ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE MIDDLE EAST

clo THE LODGE, SANDY, BEDFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND.

BULLETIN N°6 SPRING 1981

EDITORS & PRODUCTION: D J FISHER AND C A HARBARD

This issue of the Bulletin sees a new ‘Recent Literature' section which
will appear annually and the Editors will welcome any comments from
members on this and other features that could be incorporated into the
Bulletin in the future. Members will be receiving a number of inserts
with this issue, including our new car sticker and a free sample
greetings card. Those of you who have received your first two copies
of Sandgrouse will be pleased to know that the third volume is well
under way and will appear later this year.

—<s

Oe LL
Lo

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SOM INTERESTING ORNITHOLOGICAL RECORDS FROM EGYPT ~ P_ L Meininger & WC Mullie

From 1 January to 12 February 1979 and from 20 December 1979 to 27 January
1980 a Netherlands Ornithological Expedition visited Egypt with the objective
to gather information on the significance of the Egyptian wetlands for
wintering waterbirds. Participants of the first expedition were Jan van der
Kamp, Bernard Spaans and the authors. Participants of the second expedition
were the authors.

In this paper some interesting records of other birds than waterbirds are
mentioned. Otherrresults of the expeditions are published elsewhere
(Meininger et al 1979, Meininger and Mullie 1979, Meininger et al 1980,
Meininger and Mullie 1981).

COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto

This species was recorded for the first time in Egypt on 12 November 1979,
when 26 birds were seen near Suez. At the same place Collared Doves were
present since then, their numbers varying between 25 and 50 (Sherif M Baha
el Din, pers. comm.). We saw 25 birds near Suez on ) January 1980. Many
of these birds were displaying and it seems likely that a small resident
population has been established here.

We also saw Collared Doves on three different sites on the northcoast of
the Sinai-peninsula: on 5 and 6 January 1980 we counted a total of 21 birds
at El Arish, on 7 January we saw five birds in a small palm oasis 1) km
west of El Arish and on 8 January one bird was seen near Romani, a small
village 110 km west of El Arish.

On 2 April 1980 two Collared Doves were seen in Heliopolis, a suburb of
Cairo, and on 10 April 1980 one more was seen elsewhere in Heliopolis
(Sherif M Baha el Din, in litt.).

The Collared Dove is an abundant resident breeder in Israel (Meininger, pers.
obs.) and probably has recently extended its range in western direction
through the Sinai into Egypt. According to Meinertzhagen (1922) the species
was abundant in the early nineteen twenties in the Jordan valley, but only a
few occurred in the coastal plain from Haifa to Gaza. In the early nineteen
fifties the species was still absent from Sinai (Meinertzhagen 195),).

Regarding the well known expansion of the species into north-west Europe
(Stresemann and Nowak 1958), a further extension of the range in Egypt
is to be expected.

ALPINE SWIFT Apus melba

On 18 January 1979 one bird was seen between Beni Suef and El Minya.
Around that same date many individuals were seen at Luxor (S.M. Goodman, in
TREE)

According to Meinertzhagen (1930) the species had only been observed
occasionally in spring and autumn. The Alpine Swifts breeding in the
Western Palearctic region all winter in Africa south of the Sahara,
though the exact wintering areas are unknown (Moreau 1972). In north-
west Africa the first spring migrants are seen in the beginning of March
(Glutz von Blotzheim and Bauer 1980).

SWALLOW Hirundo rustica

The Egyptian subspecies H. r. savingii was abundant in all visited areas.
According to Meinertzhagen (1930) the subspecies H. r. rustica is
occasionally observed in midwinter. In the two winters we recorded a

total of 2h of the latter: 21 January 1979 four between Idfu and Isna,

28 January 1979 two Lake Idku, 31 January 1979 eight Baltim, 11 February
1979 one Ismailiya, 2 January 1980 three Faiyum, 1) January 1980 one Baltin,
15 January 1980 two Baltim, 20 January 1980 one in the desert between
Safaga and Qena and 22 January 1980 two Lake Nasser.

HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbica

On 8 February 1979 we saw one bird on Lake Manzala between Dumyat and El
Matariya. Meinertzhagen (1930) says that this species is absent in winter,
early arrivals appearing about mid February.

RED-TATLED WHEATEAR Oenanthe xanthoprymna

Meinertzhagen (1930) mentions only a few records of this species in Egypt:
5 March 1928 in western Sinai and 23 February 1928 a pair at Quseir. More-
over there are three specimens in the British Museum labelled "Egypt" and
dated February and March.

We saw and photographed a male on the pyramids of Giza on 9 January 1979
and three males on the same place on 22 December 1979.

BLACK WHEATEAR Oenanthe leucura

On 2 January 1979 Ben Dielissen (in litt.) saw and filmed a male near
Na'ama (Sinai). The black band at the end of the tail and the absence of
white at the end of the outer tail feathers was seen clearly. On 3 and
January 1980 Ben Dielissen saw again a male Black Wheatear at exactly the
same place.

This species is a resident in southern France, Spain, Portugal and North-
Africa, east to Tripoli in Libya. The only Egyptian record was a pair
obtained on 28 January 1928 20 km west of Salum, in the extreme north-west
of Egypt (Meinertzhagen 1930).

NILE VALLEY SUNBIRD Anthreptes metallicus

Meinertzhagen (1930) mentions the Nile Valley Sunbird as a rare resident

in Upper Egypt and says that it is probably only a straggler to Lower
Egypt. The species is at present a regular winter resident in Cairo from
October to May (Greaves 1945) and has also been observed in winter in the
Suez Canal Zone (Simmons and Hurrell 1951). Greaves and Tregenza (1937)
found the species breeding as far north as Qena, and are not excluding the
possibility that it is also breeding in small numbers in the Cairo district.

