Back from an amazing 12 days in Jordan with about 3 days full birding and other opportunities in my tour group walks. Managed to see most key species including 6 lifers in an amazing 3 hours.

 

 

Wadi Numeira: 2 Sinai rosefinch-best views of the trip.

 

Dana: Syrian Serins on the Al-Reesh trail. Short-toed eagle, Booted eagle, Lesser kestrels.

 

Petra back entrance: Full of birds and better than Petra. In just 30 mins - Blackstart, Mourning wheatear, Sand partridge, Short-toed eagle, LL buzzards.

 

Petra: 2 Sinai rosefinch, Mourning wheatear.

 

Wadi Rum: Striolated bunting at 3 places including Lawrence's Spring, Khazali and the campsite I was staying. Barred warbler and many warblers in the lone tree at the bottom of Lawrence's spring. WCB wheatears, Mourning wheatears, Trumpeter finches at the campsite.

 

Desert castles: Thrush nightingale, Isabelline wheatear, BE wheatear.

 

Azraq area: Disappointing although female Rock thrush at a remote castle ruin. WE bulbuls at Azraq car park (didn't go inside).

 

Hidden reservoir off main road: 1 Greater-sand plover, dark phase Desert larks, Namaqua dove.

 

Shaumari track: Quiet, just 1 Red-backed shrike and views through the fence of Oryx with babies.

 

Route 5 south of Azraq: 1 Hoopoe lark on the road, 1 Temmninck's lark.

 

Minor road between route 5 and 15 which ends north of Qatrana: This was amazing. Stopped at a lovely lake and flowery area and saw 1 Pale rock sparrow singing away, many Temmninck's larks, Bar-tailed desert larks, Short-toed lark and just birds all over.

Further down near a small mosque was a pair of Red-rumped wheatears with another male nearby, a few Desert finches were the only ones of the trip, Isabelline wheatear.

 

Aqaba Farouk street gardens: Easily the best place in the area. Warblers on the housing side and raptors on the other side of this road. 100+ Levant sparrowhawks overhead, 3 bee-eater species on one fence including 2 blue-cheeked and many European. Honey buzzards close, booted eagle, masked shrikes, Olivacous warblers, Indian Silverbill, Wood warbler, Steppe buzzards all over.

 

Aqaba beaches: White-eyed gulls including my first on the deck at south beach, slender-billed gulls, caspian terns, 100+ levants over Israel border, Squacco herons. Couldn't see the Brown booby that was in Eilat despite trying.

 

Overall amazing trip with 11 lifers and 6 in a day. Just missed Basalt wheatear and Scrub warbler yet again and maybe early passage/winter birds like Pallid harrier, Black-winged kite.

 

With more effort you could see Long-billed pipit, Little crake, maybe CC Courser. With luck maybe Upcher's and Arabian warbler and with money, time and great info it seems birds like Pharoah owl and 2 nightjar species are possible here. Rarer larks weren't reported and I don't know about Lanner and Sooty flacon opportunities.

 

Few bad pictures attached including a mystery bird if anyone knows what it is?