Birds watching Tours on Socotra Island and Socotra Birds
BackgroundThis
is an adventure tour and it is one of our tours that we offer and
the aim of this tour is to provide a natural package of bird
watching without the use of undesirable and harmful methods which
are detrimental to both the Community of rare birds and tourist industry in the long run;
however, the Bird watchers come from all over the world to Yemen
because of the great number of species recorded here. Most
birds added to the birding
list.
In recent years Socotra Island has become a favorite destination
of both professional and amateur ornithologists. Over 191
species of birds have been registered on Socotra and 8 of them
are rare not found anywhere else in the world as well as there
are 49 species are known, or supposed, to breed on the island
and there are also 120 species of migrant birds arrive to the
island during winter and summer make up a significant proportion
and new species are discovered and added to the list every year.
Bird watching in Socotra can be one of the most rewarding
activities for a birder, because Sokotra Island became one of
the most diverse Islands in the world. And its well-developed
transportation system allows you to easily access this diversity
and experience bird watching in this marvelous
country.
When to come for
Birds
watching ?
The optimal time to visit would be between October and April and
the birders should be bearing in mind the weather.
Birding areas
It would be necessary to visit only some sites. However, in one
week most birders should be able to explore all the better
birding sites on the island and in doing so contribute to the
understanding of the distribution of Socotra's birds, about
which much is still to be discovered. On a one-week trip, it is
still likely that good coverage will turn up one or two new
species for the island's list.
Those with limited time should concentrate the major diverse
areas Especially on Wadi Ayhaft National Park, Deham and Dixem.
The major diverse areas for bird watching and the most
accessible sites are:-
Dixsam plateau, Hadibu environs, Wadi Dihazafaq and Qrahan Plain,
Wadi Shoq, Khor Sirhin, Khors west of Hadibu,Deham, Wadi Ayhaft National Park, Dixem, Wadi Zerig and the
Central highway, Qalansiyah and Ditwah Protected Area, Shoep,
Khors East of Hadibu, Khor Quryah National Reserve, Khor Ghuba,
The Nowged Plain and
the South Coast.
The endemic birds
There are
8 endemic species of birds on Socotra Island such as:
Socotra Bunting
(Emberiza
socotrana)
this bird is Globally threatenedandestimated with 1000
specimens,
Socotra Sunbird(Nectarinia
balfouri),
Socotra Sparrow(Passer
insularis),
SOCOTRA STARLING
(Onychognathus
frater),Socotra
Cisticola(Cisticola
haesitatus)
this bird is Globally threatened,
Socotra Warbler
(Cisticola
incanus
{Incana
incana}),
SOCOTRA Scops Owl(Otus
sunia/socotranus),
SOCOTRA BUZZARD(Buteo
{socotranus})
The breeding resident
There are about more than 49 of birds breeding like, Common
Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Egyptian Vulture, this bird known
locally as saeedoh or Al Baladiya, (Municipal Bird), as it feeds
on the island's rubbish and especially dead animals.
Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Sooty Gull, Saunders's Tern,
Bridled Tern, Brown Noddy,
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse, Feral Pigeon , Laughing Dove, Bruce's
Green Pigeon, White-browed Coucal, Nubian Nightjar, Southern
Grey Shrike, Brown-necked Raven , Rock Martin, Black-crowned
Sparrow-Lark , Abyssinian (White-breasted) White-eye , Somali
Starling , Long-billed Pipit, Socotra Golden-Winged Grosbeak and
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting.
The migrant birds
There are about 120 species of migrant birds which have been
recorded on the island but probability more.
these species of birds are arrive to the island during the
seasons of winter and summer, of which, Passage migrant, waders
and other coastal birds make up a significant proportion like
Sooty-Gulls, Grey Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Greater Flamingoes,
Greater Flamingo
Western White Stork, Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian
Spoonbill, Yellow Bittern, Striated Heron, Squacco Heron, Indian
Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron ,Black-headed Heron, Purple
Heron, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Western
Reef Heron, African Darter, Amur Falcon , Pacific Golden Plover
, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover , Lesser Sand Plover , Jack
Snipe , Ruddy Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope,
Ruff, White-eyed Gull, Caspian Gull, Great Black-headed Gull ,
Sooty Tern , Forbes-Watson's Swift, Blue-cheeked, Bee-eater,
European Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow,
Common House Martin , Common, Whitethroat, Wood Warbler,
Eurasian Reed Warbler , Black Redstart, Siberian Stonechat,
Desert
Wheatear, Isabel line Wheatear, Red-throated Pipit…etc.
Come to watch the
birds
The staff of our company is always concerned about the Standards
of quality of the services that are provided. We want the best
for our clients, without missing the environmental health.
Are you a bird watching enthusiast? If so, why not customize
your own program with our birding experts.
Just contact us
We have birding guides available who are familiar with the
island and the location of the different species of birds. We
can tailor a bird watching tour just for you.
We have virtually everything you will need or want to make your
watching tour experience on Socotra one of the most memorable
trips of your life!
