A trip to the south west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 1-5 Sep 2015

I was invited by Khalifa Al Dhaheri (from UAE) to join him in his second trip to SW KSA. Khalifa started planing for the trip three months ahead, he collected all necessary information including GPS coordinates. I booked my flight through Flydubai early August to Abha airport through Dubai at a cost of KWD132.00 including a 20Kg check-in baggage. I flew to Dubai on 31th August, met with Khalifa at the airport then joined a flight to Abha. We arrived at our hotel (Abha Crown) at 3 pm. This hotel is expensive SR450 for a double bedroom. We found Dana Residency cheaper, SR280 with two separate rooms (18°13’29” N 42°31’15” E).

On arrival our Budget car rental office was closed so we had to wait until 4 pm. Our car was Toyota camery at a cost of SR1280 for five days and mileage at 200Km/day. Extra mileage was at a cost of SR90/100Km. We made an extra mileage of 1400Km, but we paid SR600 at a discounted rate!

I have made 12 lifers, these include: Arabia Spotted Eagle Owl, Helmeted Guineafowl, Abdim’s Stork, Black-headed Heron, Plain Nightjar, Arabian Magpie, White-browed Coucal, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, African Pipit, and Gabar Goshawk.

Khalifa lifers were 15 and include:  Blanford’s Lark, Singing Bushlark, African Collared Dove, Black-headed Heron, Gabar Goshawk, Abdim’s Stork, Pink-backed Pelican, Nubian Nightjar, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, African Pipit, Red-eyed Dove, White-eyed Gull, Arabian Golden Sparrow.

We found probably two new first records for Saudi Arabia, the Fulvous Whistling Duck and the Lesser Whistling Duck. Also probably the second record of Black-headed Heron as we found 7 birds.

In total we have seen 142 birds during the whole trip.

Day 1: 01/09/2015

We went to Muntazah Al Sharaf (18.962900, 42.131300) at Jabal Al Sooda, a mountain at 3007m above sea level. Birds that were seen include:

Dusky Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia lugens) 15, Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) 7, Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) 4, Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhipidurus) 120, Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) 1, White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) 10, Brown Woodland-Warbler (Phylloscopus umbrovirens) 1, Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) 4, White-breasted White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus) 4, Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps) 4, Gambaga Flycatcher (Muscicapa gambagae) 6, Semicollared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata) 1, Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) 10, Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) 17, Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) 3, Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) 2, Yemen Thrush (Turdus menachensis) 1, Tristram’s Starling (Onychognathus tristramii) 8, Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis) 3, Yemen Linnet (Carduelis yemenensis) 13, Rueppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula) 9, African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus felix) 1.

Wadi Al Jamal

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) 4, Little Swift (Apus affinis) 8, Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) 1, European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) 12, Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 3, Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis) 2, Pale Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula obsoleta) 3, Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) 6, Common House-Martin (Delichon urbicum) 1, Caspian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus hemprichii) 2, Tristram’s Starling (Onychognathus tristramii) 8, Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) 4

Shallal Al Dahna (18.9103059,42.2081745)

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) 2, Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) 1, African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) 2, Arabian Magpie (Pica pica asirensis) 3, Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhipidurus) 30, Brown Woodland-Warbler (Phylloscopus umbrovirens) 3, Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) 1, Arabian Warbler (Sylvia leucomelaena) 1, Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) 5, Gambaga Flycatcher (Muscicapa gambagae) 2, Black Scrub-Robin (Cercotrichas podobe) 1, White-throated Robin (Irania gutturalis) 4, Eastern Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos golzii) 1, Semicollared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata) 3, Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) 1, Ehrenberg’s Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamisicus) 2, Little Rock-Thrush (Monticola rufocinereus) 3, Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) 1, Yemen Thrush (Turdus menachensis) 1, Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea) 1, Shining Sunbird (Cinnyris habessinicus) 1, Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) 4, Blanford’s Short-toed Lark (Calandrella blanfordi)

Day 2: 02/09/2015

Tannuma Area (18.9641958,42.1307766)

Fan-tailed Raven (Corvus rhipidurus) 4, Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 2, Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) 1, White-breasted White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus) 1, White-throated Robin (Irania gutturalis) 1, Eastern Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos golzii) 1, Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) 3, Red-breasted Wheatear (Oenanthe bottae) 1, Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea) 1, African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus eximius) 1, Yemen Linnet (Carduelis yemenensis) 9, Yemen Serin (Serinus menachensis) 1.

