A very early morning trip to Jebal Hamrah
turned up plenty of White-crowned Wheatear Oenanthe
leucopyga. The birds preferred areas near to the steep cliff faces and as
we arrived at dawn it was not too hot so we had a walk around some likely
looking areas seeing quite a few and many more whilst driving along the edge of
the escarpment. Their song and calls are very distinctive and makes them relatively
easy to find. They are a locally common breeding resident in dry rocky areas of
Saudi Arabia and occur from the Hejaz north from Taif, Northern Hejaz, Asir
south of Soudah and Najran, Tuwaiq escarpment and locally in the Gulf in areas
like Shedgum escarpment and Jebal Hamrah. Also Jauf, Hail and Dawadimi.
