I was away for a couple of weeks at the end of January. I have to confess not doing much birding, or anything else for that matter, but got a few new 'lifers' which I'm pleased with.
The bluethroat, laughing dove, house crow were all lifers. The kestrel is a slight question mark. I only had a little "birds of the Middle East" with me which didn't mention kestrels, but did mention little kestrel, but I'm not sure if there is a difference. Also couldn't get much of a photo of it either.
I think I saw a Lanner falcon, but wouldn't be prepared to stake my life on it.
White wagtails were pretty common aroung the complex, and the place was jumping with sparrows.
Great holiday, hopefull going back next year so I'll need to do a bit more research to find out the best places to go birding.
Forgot to mention chiff chaffs and I'm pretty sure of an arabian warbler, but no photo evidence, darn hing wouldn't sit still!
LOL it is very difficult to see the Arabian warbler leave alone to take any shot of it.
i was there on November, the CC were also very common guess they winter there, they do winter here in Jeddah but very few of them.
what amaze me is the lack of shore birds, i only saw one spoonbill, no herons, no plovers, or even the turnstones which are very abundant in most of the red sea shores.
Saw a flock of white strokes but guess what, in the middle of the desert. there i also saw quite a number of morning wheatear, whereever there is an acacia tree you will sure see one, and only a couple of black starts.
glad you had a nice time there, i did for sure.