I'm not sure of the local name but for now I've called it Wadi Dirab.
Showing posts with label sites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sites. Show all posts
Friday, 16 December 2011
Site details - Wadi Dirab, Saudi Arabia
This wadi runs in a west - east direction from below Dirab to Ha'ir keeping approximately 25 kms due south of central Riyadh. At it's eastern end where the road crosses the wadi with a bridge lies the village of 'old Ha'ir'. Along the wadi (which opens out the further west you travel) lie various small farms and pivot fields, factories, date plantations and a fish farm.
I'm not sure of the local name but for now I've called it Wadi Dirab.
I'm not sure of the local name but for now I've called it Wadi Dirab.
Friday, 9 December 2011
Site details - Ha'ir, Saudi Arabia
Ha'ir is a small town approximately 35 kms. south of central Riyadh. It lies in Wadi Hanifa near to the banks of the 'Riyadh river' which is the waste outflow river from Riyadh. By the time the waste water reaches Ha'ir it is fairly clean and responsible for lush vegetation and a good number of water birds.
Approximately 10 kms. south-west of Ha'ir are a series of irrigated 'pivot fields' that offer more birding opportunities. In late 2011 these fields held a large flock of northern lapwing.
Approximately 10 kms. south-west of Ha'ir are a series of irrigated 'pivot fields' that offer more birding opportunities. In late 2011 these fields held a large flock of northern lapwing.
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| Ha'ir pivot fields |
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Site details - Intercontinental Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Intercontinental Hotel is contained in a 40 ha. compound in Al Maather Street, Riyadh. It has a nine hole (grass) golf course with several small lakes. I first visited in December 2011 and provided you followed normal golf course etiquette it seemed the staff and golfers were not bothered by a couple of birders wandering along the paths. Gate 6 is the best way to enter the course.
It would appear to be the best site in Riyadh for grey hypocolius particularly in the late afternoon when they arrive in large parties to roost in the ghaf trees.
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| Intercontinental Hotel golf course, Riyadh |
It would appear to be the best site in Riyadh for grey hypocolius particularly in the late afternoon when they arrive in large parties to roost in the ghaf trees.
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| Male grey hypocolius |
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Site details - Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, UAE
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a tidal saline lagoon which at 25°18'53.54"N, 55°32'02.47"E is within the urban sprawl of Dubai and bordered by main roads. There are three poorly designed hides although one is permanently closed (they are closed Fridays but all are equipped with Leica scopes and bins. You wouldn't find that in England!).
The reserve is home to over a thousand non-breeding greater flamingo it also hosts large numbers of waders, herons and ducks in the winter with greater spotted eagle and marsh harrier being regular. Less common birds that can be found in winter include eastern imperial eagle and broad-billed sandpiper.
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| Ras Al Khor |
The reserve is home to over a thousand non-breeding greater flamingo it also hosts large numbers of waders, herons and ducks in the winter with greater spotted eagle and marsh harrier being regular. Less common birds that can be found in winter include eastern imperial eagle and broad-billed sandpiper.
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| Greater flamingo |
Site Details - Safa Park, UAE
Safa Park is an established 70 ha. green space in Dubai (25°11'20.24"N, 55°14' 29.86"E) with three small lakes set in open grassland with scattered trees. In the centre of the park is a wooded area of particular interest for migrant and wintering passerines.
The woodland is home to breeding shikra and is a regular wintering site for olive-backed pipit and forest wagtail. Arabia's first red-flanked bluetail was found here and it is where I found a European robin in 2011. The lakes often have little grebe, geese and ducks.
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| Safa Park, Dubai |
The woodland is home to breeding shikra and is a regular wintering site for olive-backed pipit and forest wagtail. Arabia's first red-flanked bluetail was found here and it is where I found a European robin in 2011. The lakes often have little grebe, geese and ducks.
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| Pochard |
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Site details - Al-Warsen lakes, UAE
Al-Warsen lakes (formerly known locally as Wimpey Pits) is a complex of lakes covering 25 ha. in the residential development known as International City at 25° 09' 28.87"N, 55° 25' 00.46"E. It is the remnants of a much larger lake system that existed before the housing development was built.
It is a prime site for winter ducks and waterbirds and is probably the only site in the UAE to hold purple gallinule. Several raptor species can be found in the winter with marsh harrier the most common. Also there is often a scaly-breasted munia flock in the area.
Recent rarities have included streak-throated swallow and mediterranean gull.
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| Al-Warsen lakes |
It is a prime site for winter ducks and waterbirds and is probably the only site in the UAE to hold purple gallinule. Several raptor species can be found in the winter with marsh harrier the most common. Also there is often a scaly-breasted munia flock in the area.
Recent rarities have included streak-throated swallow and mediterranean gull.
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| Scaly-breasted munia |
Friday, 2 December 2011
Site details - Dubai Pivot Fields, UAE
The Dubai pivot fields is 18 kms east of downtown Dubai just off the Hatta Road at 25°09'52.58"N 55°25'51.80"E. It is an irrigated turf and camel fodder field of approximately 90 ha. and for the 12 years I have lived in Dubai it has been my 'local patch'. The current bird list is 232 and my list is 182.
In the summer it is a good site for blue-cheeked bee-eaters but in the cooler months it really comes into its own with egrets, waders such as white-tailed plover, pintail snipe and sociable plover, purple sunbird, oriental skylark, several species of pipit including buff-bellied and Blyth's, bank myna, shrikes and many more common birds. Raptors include lesser and common kestrel, marsh, pallid and Montagu's harriers. Fly over eagles such as booted, Bonelli's and greater spotted are not uncommon. The fields proximity to Al-Warsen lake also means that geese, ducks, gulls and terns can be attracted to the site during wet periods in the winter.
In recent years I have found black kite, corncrake, bimaculated lark, cream coloured courser, grey hypocolius and black-throated thrush. Other rarities found include moustached warbler, black-winged pratincole, brown shrike and little swift.
Anyone who visits the site should remember to be polite at all occasions and not to drive on the grass (preferably leave your car outside and walk in).
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| Dubai pivot fields |
In the summer it is a good site for blue-cheeked bee-eaters but in the cooler months it really comes into its own with egrets, waders such as white-tailed plover, pintail snipe and sociable plover, purple sunbird, oriental skylark, several species of pipit including buff-bellied and Blyth's, bank myna, shrikes and many more common birds. Raptors include lesser and common kestrel, marsh, pallid and Montagu's harriers. Fly over eagles such as booted, Bonelli's and greater spotted are not uncommon. The fields proximity to Al-Warsen lake also means that geese, ducks, gulls and terns can be attracted to the site during wet periods in the winter.
In recent years I have found black kite, corncrake, bimaculated lark, cream coloured courser, grey hypocolius and black-throated thrush. Other rarities found include moustached warbler, black-winged pratincole, brown shrike and little swift.
Anyone who visits the site should remember to be polite at all occasions and not to drive on the grass (preferably leave your car outside and walk in).
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| White-tailed plover |
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| Black-throated thrush |
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