We also walked up the wadi away from the village.
When you do this, the base of the wadi turns sharp left at one stage but instead of following the base we crossed some terraced fields in a direct line to make a short cut.
This blog is about the crossing of the fields and the lush base of the wadi at the far end of our walk before we doubled back.
The area at the far end is truly lush with many fig and other fruiting trees.
female African paradise flycatcher
It was here that we spotted a female African paradise flycatcher.
another view of African paradise flycatcher
Having lost sight of it twice, it finally gave us good and prolonged views. This was only the second time I had seen this bird in Saudi Arabia. My last view of one anywhere in the world was seen climbing up my hotel wall in Adama, Ethiopia!
Bruce's green pigeon
The fruit and fig trees were a magnet for Bruce's green pigeon.
four Bruce's green pigeon
In near-by bushes brown woodland warbler was common.
Brown woodland warbler
The main regional guide says that Arabian warbler is found up to 1500 metres. However we saw a pair here at over 2500 metres. Indeed the comments on altitude for several species in the guide underestimate how high they are found including the African paradise flycatcher.
Arabian warbler
The Arabian warbler up at this altitude is almost certainly summer-only undergoing seasonal movements up and down the Asir mountains.
second view of Arabian warbler
Palestine sunbird is unusual in that we found more of them at this high altitude in winter. We presume it is because they follow flowering plants and one particular plant was flowering in large numbers up there in February. It's certainly a hardy bird.
Palestine sunbird
In contrast plenty more Rueppell's weaver were present this time.
Ruepells weaver
The other main habitat visited in this part of the walk was stony open terraced fields with a few bushes. I had hoped to find Blanford's lark here to add to my Saudi list but didn't get a positive identification. As you can see from the picture of the crested lark, larks are well camouflaged in this type of terrain.
crested lark
The wires and sporadic bushes gave more dividends. On one wire, I saw a red-breasted wheatear for the one and only time I have seen this species in Wadi Talea.
Red breasted wheatear
Cinnamon breasted bunting was very common even though none were observed on our winter visit.
Cinnamon breasted bunting
Both red-backed shrike and lesser grey shrike were spotted here. Both are passage birds.
Lesser grey shrike
Only one species of bird of prey was seen all day. This was kestrel. In winter there are eagles.
Kestrel
On Saturday, Bernard and I visited the Raydah escarpment where some difficult birds were observed and I added a new bird to my Saudi list. The next blog will report on this.
43 species seen in Wadi Talea
Arabian partridge
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Abyssinian white eye
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Kestrel
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Violet backed starling
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Feral pigeon
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Tristram’s starling
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Bruce’s green pigeon
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Yemen thrush
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Dusky turtle dove
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White throated robin
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Laughing dove
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Whinchat
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Hoopoe
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Red breasted wheatear
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Red backed shrike
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Arabian wheatear
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Lesser grey shrike
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Little rock thrush
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African paradise flycatcher
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Spotted flycatcher
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Arabian babbler
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Gambaga flycatcher
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Fan tailed raven
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Palestine sunbird
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White spectacled bulbul
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House sparrow
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Crested lark
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Rueppells weaver
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Pale crag martin
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African silverbill
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Red rumped swallow
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Yellow wagtail
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Graceful prinia
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Long billed pipit
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Brown woodland warbler
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Tree pipit
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Willow warbler
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Yemen linnet
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Blackcap
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Cinnamon breasted bunting
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Arabian warbler
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Striolated bunting
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Common whitethroat
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