ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE MIDDLE EAST

clo THE LODGE, SANDY, BEDFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND.

Bulletin 10 Spring 1983

EDITORS & PRODUCTION: C A HARBARD AND D J FISHER

EDITORIAL

With this issue of the Bulletin, OSME makes a series of important new commitments to the promotion of bird conservation in the Middle East. The Sites Register Scheme, announced by Richard Porter in the previous issue, now gets under way; and we are also announcing the establishment of a small fund to promote conservation-orientated projects on birds in the Middle East region.

We see these initiatives, which are dealt with immediately below, as closely related pursuits of OSME's constitutional powers to help “towards the identification and solution of conservation problems concerning birds within the area". As a further measure, we have prepared a working list of conservation priorities to set before members for their consideration and

comment and for use as guidelines to the likely important issues the Society

will need to address in the coming years.

14) if

Yj sl /HLN\\\\ \\ tit ay >“ IN MG, Wy \\\ WW ade Se | f —V ts me ‘ Laid We CHIT MH yee .

Although one of the themes of this development of OSME's activities is centralisation (the Sites Register), our major hope and intention is to mobilise the wide constituency of our membership into a more active role in the pursuit of bird conservation, and to provide better support for those members already thus involved. We see it, therefore, as a two-way process, where all parties - and in particular the birds themselves -— benefit. We hope that these developments will be welcomed and understood as a genuine, if very small, attempt to contribute to the future welfare of the birds and their environments throughout the Middle East.

GUIDELINE NOTES FOR THE OSME SITES REGISTER

A register of sites important for birds in the Middle East is intended to fulfil an urgent need for baseline data in the planning and promotion of wildlife conservation throughout the region. Knowledge of the existence of sites, and of what they contain, is crucial if they are to stand a chance of survival in elas: long term; and even if, as seems inevitable, many of them are to disappear over the years, knowledge of this loss will provide greater strength to the case for saving the others. If nothing else, ornithologists a century or more from now will have some interesting archive material to stimulate and set against their

own research.

The information we require is relatively simple. The Sites Register Scheme form is intended to be as flexible as possible while requesting all relevant bits of information. No-one can be expected to know a site completely, and some’ sites will only be known very incompletely. The essential thing is not to be discouraged if the form threatens to expose your ignorance! If you think a

site deserves registering, it is better you send us an incomplete form than no

form at all. An example of a completed form accompanies these notes.

What is a 'Site!?

How you decide what qualities make a site worth telling us about is a rather subjective process. What, to begin with, constitutes a 'site'? And how do you know other people will not be writing in about it anyway? Likely types of site are islands (in rivers and lakes as well as seas), marshes, lakes, significant parts of rivers or mountains (gorges, cliffs, valleys), forests and grasslands. What makes them important are things like a colony of waterbirds, a concentration

of winter duck, a flow of migrating raptors overhead, a pair or more of uncommon

birds nesting, and so on. It is inevitable that we will receive several forms for the same site but several sets of observations can only enhance our knowledge of the site and confirm its importance. Obviously the larger a site the more likely it is to be known about by others, and beyond a certain size probably very few birdwatchers would feel comfortable attempting to describe it anyway. Very much as a rough guideline, most sites will probably be about 10 in* or less, though quite clearly where observations are made in a part of a much larger area (e.g. on one side of a large marsh or at a few points along an extensive valley) the site itself will be registered as the much larger entity. Nevertheless, it may be worth registering important smaller areas within a "super-site! (a very big area like, e.g., the Basra marshes). OSME's Conservation Research Committee (CRC) will itself attempt to identify the well- known sites as well as the 'super-sites', but members are encouraged to send in material on these: it will be all welcome. Ultimately, the criterion to invoke in deciding whether to send in a form is whether or not there is a chance we do not know about a site or one or more of the birds you have recorded there. Please note that there is no need to insert a site n ame: some will inevitably

be nameless.

Treatment of Material Received

At this stage we plan simply to file the forms we receive. The information they contain is not intended for immediate publication or dissemination but may be made available to national government agencies or relevant conservation bodies who request it. It is, however, our ultimate intention to process and make all information received available to the relevant conservation organisations. Non-—confidential information would only be passed on with discretion, and forms marked ‘confidential’ will only be seen by the Chairman and Secretary of CRC; if they judge that the information should be made known to CRC or elsewhere, this can only be done with the observer's written permission. We hope, however, that observers will not mark records confidential unless there are very obvious reasons for doing so. Receipt of all forms will be acknowledged. The Middle East, for the purposes of this scheme, is defined as Afghanistan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, North Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Yemen (including Socotra), Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and all the islands of the Red Sea. A blank site form is enclosed with these notes: photocopy it as you need or write for more to

OSME Sites Register Scheme, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Beds, SG19 2DL.

PROJECT PROMOTION

OSME Council is committed to the promotion of conservation-orientated fieldwork in the Middle East, and proposes to initiate its own projects and to provide a

measure of support for those of members and non-members.

OSME Expeditions

In cases where Council decides that a substantial investigation is needed, an Expedition will be mounted under the auspices of OSME and with the involvement of at least one member of Council. A proportion of the funding needed will come from within OSME; the rest will be sought by application to grant-making bodies. Members will be informed of such projects through the Bulletin.

OSME Grants

For 198 and after, Council has established an indeterminate sum (subject to annual review) to be disbursed annually to a small number of suitably conservation-orientated projects in the Middle East. To qualify for consideration, proposals must be from members of OSME, show evidence of ability to complete the project, and indicate other sources of finance. Grantees shall be described as 'OSME supported'!: OSME will provide a letter of support on headed notepaper and generally expects that (a) Ssandgrouse shall have first refusal of publishable results and (b) full acknowledgement be given to OSME in any publication. Proposals will be vetted by the Conservation Research

Committee on the basis of established OSME priorities (see working list below).

