Arabian Spotted Eagle-owl in Tanoumah – Record by Ahmed AlKassim

Whilst in Tanoumah in June I met Ahmed AlKassim an excellent local bird photographer. He was staying there for a number of days and managed to see and photograph an Arabian Spotted Eagle-owl after I left. Ahmed has very kindly sent me one of his amazing photos of the Arabian Spotted Eagle-owl taken on some overhead wires in the Tanoumah area and has allowed me to use it on my website which is shown below. Please note the copyright of this photos belong to Ahmen AlKassim and should not be reused without his permission. The subspecies in Arabia is an endemic sub-species to southwestern Arabia and although not rare is difficult to locate. Birds are resident near the Red Sea coast north to Jeddah and can be seen in the Tihamah and Asir areas including Najran and Hejaz north to Taif. Other birds have been seen in a wooded wadi eight kilometres east of Wadi Juwwah in April near Tanumah at various times of year. The taxonomic status of form milesi, significantly isolated in southwest Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman, is uncertain. It is more tawny in colour and smaller than nominate and tanae both from Africa, and its vocalizations differ (though fuller details required) and is possibly specifically distinct. The species African Spotted Eagle-owl is a rather small eagle-owl with long, erect ear-tufts and with race milesi smaller and more tawny coloured. They use a variety of habitats, from rocky outcrops in desert to woodland with sparse ground cover: particularly favours areas with mosaic of low hills, grassland and scrub; prefers semi-open woodland, and rocky hills with scattered trees and bushes; also found in thorn savanna; avoids dense forest. From sea-level up to c. 2100 m.

Yellow-spotted Agama near Al Asfar Lake – Record by Arnold Uy

Arnold Uy kindly sent me a photo of a Yellow-spotted Agama Trapelus flavimaculatus he took recently near Al Asfar Lake, Hofuf that he has also kindly allowed me to use some on my website and is shown below. Copyright remains with Arnold. Yellow-spotted Agama are a medium sized lizard about 30 centimetres in length and are also known as Blue-headed Agama for obvious reasons. Their tails are very long and thin and make up over half their body length and they move extremely fast over the ground. The Yellow-spotted Agama is a common species of lizard found in arid regions of the Middle East from Egypt: North of the Eastern Desert & Northern Sinai to the Arabian Peninsula including Saudi Arabia. They are readily distinguished from the Sinai agama Pseudotrapelus sinaitus by their heavier build, rougher scales and the presence of a gular sac that is darkened and inflated as a threat display. The ear opening is smaller and its dorsal margin is partially covered by pointed scales. In the summer these lizards often sit atop Acacia trees or prominent rocks as a territorial display and to regulate their temperature. They are quite aggressive with a mainly carnivorous diet of small insects. Their skin colour varies from reddish-brown to olive‐green, and is covered in a pattern of heavy yellowish-white spots. Their tails are normally pale yellow; however, male Yellow-spotted Agamas have the ability to go from this drab coloration to something much more vivid and spectacular. The dull reddish-brownish-green skin turns vivid blue, and the pale yellow tail glows brilliant flaming orange. Sometimes a male Agama will only change partially turning just the underside of his head blue, for instance. The colour change happens in seconds and fades just as quickly.

