Birding and Bird Guiding in Jordan

We’re down the end of the winter season. For birds the spring migration has begun and that means it’s peak season for bird-watching.

Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity in their natural environment either by naked eyes or with the help of a visual enhancement device –binoculars-, or even by listening to the birds’ calls and songs.

Hoopoe - Upopa epopos. Photo by: Osama Tamimi

Birding has become a truly international pastime, inspiring an increasing number of enthusiasts to travel the world in pursuit of rare and exotic species, often in fragile ecosystems.

Jordan is an exceptional place for birdwatching. Its geographical position means that it is a hub for migratory species from Europe, Africa and Asia. The birdlife of all three continents pass through Jordan twice a year on their passage between seasonal habitats and sometimes it is possible to see specimens from each at the same time.

During the period 28^th February to 7^th March Baraka have conducted the first phase of the first Jordanian Certified Bird Guiding Program that aims to train and certify specialized bird-watching guides capable of leading dedicated international birding groups accordance with international best practices. This is in a step toward developing the birding and nature tourism in the country.

The participants of the program were National Guides, RSCN Filed Guides and specialized Nature Guides. As I have participated in taking this course, I enjoyed the course and benefited a lot from the great experience of the instructors Dr. Fares Khoury and Mr. Laith Elmoghrabi, especially in the way to re-orient my Bird Guiding experience in Africa to the local region.

The course has been conducted in 14 different regions around Jordan, with total count of over 115 specie, below the bird list per area, per date.

In the end Birding is the ultimate in passive hunting. Its exponents require field skills, patience, equipment, identification knowledge and an understanding of bird ecology. Fortunately, there is no kill at the end of the pursuit.

All the thanks to Baraka, Muna Haddad, Dr. Fares Khoury and Mr. Laith Elmoghrabi for their great efforts toward the success of this program. Also for USAID, RSCN, ministry of tourism and JTB for their generous support for the program.

If you are interested in any further information or arranging Birding tours Please contact me.

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Feb. 28^th

Azraq Wetland Reserve

• Coot

March 1^st

Azraq Wetland Reserve & Safawi

• Teal
• Marsh Harrier
• Crested Lark
• Barn Swallow
• Desert Lark (annae)
• Bluethroat
• Hoopoe
• Common Kingfisher
• Cetti’s Warbler
• Mallard
• Collared Dove
• Grey Heron
• Little Grebe
• Spanish Sparrow
• House Sparrow
• Blackbird
• White-cheeked Bulbul
• Robin
• Whinchat
• Laughing/Palm Dove
• Stonechat
• Chiffchaff
• Sardinian Warbler
• Coot
• Moorhen
• Blackcap
• Great White Egret
• White-breasted Kingfisher
• Brown-necked Raven
• Rock Martin
• Pallid Harrier
• White Wagtail
• Green Sandpiper

March 2^nd

Shomari

•       Harrier  (female/ringtail)