We saw the Nile Valley Sunbird in Upper Egypt at Aswan (19 January 1979 20
birds, 21 January 1980 18 birds) and at Luxor (21 and 22 January 1979 13
birds). In the Faiyum oasis, where the species had never been seen before,
we saw it both winters in a garden near the village of Shakshouk: 11 January
1979 and 31 December 1979 two birds.

hee

It was also frequently observed in Giza, where two or three birds were

always present in flowering trees in the zoological gardens. At this —
place the species might breed as well, as displaying birds and a female
carrying nest material were seen in March 1980 (Sherif M. Baha el Din,

in litt )%

RAVEN Corvus corax

On 10 January 1980 we saw from a short distance two birds flying in
eatern direction along the seashore near Port Said. According to
Meinertzhagéen (1930) the Raven occurs only in the coastal belt from
Salum (Libyan border) to Burg el Arab (edge of the Nile Delta), where
it is resident.

BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla

One bird was seen at El Arish on 5 January 1980, Meinertzhagen (1930)
mentions only eleven records from the Nile Delta, and no records from
Sinai. Hubbard and Seymour (1968) mention the capture of a female at
Port Said on 20 November 1966.

GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris

This species possibly breeds in the extreme north of Sinai between El
Arish and Rafa, and is not uncommon in winter throughout northern Sinai.
In the Suez Canal area and in many parts of the Nile Delta they have been
occasionally observed from November to March. (Meinertzhagen 1930).

Ben Dielissen (in litt.) saw two birds on 1 January 1980 near Nuweiba and
six birds at Ofira on 3 January 1980 (Red Sea coast of Sinai). We saw
six birds at El Arish on 6 January 1980 and eight birds on 19 January at
Hurghada.

Another interesting observation is that of well established breeding
populations of the House Crow Corvus splendens in several seashore
communities along the Red Sea Coast and the Suez Canal. Details of this
is given elsewhere (Meininger et al 1980).

It is clear marked changes in the Egyptian avifauna has occurred since
Meinertzhagen's time, changes which are only now becoming known.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The expeditions would not have been possible without generous financial
support from the Prins Berhard Fonds, the Netherlands Foundation for
International Bird Preservation, the International Waterfowl Research
Bureau and the Holy Land Conservation Fund. We are greatly indebted to
Sherif M. Baha el Din (Cairo, Egypt) and Ben C. Dielissen (Voorburg,
Netherlands) for submitting their records and to Dr Bertel Bruun (New
York, USA) for his critical comments on the first draft of the manuscript.

REFERENCES

Glutz von Blotzheim, U.N. and K.M. Bauer. 1980. Handbuch der Vogel
Mitteleuropas, vol. 9. Frankfurt am Main, Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft.

Greaves, R.H. 1945. The Nile Valley Sunbird in Egypt. Ibis 87: 570-571

Greaves, R.H. and L.A. Tregenza. 1937. The Nile Valley Sunbird (Nectarinia
metallica) in Egypt. The Oologist's Record 17: 79-83

Hubbard, J.P. and Ch. Seymour. 1968. Some notable bird records from Egypt.
Ibis 110: 575-577

Meinertahagen, R. 1922. Notes on some birds from the Near East and from
tropical East Africa. Ibis 11th ser. vol. IV: 1-7h

Meinertzhagen, R. 1930. Nicoll's birds of Egypt. Vol. 1 and 2. London,
Hugh Rees

Meinertzhagen, R. 1954. Birds of Arabia. Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd

Meininger, P.L., W.C. Mullie, J. van der Kamp and B. Spaans. 1979. Report
of the Netherlands Ornithological Expedition to Egypt in January and
February 1979. Middelburg, report

Meininger, P.L. and W.C. Mullie. 1979. Some results of the Dutch
ornithological expedition to Egypt in January and February 1979.
Bull. -Orm. Soc. M. East 3: 12-1)

Meininger, P.L., W.C. Mullie and B. Bruun. 1980. The spread of the House
Crow Corvus splendens, with special reference to the occurrence in Egypt.
Gerfaut, in press

Meininger, P.L. and W.C. Mullie. 1981. The significance of Egyptian wetlands
for wintering waterbirds. Results of two ornithological expeditions in
the winters 1978/1979 and 1979/1980. Middelburg, report (in press)

Simmons, K.E.L. and A.G. Hurrell. 1951. Nile Valley Sunbirds in the Suez
Canal Zone. Ibis 93: 68-69

Stresemann, E. and E. Nowak. 1958. Die Ausbreitung der Turkentaube in
Asien und Europa. Journ. Orn. 99: 23-296

Middelburg, 19 November 1980

Peter L. Meininger Wim C. Mullie
Grevelingenstraat 127 Herberdsland 66
335 XE Middelburg h337 CP Middelburg
The Netherlands The Netherlands

OBSERVATIONS FROM LAKH MANYAS - Selim Somcag

Although many people have heard about the Bird Paradise National Park
Situated at the north-eastern corner of Lake Manyas, very few ornithologists
realise that there is another breeding colony of comparable importance at
the south-western tip of the lake. This colony, called Kabakadasi, lies on
a part of the shore where a small river, Kocacay, joins the lake. This area
is covered with willow woods and reeds offering a variety of food sources.
Kabakadasi is smaller than the National Park and regularly contains import-
ant breeding populations of waterbirds. The following observations were
made when E Somcag, H Erdegirmenci, B.Sirinoglu and I visited the area in
June 1980.

