Birds of Qatar

Hot on the heels of her book Common Birds of Qatar, Fran Gillespie provides an introduction to the birds of Qatar for QatarVisitor readers.

In Qatar Birds Frances explores the surprising variety of birds the tiny country attracts - a variety of species which in part are due to the changes in the environment caused by both industry and a desire to green and beautify the country.


Fran follows up with an Introduction to Birdwatching in Qatar, a great guide to (desert proof!) equipment and identification for less experienced birdwatching.

The articles are accompanied throughout by superb photography by Dileep Kumar, who also took the images here.

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Blogging Competition

This is completely unrelated to Qatar, I am afraid, but over on TheDisabledShop I am helping to run a blogging competition. If you are disabled or have a connection with disability (through work or friends/family) check it out. There is a cash prize of £250 ($400) and the chance to win a permanent blogging position. Click here for more information!

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Zubara

Our latest article on the QatarVisitor website is not about the fort which can be found on every Qatar postcard (and which is not actually that old!) but about the ancient town of Zubara.

Continuing excavations are finding new evidence of an extensive town at Zubara, including evident town planning, wealth and large walled houses. This wealth may not be surprising - because as our article reveals, at one point the town was the largest center of pearl fishing in the Gulf.

To read the full article see: Zubara.

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Qatar Birds: The Book

Fran Gillespie, Qatar Visitor writer and author of Discovering Qatar, has published her latest book, Common Birds of Qatar.

The first field guide to Qatar birds ever to be published, the book covers 215 birds illustrated by more than 400 pictures - pictures taken by world famous photographers Hanne and Jens Eriksen.

For more information about the book or to purchase it see Birds of Qatar on the Qatar Visitor website.

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Where can I learn Arabic in Qatar?

That's one of the most frequent questions we get from readers.

We've covered the question to an extent in our article Language Schools in Qatar. Sadly, one of the best places to learn Arabic in Doha, The Language Institute, has closed after nearly 40 years in business. However, our writer Yousra Samir has been digging to find other places - check them out here in Where to Learn Arabic in Qatar.

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