Bulletin / Ornithological Society of the Middle East

THE ORNITHOLOGICAL
SOCIETY OF THE
MIDDLE EAST

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BULLETIN 17
AUTUMN 1986

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OSME BULLETIN 17 AUTUMN 1986

EDITOR: DJ Fisher

All records in this Bulletin are subject to acceptance by the relevant
records committee of the country concerned.

Please note that details of expeditions, availability of expedition
reports, news of members, other Societies and ornithological events are
welcomed and may be printed in the Bulletin free of charge subject to
the discretion of the Bulletin Editor. Contributions for the next
Bulletin should be sent to the Editor by 15th February 1987.

4 és - ; ~
et 6: :

A RECORD OF BALD IBIS FROM THE SINAI MOUNTAINS
Henry C Kyllingstad

On 31 March 1962 on a trip to the Monastery of St Katherine, our car
stopped near the stream that flows westward from the garden subsidiary
in the Wadi Feiran (28° 42' N, 33° 38' E). Near the stream an ibis was
feeding, apparently on beetles. I watched it with 8 x 40 binoculars
for fifteen minutes, noting its red bill, face, and legs. A ruff of
long purplish feathers at the back of its neck gave an unkempt
appearance to the bird. I was able to approach it to within five metres
and there is no doubt that it was a Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita.

Meinertzhagen (1930) notes that "Moreau observed a flock of eight birds
(Bald Ibis) at the pyramids of Giza on 8/5/1921, and there is little
doubt about the identification, but it is inadvisable to admit this
interesting species into the Birds of Egypt until it has actually been
obtained". The only other modern record of this species in Egypt is
the observation reported herein. (S.M. Goodman and P.L. Meininger
pers. comm.) However, there are recent records of a single individual
at Suakin, Sudan (19° 05' N, 37° 20' £) on 18 March 1983 (Nikolaus
1984) and four birds at Elat, Israel, on 4 April 1970 (Krabbe 1983).

Bald Ibis wintering in north-eastern Africa are thought to be from the
only known Turkish breeding site at Birecik along the upper Euphrates
(Cramp and Simmons 1977). It is presumed that the recent observations
of Bald Ibis in Israel, Sinai , and Sudan are of spring migrants
returning to the breeding grounds from wintering areas in north-east
Africa.

I thank S M Goodman for valuable aid in preparation of this note.

References:

Cramp, S and K E L Simmons (Eds.). 1977. The Birds of the Western
Palearctic Vol. 1. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Krabbe, N. 1983. Baid Ibis Geronticus eremita seen on Migration in
Israel. Bull. Orn. Soc. Middle East 10:13.

Meinertzhagen, R. 1930. Nicoll's Birds of Egypt, 2 vols. Hugh Rees,
London.

Nikolaus, G. 1984. Distinct status changes of certain Palearctic
migrants in Sudan. Scopus 8:36-38.

205 Sixth Street South, Marshall, MN 56258, USA.

SPRING OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRDS OF NORTH YEMEN
Rod Martins

In April 1986 I travelled in the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) from
8th - 24th (inclusive dates in the field). Ornithological observations
were made by Dr Ira Joel Abramson, myself and others in all the major
regions and habitat zones of the country. A detailed log of
locality-based daily observations was maintained and several copies
have been lodged with OSME Council.

Migrant passage occurred throughout the duration of our visit and was
particularly evident on the Tihama and in the Interior Desert. As
expected, there were differences in the relative abundance of certain
common migrant species compared to autumn passage. Details of this
subject will appear elsewhere. The purpose of this note is to record
observations of the status, breeding biology and distribution of birds
in the YAR which add significantly to current knowledge. When deciding
which records to include I have been guided by my experience as a

participant in the OSME Expedition to the YAR from early October to
early December 1985 and the literature in previous OSME publications.

Comments are given for some species, where appropriate, but these have
been kept to the minimum necessary as a detailed assessment of al]
information on the status of the country's birds is currently in
preparation and will be published as part of the Expedition's results.
Nevertheless, certain spring observations merit publication at this
time and I have considered records of the following 51 species to be
Significant with regard to one or more of the following categories:

(1) Distribution: seasonal distribution of migrants and spatial
distribution of resident species.