Shibanah Wild Park, Sabt Al Alaya (19.5809517,41.9179916)

Arabian Spotted Eagle-Owl (Bubo africanus milesi) 1, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida) 6, Upcher’s Warbler (Hippolais languida) 1, Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) 2, Gambaga Flycatcher (Muscicapa gambagae) 2, White-throated Robin (Irania gutturalis) 5, Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) 1

Day 3: 03/09/2015

Al Darb Water Pond (17.7448139,42.2999167)

Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) 5, Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 23, Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) 2, Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) 4, Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) 1, Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) 4, Little Stint (Calidris minuta) 1, White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) 1, Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) 1, White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus) 1, African Grey Hornbill (Lophoceros nasutus) 1, Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) 1, Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) 2, Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) 1, Rueppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula) 4.

Sabya Fields (17.1207973,42.6481104)

Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus migrans aegyptius) 1, African Collared-Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) 10, White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) 6, Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps) 4, Black Scrub-Robin (Cercotrichas podobe) 2, Nile Valley Sunbird (Hedydipna metallica) 6, House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 6, Arabian Golden Sparrow (Passer euchlorus) 5, Rueppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula) 20

Sabya Outfall (17.1811042,42.8036259)

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 1, Abdim’s Stork (Ciconia abdimii) 1, Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) 1, Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) 7, Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 148, Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) 3, Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus migrans aegyptius) 1, Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) 60, Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) 8, Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) 6, Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) 4, Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) 2, Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) 4, Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) 2, Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) 1, Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) 3, Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) 4, Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) 1, Ruff (Calidris pugnax) 5, Sanderling (Calidris alba) 1, Little Stint (Calidris minuta) 8, African Collared-Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) 12, Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) 6, African Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus parvus) 6, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) 7, Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) 4, Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) 1.

Wadi Al Sadd (17.0122437,43.001647)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 4000, Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) 1, Pied Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) 1, Nubian Nightjar (Caprimulgus nubicus) 6, Plain Nightjar (Caprimulgus inornatus) 3, African Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus parvus) 6, Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinicus) 4, Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) 3, Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) 2, Rueppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula) 9, African Silverbill (Euodice cantans) 6

Day 4: 03/09/2015

Al Sadd Lake (17.023258,42.984917)

Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) 1, Lesser Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) 1, Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 2, Garganey (Anas querquedula) 10, Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) 3, Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) 15, Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) 13, Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) 1, Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) 4, Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) 1, Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 200, Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) 12, Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) 20, Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 1, Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) 3, Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar) 2, Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus migrans aegyptius) 2, Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) 1, Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) 20, Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) 2, Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) 1, Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) 9, Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) 2, Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) 1, Ruff (Calidris pugnax) 100, Little Stint (Calidris minuta) 9, Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) 15, Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 6, White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) 5, African Collared-Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) 12, Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata) 1, Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) 6, Pied Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) 3, Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) 2, White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus) 3, African Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus parvus) 12, Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 2, White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis) 9, European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) 5, European Roller (Coracias garrulus) 1, Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) 2, Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) 15, Singing Bushlark (Mirafra cantillans) 6, Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) 8, Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 4, Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) 4, Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps) 12, Black Scrub-Robin (Cercotrichas podobe) 3, Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes) 4, Blackstart (Cercomela melanura) 1, Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) 1, Rueppell’s Weaver (Ploceus galbula) 7, Mauryan Grey Shrike (Lanius lahotra pallidirostris) 1.

