2020 Birding Ras Tanura

Birding During the Pandemic

In my birding 2020 section, this Ras Tanura Section is the only section because of the virus. There would be more sections, like in 2019 and 2018 combined, I had 5-7 different sections for those two years! We were supposed to go to Romania, Switzerland and America and Germany, but I didn't stop birding. The backyard bird count is very simple. People who are interested in birding just watch birds in their backyard or any other place. The spring migration is always a fun time because so many different species pass through on their way to Europe from Africa. The fall migration is when the birds return to Africa, after they nested in Europe. They return because they don't like cold weather.

Backyard Bird Count

The Backyard Bird Count is for anybody who wants to do it. You just look for birds in your backyard. Our backyard is the golf course so we went to the golf course and our family saw a Whinchat, a Crested Lark, a Grey Wagtail, a Eurasian Hoopoe, and a Great Grey Heron. We saw a rare Eastern Black Redstart. We drove about 5 KM. When we entered our list on to Ebird, the next day we found out that we had observed the most species in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Please click on the pictures below to see closeups and captions.

Spring Migration

The birds that are migrating are coming through RT because on their way to Africa from Europe or from Europe to Africa, their last stop is in RT then they head to Europe. Some of the birds are European Bee Eaters, and Woodchat Shrikes. My 4 year old sister, my mom, my dad, and I went to the golf course for about one hour around five pm. We saw some Bee Eaters diving super low. One almost hit me because he was trying to get an annoying fly that kept surrounding me. The Bee Eaters make me feel happy because I know that someday we will be able to get out of lock down. I wish them good luck on the next stage of their long journey.

R.T. Fall Migration

The fall migration is starting now, and the birds that passed through here in the spring migration are returning from Europe. We saw many exciting visitors the first time we went to the golf course a week or two ago, but lately the stream of birds has been in a lull. The first time we went we saw two European Rollers. We have not seen Rollers for more than two years, so it was super exciting to see them right hear in R.T! We have been seeing Eurasian Whimbrels recently, but a few days ago we saw some Eurasian Curlews! We also saw more Scrub Robins, and a species of flycatcher, flitting up, and then down in the middle of the road.

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Birds and Turtles

2020 Birding Ras Tanura

Birding During the Pandemic

Backyard Bird Count

Photo Gallery

Spring Migration

Photo Gallery

R.T. Fall Migration

Photo Gallery