The deadline for the submission of proposals seeking OSME support in 198 is 15 November 1983. Proposals should be addressed to the Chairman, Conservation Research Committee, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Beds, SG19 2DL. A sum of £500 is set aside for OSME supported projects in 198), though this may not all be allocated. Awards will be reported in the Bulletin.

OSME—-endorsed Projects

Proposals from members which OSME would have wished to fund had funds been available, or proposals from non-members with strong conservation merits, may be endorsed by Council. Projects may thus be described as 'OSMH—endorsed' in the hope that this will assist in the funding of the work or the implementation of its findings. Recipients of endorsements are encouraged to offer first refusal

of publishable results to Sandgrouse.

| | ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE MIDDLE EAST SITES REGISTER SCHEME £%A*¥Lé @e. PLEASE REVUKN COMPLETED FORMS TO: OSME (Sites Register), c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, ENGLAND.

PLEASE ANSWER AS SPECIFICALLY AS POSSIBLE, PREFERABLY TYPED OR CLEARLY WRITTEN IN BLACK INK. ATTACH EXTRA SHEETS AS NECESSARY.

TuRKEY

NAME OF SITE No NAME 23 Miy 1978 Give alternative : (NEAR. bizce) | 13 Sune 1978

spellings. r eee ens os LOCATION Above 20-25 km SSE of DUZCE (2 Small town on the main Istanbul - Ankara road. West of Bolu) 3B1°IOE 40°40'N

NUMBER OF VISITS TO | 2 visies :

=| SJTE AND DATES

Include geographical coordinates.

SKETCH MAP Show:

scale,

north,

site boundaries, main physical features, distance and direction of nearest towns.

Stream valley sn mountsing \<outh' ot bugee ranging in Altitude from

DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT

Include: Abovt 1000-/S00 metres over & distance of about Io ttm, Mountain

approximate area,

altitude, Eops are at dbovt 1700 ™. Decidvous forest is dominant vegetation

he ee | with serub where forest has been cleared. There 1s Some. mountain éaé,

CONSERVATION

status ann tHreats| Decidvous forest 1S relatively rare in Turkey and generally sestricted Go mountans,. This ore type appears to be under threat through extensive felling dt Gus and other sites with no sans of replanting.

GENERAL COMMENT'S L

Bxtra infommation | Photrgraphs are available of the area where He Green Warblers were

Bre cer a es found . This is an area o extensive felling at the top (sovthern)

likely interest

at other seasons. end of the v8 llé.;.

Nae an anoness | Sympa) ALBRECHT "S) | & fomsey Terrace, Cambridge C81 3NH, England

LIST OF BIRD SPECIES (Scientific or English names)

Wherever possible supply extra information on important observations, in brackets after name of species (eg numbers, date, evidence of breeding)

CONFIDENTIALITY: Please indicate any information that you wish to be

kept confidential.

Cuckoo (calling 13.6)

CRAG MARTIN (nest found)

RED -RuMPED SWALLOW (nest found)

Housé MARTIN (nest found)

GREY WAGTAIL.

WHITE WAGTAIL

DIPPER (2+ carrying ford 23.5 ; 2 on 13.6)

LIREN ( Grrying food to fledged yours 13.6)

DUNNOCK

BLACKCAP ( Song ; Carrying toed 12.6)

CHIFFCHAFF ( Song)

GREEN LIARBLER (44 Singing 23.5, 2+ Singing 3-6. Minimum nos. —fvll search not made

on ether date ) Robin

BLACKBIRD (‘Carrying ford 13.6) Sone THRUSH (| 13.6)

MARSH TIT = (1-23-S)

GREAT TIT 6 juveniles Seen 12 6) CHAFANCH = (Carrying food 13.6) | SCARLET ROSCANCH (‘Singing - seversl heard — 23.5 ¢ 13.6) BULLEINCH Cf pair 22.5) | Rock Bunting (alarm calls fGom male 23.5)

22 Species Sten in 2 visits

WORKING LIST OF CONSERVATION PRIORITIES

In order to assess what conservation work and research is required in the Middle East and to assist in the selection of suitable projects the following list has been drawn up. The list is not exhaustive but aims to present guidelines to the more important issues. It is stressed that there is much valuable research (e.g. into populations and trends ) which can usefully be

carried out by amateurs.

It is of course impossible to draw up an absolute list and we would welcome

comments and additions.

Habitat preservation and conservation: the following areas are identified as being of major significance to birds in the Middle East and require (further)

study to establish level of ornithological importance and potential threats:

Wetlands, in particular:

marshes of southern Iraq

Nile Valley and Delta

wetlands of Sistan on the Iran/Afghanistan border major wetland sites in Turkey

major wetland sites in Iran

Forests, in particulars

major tracts in Turkey

Montane habitat, in particular:

south-west Arabia northern Iran Turkey

Sinai

Deserts and semi-deserts throughout the region with particular reference to desert habitat erosion and alteration as a result of general land management practices (e.g. animal grazing and agricultural development )

Islands and coasts throughout the region with particular reference to the extent and effect of pollution, exploitation, disturbance, introduced pests

Preservation of all species endemic to the region (many are not threatened at

present )

Conservation of all species globally threatened or populations regionally threatened. The following are identified in particular (but a more extensive

evaulation is in progress):

Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Lappet-—faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi Siberian White Crane Grus leucogeranus Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata Arabian Bustard Ardeotis arabs

