Birding trip to Abha and Asir region Southern Saudi Arabia (1 Viewer)

[ammadoux]

Asir or Asser region lies in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia, and Abha is the capital of the region lying 2200 meters above sea level, as part of the Hijaz mountains (their formation millions of years ago is related to the rift valley and the separation of Arabia form eastern Africa). The area is known to have dense forests of African Juniper and Acacia, such habitat is home for lots of birds, many of those who are endemic to the Arabian peninsula, and one specie that is only found in Asir region that is the Asir Magpie, Pica asirensis.

From 28th of June until 3rd of July i went to my first birding trip to that region, but not my first visit, as i went there several times for work. in the trip we had a driver with Landcruiser that took us to many places around Abha city, and also we had a birding guide who is a retired business man and current bird researcher, photographer and film maker, Ahmed Nyazi, who is a true bird whisperer, and a brilliant guide.
The places we visited other then Abha city, are:

1- The Rayda Escarpment, which is a part of the Arabian Shield, that consists mainly of mobile igneous rocks. The area is made up of steep slopes covered by dense vegetation dominated by juniper trees. There are many water tributaries that descend from the top of the escarpment.

2- Bani Mazen villages, are 8 kilometers away from the Abha city to the west, over an area of about 4,500 kilometres, adjacent to the villages of Al-Souda. They combine picturesque nature of agricultural terraces on the highlands and other farms in their valley, and contain an ancient heritage in many of their ancient homes.

3- Rijal Almaʽa which is a village located i 50 km west of Abha, in the southwest of Saudi Arabia. The village is more than 900 years old.

4- Ballahmer and Ballasmar. two adjacent towns 60 km north of Abha, with elevation of about 3000 m form sea level.

5- Tanomah is located at 120 km north of Abha. It is one of the most important resorts in Saudi Arabia. There are many waterfalls at the top of the mountain slopes.

5- Alnamas. 120 Mn north of Abha with 2300 m elevation.

here is a list of birds recorded.

1- Tristram Starling, Onychognathus tristramii.
2-Abbussian white-eye, Zosterops abyssinicus.
3-Gaceful prinia, Prinia gracilis.
4- Red rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica.
5- barn swallow, Hirundo rustica.
6-Yemen thrush, Turdus menachensis.
7- Little rock thrush, Monticola rufocinereus.
8- Arabian woodpecker, Dendrocoptes dorae.
9- Eurasian Hoopoe, Upupa epops.
10- Violet backed starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster.
11- Diedrick cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius.
12- Puff breasted wheatear, Oenanthe bottae.
13- Arabian waxbill, Estrilda rufibarba.
14- African Olive Pigeon, Columba arquatrix.
15-Red-eyed Dove, Streptopelia semitorquata.
16- Bruce green pigeon, Treron waalia.
17- Laughing Dove, Spilopelia senegalensis.
18- Cinnamon breasted bunting, Emberiza tahapisi.
19- Gambaga flycatcher, Muscicapa gambagae.
20- African paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis.
21- Grey headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala.
22- African grey hornbill, Tockus nasutus.
23- Brown woodland warbler, Phylloscopus umbrovirens.
24- Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis.
25- Arabian babbler, Turdoides squamiceps.
26- Black bush robin, Cercotrichas podobe.
27- White-throated bee-eater, Merops albicollis.
28- Arabian green bee-eater, Merops cyanophrys.
29- white browed coucal, Centropus superciliosus.
30- Yemen warbler, Curruca buryi.
31- Arabian or red sea warbler, Curruca leucomelaena.
32- African pipit, Anthus cinnamomeus.
33- Long billed pipit, Anthus similis.
34- Asir magpie, Pica asirensis.
35- Blackstart, Cercomela melanura.
36- Arabian stonechat, Saxicola torquatus felix.
37-Fan tailed raven, Corvus rhipidurus.
38- long legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus.
39- Kesterl, Falco tinnunculus.
40- Jacobian 0r Pied cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus.
41- White skeptical bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos.
42- Ruppell's weaver, Ploceus galbula.
43- Palestine sunbird, Cinnyris osea.
44- Arabian Shining sunbird, Cinnyris hellmayri.
45- Nile valley sunbird, Hedydipna metallica.
46- Arabian partridge, Alectoris melanocephala.
47- Yemen linnet, Linaria yemenensis.
48- Arabian Serin, Serinus rothschildi.
49- Arabian wheatear, Oenanthe lugentoides


those who are in bold, are the Arabian endemic. you can find images of many of the sightings in the gallery.
species which we miss.

1- Yemen Serin, Serinus menachensis
2- Philby's partridge, Alectoris philbyi
3- Arabian golden gorse beak, Rhynchostruthus percivali
4- Arabian Scopes owl, Otus pamelae

will add FAQ in the comments, try to cover many of the questions you might have about visiting this region for birding.

 

[ammadoux]

FAQ about Asir region

Q1: Is it worth a visit for birders?
answer : Yes for sure, birds there are unique and easy to find, and so much different form birds one can find in other parts of the middle east and also different form bird in other parts of Saudi Arabia, specially the eastern and middle provinces.

Q2: Are Arabian endemic birds only found in Asir?
answer: No most of them can be found in all the highlands of Hijaz which extend form Taif (near Mecca) all the way down to Abha in the South, including area like Bani Saad, Bani Taqeef, Albaha, Baljurashi. as well as Yemen and Salalah in Oman. Only the Asir magpie is confined to certain places in Asir region.

Q3: what are nest places to find Asir magpie?
answer: Tanomah is the most famous among birders, and there is nice numbers of them in Balahmer.

Q4: why i did not include the famous Jable Alsooda in my report?
answer : right now it is closed for development to make it a tourist destination, with planes of increasing the number of trees to make up for what was lost during the last 40 years.

Q5: why did i miss those 4 endemics that was mention above, are they hard to find.
answer: only the Arabian golden gorse peak which is becoming harder and harder to find in recent years. the others can be found its just we couldn't, acutely our guide was ready to take us to the Arabian scops owl after 9 pm, but we use to be too sleepy and tired by that time.

Q6: if one have only one night and the following day to visit what is the only place that is best to find as many birds as possible.
answer : The Rayda Escarpment. up in the mountains were the dense Juniper and wild olive trees, the African olive pigeon, the African paradise flycatcher, the brown woodland warblers, the Yemen linnet, Arabian and Yemen serins, Yemen warbler, Cinnamon breasted bunting, Abyssinian white-eye, Arabian woodpecker, Arabian Partridge, little rock thrush, Yemen thrush, African pipit, blackstart, and many more specially if its migration months.
and when you get down to the valley, its a completely different habitat and vegetation and during the summer months the grey headed kingfisher and African grey hornbill are most properly nesting among many others including the Philby's partridge.
but i would concentrate in either the high part of the lower part if i have limited time.