Jizan–North Corniche (16.9414868,42.5441487)

Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) 16, Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis) 2, Striated Heron (Butorides striata) 6, Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) 6, Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) 4, Lesser Sand-Plover (Charadrius mongolus) 3, Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) 2, Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) 6, Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) 4, Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) 16, Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) 4, Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) 3, Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) 5, Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) 24, Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) 16, Sanderling (Calidris alba) 2, Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 2, Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola) 6, White-eyed Gull (Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus) 2, Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii) 30, Saunders’s Tern (Sternula saundersi) 1, Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis) 2, House Crow (Corvus splendens) 18.

5^th Day: 05/09/2015

Jabal Al Sodah Nature Reserve (18.3036844,42.3617363)

Dusky Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia lugens) 4, Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) 4, Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 3, Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) 1, Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) 1, Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) 5, White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) 10, Brown Woodland-Warbler (Phylloscopus umbrovirens) 1, White-breasted White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus) 2, Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) 1, White-throated Robin (Irania gutturalis) 1, Semicollared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata) 2, Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) 4, Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) 10, Red-breasted Wheatear (Oenanthe bottae) 4, Yemen Linnet (Carduelis yemenensis) 4.

Checklist of the birds that were seen (142) during the trip. Endemic to SW Arabia are in red or near endemic (including ssp).

Fulvous Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor

Lesser Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna javanica

Northern Shoveler – Anas clypeata

Garganey – Anas querquedula

Helmeted Guineafowl – Numida meleagris galeatus

Little Grebe – Tachybaptus ruficollis

Abdim’s Stork – Ciconia abdimii

Pink-backed Pelican – Pelecanus rufescens

Hamerkop – Scopus umbretta

Grey Heron – Ardea cinerea

Black-headed Heron – Ardea melanocephala

Little Egret – Egretta garzetta

Western Reef-Heron – Egretta gularis

Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis

Squacco Heron – Ardeola ralloides

Striated Heron – Butorides striata

Glossy Ibis – Plegadis falcinellus

Eurasian Spoonbill – Platalea leucorodia

Osprey – Pandion haliaetus

Black-winged Kite – Elanus caeruleus caeruleus

This the nominate species that occur in Africa.

The nominate ssp. caeruleus has no dark fringed secondaries.

Birds in Kuwait, Iraq and Eastern Arabia all of the ssp. vociferus which has its secondaries tipped dark as shown below:

Gabar Goshawk – Micronisus gabar a first autumn bird.

Yellow-billed Kite – Milvus migrans aegyptius

Common Moorhen – Gallinula chloropus

Eurasian Coot – Fulica atra

Black-winged Stilt – Himantopus himantopus

Eurasian Oystercatcher – Haematopus ostralegus

Spur-winged Lapwing – Vanellus spinosus

Lesser Sand-Plover – Charadrius mongolus

Common Ringed Plover – Charadrius hiaticula

Little Ringed Plover – Charadrius dubius

Terek Sandpiper – Xenus cinereus

Common Sandpiper – Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper – Tringa ochropus

Spotted Redshank – Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank – Tringa nebularia

Marsh Sandpiper – Tringa stagnatilis

Wood Sandpiper – Tringa glareola

Common Redshank – Tringa totanus

Whimbrel – Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew – Numenius arquata

Black-tailed Godwit – Limosa limosa

Bar-tailed Godwit – Limosa lapponica

Ruddy Turnstone – Arenaria interpres

Ruff – Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper – Calidris ferruginea