Great Bustard Otis tarda

Audouin'ts Gull Larus audouinii

Survey of seabird colonies throughout the region, in particular:

easter Mediterranean Red Sea Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

Monitoring of breeding raptor population with particular reference to

persecution and pesticide deployment

Monitoring of breeding herons and allied species in Turkey (which probably

contains some of the largest colonies in the Western Palearctic)

Monitoring of wintering waterfowl throughout the region (several areas are

internationally important for them) Monitoring of wintering Cranes Grus_ grus in the region

Campaign on behalf of migrant White Storks Ciconia ciconia in the region and census of migrating flocks

Campaign against bird-trapping (e.g. in Cyprus)

Monitoring the extent and effect of hunting and persecution in the region

RAPTOR MIGRATION OVER THE RED SEA MOUNTAINS

NEAR PORT SAFAGA, EGYPT

UFFE GJ6L_ SORENSEN During March 1982, a trip was made by the Danish Ornithological Society to Egypt (Meilstrup, H. & Serensen, U.G. (1982): DOF-stortur til eypten. Marts 1982. Danish Ornithological Society (50 page report)). Four days were spent at Port Safaga at the coast of the Red Sea (4.60 km south of Suez), and this opened up the possibility of investigating the spring

migration of raptors over the Red Sea Mountains in this still rarely visited part of Egypt.

At level with Port Safaga the mountain range is approximately 80 km broad and slanting, the highest peaks are found in the eastern part (nearest

peak to Port Safaga is Gebel Nugara (83) m), but other peaks in the range are 1000-2000 m).

Observations were carried out in two areas: 1) From the seashore at Port Safaga which is 1-2 km east of the foot of the mountains on 20 March (whole day), 21-22 March (early morning and late afternoon) and 23 March (early morming). 2) Along the westward road to Qena in the Nile Valley. This road is situated in the bottom of wadis between the mountains. Observations were made here on 21 March (0950-100 hours, -9 km west

of Port Safaga), 22 March (0925-100 hours, 4-15 km west of Port Safaga ) and 23 March (0855-1030 hours, h-15 km west of Port Safaga, and further

on but under unfavourable weather conditions (see below)).

Wind direction and force (Beaufort): 20 March NE 1-2, 21 March NE 1-2, 22 March N 2-3, 23 March SW 2-h.

Only very few raptors were seen migrating around Port Safaga. In all only five birds were seen (3 Black Kite and 2 Marsh Harriers). None were seen crossing the sea. However: during 30 minutes! observation in the middle of the morning on the 22nd, approximately 30 raptors were seen in the distance following the eastern ridge of the mountains

towards the north.

The observations along the Qena road, on the other hand, showed an apparently endless stream of raptors heading north. Due to our low position in the valleys between the mountain peaks, it was impossible

to cover more than a few kilometres at any time. Even if the observation post was moved gradually inland (maximum 15 km from Port Safaga) there did not seem to be any major decrease in the intensity of birds passing overhead. Thus the actual number of raptors passing over the Qena road. during these days was evidently several times higher than the figures

in Table 1.

The species composition seems to indicate a close relation to the migration pattern recorded at Hilat (Christensen et al 1981, Sandgrouse No 3) in the way that those species which cross the southern part of the Gulf of Suez (Steppe Buzzard, Black Kite, Steppe Eagle) are the most numerous. Those species (e.g. Lesser Spotted Eagle and Short-toed Eagle) which Christensen et al suggested chose another route over the Suez are correspondingly scarce. Only further investigations in the Red Sea Mountains can prove if the two supposed main migration paths are already separated at level with

Port Safaga.

When we left the Port Safaga area on the 23rd towards Qena, we were looking forward to seeing how the intensity of birds would develop after the first 15 km and we had hoped to find more 'Suez! birds. Unfortunately a sandstorm rose during the morning and consequently the visibility was

very low on the major part of this stretch. Undoubtedly, in the future, the Qena road may be an important study area

for the elucidation of migration patterns through the Middle East of

raptors.

Uffe Gjal Sarensen, Mellegade 21. 1 tv., DK-—2200 Kgbenhavn N, Denmark.

TABLE 1

273i si 2273 23/3 Black Kite M. migrans 169 68h 72 Egyptian Vulture N. percnopterus 3 43 13 Short-toed Eagle C. gallicus 5 5 Marsh Harrier C. aeruginosus 1 Steppe Buzzard B. buteo vulpinus 368 2201 801 Buzzard/Kite Buteo/Milvus 362 Eagle sp. Aquila sp. 180 18 | Steppe Eagle A. nipalensis 155 ),06 h9 Lesser Spotted Eagle A. pomarina 16 1 3 Imperial Eagle A. heliaca Al Booted Eagle H. pennatus 1 Osprey P. haliaetus 1 Lesser Kestrel F. naumanni 2 Kestrel F. tinnunculus 1 Kestrel sp. F. naumanni/tinn. 2 Falconiformes sp. 188 230 TOTAL 1125 3955 943

ATLAS OF BREEDING BIRDS IN EGYPT

We have received a preliminary report of this project, which due to space limitations will have to be held over until the next Bulletin.

The Atlas will be published as a part of a book on the birds of the country.

The organisers would appreciate receiving any unpublished records or other suitable material (both on breeding and non-breeding birds) for inclusion in the book. Ornithologists visiting Egypt are requested to contact them, so that they can be sent standard forms for the "Atlas of Breeding Birds" Survey and additional information. All contributions will be fully acknowledged.

