Here the wadis are flatter than Azizah which was visited on Friday. The terrain on average looks a little drier too. This was probably because the altitude was a little lower at around 2250 metres.
Many of the birds were the same. However the proportions were different and we did see four species not seen the day before.
We got better views of Arabian wheatear including a family group with two adults and two juveniles. The adults kept calling the juveniles which were venturing away.
juvenile Arabian wheatear
Clements and e-bird database still counts this bird as a sub species of mourning wheatear though the sexes are dimorphic unlike mourning wheatear and the juveniles different too.
male Arabian wheatear
The density of Arabian babbler was the highest I have seen anywhere.
Arabian babbler
White spectacled bulbul were also present.
white spectacled bulbul
Both bulbuls and babblers are nest-parasitised by pied cuckoo. Nevertheless I didn't expect to see any. However there were two in one of the farmed wadis.
pied cuckoo
Convention wisdom has it that they winter in Africa and fly to India just ahead of the monsoon season. The main regional guide shows that a few breed in a small part of Yemen not bothering to undertake the journey.
In the past two summers, observers in Saudi Arabia including me have seen them in the Jizan and Sabya areas throughout the summer. These are low lying areas (less than 1000 metres) which the guide says is where you can see them, implying on scarce passage.
However these birds were at 2250 metres and its getting a little late for passage even to monsoonal India. As we "join up the dots" it beginning to look like this bird is more widespread in south west Arabia and for longer than conventionally thought.
hoopoe
Hoopoe, like Arabian babbler was an at incredibly high density and in the same wadi.
Arabian warbler
Arabian warbler was common too. We actually sat under a tree in the shade before realising the tree contained a nest with very young birds being fed.
This is another bird which the regional guide struggles with the altitude it can be found. I have commented before that I have seen very many above the "1500 metres where it is usual"
I am beginning to wonder if the issue on altitude is that the guide covers all Middle East and many species which are found in Asir, Saudi Arabia are also found in Dhofar, Oman but at lower altitude.
long billed pipit
More observations were made on long billed pipit which was also seen the day before. I can now conclude, despite being a ground user, it perches on trees more than any other pipit I know other than tree pipit.
little green bee-eater
Two species seen on Saturday on the Muhayil road but not at Azizah were little green bee-eater and desert lark.
We spotted a row of about 12 bee-hives near-by where clearly commercial honey making is taking place. It looks like this is enough to entice little green bee-eater to the area.
desert lark
We spent a lot of time out of the wadis on the rocky hillsides looking for Blanford's lark. We failed. it's a true nemesis bird for me. Indeed, all day we only saw one crested lark and one desert lark.
Palestine sunbird
We crossed over the main road late on to see if the terrain was any different.
It looks similar but the bird composition wasn't. We met our first palestine sunbird of the day.
female Yemen linnet
One small area was swarming with Yemen linnet. They were clearly very attracted to a filed of thistles and another of some sort of seeding herb.
Short toed eagle
Near the end of our birding time we spotted the only bird of prey seen all day. It was a short toed eagle. It was well worth waiting for.
Overall the trip to Abha was successful and pleasant. The Asir mountains are probably the only part of Saudi Arabia where you can bird all day at this time of year.
The species seen off the Muhayil road, Abha are listed below:
Short toed eagle
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Arabian warbler
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Feral pigeon
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Arabian babbler
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Dusky turtle dove
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Gambaga flycatcher
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Laughing dove
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Pied cuckoo
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Bruce’s green pigeon
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Arabian wheatear
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Eurasian hoopoe
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Red breasted wheatear
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Little green bee-eater
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Yemen thrush
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Crested lark
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Palestine sunbird
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Desert lark
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Long billed pipit
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Pale crag martin
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Cinnamon breasted bunting
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White spectacled bulbul
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Yemen linnet
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Brown woodland warbler
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House sparrow
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Graceful prinia
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Rueppell’s weaver
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