(2) Breeding biology, eg season.

(3) Species with restricted ranges and/or endangered
populations.

(4) Under-recorded species for which the limited series of
records presently available is inadequate for a complete
evaluation of status.

SYSTEMATIC LIST

Notes: 1) Due to logistical and security problems access to several
good coastal localities was restricted and many wetland
Species were thus either not observed or severely
under-recorded.

2) Records refer to single individuals unless otherwise stated.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Ta'izz sewage ponds and marsh/reservoir, 150 on 12-4 and 14-4. A pair
were present at an apparently active nest at sewage ponds on 12-4.

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

An adult day-roosting in Acacia woodland in a wadi 5 km north of

Sug' Abs on 18-4, was clearly a migrant. The fourth record for the
YAR.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

A colony of 150-200 pairs at the junction of the Bajil and Bayt Al
Faqih roads 15 km east of Hodeidah on 15-4. Most Dirds were
incubating.

White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Near Zabid, 10 on 16-4.
Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita

The 12 birds recorded in autumn 1985 by the OSME Expedition (14 prior
to the arrival of the expedition) were searched for at all known sites
on several occasions on 12 and 13-4. Though a slim possibility exists
that. the birds were present at an unknown site it seems more likely,

given the apparent suitability of areas visited, that they had moved
on.

Wigeon Anas penelope

Ta'izz sewage ponds on 12-4.

Teal Anas crecca

Ta'izz sewage ponds, 2 on 12-4

Garganey Anas querquedula

Ta'izz sewage SSCS 10 on 12-4. At least two pairs.
Ferruginous Duck Anas nyroca

Ta'izz sewage ponds. on 12-4.

Tufted Duck Anas fuligula

Ta'izz sewage ponds on 12-4.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Ta'izz marsh/reservoir, female or immature on 12 and 13-4.
Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates

A sitting bird was flushed from a nest at Al Midman on 16-4.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

Kawkaban on 9-4; Bayt Baws on 10-4; between Sana'a and Ta'izz, 2 on
11-4; Ta'izz sewage ponds on 13-4.

Buzzard Buteo buteo

Ta'izz sewage ponds on 12-4; near Bajil (flying north at about SOO
metres and thus presumably a migrant) on 15.4.

Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca

Ta'izz sewage ponds, immature on 12-4.
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

Ta'izz sewage ponds, dark phase on 12-4; Wadi Sinam 10 km east of Al
Qutay, pale phase on 17-4. |

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni

Four birds resting on the crests of dunes in almost entirely
unvegetated erg 15 km west of Ma'rib an hour after dawn on 22-4 were
Clearly migrants.

Philby's Rock Partridge Alectoris philbyi

18 km north-west of Sana'a, 3 on 9-4. A male was persistently calling
and presumably holding territory. The call was "Ah, ga-ga-ga...... i
the first note was abrupt, assertive and always the same and was
followed by a continuous and variable gutteral chuckle, typically
repeated three to five (but sometimes more) times.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Ta'izz sewage ponds, 13 on 12 and 13-4.

Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis

1 km east of the coast road in Wadi Rima, a pair on 16-4. This
normally secretive species was most conspicuous from 15 minutes before
till 15 minutes after dusk when sexual chases in flight and much
calling took place. Calls included "Pi, PI, Pee-Pee-Pee-Pee" and
“Pip-i-pup, Pip-i-pup": shrill whistles resembling Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
Ta'izz sewage ponds, one in second summer plumage on 12 and 13-4.
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei

Hodeidah fish docks, 12 (2 adults and 10 in second summer plumage) on
15 and 17-4.

White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa
Hodeidah fish docks, one in second summer plumage on 15-4.
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus

Off Al Mukha, 2 on 14-4. (The stop here was unavoidably brief: it is
likely that many very distant terns at sea were this species also).

Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus

10 km north-west of Ma'rib, 20 on 23-4: flock of 19 (8 males, 1l
females and one lone unsexed individual). Display noted. Not
previously documented from the YAR, though not unexpected.
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii

5 km south-west of As Sayiuf Zaghbari, 2 on 14-4.

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus

15 km north-west of Yakhtul, a pair on 14-4.