Peter L Meininger, Wim C Mullié and Steven M Goodman, c/o Grevelingenstraat 127

335 XE Middelburg

The Netherlands

ine)

AN INLAND RECORD OF RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD (Phaethon aethereus) IN ISRARL

G.W. MURPHY AND N.J. REDMAN

On 2nd April 1981 the authors, in the company of S. Ball, G. Bond and R. Filby, identified an adult Red—billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus flying south along the western shore of the Dead Sea in Israel, at a

point just south of Ras Fashka (31° 5'N, 35° 30'R).

Our initial impressions were of a predominantly white bird with long and narrow, pointed, black-tipped wings and a red bill. In size it appeared roughly equivalent to a largish duck and its flight was rapid and direct with deep, angled wing beats. The bird was watched for nearly 2 minutes, at ranges down to approximately 300 metres, as it continued purposefully southwards maintaining a constant height of about 10 metres above the water. Viewing conditions were excellent with bright sunshine and no wind. With the aid of telescopes the following plumage characters were

noted:

Head white with a black smudge through the eye. Bill long and red appearing slightly decurved. Narrow blackish barring on upperparts appeared uniform greyish at a distance. Upperwing white with black outer primaries, also showing black at the bases of the wings, on the inner secondaries

and inner median coverts. Underwing and entire underparts

white. Tail white, long and wedge-shaped.

The characteristic elongated tail streamers were not seen and it was assumed that they had either been broken off or moulted. Although a complete moult is undertaken annually immediately after breeding, the

moult of the tail streamers is apparently irregular.

Two races of Red—billed Tropicbird occur marginally in the Western Palearctic. P.a. mesonauta breeds on islands in tropical North Atlantic, in particular the Cape Verde Islands. P.a. indicus breeds on islands in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. It formerly bred in the Gulf of Suez and is apparently declining throughout its Western Palearctic range.

11

Red—billed Tropicbirds are essentially pelagic and usually solitary except in the breeding season. Although there is no evidence of regular seasonal movements, many birds disperse widely from the breeding colonies. In the North Atlantic, vagrants have reached Madeira and Long Island, New York, the latter record representing quite a considerable northerly displacement from its nearest breeding colonies on the Lesser Antilles. P.a. indicus ranges widely over the Indian Ocean, occasionally reaching the coasts of westerm India and Sri Lanka, as well as dispersing throughout the waters surrounding Arabia. Individuals occasionally reach the Gulf of Aqaba although the only records of which we are aware are single birds off Ras Mohammed, Sinai on 27. 36716 (RF. Porter pers comm ) and 2 km southwest of Tiran Island on 22..77 (Y. Leshem in litt). It has been recorded twice at Eilat, 2 birds on 1.5.67 (P. Schlutter in litt) and 1 on 1.5.78 (N. Krabbe em sistie) «

An inland record of Red=billed Tropicbird is undoubtedly unusual.

We are not aware of any particularly irregular weather conditions during the days preceding our sighting and can only speculate as to the origin of this bird. The two Western Palearctic races are distinct in the field, P.a. indicus having a more orange-—coloured bill and a less well- defined black eye stripe. Unfortunately, these features were not apparent to us. Geographically this bird.was most likely to have been of the P.a. indicus population, having wandered too far north. (Indeed it seemed to have corrected its error and was heading in the direction

of its nearest breeding grounds.

References

Ali, S. and Ripley, S.D. (1978). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan Volume 1. Bombay

Cramps, S.cetval) (1977). Birds of the Western Palearctic Volume 1. Oxford Stonehouse, B. (1962). Ibis 103b 12-161.

C.W. Murphy, 3 Sinclair Drive, Liverpool 18. N.J. Redman, 1 Westfields, Saffron Walden, Essex.

12

BALD IBIS (Geronticus eremita) IN ISRAEL F.R. LAMBERT & R.F. GRIMMETT

A Bald Ibis was seen on 7th April 1980, south of Jerico, close to the northern shores of the Dead Sea. The bird was watched feeding in an area of bare stoney ground for approximately 20 minutes before taking flight. Rising on thermal currents, it circled to a great height before

departing in a northerly direction.

The bird was in full adult plumage, with prominent neck crests, metallic purple and green sheens to plumage and brilliant red iris.

The only known remaining Bald Ibis colony in the Middle East is at Birecik, Turkey, some 600 km north-east of Jerico. It was felt at the time that this individual was on return migration northwards. However Hirsch (1979), discussing the Birecik colony, states that birds begin to arrive by mid-February and have usually all returned by mid-March when breeding commences. The date of our record therefore suggests

that the bird was a non—breeding adult, presumably from the Turkish colony.

There are two other post-1935 records of Bald Ibis from this region. Both of these records were in April 1970, and both were of birds

sighted near Elat. A total of as many as 19-20 individuals was involved (Hirsch 1980).

References

Hirsch, U. 1979. Studies of West Palearctic Birds; 183 Bald Ibis Brit. Birds 72, 313-325.

Hirsch, U. 1980. Der Waldrapp Geronticus eremita, ein Beitrag zur Situation in seinem ostlichen Verbreitungsgebiet. Sonderdruck aus: Die Vogelwelt. 101. Jahrgang, Heft 6 (1980) S. 219-236

F.R. Lambert, 15 Bramble Rise, Westdene, Brighton BN1 5GE.

M5

BALD IBIS (Geronticus eremita) SEEN ON MIGRATION IN ISRAEL

NIELS KRABBE

On April 4, 1970, ) Bald Ibises were observed in the area around and in the fields of Kibbutz Elot. The birds were first seen flying over the fields before resting in a field for half-an-hour, then flying north, following the Arava. The birds did not seem shy at all. They were watched by observers through 2 Kowa 10:50, 1 Asahi pentax 7:50 and 1 Holbeck 8:30 binoculars. Observers: Gerda Perelson, Ebbe Hansen, Bruria Globinsky

and Niels Krabbe.

