Desert Larks - Shedgum Escarpment
A trip to the Shedgum Escarpment produced very few birds
with the only species seen being White-crowned Wheatear, Desert Lark, Rock Dove
and Collared Dove. It was a good trip though as I was particularly looking for
White-crowned Wheatear, see earlier post, a species I had not seen in Saudi
Arabia. Whilst looking for the Wheatear we saw a few Desert Larks, which is
only the second time I have seen the species in Saudi Arabia as I do not bird
true desert areas very much. Desert Lark always seems to be associated with
cliffs or jebals and these birds were no exception, and they do not occur in pure
sandy areas. The birds in Saudi Arabia vary in colour depending on the type of
rock or substrate they are living on. These birds are Ammomanes deserti insularis of the chalky limestone areas seen in
the Eastern Province. Birds are generally only seen in the very early morning
and late evening when the temperatures are lower and it is a difficult bird to
see during the heat of the day. Birds have been seen using Spiny-tailed Lizard
burrows to keep cool from the sun during the mid-day period.
.jpg) |
| Desert Lark |
 |
| Desert Lark |