Didric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius

Wadi Dahr, female on 8-4.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

Between At Turban and Al Ajlaniyah (north of Hodeidah) on 17-4.
Hume's Tawny Owl Strix butleri

1 km west of Bayt Baws, one (three note) call heard 20 minutes before
dusk on 10-4. Also heard calling more frequently at the same site by
M Evans on at least two evenings within the previous three weeks.

Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus

Ta'izz marsh/reservoir on 12-4.

Nubian Nightjar Caprimulgus nubicus

5 km east of coast road in Wadi Rima on 16-4; Wadi Siham 5 km west of
Al Qutay', a pair roosting about ten metres apart on bare earth shaded
by scattered riverine scrub on 17-4.

Caprimulgus sp.

2 km-north-west of Ta'izz on 12-4: an extremely small short-tailed
nightjar (estimated length 15-20 centimetres) was seen briefly on two
occasions perched on a dirt track in car headlights. Few field
features were odserved other than broad white tips to outer (possibly
outer pairs of tail feathers (distal 3-4 centimetres) and a
conspicuous white patch at the base of the primaries. Based on the
information presently available and the comments of RF Porter (in
litt) it appears likely that the bird was either Plain-backed Nightjar

(Plain nightjar) Caprimulgus inornatus , a species recorded from
elsewhere in south-west Arabia but as yet unrecorded from the YAR, or
perhaps Donaldson-Smith's Nightjar Caprimulgus donaldsoni which is
unrecorded from the Arabian Peninsula but occurs across the Red Sea in
Somalia and is widespread throughout parts of north-east Africa.

Further records of unidentified nightjars were: Old Ma'rib dam, calling
at dusk on 21 and 22-4. 10 km south-west of Ma'rib, 2-3 calling at
dusk on 23-4. Adequate views were never obtained of these birds as
they frequented inaccessible steep unvegetated rocky slopes but the
song was Often heard: a churring sound similar to, but perhaps quieter
and lower pitched than, (Eurasian) Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus. The
birds may well have been migrants of this species as J Simms (in litt)
reported a heavy passage of Nightjars on the fringes of the Rub’ Al
Khali east of Ma'rib in April 1986. However, as the birds were not
adequately observed the possibility remains that they were resident(?)
Plain-backed Nightjars.

Alpine Swift Apus melba

15 km east of Ma'rib, 10 flying strongly north on 22-4 were almost
certainly migrants.

Black-crowned Finch-Lark Eremopterix nigriceps

15 km west of Mafraq al Murkha, a pair feeding a recently fledged
juvenile on 14-4. Throughout our stay in the Tihama (14 to 18-4)
aerial song-flighting was observed daily at many localities.

Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea
Near Al Munaqqab (between Sana'a and Shibam), 8 including at least two

pairs in fresh plumage on 9-4. This observation implies that breeding
occurs at this time of year though no direct evidence was noted.

10

Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica

16.4 km south-west of Ma'bar, a pair visiting a freshly-constructed
nest on 11-4.

Arabian Accentor Prunella fagani

Kawkaban, nest containing 3 pulli about seven days old on 9-4. The
nestlings had developed a dark slate-grey down and had orange gapes
with three small black spots on the tongue (one near the tip, two at
the same distance toward the rear). The nest was sited at the base of
the dense canopy of a small thorny shrub situated close to a well
vegetated gully in a thirty degree slope and was about one metre above
the ground. The cup was constructed of fine herbs woven onto an untidy
but densely woven platform of small twigs and was copiously lined with
large brown chicken feathers. While the nest was being investigated
the female was in close attention, constantly uttering a high-pitched
“Pee-Pee-Pee" call (always three notes). The bird never ventured more
than twenty metres from the nest. During a thirty minute watch of the
nest visits were made by one of both of the adults, carrying
large-insect food, on three occasions.

The construction, site and situation of the nest and appearance of the

nestlings were extremely similar to a nest of Radde's Accentor Prunella
ocularis which I observed at Demirkazik, Turkey, in late May 1983.

This would appear to be the first documented nest of Arabian Accentor.

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos

10 km north-west of Ma'rib on 24-4.

White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis

Bayt Baws, 10-4; 5 km west-north-west of Bajil on 15-4.