Description: The birds were about the size of a Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, glossy black on body and wings, shining purple on shoulders and wing coverts. The deeply curved bill was bright red as was the eye and bare head. The feathering on the head started a few centimetres behind the eye. All the feathers on the hind-crown and nape were very elongated and raised, each feather with a different length, giving the appearance of a shaggy crest. In one of the birds there was a little pinkish to be seen in the legs, while they were dirty grey in the rest.

Niels Krabbe, Megllegade 21, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.

A PUZZLING SYLVIA FROM BILAT, ISRAEL NIELS KRABBE

During the time I was ringing birds in Hilat, the most interesting bird was a Sylvia caught on April 12, 1970. With the kind help of Walter Ferguson we finally succeeded in finding a description which matched the bird perfectly. This was the female Sylvia melanocephala norissae, described by Kenneth Williamson in "Identification for Ringers". His description goes: "Bright sandy—brown above; a heavy wash of sandy- buff on breast, sides and flanks". The eye-ring was not as red as in

S.m. momus, more yellowish.

Ferguson did a very accurate, full-size, watercolour painting of the bird while it was completely fresh. The bird was collected, and the specimen is now preserved in the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. To the

best of my knowledge, no effort has so far been made to compare it with

14

a specimen from the oasis El Fayum in Egypt. The subspecies is previously known from this oasis only, and was thought to be strictly

resident.

Niels Krabbe, M@llegade 21, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.

RECENT LITERATURE

BAKER, N. (1982) Diurnal migration of Golden Oriole over the Mediterranean Sea. OSME. Bull. 93:3.

BAKER, N. (1982) Lanner Falcon preying on Black-headed Gull. OSME. Dut Bef s

BILJSMA, R.G. (1982) On leg colour of Greater Sandplover. Dutch Birding ):27.

BILJSMA, R.G. (1982) De trek van roofvogels over Suez in najaar van 1981. Het Vogeljaar 30: 11-150.

BILJSMA, R.G. (1982) The visible migration of pipits (Anthus) and wont is (Motacilla) near Suez, Autumn 1981. Die Vogelwarte 31: 423-27.

BILJSMA, R.G. and DE RODER, F.E. (1982) Goliath Herons in Egypt in 1981. Dutch Birding h: 82-8).

BODLEY, A. (1982) Cyprus holiday. RAF Orn. Soc. Newsletter 37: 71h.

BREIFE, B. et al (1982) DOF's jubileumsexkursion: Eilat 1-8/),/82. Calidris h: 282-288.

BRITTON, P.L. (1982) The identification of White-cheeked Terns. Daven Birding ): 55-57.

BROWN, J.N.B. (1982) Preliminary list of birds breeding in the UAE and offshore islands. Emirates Nat. Hist. Group (Abu Dhabi) Bull. 16: 7-8.

BUNDY, G. (1982) Field characters of first year White-winged Black Terns. Brit. Birds 75: 129-131.

BUNDY, G. (1982) Tail-wagging by Wheatears. Brit. Birds 75: 287.

CHILMAN, P.W.G. (1982) Migrants in the Persian Gulf during Spring 1979. Sea Swallow 31: 25-29.

CLANCY, P.A. (1982) The Little Tern in South Africa. Ostrich 53: 102-106 (includes separation of Little and Saunders Terns).

CLARKE, J.E. (1982) The Houbara Bustard in Jordan. Sandgrouse }: 111-11h.

CORNWALLIS, L. and PORTER, R.F. (1982) Spring observations of the birds of North Yemen. Sandgrouse h: 1-36.

COWAN, P.J. (1982) Birds in West Central Libya, 1980-1981. Bull. BOC" 102s" 32—35'.

19

COWLEY, J.C. (1981) Some breeding birds of the Red Sea and the Persian Culr Bull «Jourdain ‘Soc. 103°-21-26.

DAVIES, J.H. (1982): On the nidification of the Graceful Warbler Prinia gracilis in Jordan. Bull. Jourdain Soc. 10: 9h-95.

DRYDEN, M. (1982) Kuwait's wealth. Wildlife 2h: 186-189.

FLAXMAN, E.W. (1982) Observations of raptor migration in Jordan, May 1982. OSME Bull. 9: l-5.

GALLAGHER, M.D. (1982) An excursion to Southern Oman. Army Birdwatching Soest Bult ly AD) 2=)i;

GALLAGHER, M.D. (1982) Nesting of the Lappet-—faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus in Oman. Bull. BOC 10: 135-139.

GALLAGHER, M.D. and BROWN, M.R. (1982) The Golden Eagle breeding in Oman, Eastern Arabia. Sandgrouse li: 100-107.

GEROUDET, P. (1982) Le Goeland d'Armenie Larus (cachinnans) armenicus

en Israel. Alauda 50: 310-311.

HOLGERSEN, H. (1982) Little Green Bee-eater at Eilat. Stema 17: 12).

HORNER, K.O. et al (1982) Density and laying dates of Black-shouldered Kites in Egypt. Ostrich 53: 29-251.

HUNI, M. (1982) Excursion der Ala in die Shdostturkei 3-17 April 1972. Orn Beob. 793 221-223.

ILANI, G. and BOUSKILA, A. (1982) Wildlife News. Isr. Land and Nature Hs glfOrde.102, 36—392 81-83%

INBAR, R. (1982) Sandgrouse in quest of water. Isr. Land and Nature 73 138-1))1.

JENNINGS, M.C. (1981) Some notes on the birds of Westerm Saudi Arabia. J. sauda Nat. Hist. Sock 2(4)2-8-1):

JENNINGS, M.c. (1982) A breeding record of the Lappet-faced Vulture from Arabia. Sandgrouse ): 11h-115.

