The overall area supports a high proportion of the Arabian endemics. It 
is perhaps best known for its wetland birds, includingbreeding Hamerkop 
Scopus umbretta and Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala, plus a 
wintering flock of Black Storks Ciconia nigra, and as the first proven 
breeding site for Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verrauxii in Arabia. The Acacia 
woodlands also support a healffiy population of Arabian Woodpeckers 
Dendrocopos dorae, which is receiving special attention by NWRC. The 
distribution, habitat selection and breeding status of all species is 
monitored regularly and a draft management plan is being developed for 
presentation to NCWCD and the Government for ratification. 
Raydah 
This is a small reserve (9km^) situated approximately 20km west of the 
city of Abha at the southern end of the Asir mountains. The site extends 
from approximately 1200-2700m on the southwest facing escarpment, 
and is probably the best-preserved area of montane juniper woodland in 
Arabia. Virtually all the terrestrial endemic bird species occur in the 
reserve (except tiie Accentor), together with other scarce species such as 
the Shikra Accipiter badius. The ornithological monitoring at this critical 
site is centred on gaining a much fuller understanding of distribution, 
movements, habitat requirements, breeding ecology and survival rates 
of relatively common forest species. Thus, the following are receiving 
particular attention: Yemen Thrush Turdus menachensis, Yemen Linnet 
Carduelis yemenensis, Arabian Serin Serinus rothschildi, Dusky Turtle 
Dove Streptopelia lugens, Palestine 
Sunbird Nectarinea osea, Little Rock 
Thrush Monticola rufocinerea, 
Yemen Warbler Parisoma buryi, 
Brown Woodland Warbler 
Phylloscopus umbrovirens and 
White-breasted White-eye 
Zoster ops abyssinica. Methods used 
include constant-effort mist- 
netting, colour-ringing and point 
counts; radio telemetry of some 
species is planned for the future. 
Recently, we have discovered a 
healthy population of the 
Mountain Nightjar Caprimulgus 
poliocephalus, a species new for 
Arabia. This African species is 
probably resident and widespread 
in the forests of southwestern Saudi 
Arabia. It may have been 
overlooked because it whistles 
rather than churrs. 
4 