11

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
Kawkaban on 9-4.
Yemen Warbler (Arabian Tit Warbler) Parisoma_buryi

Kawkaban, on in full song from the crown of Acacia sp. on 9-4.

Upcher's Warbler Hippolais languida

Al Midman on 15-4; 8 km west of Al Mukayminiyah on 17-4; 5 km north of
Suq'Abs, on 18-4; 15 km south-west of Ma'rib, 2 on 23-4; 10 km
north-west of Ma'rib on 24-4.

Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum

5 km west-north-west of Bajil, on 15-4. Previously first recorded for
the YAR by the autumn 1985 OSME Expedition, this is the second
occurrence (and the first in spring).

Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena

30 km east of Manakhah, 2 on 19-4; 10 km north-west of Ma'rib, 2 on
24-4. The birds at Ma'rib are the second record for the Interior
Desert region or indeed anywhere east of the main highland massif. One
was collected by Philby at Wadi Khabb, south-east of Najran on
30-7-1936 (per. F.E. Warr).

Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria

15 km north-west of Mafraq al Mukha on 14-4; 5 km west-north-west of
Bajil, 2 on 15-4; Al Midman, 150-200 and Wadi Rima, 4 on 16-4; Wadi
Siham, 20 and between At Turbah and Al Ajlaniyah (north of Hodeidah), 3
on 17-4; 5 km north-west of Suq'Abs, 12 on 18-4; Old Ma‘rib dam, 2 on

12

21-4; 15 km east of Ma'rib, 4 on 22-4; 10 km south of Ma'rib, 10 on
23-4; 10 km north-west of Ma'rib, 20 on 24-4. Hitherto recorded as a
spring migrant only in small numbers in April, this series of records
indicates that the species can be widespread and localiy numerous as a
Spring passage migrant.

Brown Woodland Warbler Phyl loscopus umbrovirens

Song was noted more frequently than in autumn.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

Bayt Baws, 6 on 10-4; 16.4 km south-west of Ma'bar, 3 on 11-4; near
Al'Ajlaniyah, 2 on 17-4; Al Mahwit on 20-4; 10 km north-west of Ma'rib,
2 on 24-4.

Gambage Dusky Flycatcher (Dusky Flycatcher) Muscicapa gambagae

18 km west-north-west of Ta'izz on 13-4; Al Midman, 2 on 16-4, Al
Mahwit on 20-4.

Ruppell's Weaver Ploceus galbula

Singing and nest-building observed at colonies from 11-4 and
thereafter.

Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus

lo.4 km south-west of Ma'bar, 4 including a juvenile on 11-4 (recorded
at the same locality in October 1985 by the OSME Expedition); Ta'izz
marsh/reservoir, 2 on 13-4 (apparently preparing to roost in a small
tree on the edge of the reservoir); midway between At Tawilah and Al
Mahwit, 2 on 20-4.

13

House Bunting Emberiza striolata

Old Ma'rib dam, pair on 21-4; 15 km south-west of Ma'rib, pair on 23-4;
10 km north-west of Ma'rib, pair on 24-4. These are the only records
east of the highland massif apart from one collected by Philby at
Shudhayf, to the north of Jawf district (near Ma'rib) on 1-8-1936. (per
F E Warr).

Acknowledgements

The expedition was made possible by a grant from Bird Conservation
Surveys Inc to whom grateful thanks are due.

75 Stafford Street, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 3BG, United Kingdom.

NEW RECORDS OF GOLIATH HERON, YELLOW-BILLED STORK, BLYTH'S REED

Neen ene ee acter peat remnee dee meneancimeneecniisies nail oo smaisemipnbneesinnees a aiaeessnetaesenisnaecd oapaseopa PU sSnRSEnEEONSSSSEEEIDESSD

WARBLER AND CLAMOROUS REED WARBLER IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Dr R K Kinzelbach

In the period from 1975 to 1985 a working group on the zoology and
zoogeography of the Near and Middle East carried out 22 scientific
expeditions to the region. Although the main purpose of these
activities was research on the freshwater faunas and on selected taxa
of arthropods, a large quantity of data on birds was also collected.
Those concerning Turkey are being worked on by Max Kasparek, while the
Syrian results are to be published by the author. All other occasional!
observations will be made available to the relevant interested
institutions or persons. The following short note only presents a few
species of special interest as "appetizers". The numbers of the
collecting stations mentioned correspond to those of our official list
to be published in 1986 (Kinzelbach, Krupp, Roth, Schneider in prep.).