JENNINGS, M.C. et al (1982) First breeding record of Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens . Gmelin from Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia he 78. |

KIZIROGLU, I. (1982) Brutbiologie Untersuchlingen an vier Meisenarten (Parus) in der Umgeburg von Ankara. J. Orn. 123: 09-23.

LEES-SMITH, D.T. and MADGE, S.C. (1982) Aberrant Corn Bunting suggesting "lost! male plumage. OSME Bull. 9:5-6.

MADGE, S.C. (1982) April records of White-cheeked Term in Sinai. Dutch Birding :10-105.

MANN, S. and HOCHBERG, 0. (1982) Pecan plantations change habitats of forest birds. Isr. Land and Nature 8: 10-1).

MEININGER, P.L. and MULLIE W.C. (1981) The significance of Egyptian Wetlands for wintering Waterbirds. Holyland Conservation Fund, New York.

MIENIS, H.K. (1980) New records of predation of snails by the Hooded Crow in Israel. lLevantina 28: 331-332.

MIENIS, H.K. (1980) Two addition cases of predation on land snails by the Song Thrush in Israel. Levantina 29: 31-33.

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MIENIS, H.K. (1980) A case of predation on Natrix tesselata by Smyxna Kingfisher. Salamandra 16(2): 135.

MUMFORD, S. (1982) A report on the Eleanorats Falcon at Akrotiri, Cyprus 1982. Cyclostyled. Privately published.

MUSELET, D. (1982) les quartiers d'hivernage des Stemes pierregarins Sterna hirundo europeenes. Oiseau 52: 219-235.

NAIK, R.M. et al (1981) ‘The timing of breeding season and inter-

breeding between the colour phases in the Indian Reef Heron Esretta gularis. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 78: 9-97.

NIKOLAUS, G. (1983) An important passerine ringing site near the Sudan Red Sea coast. Scopus 7:15-18.

NIKOLAUS, G. and PEARSON, D.J. (1983) Attraction of nocturnal migrants to car headlights in Sudan Red Sea hills. Scopus 7: 19-20.

NOWAK, E. (1982) Der Waldrapp Geronticus eremita, eine Mitteleuropa

ausgerottere Vogelart. Welt der Tiere 9(3): 7-9.

PETERSEN, I. and SORENSEN, V.G. (1981) Migration studies from the eastern part of the lagoon 'Sabkher el Bandawil® on the north coast of the Sinai Peninsula 7-30 Sept 1980. Report of the 2nd Danish Ornithological Expedition to Egypt 1981. Prelim report,

Copenhagen,

PETERSEN, I and SORENSEN, U.G. (1981) 3rd Danish Ornithological Expedition to Egypt, Autum 1981. Prelim report. Copenhagen.

PHILLIPS, N.R. (1982) Observations on the birds of North Yemen. Sandgrouse lh: 37-59.

POMEROY, D. (ed) (1982) Report of RAFOS Masirah Island Expedition 22 Oct — 26 Nov 1979. RAFOS Journal 13.

ROBERTS, T.S. (1980) Bird notes from Baludristan Province, Pakistan. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 77: 12-20.

SAHIN, R. (1982) Eltern-Kind-Beziehungen der freiledenden Waldrappe G. eremita in Birecik. Ecol. Birds h: 1-7.

SAHIN, R. (1982) Zur Form der Ehe freilebenden Waldrappen G. eremita in Birecik. Orn. Mitt. 3h: 162-163.

SCOTT, D.A. and CARP, E. (1982) A mid-winter survey of wetlands in Mesopotamia, Iraq: 1979. Sandgrouse ): 60-76.

SHIRTHAT, H. (1982) The autum migration of Steppe Eagles at Eilat, Israel, 1980. Sandgrouse lh: 108-110.

SLURYS, R. and VAN DEN BERG, M. (1982) On the species status of Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca . Orn. Scand. 13: 123-128.

SMART, I. et al. (1983) Waders and Waterbirds on Dubai creek. Wader Study Group Bull. 37: 29-30.

SMITH, F. (1980) RAFOS Expedition to Masirah, 1979. BTO News 108: 2. STAGG, A.S. (1982) Letter from Saudi Arabia. RAFOS Newsletter 37: 25-28.

TAYLOR, P.B. (1982) Field identification of sand plovers in E. Africa. Dutch Birding h: 113-130.

VAN DEN BERK, V. et al (1983) The importance of some wetlands in Turkey as transient and wintering areas for waterbirds. Privately publ.

V7

WALLACE, D.1I.M. (1982) Observations on migrant birds at Azraq in north-east Jordan, up to April 1967. Sandgrouse hl: 77-99.

WALTERS, M. (1982) A small Ostrich egg from Egypt. Sandgrouse l: 116-117.

WASSINK,K. (1982) April records of White-cheeked Tern in Israel. Dutch Birding lh: 62.

WUNDERLICH, K. (1982) Erganzung zum “Atlas der Verbreitung palearktischer Vogel". 6. Lieferung (1977). Beitr. Vogelk 28: 163-17h.

RECENT REPORTS

From time to time we receive records from members of birds which they

have seen in the OSME area. Whilst we do not collect such records for publication in any formal way we will occasionally mention the rarer or more unusual sightings in the Bulletin. Please bear in mind that these are not authenticated records which have been in any way ‘accepted! by

any relevent recorders or records committees - they are just sightings as reported to us.

NORTH YEMEN

In early summer 1982 AHelbig visited North Yemen from 28 May to

10 June. Most of the time was spent birding the highlands, especially around Sana'a, Al Mahwit and Ibb with only a one-day visit to the Red Sea coast at Al Mukha.

