SAUDI DREAMING!

Been pondering my next Saudi Arabia tour in April and why I enjoy birding in the Middle East so much. I even counted up my Oman list recently, which has reached a respectable 283 species and i'm definitely itching to get back there in March - but that's another story. So back to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia...... 

It's variety of habitats was something of a surprise when I first went there in January 2023 for a recce. But in April the Sarawak Mountains & Asir highlands come alive and the wadis have lush green vegetation full of Arabian Waxbills, Yemen Linnets, Yemen Blackbirds and Yemen Warbler. In one particular secluded area covered in Juniper trees, Arabian Grosbeak's play hide-and-seek.

One of my favourite spots to sit and scan. Always lots of activity here...

This area was good for Philly's Partridge

I don't really 'do' culture but the draw of Thee Ain Ancient Village is the surrounding area, which has a good draw for passing migrants, Bruce's Green-Pigeon, African Grey Hornbill, bucketloads of Black Bush-Robins, Arabian & Nile Valley Sunbirds, and even a roost of Arabian Straw-coloured Fruit Bats.

Thee Ain Ancient Village

So in the mountains you'll get most of the key species: Philly's Partridge, Arabian Woodpecker, Yemen Warbler, Yemen Thrush, Arabian Waxbill, Arabian Serin and Yemen Linnet. There's also a few birds that I see in Oman - Arabian Partridge, Arabian Scops-Owl, Arabian Eagle Owl, Arabian Wheatear, Arabian Sunbird, Yemen Serin and Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (but you have to know the exact location to see the grosbeak in Saudi and I do!). Add to this lot the very local Rufous-capped Lark, Gambaga Flycatcher and Buff-breasted Wheatear. Oh and the only Saudi endemic is around Tanomah - Asir Magpie.

I've heard Desert Owl here but it's also a good raptor viewpoint in Spring

Yemen Serins along the clifftops and Rufous-capped Larks nearby...

A good spot for Philly's Partridge

Plenty of places to explore in the highlands

I particularly like the Tanomah area, not just because of the endemic Asir Magpie, but it's also good for African Pipit, Shikra, Arabian Eagle Owl, Arabian Scops-Owl, Eurasian Griffon and both Yemen & Arabian Serins.

Worth exploring the fields for African Pipit here....

The temperature in the mountains is just perfect

Whilst in the mountains and you're staying at Abha, then the reservoir is worth a quick look for Red-knobbed Coot....

Abha Reservoir

And once you're done up here, it's time to head down to the coast. Last April I did a bit of a mad twitch for Arabian Golden Sparrow, leaving the highlands at Tanomah and swinging down to the coast north of Al Birk to get the sparrow before heading back up the escarpment to Abha. It was a nuts journey but we came across a nice lake with a huge colony of breeding Squacco Herons. No biggie but in Saudi birding terms was probably the largest colony ever found in The Kingdom.

Lots of birds here and not a known birding site..

Species change considerably once you're along the coast and especially in peak migration time it feels you could get anything..

Seawatching at Jazan was productive with Sooty Shearwater, Common Noddy & many White-cheeked Terns

We were scoping some distant Broad-billed Sandpipers 

You have to visit the south of the country and search the mangroves for the local avicceniae  race of European Reed Warbler that some people call Mangrove Reed Warbler and Mangrove White-eye. Both are mooted to be split but I don't hold out much hope. Also, beware Clamorous Reed Warblers here!

Out in those mangroves is where to go for the local race of European (MangroveReed Warbler and Mangrove White-eye everyone gets jumpy about

Sunset at the Al Birk Mangroves

And you just have to visit Jazan Dam Lake. Great for all sorts of shorebirds, Little Bittern, Helmeted Guineafowl, White-browed Coucal, White-throated Bee-eater....

Just look at the habitat..  great birding at Jazan Dam Lake 

Jazan Dám Lake - even saw African Openbill here, a real Saudi mega!

Inland from Jazan is Abu Arish and a variety of pivot fields.  The large grassy agricultural areas are a great spot to look for Harlequin Quail, migrants, and I had Black-headed Heron flying over last year. Whilst pivot fields like the one below are worth checking.

The pivot fields have roosting Hypocolius in winter.

So that's a brief overlook on the side of Saudi Arabia most people don't expect. Such a wide variety of habitats and i've not even covered the vast mudflats along the coast and lagoons that are great for migrating shorebirds and even White-eyed Gull at one particular area. 

I hope it's given you some idea of what to expect if you are considering a birding trip to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

TOUR INFO HERE - BIRDING SAUDI ARABIA

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