14
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath

The Goliath Heron is distributed all over Africa, south of the Sahara.
Nesting has also been reported from lower Mesopotamia, and from the
Southern Sinai and the opposite Red Sea coast of Egypt (Etchécopar &
Hue 1964). Migrating or vagrant birds have been observed as far away
as India and Sri Lanka in the south-east and in Iran (Baluchistan) in
the north-east. Only a few records are known from the western part of
the Middle East, eg. from the swamps of the Huleh basin (R. Ortal,
pers comm.), from Syria (Hie & Etchécopar 1970): “pas recemment"), from
Saudi Arabia near the Red Sea coast and Tabuk (Jennings 1981), and from
Egypt (Bijlsma & Roder 1982).

The new records are:

Aqaba, Jordan, 23 March 1977, one bird seen approaching from west and
then following the coast within the town. The right wing lacked
several primaries due to shooting.

Lake Assad near Tabqa, Syria, 1979, several observations according to
R. Beck (pers comm.).

Aswan, Egypt (collecting station no. 85/37), 14 March 1985 one bird
flying upstream of the old Aswan Dam.

Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis

The Yellow-billed Stork is resident in Africa, south of the Sahara.
Bones of this species have been identified from excavations of the
Satet-temple (5th/6th Dynasty) on Elephantine Island, now in Lake
Nasser (Boessneck & von den Dries 1982). The species has also been
identified by the author on some mosaics from Pompeii depicting Nile
scenes, in the National Museum at Naples,

15

The new records are:

Aswan, Egypt, mummified head of a specimen found dead near Aswan a few
years ago, collection of the Institute of Zoology, University of
Assiut, Aswan branch. Photograph taken i3 March 1985.

Aswan, Egypt (collecting station no. 85/37), 14 March 1985, one adult
bird circling over the old Aswan Dam.

Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum

This species breeds from Finland and Estonia through Siberia,
Transcaspia, and Mongolia, to the Yenisei Basin. There are a few
records from Afghanistan and Eastern Iran. It migrates through the
Middle East and winters in India, Sri Lanka, Assam and Burma. Only a
few migrants have been identified in the west of the vast region
through which this bird probably regularly passes on the way to its
winter area, eg. in Rumania (Paspaleva 1977) and on Cyprus (Hue &
Etchecopar 1970: 14 August 1962, compare date of the new record
below).

Lake of Homs (34° 40' N 36° 37' E), Syria (collecting station no.
78/07), 2 August 1978, one bird caught near the ancient dam of the
storage lake and released after examination.

Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus

Resident in Egypt from Bahr el-Maryut (Kattinger 1970), from Wadi
Natrun, and from the Fayum throughout the Nile Delta, the Gulf of Suez,
and Sinai to Israel between Lake Huleh and the northern shore of the
Dead Sea. In Jordan recorded from Azraq (Nelson 1973). One record
from Syria from the lake of Muzairib near Darra. (Kattinger 1970). The
Occurrence in Saudi Arabia is somewhat doubtful (Jennings 1981). Old
records known from the Blue Nile (Brehm 1878) and from Massowah in
Eritrea (v. Heuglin 1869).

16

The following new observations partly confirm this range and partly
extend it to the north of the Levantine Rift Valiey and to Upper Egypt,
thus corroborating the old records mentioned above. All the birds
listed below were seen and heard very well.

Orontes River near al-Qussair, Syria, (collecting station no. 79/108) ,
1 April 1979, one bird singing in the very dense thickets of willows
and reed on the river banks.

Ain Fash, Dead Sea Coast, Jordan (collecting station no. 81/13, 17 May
1981, several birds singing in the reed beds.

Al-Badari , Egypt, 26 km south-east of Assiut on the bank of the Nile
River, 1 March 1985, one bird singing in phragmites.

