Mansur Al Fahad sent me some
amazing nightjar photos recently and asked me to write about them and add them
to my website. The first species is Montane Nightjar at Tanoumah that he saw
and photographed in April 2015. The Montane Nightjar has only been recorded in
the highlands of southwest Saudi Arabia from the Yemen boarder to Taif and was
not recorded in Saudi Arabia until November 1982 when Stagg found one near
Abha. It has since been shown to be
widespread and locally common on the western edge of the Asir and Hijaz
mountains where it favours slopes with rocky outcrops often with juniper
bushes. It is difficult to see and remains scarce throughout its range. Birds
have been recorded in every month suggesting the species is a breeding resident
in the country, but no actual breeding records have ever been recorded. Phil
and I have also seen Montane Nightjar in Tanoumah in July 2014 & July 2015
as well as on the main road to the Raydah Escarpment, Abha in July 2013. I
would like to thank Mansur for very kindly allowing me to use his photos on my
website the copyright of which remains with Mansur.
