen Linnet, African Stonechat, Yemen Thrush, Arabian Woodpecker and several Dusky Turtle Dove. Tens of Common Chiffchaff were passing through with only two Brown Woodland Warblers seen amongst them and a calling Yemen Warbler. Probably the best bird we saw was a pale phase Booted Eagle flying over but the light was harsh and photos taken not so good. This is the first record I have seen in this area of Saudi Arabia where they are a rare winter visitor.

Violet-backed Starling

Yemen Linnet

Booted Eagle

Booted Eagle

Booted Eagle

Booted Eagle

Booted Eagle

Quraish Valley – Tanoumah

Whilst birding a valley on the outskirts of Tanoumah near the village of Quraish I came across a few good birds. There were plenty of common species such as Laughing Dove and White Spectacled Bulbul, some summer visitors such as Violet-backed Starlings and a few good south-west highland resident species such as Shikra and Palestinian Sunbird. Shikra is a scarce breeding resident of the southwest of Saudi Arabia with a few scattered records of migrants elsewhere. Nets were set at one point and Yemen Thrush and Little Rock Thrush trapped.

Laughing Dove

Little Rock Thrush

Palestine Sunbird

Shikra

Violet-backed Starling

White-spectacled Bulbul

Yemen Thrush

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

Summer time birding - Tanoumah

Last summer I visited Tanoumah, and have just sorted out my photos from the trip. Below are a few species I managed to see and photograph including Abyssinian White-eye, Brown-necked Raven, Common Kestrel, Crested Lark, Little Rock Thrush, Tristrams Starling and Violet-backed Starling. I also saw a few Arabian endemics including Arabian Serin, Arabian Wheatear, Yemen Serin and Yemen Warbler.

Abyssinian White-eye

Arabian Serin

Arabian Wheatear

Brown-necked Raven

Brown-necked Raven

Common Kestrel

Crested Lark

Little Rock Thrush

Tristram's Starling

Violet-backed Starling

Yemen Serin 

Yemen Warbler

Raydah Escarpment – Abha

Whilst in Abha I went to the Raydah Escarpment a designated nature reserve run by the Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA). This is a well-vegetated section of escarpment dropping down steeply from the top near the ranger’s station to a small village and a large wadi at the bottom. Most of the endemics occur in the reserve and I saw Arabian Waxbill, Arabian Partridge, Arabian Serin, Yemen Thrush and Yemen Linnet around the farm area near the top of the reserve. Other good birds seen include Dusky Turtle Doves, Palestine Sunbirds, Little Rock Thrushes, Little Swifts and Abyssinian White-eyes. At the bottom of the reserve near the village Shinning Sunbirds, Blackstart’s and Green Bee-eaters were all seen in good numbers. One of the rangers mentioned he had seen an Arabian Magpie in the reserve the day before near the mosque on the side of the main road. This is the first time I know of one being seen here since 2010. I failed to find Olive Pigeon, however, despite walking up and down many kilometres of road looking. This species is sometimes seen at this location but I am still yet to see it in Saudi Arabia. A few Fan-tailed Ravens and a Himalayan Griffon Vulture were flying over as were a couple of Common Kestrels.

African Stonechat

Arabian Partridge 

Arabian Serin

Brown Woodland Warbler

Dusky Turtle Dove

Fan-tailed Raven

Palestine Sunbird

Red-breasted Whearear

Shining Sunbird

Violet-backed Starlings

Yemen Linnet - male

Yemen Linnet - male