On 15th and 16th June we counted 176 White Pelicans Pelicanus onecrotalus,

220 yenmy Cormorants, Phalacrocorax pygmeus, 32 Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia,
29 Glossy Ibises Plegadis falcinellus, 17 Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax,
16 Grey Herons Ardea cinerea, ) Purple Herons Ardea purpurea, 1 Squacco Heron

Ardeola ralloides and 8 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta. A pair of Spur-
winged Plovers Vanellus spinosus were breeding with 8 black-winged Stilts
Himantopus himantopus present, a colony of 75 Herring Gulls Larus argentatus
and 10 Common Terns Sterna hirundo fishing over the river. Other birds seen
included a Water Pipit Anthus spin Anthus_spinoletta spinoletta, Reed Warblers Acrocephalus
scirpaceus, Savi's Warblers Locustella luscinioides, Black-headed Buntings
Emberiza melanocephala and Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra.

On 17th and 18th June we visited the Bird Paradise National Psrk where we
recorded White Storks Ciconia ciconia feeding in the fields, 6 Water Rails
Rallus aquaticus, Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur, 2 Scops Owls Otus scops
heard calling at night, Roller Coracias garrulus, Syrian Woodpecker,
Dendrocopos syriacus drumming, Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos, Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis and Golden
Oriole Oriolus oriolus. As it was not possible to view many of the breeding
birds from the observation tower we hired a boat from a local fisherman and
counted 16 Dalmatian Pelicans Pelecanus crispus, 5) Cormorants Phalacrocorax
carbo, 332 Pygmy Cormorants, 8h Grey Herons, 6 Purple Herons, 25) Little
Egrets, 363 Spoonbills, 253 Glossy Ibises, 5) Night Herons, 52 Squacco Herons
and 2 Bitterns Botaurus stellatus.

AUTUMN MIGRATION OVER THE BOSPHORUS -— Selim Somcag

The following observations were made during the period 31st August to hth
October 1980 with the help of B. Valk and L. Schilteroord.

A total of 73,626 White Storks Ciconia ciconia were recorded, even though
most of them had already passed through in late August, and 5,898 Black
Storks Ciconia nigra were also seen. We counted 10,823 Buzzards Buteo buteo,
with a peak of 1,927 on the 2hth September and 8,90 Lesser Spotted Eagles
Aquila pomarina with a peak of 1,507, also on 2th September. Only 3
Spotted Eagles Aquila clanga were positively identified. 5 Imperial Eagles
Aquila heliaca were seen and on 6th September a White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus
albicilla. 1,986 Honey Buzzards Pernis apivorus, 6,0h5 Levant Sparrowhawks
Accipiter brevipes, 838 Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus, 856 Short-toed Eagles
Circaetus gallicus, 168 Booted Eagles Hieraaetus pennatus, 211 Black Kites
Milvus migrans and 136 Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus were observed.
Other raptors identified included 7 Marsh Harriers Circus aeruginosus, 6 Hen
Harriers Circus cyaneus, 1 Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus and 17 unidenti-
fied Harriers. 9 Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus, 5 Long-legged Buzzards Buteo
rufinus, 2 Red Kites Milvus milvus, 3 Goshawks Accipiter gentilis, 6 Kestrels
Falco tinnunculus, 6 Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni, 7 Red—footed Falcons
Falco vespertinus, 7 Hobbies Falco subbuteo and 18 unidentified falcons
complete the list of raptors. Interference from local Hobbies made an
accurate assessment difficult.

Other migrating species recorded were 298 Grey Herons Ardea cinerea, 1

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, 2 White Pelicans Pelecanus onecrotalus, 13 Cranes
Grus S, 206 Bee-eaters Merops a iaster, and in early October 2,135 Wood

Pigeons Columba palumbus.

-7-

SNAILS IN THE LARDER OF A GREAT GREY SHRIKE - K Mienis

There are at least two good reasons why we know more about the Great
Grey Shrike, Lanius excubitor Linnaeus, 1758, than about any other
shrike. First of all its distribution is very large: North America
(from Canada to Mexico), Europe, North Africa and large parts of Asia,
and secondly, this shrike has the interesting habit of impaling its
victims on thorns or spines (Holyoak, 1978). Both factors have lead
to the publication of a large number of observations, containing a
wealth of information concerning its food preference.

In Israel the Great Grey Shrike is commonly encountered in most of the
country and insects (locusts and large beetles of the families Tenebrionidae
and Carabidae), reptiles (skinks, lizards, geckos and small snakes), small
rodents (Microtus entheri, Meriones crassus and Jaculus jaculus ) and
birds (Inbar, 1976) have been recorded as prey species.

Recently Dr David Furth found, however, an animal species in a larder of
Lanius excubitor which have not been recorded before in Israel or abroad.
In February 1979 he found several landsnails impaled on the thorns of Rhus
trispinosa in the valley of Wadi Qilt, near Ein el Qilt, between Jerusalem
and Jericho. All the shells belonged to the Common field snail, Helix
engaddensis, which is commonly encountered in Wadi Qilt especially after
some rain. All the shells contained still the dried in remains of the
snails, a sign that the shrike(s) did not eat them. The same larder
contained also several insects, small birds and a gecko.

According to my data this seems to be the first case of "predation" on
snails by the Great Grey Shrike. It is, however, doubtful whether it is
really feeding on snails. More likely its passion for hunting is so

large that even in periods it does not require food, it continues catching
and impaling all small moving animals. In the Negev desert a Great Grey
Shrike has been seen impaling in this way 15 lizards on the thorns of an
acacia within one hour. It is therefore more likely that Lanius excubitor
is catching snails in order to still its hunting instinct, rather than for
food.