Black Kite in Dhahran Camp – Bird records by Paul Wells

Whilst birding the old golf course in Dhahran camp Paul Wells saw and photographed a Black Kite. Summer is an unusual time to see the species and the ones that have occurred look like Black-eared Kites. The Black Kite M. migrans has two migratory subspecies that occur near the region, M. m. migrans known as Western Black Kite that occurs in northwest Africa and Europe east to Central Asia and south to Pakistan and winters south of its breeding range in Africa south of Sahara and M. m. lineatus known as Black-eared Kite that occurs from Siberia east to Amurland and Japan south to Northern India, Northern Myanmar and Northern China with birds from the western part of the range at least wintering south to Southern Iraq, Southern India and SE Asia. All records of Black Kite in Saudi Arabia are currently documented as referring to migrans with the status varying throughout Saudi Arabia, where in the east they are uncommon passage migrants, mainly in the spring, and winter visitors, whereas in the west they are common to very common passage migrants and winter visitors occurring from Tabuk in the north and increasing in numbers towards Jizan in the southwest. In central areas it is an uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant and winter visitor that passes in March and again early August to October with wintering birds arriving in November and departing early February (Stagg 1994). Recent DNA studies (Johnson et al 2005) suggest that the Black-eared Kite M. m. lineatus, is not sufficiently distinctive from migrans to justify specific status and should be regarded a distinct allopatric subspecies. The exact wintering area of Black-eared Kite is poorly known with the western extreme generally regarded as Iraq and Iran although in recent years there have been a number of records of lineatus from a number of countries in eastern Arabia. This includes Qatar where there have been eleven records in the last ten years from early April to late June and from early August to mid-November and only a single record of migrans. In the United Arab Emirates all birds are classed as lineatus and they are regarded as an uncommon to rare migrant and winter visitor whereas in Oman both migrans and lineatus are regarded as regular but uncommon migrants and winter visitors. Despite this there had not been any definite records of lineatus from Kuwait where Black Kite is a common passage migrant and scarce winter visitor, Saudi Arabia or Bahrain where it is a passage migrant and winter visitor. This was surprising as the breeding range for the species, although shown differently by different sources, is well to the east of Arabia (Ferguson-Lees 2001 & Wassink & Oreel 2008) and in a region where many other commonly occurring passage migrants to the region originate from. There is a wide intergradation zone between migrans and lineatus with the border between the two sub-species not well known but covering a wide area of Central Asia, Siberia & Mongolia. It has been mentioned by Forsman that only birds from Japan are lineatus sensu sticto, and birds originating from Central Asia are likely to be hybrid/intergrades. Intergrades between lineatus & migrans regularly occur in Kazakhstan and are likely to be increasingly common from east to west and these intergrades appear to also occur in Saudi Arabia and as a result the Black Kite situation in the country is very complicated.  Many birds are often best left unidentified to sub-species level or called lineatus type birds although it seems certain that these birds are of eastern origin. Since 2011, when I saw a large gathering of Black Kites of an interesting type near Jizan, there have been some discussions about the possibility of Black-eared Kite occurring in Saudi Arabia and since this time I have been photographing birds in Saudi Arabia in the hope of arriving at some sort of consensus as to what subspecies they are. Most of these birds have been seen during passage and winter months but on 22 June 2012 I located 15 birds resembling Black-eared Kites on Abu Ali Island near Jubail in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. There have also been many other birds photographed in the Tabuk area that have shown similarities to Black-eared Kites as well as in Jizan. Birds further south in the southwest of Saudi Arabia as well as a number of records from down the Red sea coast of the Kingdom have appeared to be Western Black Kites. The photos below were taken by Paul Wells and are used with his permission for which I thank him.

Mediterranean Blue in Dammam – Record by Vinu Mathew

Vinu Mathew found and photographed two Mediterranean Blue T. rosaceus mating recently near Dhahran and kindly sent me his photos and has allowed me to use them on my website. The Mediterranean Blue is found in N Africa, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, S Iran and NW India. The adults are strong flyers with a jerky and rapid flight. The wingspan is 24–32 mm for males and 24–34 mm for females. The larval foodplants include Paliurus spina-christi, Ziziphus; larvae attended by ants of genera Plagiolepis, Camponotus, Monomorium.

