Bir Hima Archeological Site (Himā Cultural Precinct)

Petroglyphs are images and symbols engraved into the surface layers of rock faces and boulders. They are found worldwide and provide unique and valuable information on humans and their environment, reaching from the pre-Neolithic period up to today. In Arabia, as in many other regions, petroglyphs were usually engraved into dark rock varnish coatings on sandstone surfaces, which – at least initially – provides a strong contrast to the exposed lighter rock and creates images with strong artistic impact. Several hundred Palaeolithic and Neolithic sites are situated in Saudi Arabia. These include Bir Hima north of Najran, which is an Early Lower Palaeolithic or Oldowan site with added discoveries of chopper or pebble tools used for carving. One of the largest rock art complexes in the world, the Himā Cultural Precinct is located at the western boundary of the Rub’ al Khālī (the Empty Quarter), about 80 km north of the southern city of Najran. Although many outlying rock art sites stretch over a distance of about 130 km, the main concentration, the actual cultural precinct, extends over 55 km north to south, with the small settlement of Himā at its southern end. It includes the eastern mountains of the Jabal Qara massif and Jabal al-Kawbab, extending north as far as the road east from Yadamah. The exploration of the Himā Cultural Precinct is not complete but several hundred sites have been located and registered. The property is the subject of a current nomination for World Heritage listing. Its cultural manifestations include, besides the extensive rock art corpus, thousands of rock inscriptions, found in various scripts, such as the al-musmad alphabet of 29 letters, Aramaic-Nabatean, South Arabian scripts including Thamudic and even in Greek, as well as Islamic. There are also countless stone structures, especially tombs and cairns. 

Spotted Crake - Jubail

Whilst birdwatching the Jubail area in early April, we found a Spotted Crake on the edge of a large wet puddle and took the below photographs. Spotted Crake is an uncommon passage migrant with a few birds overwintering in some years. It is probably an overlooked species, due to its secretive nature with birds in spring from late February to mid-May and in autumn occurring from September to December but mainly in October and November. The Birds of the Riyadh Region (Stagg 1994) says they are a spring and autumn passage migrant, passing late February to mid-May with main movement occurring in April. Return passage extends from late August to early November, peaking in October. Sightings have increased considerably with the increase in wetlands in the region with up to 30 in a day being seen in April along the Riyadh watercourse. These numbers have not been seen in recent years although birds are still seen quite commonly at the correct time of year.

Qaal’at Al Muwayh al Qadim (King Abdulaziz Hunting Lodge)

Qaal'at Al Muwayh al Qadim, otherwise known as the King Abdulaziz hunting lodge, is concealed behind a low ridge of hills and is alongside a salt plain which is itself bordered by one of the many lava flows in the area. The hunting lodge itself was originally a black lava stone caravanserai situated on Darb al Hejaz, the old caravan route from Riyadh to Taif. Later converted to its most recent use as a hunting lodge by King Abdul Aziz it is now abandoned as is the old village of Muwayh beside it. 

 

 

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin – Jubail

Whilst birding Jubail we saw a very confiding Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas galactotes a species that normally spends its time well hidden in vegetation. The Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin is an uncommon breeding migrant and uncommon passage migrant with birds arriving in late March and staying until late September or early October with most sightings during the first week of May. Birds of the Riyadh Region by Stagg (1994); mentions the species is a common breeding summer visitor, widespread throughout the region. Numbers in the Kingdom have increased significantly in recent years in the wake of expanding cultivation. The species has been seen in the huge desert of the Empty Quarter with one at Sabkha 40 on two days in suitable breeding habitat although this individual was more likely to have been a migrant as no song was heard. 

Bani Mashoor Ancient Village - An Namas

Bani Mashoor Ancient Village is near An Namas in the western mountains and has a large tower and some ruined buildings. The weather was very poor with low cloud and rain when we visited so I took only a few photos of the location, as we did not stay long.

Short-eared Owl - Turaif

Whilst birding the far northwest of Saudi Arabia, near Turaif, in January 2021 I found a Short-eared Owl in the basalt lava area near the Jordan boarder This is a scarce to uncommon winter visitor to all areas north of Jeddah, Riyadh and Hofuf. Two birds have been seen on occasion including two on Bisaita plain in the north of the Kingdom on 13 February 2009. In the Riyadh area it is a rare or scarce winter visitor. The Eastern Province has had records of multiple birds with a minimum of eight near Wari’ah, Diddibah 12-13 February 1987 and six Al Asfar Lake Jnauary to February 2018. This is only the second time I have seen the species in Saudi Arabia after seeing four at Al Asfar lake in February 2018.

Arta – Jubail

Whilst birding the Jubail area recently I came across an Arta Calligonum comosum. This plant is a virtually leafless perennial shrub up to 2.5m tall, with a branched stem which is dark and rough often with peeling bark and older branches white with swollen nodes. Leaves if present are minute, 3-5mm long, falling off quickly. Flowers are many, five white sepals with greenish central stripe, no petals, with bright red anthers, on short stalks from leaf nodes, sometimes clustered. Flowers from December to April. Fruit is showy, bristly nut covered with rusty red or white furry hairs, becoming dirty yellow in maturity. It prefers sand plains, dunes and roadsides where it is common and widespread. This species is an excellent desert sand binder, cultivated and used for windbreaks around desert plantations; used as firewood, as it burns smokeless; dried leaves and stems are chewed to treat toothache, young shoots collected as salad greens or powdered to add to milk as a tonic or flavouring, fruits are edible.