My Middle East Blog List
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Local Basra!
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This summer keeps giving. Early morning streak-continuation birding,
schoolrun, coffee in the garden with my wife, phone beeps: Rony Livne and
his team h…
1 week ago
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أسمعها ولا أراها
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دأبت على سماع صيحات ببغاءات الدرة في فترات عديدة من النهار ولم أكن ارها
مهما حاولت وكثيرا إن كنت محظوظة أراها تطير مبتعدة قبل أن استوعب أنها كانت
فوق شج…
1 week ago
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Bird recordings
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Since being floored by Covid my old way of birding has had to change. I
can’t walk anything like the distances I could. So one area I have begun
to ex…
4 weeks ago
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09 December 2020 – Kyalami Estate, Midrand
I am now back home in South Africa and re-united with my family after
almost a year due to the Covid restricti…
2 years ago
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by M. McGrady, F. Al Lamki, B. Meyburg, A. Spalton
As mentioned in yesterday’s post (click here), 187 has been in southern
Russia for the last week or s…
2 years ago
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07/11/2019 at Jahra Farms and Jal Al-Zor
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This morning I went to Jahra Farms, having a feeling that the
Black-throated Thrush should have arrived by now as two weeks earlier one
was found in Pivot …
3 years ago
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KAUST week ending May 30, 2019
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KAUST week ending May 30, 2019Indian Silverbill
Another very quiet week birdwise at KAUST.A pair of Indian Silverbills have been seen a number of times…
4 years ago
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Trip report for 4 days in Morocco October 2017Full PDF report and images can be found here : Morocco
[image: Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita)]…
5 years ago
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My Other Favourite Blog List
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11th July
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Blustery again today with the sea getting most of the attention. The
Herring Gull and Gannet flock off the Bill lingered all day and proved
constantly attr…
4 hours ago
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Salinas de San Pedro
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Hola a tod@sEl 4 de julio por la tarde Irene Amorós y yo estuvimos un rato viendo aves
en las Salinas de San Pedro.Las especies de aves que observamos f…
1 day ago
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3rd – 10th July
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There’s certainly been a slowing to the pace of birding in the last few
days and that has seen us set our sights towards the essential breeding
bird work t…
1 day ago
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1 Nov 21 – Another Snow Bunting
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The previous Blog Post covered a showy Snow Bunting at Durlston.
Surprisingly, within a week & a half, another local Snow Bunting was found.
This time it w…
1 day ago
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Day Out
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A day out in Dorset today turned out to be rather good with the weather and
the birds . As our first stop was at Ferrybridge where we saw 50+ *Little
Ter…
2 days ago
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Mökillä lomailua.
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Juhannuksen jälkeen oltiin taas vain yksi yö kotosalla ennen kuin
lähdettiin ajelemaan kohti Hartolaa. Tällä kertaa Sannin sisko lapsineenkin
mukana, jo…
2 days ago
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PRIMERAS FOTOS DE AVES EN EL P.N. TANGKOKO
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Amanece el pasado 28 de mayo y ya estamos en el P.N. Tangkoko, que con una
extensión de casi 9.000 hectáreas protege un bosque tropical bien
conserva…
2 days ago
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Birding with Roman and Alicia
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5-6th July 2023
2 days at Mt. Kinabalu for relaxed birding while admiring the view of the
mountain and during the trip, we got most of the endemics su…
4 days ago
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Birding at Taman Tasik Raub
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Taman Tasik Raub is a lake that was formed from gold mining.