•       White Wag tail

•       Blackbird

•       Chiffchaff

•       Isabelline Wheatear

•       Spanish Sparrow

•       Collared Dove

•       Hoopoe

•       Laughing Dove

•       Stonechat

•       House Sparrow

•       Crested Lark

March 3^rd

Ajloun Nature Reserve

•       Blackbird

•       Jay

•       Great Tit

•       Blue Tit

•       Robin

•       Chaffinch

•       Lesser Whitethroat

•       Sardinian Warbler

•       Greenfinch

•       House Sparrow

•       Tawny Owl

•       Blackcap

•       Kestrel

•       Swallow

Sud Kafren

•       Grey Heron

•       Black Stork

•       Little Egret

•       Pied Kingfisher

•       Little Stint

•       Green Sandpiper

•       Jackdaw

•       Water Pipit

•       Spur-winged Lapwing

•       Little Grebe

•       White Wagtail

•       Snipe

•       Hooded Crow

•       Great White Egret

•       Laughing Dove

•       Collared Dove

•       Swallow

•       Hoopoe

•       Crested Lark

March 4^th

Mujib

• Laughing Dove
• Little Green Bee-eater
• Palestine Sunbird
• Blue Rock Thrush- female
• Fantailed Raven
• Rock Martin
• Desert Lark
• Blackstart
• Tristram’s Starling
• Common Kingfisher
• White-throated Kingfisher
• Sparrowhawk
• Striolated Bunting
• Spur-winged Plover
• Common Kestrel
• Crested Lark
• White-spectacled Bulbul
• Graceful Prinia
• Pallid Swift
• Collared Dove
• Grey Wagtail
• House Sparrow
• White Wagtail
• Blackbird
• Lesser Whitethroat

Fifa

• Great White Egret
• Grey Heron
• Olivaceous Warbler
• Sardinian Warbler
• Graceful Prinia
• Dead Sea Sparrow
• Bluethroat
• Black Redstart
• Collared Dove

Qatar

• Blackcap
• Blackstart
• Collared Dove
• White-spectacled Bulbul
• Palestine Sunbird

Aqaba Bird Observatory

• Chiffchaff
• Coot
• Teal
• Moorhen
• Shoveler
• Mallard
• Pintail
• Indian House Crow
• Green Sandpiper
• Sardinian Warbler
• Cormorant
• Lesser Whitethroat
• Black Redstart
• Bluethroat
• Steppe Buzzard
• Spur-winged Lapwing
• Spanish Sparrow
• Marsh Harrier
• Collared Dove
• Swallow
• Robin

March, 5^th

Aqaba 7afayir

• Laughing Dove
• Rock Dove
• Swallow
• House Sparrow
• Chiffchaff
• Bluethroat
• Indian House Crow
• Cattle Egret
• White Wagtail
• Ring-necked Parakeet
• Yellow Wagtail
• Spanish Sparrow
• Sooty Falcon
• Tree Pipit
• Crested Lark
• Kestrel

Aqaba Marine Station

• Pallas’s Gull
• White eyed Gull
• Black-headed Gull
• Yellow-legged Gull
• Lesser Black backed Gull
• Caspian Tern
• Indian House Crow
• Pipit

Qa Sa’eediyeen

• Red-rumped Swallow
• Marsh Harrier - male
• Barn Swallow
• Steppe Eagle
• House Martin
• Meadow Pipit
• Crested Lark
• Kestrel

Bir Hamad

• Long  legged Buzzard
• Sand Partridge
• Rock Dove
• Pale (Sinai) Rosefinch
• Short toed Eagle
• Steppe eagle
• Hoopoe
• Trumpeter Finch
• Roch Martin
• Mourning Wheatear
• House Sparrow
• Desert Lark
• Linnet
• Kestrel
• White Wagtail
• Collared dove
• Nobar (viewpoint over Jabal Masuda)
• Steppe Eagle
• Black Redstart

March 6^th + 7^th

Dana

• Palestine Sunbird
• Rock Martin
• Griffon Vulture
• Kestrel
• Lesser Kestrel
• Short-toed Eagle
• Steppe Eagle
• Steppe Buzzard
• Cuckoo
• Scops Owl
• Rock Dove
• Laughing Dove
• Desert Lark
• Blue Rock Thrush
• Blackbird
• Robin
• Bluethroat
• Black-eared Wheatear
• Hoopoe
• Great Tit
• Scrub Warbler
• Lesser Whitethroat
• Blakcap
• Sardinian Warbler
• Graceful Prinia
• Cetti's Warbler
• Chukar
• Chiffchaff
• Greenfinch
• Goldfinch
• Spectacled Bulbul
• Syrian Serin
• Cretzschmar’s Bunting
• Rock Martin
• Hawfinch
• House Sparrow
• Linnet
• Tristram's Starling
• Raven
• Swallow
• Pallid Swift
• Long-legged Buzzard