Among the 95 species seen, three appear to be new for the country, if the records are acceptable.

A probable Senegal Scops Owl Otus (senegalensis) pamelae, two Didric Cuckoos Chrysococcyx caprius photographed west of Al Mahwit and another near Kuhlan. A pair and three calling male Klass' Cuckoos Chrysococcyx klass north of Ibb.

Other species of interest include Ruppell's Vulture Gyps rueppellii, Shikra Accipiter badius, Sooty Falcon Falco concolor and Lesser Black- backed Gull Larus fuscus, the latter two being at Al Mukha. Two

Spotted Eagle Owls Bubo africanus west of Al Mahwit and another north of Ibb were seen in full daylight. Nesting of African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis was confirmed near Al Mahwit.

Among the south western Arabian endemics Arabian Accentor Prunella fagani at two localities, Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus and

Yemen Warbler Parisoma buryi feeding a recently fledged young at Ibb were especially noteworthy.

In October/November 1982 Richard Porter and Nigel Redman spent three weeks in North Yemen and recorded a total of 202 species. They were joined by three resident ex patriot birders: John Hickerton, John Finch and Jan Karpowicz, and areas visited included Sana'a, Bajil, Hodeida, Taizz and Kawkaban.

A small but significant raptor passage was observed high over the edge

of the foothills near Bajil comprising several hundred birds the majority of which were Buzzards Buteo buteo and Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis. Up to 60 Steppe Eagles and small numbers of Spotted A. cl a, Tawny

A. rapax and Imperial Eagles A. heliaca were present for several days

at a rubbish dump near Taizz. This is apparently a regular resting place and possibly a wintering site for migrant eagles.

Following Cornwallis and Porter 1982(Sandgrove h: 1-36), 8 species

were apparently recorded for the first time in North Yemen: Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus, Little Crake Porzana parva, Baillon's Crake P. pusilla, Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri, Barn Owl Tyto alba and Reed

Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus.

All the South west Arabian endemic species were seen including two Arabian woodpeckers Dendrocopos dorae, two Arabian Accentors Prunella fagani, and two pairs of Yemen Warblers Parisoma buryi. A party of five babblers of the 'white-faced' variety, (described in OSME Bulletin No 8), were found in the same area as before.

A number of rarely recorded species included Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus, Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii, Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, Black-—tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatalis, White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus, Sedge Warbler Acropephalus schoenobaenus, Whinchat Saxicola rubetra and Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus_socotranus.

TURKEY

In June 1982, Ben King found a male Caucasian Blackcock Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi in rhodedendron scrub east of the Erzwrum-Rize road on the 2hth, and a Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola north west of Erzwum on the 25th.

A Swiss expedition visited the Southern Coastlands from the Goksu-—Delta eastwood to Birecik and Urfa in April 1982. Unusual species seen inluded Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio, White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura, Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus, Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei, Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola and Red-tailed Wheatea

Oenanthe xanthoprymna. j

OBITUARY

YOEL PARAN 1919-1982

The sudden death of Yoel Paran in June 1982 was a great loss to ornithology in Israel. Born in Hungary in 1919, he emigrated to Palestine in 1938, where he studied chemistry in Jerusalem. He spent 5 years in the British Army from 191-6, serving during the war in the artillery in Palestine, Cyprus and Italy. He joined the Israeli Army on its formation in 19)8,

and on his retirement in 1961 was the Deputy Director of the Artillery. From 1962 until his death, he worked at the American Israeli Paper Mills in Hadera, finally as their Deputy General Manager.

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Yoel, despite his heavy business commitments, became a dedicated field ornithologist, with an excellent knowledge of the birds of all parts of Israel. His particular interest was the study of migration at Bardawil

in Sinai; this he featured in a poster display at the International Congress in Berlin in 1978 and also as a paper in Sandgrouse (2: 108-9). He was

an early and enthusiastic supporter of OSME. In Israel he had many friends among both amateur and professional ornithologists and conservationists.

He was one of the correspondents for Israel for the Birds of the Westerm Palearctic. He arranged two successful trips to Israel for Phil Hollom and myself, enabling us to meet many of his friends and to visit some out-of-the-way spots, including Tiran in the Gulf of Aqaba. He was a delightful companion, a superb organiser, and hospitable, with an infect- ious zest for birdwatching. He leaves a widow and two children, to whom we extend our sincere condolences.

Stanley Cramp

ANNOUNCEMENTS OSME AGM

The OSME AGM has been extended into an afternoon event with four speakers. It will be held at the Nature Conservancy Council offices, 19/20 Belgrave Square, London SWl, from 1400 hours to 1830 hours on Saturday 25 June 1983. Further details are contained on a separate sheet with the Bulletin.

WILLIAM WILKINSON

We would like to offer our congratulations to William Wilkinson, the previous Chairman of OSME, who has just been appointed Chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council in Britain. We wish him every success in this challenging role.

XIX CONGRESSUS INTERNATIONALIS ORNITHOLOGICUS — FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

At the XVIII International Ornithological Congress in Moscow the Inter- national Ornithological Committee accepted the invitation of the National Museum of Natural Sciences of Canada and of the Canadian ornithological community to hold the XIX Congress in Canada. The Congress will be held in Ottawa, Canada from 22-29 June 1986. It elected Dr Prof Klaus Immelmann (West Germany) as President of the Congress. Dr Henri Ouellet (Canada)

was designated as Secretary—General.

Details about the general and scientific programmes, field excursions, and other activities during the Congress will be available later.