Raub’s past history was famous for its gold mining industry. The Raub name
is derived from the …
1 week ago
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Observando aves en el lago Regatas
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A fines del mes de mayo nos hicimos una escapada a la ciudad de Buenos
Aires y visitamos el Lago Regatas con la intención de hacer algunas fotos y
videos…
1 week ago
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12 Bee-eaters at Lower Moors
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1st July 2023 Mid-afternoon and Angie Greenlaw discovered 12 Bee-eater from
her back garden off Trench Lane, Lower Moors. Angie Greenlaw couldn’t
believe h…
1 week ago
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Strange goings on at Mullion Island
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We took the opportunity of a fine evening to do a quick Great Black-backed
Gull nest count on Mullion Island yesterday. Quite bizarrely, almost the
first…
1 month ago
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A small team of ringers met at 6am yesterday for a mist netting session at
the Colyford Common end of the Seaton Wetlands, our first session since
Septem…
1 month ago
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Birding Marruecos I. El Atlas
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Hace unos meses el amigo Antonio Acedo me comentó la posibilidad de un
viaje a Marruecos. Un destino, cercano, relativamente económico y con
muchas aves…
1 month ago
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Avalon Marshes Day Tour – May 2023
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A full bus (with others meeting us at RSPB Ham Wall) headed of early from
HQ at Hayle on 14th May for a full day on the Somerset Levels. We arrived
at th…
1 month ago
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Over half term we had a family trip down to Cornwall again. With two out of
three children in tow we headed off on Tuesday for the rest of the week.The…
2 years ago
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Rob Robinson writes: I am sometimes asked the question: “How long do birds
live?” The answer is, as to many good questions, “It depends”. The oldest
known …
2 years ago
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Migration Blog has moved.
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The migration blog has a new home, head over to
https://www.bto.org/community/bto-blog to check out what species are on the
move and where best to find them.
3 years ago
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Birding during COVID-19 Pandemic
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Birding at my backyard is a solo activity , that don’t involve large crowd
gathering. Friday, 13 Mar 2020, 10:23 PM MYT – Malaysia positive cases =
197 cas…
3 years ago
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Robert Tovey
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For those who have not heard, I am afraid I have some bad news to share.
Rob, my brother, died suddenly at home in Mauritania from a heart attack on
the 9t…
4 years ago
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Popular Posts last Month
Saudi Arabia Recommended Bird Books
- Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds: Passerines: A Photographic Guide – Hadoram Shirahai & Lars Svensson (2018)
- Gulls of the World: A Photographic Guide – Klaus Malling Olsen (Mar 2018)
- Flight Identification of Raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East – Dick Forsman (Feb 2016)
- Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America (Helm Identification Guides) – Klaus Malling Olsen & Hans Larsson (Sep 2004)
- Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia – Michael C. Jennings (Sep 2010)
- Birds of the Middle East – Richard Porter & Simon Aspinall (Aug 2010 – Helm Field Guides)
- Collins Bird Guide – Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterstrom & Peter J. Grant (Mar 2010)
- The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East: A Handbook to Field Identification – Dick Forsman (Oct 2007)
- Birds of Europe with North Africa & the Middle East – Lars Jonsson (Aug 2005)
- The Handbook of Bird Identification: For Europe and the Western Palearctic – Mark Beaman, Steve Madge, Hillary Burn & Dan Zetterstrom (Nov 1998 – Helm Identification Guides)
- The Birds of Israel – Hadoram Shirahai (Jun 1996)
- Birds of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia – G. Bundy, RJ. Connor & C. Harrison (Aug 1989)
Middle East Bird Information Websites
Saudi Arabia Birding Locations
Saudi Arabia Trip Reports
Middle East Bird Photography Websites
About The Blog
I hope you enjoy browsing my latest images & notes from the field, the majority are from Dhahran (eastern Saudi Arabia) as well as bird ringing in Bahrain. Most of the photographs are of birds but I will also include other interesting natural history shots when I take them.
About The Photographs
All photos on this blog are copyright and may not be copied or reproduced without my permission. Please ask if you would like to use any of my photographs for any reason.