I would be very pleased to hear of any other record of snails encountered
in larders of shrikes in general and of those in the Middle East in
particular.

REFERENCES

Holyoak, D.T. 1978. Shrikes. In: Bird families of the World, 196-198
H.N. Abrams Inc. New York

Inbar, R. 1976. Birds of Israel. 238 pp. Yavneh. Tel Aviv (in Hewbrew).

Henk K. Mienis

Curator Molluse Collection
Zoological Museum

Hewbrew University of Jerusalem
Jerusalem

Israel

ait ean

WATER EXTRACTION AT AZRAQ -— P.J. CONDER

Between 5th and 10th April 1981 I visited the Asraq Wetland Reserve in
the Jordanian part of the Syrian Desert. Because of its exceptional
interest and the desert areas around it has been studied by many groups
of scientists. (For a short bibliography see Conder, 1981, Sandgrouse,
2:32). Recommendations have been made by various international agencies
for procedures to safeguard its integrity. The Mountfort expeditions

in the mid 1960's recommended that establishment of the Azraq Desert
Reserve which include the marsh and the mudflat area. King Hussein made
a declaration of intent to establish the Park but other events such as
new highways to Riyadh, Damascus, Baghdad and the Gulf States through
Azraq, as well as new towns, a new military airfield at Shishan, etc
have shelved that idea. The Mountfort expeditions also recommended that
an international biological station should be established, and Dr Bryan
Nelson was its director until ousted by the Iraqis and since then the
concept has been utterly inert. The Jordanian appended the Azraq Wetland
Reserve to their ratification of the 'Ramsar' convention, and later
declared 22km2 of desert around Shaumari as the Azraq Desert Reserve in
which they hoped to breed the Arabian Oryx Oryx leucoryx in captivity
for eventual return to the wild.

The gloomy news now is that even more water is being extracted from Azraq.
For some years water had been pumped from Ain Qasiyeh, one of the two main
springs which fed the marsh, and pumped to Azraq North whose water was being
pumped to Irbid. Warnings had been given by visiting scientists that any
further extraction would seriously affect the marsh. Since 1979, when I
drew up the Management Plans on behalf of IUCN/WWF Joint Projects and the
Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature in Jordan, the remaining
spring Ain Soda has been fenced off and water is being pumped to Amman and
Irbid. The RSCN has protested but with no effect and, (in early April)

as forecast, the marsh was virtually dry, with relatively few birds; a few
areas with shallow water were densely packed with birds. I did not have
time, since I was leading a tour, to look into Nelson's suggestion that
there might be other springs in the marsh or to note anything other than
the most obvious elements of this serious situation.

The marsh was dry in spite of a very heavy rainfall since August 1980;

So much rain had fallen that the 60-7Okm of the mudflat was flooded

for the first time since 1976, and we saw the extraordinary juxtaposition
of dry marsh and, only 100m away in places, a vast shallow lake with
Shelduck, Ruff, Glossy Ibis, Great Sand Plover and so on along the edges.

Prophets of doom are never very popular, but I can only see further
deterioration of what was once a magnificent marshland area and an import-—
ant resting and breeding place for a wide variety of birds. If springs
can be found in other parts of the marsh perhaps something can be rescued,
but I cannot see any chance in the foreseeable future of the Jordanian
Government stopping water extraction in view of the enormous shortage in
the country as a whole.

Even though Shaumari is mainly for mammals, I am sure that OSME members
will be glad to know that the 18th arabian oryx calf to be born under the
breeding programme arrived on 7th April 1981.

-9-

ADDITIONAL BREEDING RECORDS OF LITTLE SWIFT (APUS AFFINIS) AND CRETZSCHMAR'S
BUNTING (EMBERIZA CAESIA) IN TURKEY - M van den Berg and R Damhuis

On 6th July 1979, we observed some small swifts which showed the characteristic
white rump, short square tail and dark underparts of the Little Swift, east

of Gaziantep. On searching the cliffs around which these birds were flying

we discovered four nests. These were built on the open parts of the rocks

and attached to each other. Only a few breeding sites for this species

have been recorded in the South Coastlands and South-eastern Turkey.

On 10th July 1979 we were walking in the mountains near Tatvan when we
observed a bunting which reminded us of a female Cretzschmar's Bunting,
unfortunately the bird was shy and we did not see it properly. On 11th
July at a different site near Tatvan we observed a male Cretzschmar's
Bunting, the brown throat and moustachial stripe in combination with the
blue-grey head and upper breast separated it from Ortolan Emberiza hortulana
and Grey-headed Buntin Emberiza buchanani. We later saw the male feeding
young but did not observe a female. These observations near Tatvan mean a
considerable eastward expansion of the breeding range of this species.

NOTES FROM EASTERN SAUDI ARABIA - R Raby

Wadi Al-—Miyah is an area of well vegetated sandy desert with regular
escarpments, a chain of small sabkah evaporation pans and scattered settle-
ments and oases, situated south of Nuayriyah. In recent years I have
discovered four regularly occurring species, previously of migrant and
vagrant status, present in this region.

Little Owl Athene noctua was found commonly on all suitable rocky
escarpments and abandoned villages. I observed mating and 90% of my
records were of pairs. There is only one previous record of this species
for the region.

Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus is a common winter visitor from
November to March, feeding on small pools between Al Hussay and Al Qulayyib,
and following heavy rains birds could be found on evaporation pans in the
area. They have only been recorded as a passage migrant in the past.

Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii was observed regularly on the edges of
small evaporation pans in the west of the area. It has been noted only as
a winter vagrant before, possibly due to confusion with Mourning Wheatear
Oenanthe monancha.

Grey Hypercolius Hypercolius ampelinus was found for three successive
winters from November to mid-February in palm groves in the north-east
corner of Nata Oasis. Previously only recorded as a vagrant.

Also in the Eastern Province I recorded a winter male Brambling Fringilla
montifringilla on 1st and 2nd December 1980, 30kms east of Nuayriyah. This
species has not been recorded in the Eastern Province before and is a rare
winter visitor to nearby Kuwait.

= 40. =

RECENT LITERATURE

ALBRECHT, J.S.M. (1980) November birds at Burdur Grolii. OSME Bull. 5: h-6
ALIBONE, M.R. (1981) Little Egrets with green legs and feet B.B. 7:1

ASH, J.S. (1980) The Lesser Golden Plover in North east Africa and the
Southern Red Sea. Scopus : 6)h-66

BEIDERMANN, E. and I.S. ROBERTSON (1981) The occurrence of Pine Bunting in
Israel. Sandgrouse 2: 96-97

BRUUN, B. (1981) The Lappet-faced Vulture in the Middle East. Sandgrouse 2: 91-95

BRUUN, B. H. MENDELSSOHN, J. BULL (1981) A new subspecies of Lappet-faced Vulture
Torgos tracheliotus from the Negev Desert, Israel. BOC Bull 101: 2hh—2h7

BUNDY, G and F.E. WARR (1980) A checklist of the birds of the Arabian Gulf
States. Sandgrouse 1: h-lh9

CASEMENT, M.B. (1980) Sea report sheets: Red Sea and Gulf of Aden; Indian
Ocean/Arabian Sea; Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Sea Swallow 29: 35-39

CLARKE, J.E. (1980) The avifauna of Shaumari Wildlife Reserve. Sandgrouse
1: 50-70

CLARKE, J.E. (1981) The occurrence of Strickland's Wheatear in Jordan,
Sandgrouse 2: 98-99

CONDOR, P.J. (1981) Birds of the Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan: Jan-Feb 1979.
Sandgrouse 2: 22-32

DE JONGHE, J.F. (1980) Notes sur l'avifaune du Nord-ouest de 1'Iran. Oiseau
50: 63-65

DE ROEVER, J.W. (1980)0n studying raptor migration in Egypt. Dutch Birding
2:26

ESHBOL, Y.(1981) Plovers in Peril. Israel Land and Nature 6: 116-121
FRIEDMAN, Y. (1980) Ostrich eggs in Herzliya. Israel Land and Nature
GALLAGHER, M. (1980) The Sooty Falcon in Oman. Hawk Trust Annual Report 3-38
GALLAGHER, M. (1980) Birds of Oman. Quartet

GRANT, P.J. (1980) Field identification of West Palearctic Gulls: Part 3
Brit. Birds 73: 113-158

GRANT, P.J. (1980) On identification and ageing of Great Black-headed Gull,
Dutch Birding 2:58

HAENSEL, J. (1980) Ornithologische Eindrucke wahrend eines weiteren
Studienaufenthalts in Agypten im Herbst und Fruhwinter 1972. Beitr.
Vogelkd. Jena 26: 19-29

HIRSCH, U (1980) Der Waldrapp (Geronticus eremita), ein Beitrag zur
Situation in seinem ostichen Verbreitungsgebeit. Die Yogelwelt 101: 219-236

HOLLOM, P.A.D. (1980) Observations of nesting Houbara Bustards. Brit. Birds
73: 10-11

HOLMDEN, M. and E. HAMMONDS (1980) Checklist of the Birds of Bahrain.
Witla fe in Benin 1978-79 : 17-52

HORNER, K. 0. (1980) Spring migration of Sylvia spp on the North coast of
the Arab Republic of Egypt. Proc. IV Pan-Afr. Orn. Congr. 215-226

IJZENDOORN, E.J. VAN (1980) Bye colour of Western Reef Heron. Dutch Birding 2:5
ILANI, G. (1980) The terrible Bulbul. Israel Land and Nature 5:125
ILANI, G. (1980) Lappet-faced Vultures. Israel Land and Nature 5:125

BS A ated

ILANI, G. (1980) Wildlife news. Israel Land and Nature 6: 37-38

ILANI, G. (1980) Wildlife news. Israel Land and Nature 6: 83-8

ILANI, G. (1980) Wildlife news. Israel Land and Nature 6: 126

JENNINGS, M.C. (1980) Breeding birds in Central Arabia. Sandgrouse 1: 71-81
JENNINGS, M.C. (1980) RAFOS Masirah expedition 1979. OSME Bull. 5:7

KAYMAS, C. (1980) Marmara Island. OSME Bull. 5:2

KUMERLOEVE, H. (1980) Von Vogelzugzum Bosporus. Orn. Mitt. 32: 16-19

LESHEM, Y. (1979) Golden Eagles in our backyard. Israel Land and Nature 5: 70-75

LESHEM, Y. (1980) The Negev and Judean desert: Last chance for Israel's raptors
Israel Land and Nature 6; 28-33

LESHEM, J. (1981) The Occurrence of Hume's Tawny Owl in Israel and Sinai.
Sandgrouse 2: 100-102

MADGE, S. (1981) The Subspecies identity of the Little Green Bee-Eater in
Israel. Sandgrouse 2:107)

MADGE, S. and D. PARR (1981) The Field Identification of the Arabian Warbler.
Sandgrouse 2: 103-106

