Whilst birding in the Taif area for the weekend of 3-4 Junly 2015 Phil
Roberts and I went to Al Atta. The location is basically a set of fields where
roses are grown with a few overhead power lines where the Arabian Golden-winged
Grosbeaks were seen perched previously. There is also a wooded valley with
relatively steep sides and tracks running up both sides. Despite spending many
hours here we did not see or hear the Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeaks and to be
truthful the site does not look too promising with much better looking areas
nearby. This location is a good birding site with plenty of Arabian Wheatears
and Yemen Linnets. Philby’s Partridge was heard and plenty of Tristram’s
Starlings were flying around calling. Other good birds seen included a single
Brown Woodland Warbler, Arabian Warbler, Little Rock Thrushes, Long-billed
Pipits, Red-rumped Swallows, Pale Crag Martins, Little Swifts and Palestine
Sunbirds. Although we did not see the Grosbeaks birding here was much more
pleasant than when I came previously in January 2015 when the low cloud made
birding extremely difficult. At least this time the sun was shining and you
could see more than a few metres so birds could be seen and located. A dark phase Long-legged Buzzard was also seen on the way to the site just after Bani Saad.
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| Arabian Wheatear |
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| Arabian Wheatear |
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| Gambaga Flycatcher |
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| Little Swift |
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| Little Swift |
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| Little Swift |
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| Red-rumped Swallow |
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| Long-legged Buzzard - dark phase |