My camera gear:
Canon EOS 1DX mkII
Canon EOS 5D mkIII
Canon 600 mm f/4 IS II USM
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM
Canon 100 mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM
Canon 28-70 mm f/2.8 IS II USM
EF-14x III Extender
Most Recent New ‘Patch’ Species
Most Recent New Eastern Province Species
Most Recent Saudi Arabia species
Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) Old Diriyah, Riyadh Province, 10 February 2023
Most Recent New Ringing Species
Common Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia, Sabkhat Al Fasl, Jubail, 24 March 2023
Eurasian Stone-curlew calling – Jubail
Featured post
First for Arabia
![First for Arabia](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IAaS_hmi41w/XOgjp8iSxBI/AAAAAAAAeCQ/3RGYrWHCoYQyMOL6jHfstolMpBczFTCjACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Ruppells_Vulture.jpg)
Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), Tanoumah, Asir Province 12 October 2018
First for Saudi Arabia
![First for Saudi Arabia](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-451SyifjsMU/XOgjBYbs3DI/AAAAAAAAeCE/HHq_FEZkrhoBqdQS3iz2yeKoUxz2-AZ3ACK4BGAYYCw/s303/Long-tailed%2BShrike1.jpg)
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach), Dhahran, Eastern Province 14 February 2016
First for Saudi Arabia
First for Sabkhat Al Fasl
IUCN Red List Species – Saudi Arabia
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarious)
Ruppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli)
ENDANGERED
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)
Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus)
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)
Arabian Magpie (Pica asirensis)
Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis)
Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola)
VULNERABLE
Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
Macqueen’s Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii)
European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
Socotra Cormorant (Phalocrocorax nigrogularis)
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliacal)
Arabian Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes Dorae)
Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor)
Yemen Warbler (Curruca buryi)
Yemen Thrush (Turdus menachensis)
Syrian Serin (Serinus syriacus)
Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica)
Critically Endangered
Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius), Haradh, Eastern Province, 16 October 2020
Critically Endangered
![Critically Endangered](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zR5y9KIxbXI/X5Og4S35QTI/AAAAAAAAjVY/SVYhSHJIVIwdrKZtgeV6QGeWrJ2dM0ntwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Ruppells_Vulture.jpg)
Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), Tanoumah, Asir Province 12 October 2018
Endangered
![Endangered](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2lNUpG1jL5c/YBPriXJ9wLI/AAAAAAAAkEU/-wTm6XDnbRcfPzHMPdp23tQCg5zJwNUywCK4BGAYYCw/s303/Egyptian%2BVulture.jpg)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Farasan Islands, Jizan Province, 5 August 2020
Endangered
![Endangered](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0lJ7s5MaoY/YBPtbtJRRoI/AAAAAAAAkEg/cAPtHWbqUV4t5bo6vzBB9OOZqTjlrmYrQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Lapper-faced%2BVulture.jpg)
Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos), Mahazat Al Sayd, 18 July 2020
Endangered
![Endangered](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqGj_57mxWY/YBPwHjKbxzI/AAAAAAAAkE4/FsGOidGN6Ps6pWNIG7rTu4PJXFdomcPGQCK4BGAYYCw/s303/Arabian%2BMagpie.jpg)
Arabian Magpie (Pica asirensis), Bilasmer, Asir Province, 18 May 2019
Endangered
![Endangered](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ypUfJuu7qX0/YBPvIC2zrII/AAAAAAAAkEs/enBNsFed-uYW3pjYsuUbdfO8o6Yaq8oSwCK4BGAYYCw/s303/Steppe%2BEagle.jpg)
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Ushaiqer, Riyadh Province, 19 December 2020
Endangered