Sanderling – Calidris alba

Dunlin – Calidris alpina

Little Stint – Calidris minuta

Crab Plover – Dromas ardeola

White-eyed Gull – Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus

Sooty Gull – Ichthyaetus hemprichii

Saunders’s Tern – Sternula saundersi

Gull-billed Tern – Gelochelidon nilotica

Caspian Tern – Hydroprogne caspia

White-winged Tern – Chlidonias leucopterus

Whiskered Tern – Chlidonias hybrida

Lesser Crested Tern – Thalasseus bengalensis

Dusky Turtle-Dove – Streptopelia lugens

African Collared-Dove – Streptopelia roseogrisea

Red-eyed Dove – Streptopelia semitorquata

Laughing Dove – Streptopelia senegalensis

Pied Cuckoo – Clamator jacobinus

Common Cuckoo – Cuculus canorus

White-browed Coucal – Centropus superciliosus

Arabian Spotted Eagle-Owl – Bubo africanus milesi

Nubian Nightjar – Caprimulgus nubicus

Plain Nightjar – Caprimulgus inornatus

Pallid Swift – Apus pallidus

Little Swift – Apus affinis

African Palm-Swift – Cypsiurus parvus

Eurasian Hoopoe – Upupa epops

African Grey Hornbill – Lophoceros nasutus

White-throated Bee-eater – Merops albicollis

Green Bee-eater – Merops orientalis

European Bee-eater – Merops apiaster

European Roller – Coracias garrulus

Abyssinian Roller – Coracias abyssinicus

Eurasian Wryneck – Jynx torquilla

Common Kestrel – Falco tinnunculus

Red-backed Shrike – Lanius collurio

Lesser Grey Shrike – Lanius minor

Mauryan Grey Shrike Lanius lahotra pallidirostris

Eurasian Golden Oriole – Oriolus oriolus

African Paradise-Flycatcher – Terpsiphone viridis

Asir Magpie – Pica asirensis this bird should be raised to full species, plumage and structure looks different from the nominate race of Eurasian Magpie.

House Crow – Corvus splendens

Brown-necked Raven – Corvus ruficollis

Fan-tailed Raven – Corvus rhipidurus

Blanford’s Short-toed Lark – Calandrella blanfordi

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark – Eremopterix nigriceps

Crested Lark – Galerida cristata

Singing Bushlark – Mirafra cantillans

Sand Martin – Riparia riparia

Rock Martin – Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica

Red-rumped Swallow – Cecropis daurica

Common House-Martin – Delichon urbicum

White-spectacled Bulbul – Pycnonotus xanthopygos

Brown Woodland-Warbler – Phylloscopus umbrovirens

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler – Iduna pallida

Upcher’s Warbler – Hippolais languida

Marsh Warbler – Acrocephalus palustris

Graceful Prinia – Prinia gracilis

Lesser Whitethroat – Sylvia curruca

Arabian Warbler – Sylvia leucomelaena

Whitethroat – Sylvia communis

White-breasted White-eye – Zosterops abyssinicus

Arabian Babbler – Turdoides squamiceps

Spotted Flycatcher – Muscicapa striata

Gambaga Flycatcher – Muscicapa gambagae

Black Scrub-Robin – Cercotrichas podobe

Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin – Cercotrichas galactotes

White-throated Robin – Irania gutturalis

Nightingale – Luscinia megarhynchos

Semicollared Flycatcher – Ficedula semitorquata

Collared Flycatcher – Ficedula albicollis

Redstart – Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Little Rock-Thrush – Monticola rufocinereus

Whinchat – Saxicola rubetra

Siberian Stonechat – Saxicola maurus

African Stonechat – Saxicola torquatus felix

Blackstart – Cercomela melanura

Northern Wheatear – Oenanthe oenanthe

Arabian Wheatear – Oenanthe lugentoides

Isabelline Wheatear – Oenanthe isabellina

Red-breasted Wheatear – Oenanthe bottae

Yemen Thrush – Turdus menachensis

Violet-backed Starling – Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Tristram’s Starling – Onychognathus tristramii

Nile Valley Sunbird – Hedydipna metallica

Palestine Sunbird – Cinnyris osea

Shining Sunbird – Cinnyris habessinicus

Western Yellow Wagtail – Motacilla flava

African Pipit – Anthus cinnamomeus

Long-billed Pipit – Anthus similis

Tree Pipit – Anthus trivialis

Yemen Linnet – Carduelis yemenensis

Yemen Serin – Serinus menachensis

House Sparrow – Passer domesticus

Arabian Golden Sparrow – Passer euchlorus