MAN, S. (1980) Jay notes. Israel Land and Nature 5: 117-122

MEININGER, P.L., W.C. MULLIE and B. BRUUN (1980) The spread of the House
Crow, Corvus splendens, with special reference to the occurrence in

Egypt. Le Gerf. 2h5-250
NOGGE, G. (1980) Vogelvangst in Afghanistan. Het Vogeljaar 28: 89-9)

OREEL, G.J. (1980) On field identification of Short-toed larks. Dutch
Birding 2:115

PARAN, Y. (1980) Some notes on waterbirds observed in Egypt and North Sinai.
OSME Bull ):2-5

PARAN, Y. and P SHULTER (1981) The diurmal mass migration of the Little
Bittern. Sandgrouse 2: 108-110

PETRETTI, A and F. PERETTI (1980) Observations ornithologiques dans

RITZEL, L. (1980) Der Durchzug von Greifvogeln und Storchen uber den Bosporus
in Fruhjahr 1978. Die Vogelwarte 30: 1h9-162

SAFRIEL, U.N. (1980) Notes on the extinct population of the Bald Ibis in
the Syrian desert. Ibis 122: 82-88

SAHIN, R. (1980) Erfolgreiche Volierenbrut der Waldrappen in der Turkei.
Orn, Mitt. 32: 72-7)

SCHMIDTKE, K and H. UTSCHIK (1980) Ornithologische Ergebrisse einer
Turkeifahrt. Anz. Orn. Bayern. 19: 57-7

SCHUX, E. (1980) Ungewohnlicher Zug des Weissstochs uber Zypern. Die
Vogelwarte 30: 338-339

SINCLAIR, J.C. and G.H. NICHOLLS (1980) Winter identification of Greater
and Lesser Sandplovers. Brit. Birds 73: 206-213 : 586

SOMCAG, S. (1980) Winter in Istanbul. OSME Bull. 5: 3-h
S.P.N.I. (1981) Israel Nature Trails

STEINHAUX, G.H. (1980) On feeding action of Western Reef Heron. Dutch
Birding 2:9

SUTHERLAND, W.J. and D.J. BROOKS (1981) Autumn migration of raptors, storks,
pelicans and spoonbills at Belen Pass, Southern Turkey. Sandgrouse 2:1-21

THALER, E. E. ETTEL and S. JAKOB (1981) Zur Sozialstruktur des Waldrapps.
Geronticus eremita. J. Orn. 122:109-128

VAN DER VEN, J.A. and G.F. GHEYSELINCK (1981) Birds in Eastern Turkey II
26 Sept - 13 October 1980.

VINICOMBE, K (1981) Spring migration at FBilat. Country Life 169: 663-666

VITTERY, A. (1980) The specific identity of the Buzzards of Central Anatolia.
OSME BULL. : 7-9

WALCOT, T. (1980) Two years birdwatching in Saudi Arabia. Adjutant 10: 13-21
WALKER, F.J. (1981) Notes on the Birds of Northern Oman. Sandgrouse 2:33-55
WALKER, F.J. (1981) Notes on the birds of Dhofan, Oman. Sandgrouse 2: 56-85

WALSH, T.A. and A. WASSINK (1980) Field identification of Long—billed Pipit.
Brit. Birds 73:313-31)

WALTERS, M. (1981) The problem of Guldenstadt's Redstart. Sandgrouse 2:86-90

YOM-TOV, Y. (1980) Intraspecific nest parasitism among Dead Sea Sparrows
Passer moabiticus. Ibis 122: 23-237

YOM-TOV, Y. (1980) The timing of Pest control operations in relation to
secondary poisoning prevention. Biol. Cons 18:1)3-1h9

ZUCKERBROT, Y.D., U.N. SAFRIEL and U. PAZ (1980) Autumn migration of Quail.
Coturnix coturnix at the north coast of the Sinai peninsula. Ibis 122:1-1h

ANON. (1980) Rare and interesting birds in the Western Palearctic. Dutch
Birding 2:2)

RECENT EGYPTIAN REPORTS

Sherif Baha el Din has written with some interesting and unusual reports from
near his home in Cairo and along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts. In
the vicinity of Cairo.he has recorded Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus on
passage in April 1980 and has also found Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus
senegalensis breeding on rooftops there. The Red Avadavat Amandava amandava
appears to be quite common in the Cairo area nowadays and it was noted with
fledged young in November 1980. This oriental species was introduced into
Cairo many years ago but nothing much has been heard of it until now. The
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto was seen for the first time in Egypt

(by Sherif) at Suez on 13th November 1979, when quite a number were present.
He recorded the species for the first time in Cairo on 2nd April 1980 and

it has now been seen in several other places in the country. The closely
related African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea is a resident of the
Jebel Elba region in the south-east of Egypt. Other notable records from
-Suez have been Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus and Roseate Tern Sterna
dougallii in May and Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolos and Steppe

Eagle Aquila rapax in June last year. On the Red Sea coast Sherif reports
Little Green Heron Butorides striatus (Aug 1979), Sooty Falcon Falco
concolor (June 1980) and Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii (also June 1980) all

at Hurghada (27N). The Indian House Crow Corvus splendens has occurred on
the Red Sea at Ras Gharib (28°N) and Safaga (26°N) in August 1979 and June
1980 respectively, Meininger et al (1980). His most recent reports from the
Red sea include a flock of )) Shelduck Tadorma tadorma on 11th December 1980
at Suez (this is the first occurrence on the Red Sea coast of Egypt known to
Sherif); an Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus appeared at Hurghada on
30th January this year and 20 Swift Terms Sterna bergii were seen there in
late January amd early February - a species not previously thought to

winter in the north of the Red Sea. On the Mediterranean coast the cliff

a3" 2

nest of a Raven Corvus corax was found in September 1979, 25km west of
Matruh. Sherif took part in a raptor count in October 1980 at Suez with
Peter Meininger, the results are interesting (over 10,000 raptors in 7
days) and will be published in Sandgrouse.