![Endangered](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i0LhnMdr2FY/YBPycMVIaWI/AAAAAAAAkFE/nvCkBm_w1-o-9vGpEQpXPmtmXJG58BIfACK4BGAYYCw/s303/Basra%2BReed%2BWarbler%2B-%2B25%2BApril%2B2014.jpg)
Basra Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis), Sabkhat Al Fasl, Eastern Province, 25 April 2014
Vulnerable
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Dhahran Hills Percolation Pond, Dhahran, Eastern Province, 16 November 2014
Vulnerable
European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), Sabkhat Al Fasl, Eastern Province, 11 April 2013
Vulnerable
Socotra Cormorant (Phalocrocorax nigrogularis), Al Uqayr, Eastern Province, 31 December 2021
Vulnerable
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga), Sabkhat Al Fasl, Eastern Province, 12 November 2021
Vulnerable
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliacal), Ushaiqer, Riyadh Province, 19 December 2020
Vulnerable
Arabian Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes Dorae), An Namas, Asir Province, 26 May 2018
Vulnerable
Yemen Warbler (Curruca buryi), An Namas, Asir Province, 12 July 2022
Vulnerable
Yemen Thrush (Turdus menachensis), Wadi Thee Gazelle, Taif, Mecca Province, 30 July 2018
Vulnerable
Syrian Serin (Serinus syriacus), Jebal Lawz, Tabuk, Tabuk Province, 03 January 2021
Sandgrouse Cover Photo 37 (1)
![Sandgrouse Cover Photo 37 (1)](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xAw25FMtyu4/XnRtC1uY_WI/AAAAAAAAiOo/v5ZUm3He2Ho4W5dX_e_6u8OJr9It6cSDwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Sandgrouse%2B37.png)
Egyptian Nightjar, Sabkhat Al Fasl 2014 – Jem Babbington
Sandgrouse Cover Photo Supplement 4
![Sandgrouse Cover Photo Supplement 4](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gd1lvx556w8/XnrKtWKj7uI/AAAAAAAAiW0/DYkQBUVhq9gbUbvt_lBkvsashzdG3OaGwCK4BGAYYCw/s303/Sandgrouse%2BSuppliment%2B4%2B-%2B2018.jpg)
Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Jubail 2018 – Jem Babbington
Sandgrouse Cover Photo 42 (1)
![Sandgrouse Cover Photo 42 (1)](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tELsAhGzbpc/XnRvc97MeWI/AAAAAAAAiPA/wpVULEsrHxMu_2OPlvtcB6-GrU7QERXEgCK4BGAYYCw/s303/Screenshot%2B2020-03-20%2Bat%2B10.18.51.png)
Steppe Eagles, Ushaiqer 2019 – Jem Babbington
Saudi Arabia – Arabian Endemics
Arabian Partridge Alectoris melanocephala
Arabian Scops Owl Otus pamelae
Arabian Woodpecker Dendrocopos dorae
Yemen Warbler Sylvia buryi
Arabian Magpie Pica asirensis
Yemen Thrush Turdus menachensis
Arabian Wheatear Oenanthe lugentoides
Arabian Sunbird Cinnyris hellmayri
Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus percivali
Arabian Serin Serinus rothschildi
Yemen Serin Serinus menachensis
Yemen Linnet Carduelis yemenensis
Philby’s Partridge (Alectoris philbyi)
![Philby's Partridge (Alectoris philbyi)](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tud4At5JmA8/XE3xwKoGcdI/AAAAAAAAddA/X3LMmQzVDTMh_xLOub8yb5NkA5eY9OspwCK4BGAYYCw/s303/Philbys.jpg)
Philby’s Partridge (Alectoris philbyi), Abha, Asir Province, May 2018
Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala)
![Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala)](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lvLSOZovE0/XbRM39RpPCI/AAAAAAAAfbc/uxYbDxxzjikwbJLYhrg3Q4Y3Q2EB3J4KgCK4BGAYYCw/s303/AW0I6479.jpg)
Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala), Raydah Escarpment, 30 July 2019
Arabian Spotted Eagle Owl (Bubo milesi)
![Arabian Spotted Eagle Owl (Bubo milesi)](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vRsslV8mKpM/YBOnMmHXgTI/AAAAAAAAkD8/uTBxzdz92kckIWGC5vQw1jNag_VvJ3A8gCK4BGAYYCw/s303/Arabian_Spotted_Eagle_Owl3.jpg)
Arabian Spotted Eagle Owl (Bubo milesi), Raydah Escarpment, Abha, 29 October 2019
Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae)
![Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae)](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BSXIoQHBVbQ/XbRMMKjL_zI/AAAAAAAAfbQ/07toCWkyPHYkEYo2B8bAfAsUhA7L1UNQACK4BGAYYCw/s303/Arabian_Scops_Owl.jpg)
