Whilst birding the Taif area
recently I saw plenty of Arabian Wheatears at many different sites including
Wadi Grosbeak, Wadi Thee Gazelle and Wadi Waj. The Arabian Wheatear Oenanthe lugentoides is a rather scarce
resident of the south-west highlands, but is also found in Oman, Palestine and
Yemen, mainly in rocky, bushy sites but is widespread on the Jebal Souda
plateau, Wadi Tale’a, Pipeline Road, near Farshah, Gara’a and Tanoumah as well
as the Taif area. In 1987 it was recorded more frequently than present so the
species may have declined slightly, with disturbance not thought likely to be
the reason as it is often associated with gardens and regularly breeds near
human sites. They nest in holes in terrace walls and feed largely on insects.
They are common in the upper reaches of the Raghadan Forest and the upper parts
of the Golden Tulip valley in Baha.
