Birds of Saudi Arabia: Yemen Linnet

Showing posts with label Yemen Linnet. Show all posts

30 June 2024

Birding the Bahah area – Bahah

Whilst birding recently in the Bahah in mid-June we saw a lot of good birds including a number of Arabian Endemics. The commonest was Arabian Serin with tens of birds seen mainly at distance but occasionally in trees close to the road we were walking along. Yemen Thrush was likewise common alongside Yemen Linnet. Good numbers of Arabian Wheatear were also present and two Pied Cuckoo. Long-billed Pipits and Cinnamon-breasted Buntings were plentiful among the roadside rocks and five Red-rumped Swallow were flying around and perched on the overhead wires. The are we were was full of vegetation with very healty looking trees including juniper.

Arabian Serin

Arabian Wheatear

Long-billed Pipit

Yemen Linnet

11 March 2024

A few endemics – Abha area

Whilst birding the Abha area recently I managed to photograph a few of the endemics. We saw a number of groups of Arabian Waxbill with up to thirty birds in a group. They never allowed close approach as we were on foot, with the below photo the best I could get. Arabian Wheatears were quite common with both males and females seen. Good numbers of Yemen Linnet and Yemen Thrush were in the large trees but only a single Yemen Warbler could be found

Arabian Waxbill

Arabian Wheatear - female

Arabian Wheatear - male

Yemen Linnet

Yemen Thrush

Yemen Warbler

10 April 2022

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

12 December 2020

Birding Billasmer

Whilst birding the western mountains we visited Billasmer looking for Arabian endemics. We managed to located two Arabian Magpie, Arabian Wheatear and small flocks of Yemen Linnet but not much else. Other common birds seen included Laughing Dove, Dusky Turtle Dove, Gambaga Flycatcher and Little Owl. Little Owl is a species not easy to see in the Kingdom but the arwa of An Namas and Billasmer seems a reliable and regular place to see them since we first discovered birds here several years ago.

Dusky Turtle Dove

Gambaga Flycatcher

Laughing Dove

Little Owl

Yemen Linnet

24 August 2017

Some residents and migrants – Talea Valley

I visited the Talea Valley eerier this year and found a few good birds including several good resident species and a few migrants. The migrants were mainly Ortolan Buntings and Northern Wheatears but some good residents were seen including Blanford’s Lark both in flight and on the ground. Other residents included endemic species such as Yemen Serin and Yemen Linnet as well as the localised African Stonechat and Chestnut-breasted Bunting. This valley in the southwest on the country near to Abha is an excellent site but involves some time and effort to see the good birds.

Blanford's Lark

Ortolan Bunting

African Stonechat

Arabian Serin

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Yemen Linnet

07 January 2017

Yemen Linnet

Yemen Linnet Carduelis yemenensis is a common resident of the south-west highlands, frequenting weedy terraced fields, that have been harvested, where it was often seen in flocks of up to 200 birds. It has also been recorded on the Raydah escarpment along the Raydah Pipeline Road, Al Jarrah and Al Azah. In 1987 it was also common and widespread so there appears to have been no change in its status during this period. Habitat preference is for subtropical to tropical dry shrubland. Flocks have been seen in the Baha area in the Golden Tulip valley where they frequent cultivated areas and allotments and further north towards Taif. Birds are almost always seen in small groups and rarely singly even in the breeding season.

06 July 2016

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.