Arabian Scops Owl (Otus pamelae), Al Mehfar Park, Tanoumah, 29 October 2019
Arabian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos dorae)
![Arabian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos dorae)](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8qRztb-gDg/XE3wcViTSiI/AAAAAAAAdco/gNFiZ35DAQEiTpk6QjFIu9zyDr0lz9iZgCK4BGAYYCw/s303/Arabian_Woodpecker.jpg)
Arabian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos dorae), Al Mehfar Park, Tanoumah, 18 June 2018
Arabian Magpie (Pica asirensis)
![Arabian Magpie (Pica asirensis)](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QxWZpAaLd84/XOghlpMHufI/AAAAAAAAeB4/3bXZu59gQsskPt4LhipP-xy9sjoW2EEyACK4BGAYYCw/s303/AW0I3441.jpg)
Arabian Magpie (Pica asirensis), Billasimer, 18 May 2019
Yemen Thrush (Turdus menachensis)
![Yemen Thrush (Turdus menachensis)](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XbkNgOSGAU/VYgmE1qWonI/AAAAAAAAUv8/ocAzztjDrlk/s303/760A4227.jpg)
Yemen Thrush (Turdus menachensis), Raydah Escarpment, July 2013
Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) – male
![Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) - male](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-maNAihUNJFc/VYgmLRdH40I/AAAAAAAAUwI/vmrhZ_NN4i4/s303/760A4440.jpg)
Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides), Raydah Escarpment, July 2013
Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris (habessinicus) hellmayri)
![Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris (habessinicus) hellmayri)](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xTFIx3ssu6s/XE3vTsg1-YI/AAAAAAAAdcQ/ixNuNqi21QAyynGl9amO2h42-HioZukBwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Arabian_Sunbird3.jpg)
Arabian Sunbird (Cinnyris (habessinicus) hellmayri), Raydah Escarpment, 16 June 2018
Arabian Waxbill (Estrilda rubibarba)
![Arabian Waxbill (Estrilda rubibarba)](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31d2Dckjb0M/V2_o90MfKUI/AAAAAAAAY40/n6yAzIcQsoEWZCuL3WO4drnXAaOsg4jngCK4B/s303/Arabian_Waxbill.jpg)
Arabian Waxbill (Estrilda rubibarba), Wadi Thee Gazelle, Taif, June 2016
Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali)
![Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cbjLqbDXOTs/V2_pQQlmj9I/AAAAAAAAY48/ICc_HhBO3YAfZCPZizaGJ62SdkZnBEiuACK4B/s303/Arabian_Golden-winged_Grosbeak.jpg)
Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus percivali), Wadi Grosbeak, Bani Saad, June 2016
Yemen Warbler (Sylvia buryi)
![Yemen Warbler (Sylvia buryi)](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VxQ-y1IisHA/XE3xIjhisUI/AAAAAAAAdc0/sm29kl-Ql6MGk6BP0lfU-6zVfR1Xuy_-wCK4BGAYYCw/s303/Yemen_Warbler.jpg)
Yemen Warbler (Sylvia buryi), Al Mehfar Park, Tanumah Park, 18 June 2018
Arabian Serin (Serinus rothschildi)
![Arabian Serin (Serinus rothschildi)](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eMEFaQbnBC4/VZk_N1ofm3I/AAAAAAAAVNg/woAfcZupEQw/s303/Arabian_Serin.jpg)
Arabian Serin (Serinus rothschildi), Taif National Park, Taif, July 2015
Yemen Serin (Serinus menachensis)
![Yemen Serin (Serinus menachensis)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3V8Emv6RFzY/VYgkKG9WyhI/AAAAAAAAUvk/vCcj_X9o7d4/s303/Yemen_Serin.jpg)
Yemen Serin (Serinus menachensis), Al Mehfar Park, Tanoumah, June 2015
Yemen Linnet (Carduelis yemenensis)
![Yemen Linnet (Carduelis yemenensis)](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tJU3I0vg1wc/V1qWRtA7g0I/AAAAAAAAYgo/drBofJgnvici6glYaquNDR5Bcr2SC78IwCK4B/s303/Yemen_Linnet_-_male.jpg)
Yemen Linnet (Carduelis yemenensis), Raydah Escarpment, Abha, May 2016
Red-breasted Wheatear (Oenanthe bottae)
![Red-breasted Wheatear (Oenanthe bottae)](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3mfuTnr5dc/Xo9Exn6ciwI/AAAAAAAAieI/i9amo62CQX4_tXmuHLm84J4AYoMIEPU4gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Red-breasted_Wheatear.jpg)
Red-breasted Wheatear (Oenanthe bottae) Talea Valley, Abha, 29 June 2019
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[email protected] (Jem Babbington)
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