RECENT ISRAEL REPORTS

Visiting ormithologists to Israel have recorded some interesting species

this spring including Shy Albatross Diomedea cauta, WedgeOtailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus and Black Bushchat Cercotrichas podobe which are new for the
Western Palearctic, and an inland record of Red—billed Tropicbird Phaethon
aethereus at the Dead Sea.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

LANDSNATLS AS FOOD OF BIRDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

I am currently working on a review of the predators of landsnails living
in the Middle East. Among these predators are many birds for example
storks, sand partridges, bustards, plovers, stone curlews, cream—coloured
coursers, gulls, little owls, Smyrna kingfishers, bulbuls, shrikes, rock
and all other thrushes, starlings and all the crows. Records in the
literature are scarce and most data in the hands of birdwatchers do not
reach malacologists. Therefore I would be very pleased if I could
receive any data concerning predation on landsnails carried out by birds
in the Middle East. I would appreciate also receiving any snails or
snail remains (a piece of shell of 2-3 mm is often already enough to
enable a rough identification) encountered in crops, gizzards, pellets
and faeces. Records used in future articles will be fully acknowledged
Material and information can be sent to Henk K Mienis, Zoological
Museum, Mollusc Collection, Hewbrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
Those unable to send mail to Israel can write to me at: M Mienis, Corn.
Haringhuizenlaan 37, 1679 XR -— Midwoud, Holland.

Henk K Mienis

BIRDS OF EGYPT

In collaboration with the Egyptian Wildlife Service, The Holy Lane
Conservation Fund and the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME )
we are collecting all data on the birds of Egypt (including the Sinai
peninsula). The aim is to compile an up to date "Checklist of the Birds
of Egypt" in the future.

We would appreciate receiving any unpublished records or other suitable
material for inclusion in the work.

en We

Ornithologists intending to visit Egypt are requested to contact us, so
that we can send them standard forms for the "Atlas of Breeding Birds"
survey.

The material collected will also be used for summarizing data on the status
of birds in Egypt for "Birds of the Western Palearctic". Contributions will
be fully acknowledged.

W.C. Mullie P.L. Meininger
Herberdsland 66 Grevelingenstraat 127
4337 CP Middelburg 4335 XE Middelburg
The Netherlands The Netherlands
REVIEW

The Birds of Oman — M Gallagher and M Woodcock, Quartet Books Ltd 1980
328 pages, 120 col. pl., 12 photos, £37.50

In the wake of the oil boom which has opened up the Middle East to many
visiting, or temporarily resident, European ornithologists, we are likely
to see the publication of many books on the birds of this region.
Virtually the first in the field is The Birds of Oman.

Oman, an independent sultanate in eastern Arabia, lies at the junction of
three zoogeographical regions, has its own resident avifauna of particular
interest and straddles the migration route between Asia and Africa with its
seas attracting appreciable numbers of sea birds.

The book deals with the country's climate and geographical regions and has
chapters on its ornithological history, its differing and varied habitats,
its breeding birds, migrants and sea birds. The African and Indian
connections are described.

The main body of the book is a systematic list of over 380 species. Each
species (most of which are illustrated) is given a brief world distribution,
a one or two line description of its Oman status and occurrences and three-
quarters of the text is taken up by a description of the bird, its biological
niche and its calls. It is here my main criticism of the book would fall in
that the opportunity appears to have been missed to give the reader a fuller
description of the birds' 'Oman' setting and significance. Some of the
inclusions in the list are also rather curious; page 22, for instance,
includes three thrushes (all illustrated) 'not yet reported in Oman'.

Martin Woodcock's illustrations are generally pleasing and capture the jizz
of the bird although for some tastes the plates will appear too clinical.

His touch with raptors and some of the warblers is also less than sure.

An appendix at the end of the book contains a checklist of 'admitted' species.
This is a handsome book of coffee-table proportions and will clearly be a
necessary possession for any ornithologist visiting, residing or interested

in Oman.

The book is published by Quartet Books Ltd of 27/29 Goodge Street, London,
W1iP 1FD. The price is somewhat high at £37.50.

Don Parr

Ba ARSE

PHEASANTS IN ASIA 1979 C Savage (ed) World Pheasant Association 1980
116 pages. £8.50

The World Pheasant Association has published the Proceeding of the
First International Pheasant Symposium which was held in Katmandu in
November 1979. It is attractively produced with many text figures,
drawings and photographs. Papers include status assessments of
pheasants in Nepal, Pakistan and the Himalayas and reviews recent
fieldwork from those and other countries. Copies of this publication
can be obtained from W.P.A., Harraton Square, Church Lane, Exning,
Suffolk, price £8.50 (incl.postage).

A Second International Symposium is planned for September 1982 in Kashmir.

Don Parr

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Accommodation in Turkey

The Hon H.J.H. Tollemache has offered members of OSME the use of his

house in Turkey for short holidays. The house is situated near Bodrun,

on the beach near Bitez Koy, has two double bedrooms and is available at

a small charge. For further details write to the owner at Chicholme House,
Roberton, Hawick, Roxburgh, Scotland.