Those interested in participating in the Congress are urged to inform the Secretariat in order to obtain announcements and application forms. Correspondence should be addressed to The Secretary-General, Dr Henri Ouellet, XIX Congressus Internationalis Ornithologicus, National Museum of varias Sciences, National Museums of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A OMS.

CONSERVATION IN THE SINAT

The March 1983 Sinai Newsletter (Vol 1: 2) requested that the Ornithological Society of Egypt, in cooperation with the Office of Conservation, the Governorate of Northern Sinai and the Egyptian Wildlife Service, have

been conducting migration studies at Lake Bardawil.

OSE members also took part in an investigation into the effects of oil pollution on the birds of the Red Sea.

The Sinai Conservation Group, UK, supported by the RSPB and the WWF/UK, have found evidence of excessive fishing, spear fishing, coral collecting and oil pollution at Ras Muhammed as well as the use of mist nets in an area from El Arish to Zaranik. <A report by Cr P J Matthews also cites the number of conservation personnel and Town and Marine Police as in- sufficient to monitor the peninsula with any success.

HUNTING IN THE SULTANMARSHES: A new order gives better protection

Up to 1982 a special order gave the Sultanmarshes some protection against hunting, but as the area where hunting should be forbidden was not specified, it was meaningless in this respect. Now hunting is forbidden throughout the year by a decision of the Central Hunting Commission at

the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (1982-1983 Av Mevsimi, Merkez

Av Komisyonu Karari 6, 4.6.82). A very large area was protected including not only the marshes and lake Yay, but also the surrounding steppe areas and the agricultural fields. Some wardens are guarding the area.

CREDIT NOTES FOR SALES

From time to time we receive payment for goods in excess of the amount owed. Small cash refunds are difficult to administer and usually expensive for the Society. Council has therefore authorised that credit notes be issued where appropriate and that these may be used for the purchase of further sales items or OSME subscriptions. Alternatively, they can be sent to the Treasurer who will refund them in sterling. Normally credit notes will be for atleast 0.50p, smaller amounts will

be put into OSME funds. So as to avoid an unending build up of liabilities due to uncashed credit notes, each credit note will be valid for two years from the date of issue. .

URGENT

Would you be willing to help OSME? Due to forthcoming changes in Council we are left without a membership secretary and we are urgently looking for a volunteer to take on this role. The job is not an arduous or difficult one and is essentially to maintain up to date records on index cards of members and subscriptions and to periodically provide the information for the purpose of mailings to members. The person would liaise closely with the Treasurer and Sales Officer and the work is unlikely to exceed (on average) two hours a week.

Anyone interested in helping should contact the Chairman, OSME, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire (Sandy 80551).

ee

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NOTES FROM THE TREASURER

1982 Accounts

Enclosed with this Bulletin is a copy of the audited 1982 Income and Expenditure Account and the Balance Sheet as at 31 December 1982. You will see that at the end of the year the Society was in a healthy financial state and this will enable us to achieve our objectives in 1983. There will be an opportunity to discuss any aspect of the accounts at the

Annual General Meeting on 25 June.

Bequests

Members subject to UK tax may wish to note that the British Government Budget of March 1983 permitted all bequests to registered charities, such as OSME, to be free of Capital Transfer Tax. (Previously there was an upper limit, beyond which CTT had to be paid).

Deeds of Covenant

Many UK taxpayers have asked whether the Society has a scheme for paying subscriptions by deed of covenant, whereby the Society can increase subscriptions income by reclaiming tax at no extra cost to the member.

It was not possible to introduce a deed of covenant scheme until the Society became a registered charity in 1981. It is now planned to intro- duce a deed of covenant subscription scheme starting in 198) and an appropriate announcement will be made in the autumn Bulletin.

REQUESTS THE BIRDS OF THE GOLAN HEIGHTS

Since the seizure by the Israelis in June 1967 of that part of Syria known as the Golan Heights, it has been virtually inaccessible from the north- east except to UN observers. During the winter 1976-77, I explored down the Yarmuk valley from Syria to a point just below sea level but could

go no further. I found several species unknown elsewhere in Syria, eg Apus_affinis, Halcyon smyrnensis, Anthus similis, Cercomela melanura, Acrocephalus stentoreus and Nectarinia osea, and these and perhaps other species found in Israel could be well-established on the Golan Heights where military control may have provided unintentionally, as it sometimes does, a measure of protection for the local wildlife.

There have probably been a number of visits to the Golan Heights since 1967 by ornithologists approaching from the Israeli side. Disregarding the politics as to who now owns the Heights, it would be much appreciated if any member who has made observations in the area could either kindly let me have a copy of any notes he has made, or perhaps better still, submit them for publication in the Bulletin.

Lt Col A M Macfarlene 60 Holden Park Road Southborough Tunbridge Wells

Kent TN), OEP

nm Nm

SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURE IN ISRAEL, ISRAEL RAPTOR INFORMATION CENTRE

BIRDS IN ISRAEL

We are interested in receiving reports of observations and articles written about Birds in Israel at any time, past or present.

We are particularly interested in information about birds observed at Maagan Michael and Eilat.

This information is required for writing a book on the subject.

Any ornithologist whose observations are used in this work will be mentioned in the book.

When writing please ae State species, numbers, date, time and location of observation Zn Write your full name and address oe Send information to: Hadoram Shirihai PO; Box, 22

Hertzelia 6 100 Israel

RARE BIRD BOOKS AND PERIODICALS (fat) Please ask for free catalogues

on Ornithology and send your wantlists: ELSEVIER ANTIQUARIAN DEPARTMENT, Lippijnstraat ), 1055 KJ AMSTERDAM, Netherlands.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank Mike Hodgson for his cover illustration of a Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti.