Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
10 June 2019
Diederick Cuckoo in Alheefah Park - Tanoumah
On arrival at Alheefah Park I head a
Diederik Cuckoo calling and after some searching, we saw the bird in the top of
a tall tree. Unfortunately, it flew almost immediately but landed again in a
better-positioned tree for photography. This is normally a very difficult
species to get good photos off, so the ones below were very pleasing. The bird
stayed calling in the same location for ten to fifteen minutes before we left
it in peace. The Diderick Cuckoo is a summer visitor to southwest Saudi Arabia
where it parasitizes Rüppell's weaver. They were previously regarded as
vagrants to the area, but recently birds have been seen near Tendaha dam 5 July
2010, Abha area 20 July 2010, As Sudah 5 July 2013, Wadi Jaw June 2015, Taif
area July 2015, Al Mehfar Park area of Tanoumah June 2016, Quaraish June 2018
and An Namas June 2018. Now I know the call well I seem to see them every trip
to the Asir Mountains in summer, so they are presumably an uncommon summer
breeder.