ICBP/IWRB Pelican Research Group

The co-ordinator of the ICBP/IWRB Pelican Research Group will receive
with pleasure any observation (breeding, wintering, migration) of
Pelecanus crispus and Pelecanus onocrotalus (number, date and location)
in the Middle East. A special request is made for data on the breeding
colonies in Turkey. Since 1975 the co-ordinator was not able to find
any published data on these colonies.

Every information will be answered personally.

The Co-ordinator ; Dr A.J. Crivelli
PO Box 6015
Reynolda Station
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109
USA

ISRAEL RAPTOR INFORMATION CENTRE

The I.R.I.C. has issued the first of a series of publications concerning
birds of prey: The Torgos (Vol. 1. No. 1. December 1980). The issues will
be produced three times a year and are written in Hebrew with Inglish
summaries attached. The articles are not necessarily confined to matters
relating to raptors in Israel and will cover a wide range of interests in
a world-wide context.

For further information contact: Yossi Leshem, I.R.1.C., Har Gilo Field
Study Centre, Sak Naul, Jerusalem, ISRAEL.

- 146- j

SANDGROUSE

Because of the delay in the production of Sandgrouse Vols 1 and 2, some
members have, understandably, become a little confused as to what issues
they are entitled to. The first volumes of Sandgrouse will be issued as
follows-

Vol 1; Published December 1980: Free to all members who have paid a
1978 and 1979 subscription.

Vol 2; Published March 1981: Free to all members who have paid the
full subscription for 1980 (£3.50)

Vol 3, To be published late 1981:Free to all members who have paid the
full subscription for 1981 (£5.00)

After Volume 3 it is planned to publish one volume each year and those
members paying the full subscription for that year will receive it free.
Members also receive two issues of the Bulletin free for each years
subscription. The Society will prepare special publications from time to
time, some of which will be issued free and others will be made available
to members at a reduced price.

Additional copies of Sandgrouse Vols. 1 and 2 can be purchased from
the Sales Officer at £5.00 each or £9.00 for both issues (post free).

1981 SUBSCRIPTIONS

In order to ensure that publication of Sandgrouse Vol 3 is not delayed,
members whose 1981 subscriptions are still unpaid should send their
remittances without further delay. The new rate is £5.00 plus a £2.00
airmail surcharge if required.

1980 ACCOUNTS

Copies of the proposed 1980 Income and Expenditure Account and the Balance |
Sheet as at 31st December 1980 are enclosed with this bulletin. Please note
that to give a more accurate impression of the Society's financial state as

at the end of the year, the expected costs of both Sandgrouse 1 and Sandgrouse
2 have been provisioned for, although the invoices for both these journals
were not received until 1981.

GIROBANK TRANSFERS

The Society now has a Girobank account. Anyone wishing to pay their
subscription, or any other amount, to the Society through the Giro system
should make a note of the number of our Girobank account:-— 55 019 207.
Overseas members who are able to credit a UK Giro account through their
own national giro system should ensure that any transfers are in Sterling,
to the required amount. Alternatively transfers can be made in your own
currency but in such cases it is essential that you add 25% to cover Giro
and exchange charges.

Ae

ADVERTISEMENT

(Advertisements may be placed in this bulletin by OSME members at a
charge of £1 per line)

THE BIRDS OF SAUDI ARABIA : A CHECKLIST by MICHAEL JENNINGS. (1981
ISBN _O 9507405 0 0

Up to date information on the status and distribution of the h13 species
which have occurred in Saudi Arabia and notes on a further h2 species
which have been mentioned in the literature but which are 'rejected'.
Includes much of relevance to nearby regions. Four general maps, 117
breeding distribution maps and habitat notes for most of the 150 or so
breeding species. A few line drawings by Dr C.J.F. Coombs, full
bibliography, comprehensive gazetteer and an Arabic introduction. 100
pages. Cost £6.00 plus 30p postage (or £1.00 Airmail). Obtainable from
the author at 63, Blandford Road, Chiswick, London, Wy. (Or credit Giro
cae 50 851 7206. (Cheques to be made payable to 'M.C. Jennings' not
"OSME' ).

A List of North Yemen Birds. Michael Jennings has prepared a list of
North Yemen birds following a brief examination of published material.

It also includes some species seen recently during visits by, for

example R.F. Porter and N.R. Phillips. The list which is cyclostyled

can be obtained from OSME Sales, c/o RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire,
England. Price 50p including postage and packing.

OSME CAR STICKER

The Society has produced what must be one of the most exclusive car
stickers to be found anywhere in the Middle East. The Society emblem
appears on a sandy background, A free sticker is enclosed with this
bulletin. Be sure to display it prominently on your car, motorcyle or
private yacht and turn heads from Thrace to Kabul.

NB. The sticker is the 'atmospheric' type, it is not sticky and neither
does it require adhesive. To fix it to any glass surface you should
thoroughly clean an area on the inside of the glass, making sure that it
is dry and free from grease. Remove the backing paper and press the
sticker onto the glass, rubbing it down firmly until all the air bubbles
are removed.

OSME GREETINGS CARDS
Enclosed with this bulletin is one of our greetings cards. These cards

illustrate Western Reef Herons Egretta gularis, Blackstart Cercomela
melanura, Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus and Black-eared Wheatear

Oenanthe hispanica, and they are available in an assorted pack of ten cards
for 60p (incl postage ) from the Sales Officer. (Europe £1.00 and outside

Europe £1.80 to cover the cost of airmail).

ae

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——
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Our thanks go to Rob Hume for the vignettes of Black Wheatear Oenanthe
leucura and Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor.