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24 April 2016

Desert Larks – Shedgum Escarpment

Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti is a common resident in rocky deserts and outcrops of all areas except the juniper summits of the Hejaz and Asir and probably the sand seas of the Empty Quarter and Nafud Desert. The best place to see the species close to Dhahran where I live is the Shedgum Escarpment so I went to look there after birding Nada Dairy Farm in Hofuf. The escarpment is accessed just off the main road near the Shedgum cement factory and the birds are best seen in the rocky areas at the bottom of the main limestone escarpment. The subspecies here is azizi the palest form of all the subspecies and matches almost perfectly with the limestone rocks and scree of the escarpment. They prefer arid hills, stony or rocky slopes with sparse vegetation and can often be located by the constant calling. Numbers are not large at Shedgum Escarpment and some looking is normally required, but I have managed to see the species on every visit.
Desert Lark

Desert Lark

Desert Lark