Whilst
birdwatching in the Raydah Esacarpment recently Phil Robrts and I saw two
African Olive Pigeons. This was a species we had been looking for but had
failed to see on many previous trips to the southwest of the Kingdom. It was
only discovered as a new species for Saudi Arabia in the mid 1980’s by Mike
Jennings. JENNINGS, M. C. 1986. The Olive Pigeon
Columba arquatrix on Jebel Suda, Asir Province: a new bird species for Saudi
Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula. J. Saudi Arab. Nat. Hist. Soc. (2)6:35-36. The birds we saw were
seen just above the Raydah Farm where a number of other good birds were also
seen including Yemen Thrush, Yemen Serin and Palestine Sunbird. We birded the
entire valley seeing good birds in many places and plenty of Blackstart are the
village near the bottom where African Grey-headed Kingfisher and Bruce’s Green
Pigeon were also seen.
 |
| African Olive Pigeon |
 |
| Yemen Thrush |
 |
| Palestine Sunbird |
 |
| Palestine Sunbird |
 |
| Blackstart |
 |
| Blackstart |
 |
| Blackstart |