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

African Joker at Raydah Escarpment – Abha

Whilst birding at the village at the bottom of the Raydah Escarpment I came across a number of African Joker Byblia ilithyi. They are also commonly known as the Spotted joker or Joker, and are a species of nymphalid butterfly found in parts of Africa, Arabia and Asia. The male has the upperwings of a deep rich orange. The forewing has the costa broadly black until nearly the apex. The cell has three narrow short black bands, the inner and outer not reaching the median vein. A postdiscal broad transverse black band from dorsum to vein 4, with the portions of the veins beyond it defined in black. The apex of the wing beyond the broad black edging to the costal border has its upper margin and the terminal portions of the veins defined in black; finally a narrow terminal band. The hind-wing has an elongate black sub-costal patch near base, continued posteriorly across the cell by an inner and an outer series of small transverse spots; a complete broad black postdiscal band with the portions of the veins beyond it lined with black, and a narrow black terminal band as on the forewing. Cilia of fore and hind wings white, alternated with brown (from Wikipedia).

Abyssinian White-eye – Tanoumah

Whilst birding in the southwest I came across a number of Abyssinian White-eyes, firstly at the top of the Raydah Escarpment in Abha and then at Tanoumah. We trapped and ringed five birds and took biometrics as well as blood samples and photographs. Shown below are some of the photos. Z. a. abyssinicus occurs from northeast Sudan, through Eritrea and north & central Ethiopia. Z. a. arabs occurs in southwest Saudi Arabia, Yemen and southern Oman. Z. a. socotranus occurs in north Somalia and Socotra Island. Z. a. omoensis occurs in western Ethiopia, Z. a. jubaensis in southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya and southern Somalia and Z. a. flavilateralis in eastern, central and southern Kenya south to northeast and eastern Tanzania. Nominate race Zosterops abyssinicus abyssinicus has a yellow supraloral stripe extending to yellow area above bill, narrow blackish-brown line from lores to below narrow white eyering. The cheek flecked yellow; forehead to upperparts pale greyish-green, yellower on uppertail-coverts. The chin to throat and centre of upper breast pale yellow, lower breast and sides pale grey, belly and thighs greyish-white, undertail-coverts pale yellow. The iris is light red-brown to brown; bill horn-brown above, pinkish-brown below; legs brown or flesh-coloured. Sexes alike. The race occurring in Saudi Arabia Z. a. arabs is like nominate, but with fairly dark greyish-green upperparts.

Rare and unusual birds seen in Saudi Arabia in first half of 2016

A minimum of three calling Harlequin Quail Coturnix delegorguei were heard and seen in a large vegetated field near Sabya 2 June. A Striated Heron Butorides striata was at Dammam Corniche seafront 12 February the fourth record for the Eastern Province. A Goliath Heron Ardea goliath was at KAUST 16 January to 14 May, a first for the area and well north of its normal range. The second Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
for Saudi Arabia was at KAUST 14 May. A Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus was present near Tabuk 25 March. The wintering Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus remained at Rabigh Dam until 29 January at least and at least fifteen Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
wintered at Sabkhat Al Fasl until March. A Booted Eagle Aquila pennata was at Sabkhat Al Fasl, 8 January a vagrant to the Eastern Province and another was at Tabuk 10 January where they are rare winter visitors. The second Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
for KAUST was present 22 April.

Sociable Lapwing

425 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus at Haradh 5 February where the largest recorded flock for Saudi Arabia. A Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus
was at Haradh west pivot fields 5 February and a Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus was in the Empty Quarter near Shaybah 8 March. Sixteen Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius
were at Haradh 5 February only the second record for the Eastern Province with three Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus in the same field on the same date. Two winter plumaged Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus at Sabkhat Al Fasl 26 February. A single Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus at Sabkhat Al Fasl 12 February only the third record for the Eastern Province and six at Al Hayer, Riyadh 3 June were also unusual. 

Pied Kingfisher

A juvenile Pharaoh Eagle Owl Bubo ascalaphus was at Sabkht Al Fasl 3 June an unusual site for the species with a pair with two young at Al Hayer, Riyadh 3 June. Two male Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius were at Al Mehfar Park, Tanoumah 30-31 May, one of which was trapped and ringed. An Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius was at Sabkhat Al Fasl 8 January an unusual winter record. Two Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris were trapped and ringed at Either Mangroves, Jizan Province 1 June. A White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis was at Deffi Park, Jubail 22 January to 26 February with another at Sabkhat Al Fasl 4 March. Six of the wintering Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis were at Sabkhat Al Fasl until 4 March at least with one remaining until 15 April and another remaining at Al Hair, Riyadh until 22 April.

Woodlark (courtesy Phil Roberts)

Dead Sea Sparrow

Three ‘mangrove’ white-eye sp Zosterops (abyssinicus?) sp, an as yet unidentified White-eye, were trapped and ringed at Either Mangroves 1 June. A reeling Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia was at NADA Dairy Farm, Hufuf 8 April. A Black Scrub Robin Cercotrichas podobe near Sarrar 15 January was the fifth record of this species for the Eastern Province, although common in the west of the country. Two African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus eximius were trapped and ringed in Al Mefah Park, Tanoumah 31 May & 1 June. Two Woodlark Lullula arborea near Sarrar, Eastern Province 15 January, were only the second record of this species for the Kingdom and a flock of eleven Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus at Sabkhat Al Fasl 26 February to 4 Mar chwere also only the second record for the country.

Zitting Cisticola and Harlequin Quail in Phil’s Fields – Sabya

A recent trip to Phil’s Fields near to Sabya resulted in a few good birds as usual. The area is one of the best in the Kingdom for seeing both Zitting Cisticola and Singing Bush Lark. Both of these species like large grass fields and there are a few in the area. The Zitting Cisticola is easily seen and heard over the fields in flight but also occasionally lands on exposed glass stems and sings. They are not easy to photograph as they are small and grass stems always seem to be cutting across their body but this time I did manage to get a few photos of the birds out in the open so was quite pleased with my efforts. The Singing Bush Lark is always moving about and sings in flight but they are very difficult to photograph on the ground. I failed to get any photos of the birds this time. The other good bird seen and heard calling was the Harlequin Quail a species that had not been recorded in Saudi Arabia for twenty plus years until I saw a few in the same fields in 2015. The birds were heard calling in a couple of different places in the fields and when compared to the call on the Birds of the Middle East app on my phone it was identical. On two occasions birds flushed from the wheel tracks of the irrigation equipment and flew fast and low over the fields before disappearing into dense cover. A nest of African Silverbill was found attached to the main pivot irrigation sprayer where a few Western Cattle Egrets were also seen sitting. Other good birds seen included African Collared Dove and Arabian Babbler.

Zitting Cisticola

Zitting Cisticola

African Collared Dove

Arabian Babbler

African Silverbill

Western Cattle Egret

Yemen Tree Aloe at Raydah Escarpment - Abha

Whilst travelling down the Raydah Escarpment from the top at 3000 metres to the farm at 1200 metres you come to a zone of Tree Aloe near the bottom. Here a good number of large plants grow by the side of the road and make a spectacular sight. Tree Aloes with a few exceptions are native to Africa or the islands off Africa (such as Madagascar). However, at least one tree aloe is a native of Yemen & southwest Saudi Arabia. Yemen Tree Aloe Aloe sabaea is a curious tree aloe, growing up to about three to four metres tall and having a relatively sparse head of leaves (sometimes only 6-8), most that drape down and bend gracefully. The leaves are thick, wide and gently tapering, fleshy pale green to yellow green and lightly armed with pale teeth along the margins. Stems are markedly thin, making these trees seem inordinately top heavy. There are only a few dead leaves in the skirt below the crown and most of the stem is usually bare. Flowers are multi-branched and racemes are extremely open and consist of multicolored flowers of either red or orange and yellow. This unusual plant comes from remote areas of Yemen and southwestern Saudi Arabia where it grows at an intermediate elevation in stony barren soils. The specific epithet 'sabaea' comes from the Roman name for Arabia Felix, the area we now call Yemen. This plant was described and named, by Georg Agustus Schweinfurth in 1894. He was a German botanist and ethnologist who travelled throughout East Central Africa and the Saudi Arabian peninsula.