Asjut, Egypt, 4 km south-east of Asjut on the bank of the Nile River
(collecting station No. 85/20), 3 March 1985, several birds singing in
“phragmites.

Deir el-Muharrak , Egypt (collecting station no. 85/30), 9 March 1985,
One bird singing in reeds around a fishpond near the monastery.

Thebes-West , Egypt (collecting station no. 85/33), 11 March 1985, one
bird singing in phragmites-thickets at a small pond near the ferry to
Luxor.

References:

Bijlsma, R. G. & F. E. de Roder 1982. Goliath Heron in Egypt in 1981.
Dutch Birding 4 : 82-84.

Boessneck, J. & A. von den Driesch 1982. Studien an subfossilen
Tierknochen aus Agypten. Munchener Agyptolog. Studien 40 : 98-99.

17

Brehm, A. E. 1978 Brehms Tierleben. 2. Aufl. Vogel 1. Leipzig.

Etchécopar, R. D. & F. Hiie 1964. Les Oiseaux du Nord de 1'Afrique.
Paris.

v. Heuglin, Th. 1869. Ornithologie Nordost-Afrikas. Vol. 1. Cassel.

Hue, F., & R. D. Etchécopar 1970. Les Oiseaux de Proche et du Moyen
Orient. Paris.

Kattinger, E. 1970. Vogelbeobachtungen im vorderen Orient: Syrien und
unteres Niltal. Ber. Naturf. Ges. Bamberg 45: 57-79 Bamberg.

Jennings, M. C. 1981. The Birds of Saudi Arabia: a check-list.
Whittlesford, Cambridge.

Meinertzhagen, R. 1930. Nicoll's Birds of Egypt. Vol. 1. London.
Nelson, B. 1973. Azraq: Desert Oasis. London.

Paspaleva, M. 1977. L'Hirondelle rousseline Hirundo daurica, la
Fauvette passerinette Sylvia cantillans, la Perdix bartavelle Alectoris

graeca et la Rousserolle des buissons Acrocephalus dumetorum en
Roumanie. Alauda 45: 237-238. Paris.

Institut fiir Zoologie, Technische Hochschule, SchnittspahnstraBe 3,
D-6100 Darmstadt, West Germany.

18

FURTHER NOTES ON HERRING GULLS NESTING ON ROOFTOPS IN ISTANBUL
H. Kumerloeve

In the 1950s and in later years I observed sitting Herring Gulis Larus
argentatus which I presumed to be breeding on some buildings in
Istanbul - on the roofs of Saray Topkapi ("Serail”), on the so-called
"Stables of Elephants", on Dolma Bahce Palace and also on some
residential houses. In 1933 G. Neithammer and I had not noticed such |
behaviour, but Mathey-Dupraz (1920/23, 1925) had already mentioned it
from 1889/94! During the 1960's and 1970's rooftop breeding Herring
Gulls may have spread to residential houses in inner Istanbul as they
were observed here by C. Kosswig, E. Hirzel and myself.

I have been trying to monitor the situation in other towns on the
Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts as well as in towns and villages
within Anatolia but no roof-breeding Herring Gulls have been found.

_ Only in the town of Antakya in the south-east have a few birds been

found sitting on roofs near the Orontes River (Asi).

Reference:

Mathey-Dupraz, A. 1920/23, 1925. Notes ornithologiques de la région de
Bosphore. Observations ornith. reg. Bosphore. Ornith. Beob. 17/22.

8032 Grafelfing , Munchen, Hubert-Reissner-Strasse 7, West Germany.

COMMENTS ON ‘FOUR UNUSUAL RECORDS FROM THE LEBANON'
H Kumerloeve

In NH Khairallah's note concerning records from the Lebanon (OSME
Bull. 16: 16-17) the author mentions S. Vere-Benson's book ‘Birds of

19

Lebanon and the Jordon area’ in which Vere-Benson wrote "The records,
though added to in recent years, are based on H Kumerloeve's Notes on
the Birds of the Lebanese Republic, an invaluable collection of al}
ancient and modern records with the status of each species." It is
therefore surprising that N H Khairallah is unaware of the comments |!
made in that earlier publication.

For Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae I wrote:

“Apparently not very rare as straggler... Tristram's note ".. scarce
summer visitant, I have only noticed it myself in the plain of the
Buka'a (Coele Syria)" may refer to the Lebanese territory. One
specimen was seen above Beirut on April 28 (Bourne) and Nevins believes
to have 4 records: at Ras Chekka 1.V. 1955, at Laklouk 7.X. 1956, in
the Damour valley 19.X.1956 and at Ainab 25.VIII 1957".

Magpie Pica pica. " No data from the 1940/50's. But in early 1960's
two nests with clutches were collected in late April near Deir-ez-Zor
at the Euphrates (Syria) by Leavesley”.

Rose-coloured starling Sturnus roseus. "Occasionally breeding.
Apparently in 1877 W T Van Dyck founder and for many years curator of
the zoological collection (between 1873 to 1878 and 1818/82 he
collected some 900 birds from the neighbourhood of Beirut for the
American University of Beirut) , found 11 juvenile specimens near the
capital in July/August. Also Schrader noted adults and juveniles in
the Beirut area; Festa met with this species towards end of June in the
Beka'a plain and Hardy supposed it breeding in 1945. Also Flach noted
some Rose-coloured Starlings in juvenile plumage north of Baalbek on
30th October 1958. In 1958/59 and 1961 I could find 12 Lebanese
specimens in the AUB-collection.

References
Bourne, W.R.P.

Bourne, W.R.P.

Festa, £:

Frach), B.

Hardy, E.

Kumerloeve, H.

Kumerloeve, H.

Leavesley, A.

Nevins, J.

Schrader, G.

Tristram, H.B.

Van Dyck, W.T.

20

Birds observed in the Lebanon, April-May 1958 (unpub).

1960. Notes on autumn migration in the Middle East. The
Ibis 101: 170-176.

1894. Viaggio in Palestina, nel Libano e regione vicine.
IX: Uccel 11... Bol. Mus. Zool. Univ.-lorine 9.

1959. Hostobservationer i Libanon. Fauna o Flora 1959:
161-180.

1946. Probable nesting of the Rose-coloured Pastor in
Lebanon in 1945. The Ibis 88: 398.

1960. The bird-collection of W. Th. Van Dyck (1857-1939)
in the museum of the American University of Beirut.
Alauda 28: 124-128.

1962. Notes on the Birds of the Lebanese Republic. Iraq
Natur. Hist. Mus. Publ. 20/21: 1-80.

Oological notes from Syria (Manuscr. unpub).

1960. Partial check-list of the birds of Lebanon.
(Manuscr. unpub).

1982. Ornithologische Beobachtungen auf meinen
Sammelreisen. III Syrien. Ornith. Jahrb. 3: 11-17.

1982. Ornithological notes of a journey through Syria,
Mesopotamia and southern Armenia in 1881. The Ibis (IV)
6 : 402-419.

1915. Birds of the Lebanon (in Arabic) In : Ismail
Haqqi bey (1915) : The Lebanon, pag. 83-89. Beirut.

21

NEWS AND INFORMATION

This is the second time that we have included news items under this
heading and we are pleased to report that many of the contributors to
the items in the last issue received a good response. All groups and
societies are invited to contribute news or information items for
future issues. The deadline for the next bulletin is 15th February
1987 and all contributions should be sent to the Bulletin Editor.

SUCCESSFUL FIRST CONFERENCE ON BIRD CONSERVATION IN TURKEY

The first conference on bird conservation in Turkey was held this
Spring on 14th and 15th April in Izmir. The conference, organised by
the University of Nine September (Dokuz Eylul), concentrated on the
Camalati Tuzlasi - a large salt marsh area on the north side of Izmir
Bay. This area, in the south-west of Turkey, has a much milder winter
than the rest of Anatolia and is thus an important wintering area for
birds. Studies by Dr Mehmet Siki of the Aegean (Ege) University have
recorded 182 bird species with 50 species breeding. The main breeders
are Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus
crispus, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, White Stork Ciconia ciconia,
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber, Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna

ferruginea, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Kestrel Falco tinnunculus,

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
and Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta. This makes the area more important

than the reserve at Manyas Lake (with 39 breeders) and the Sultan
Marshes (with 32 breeders) although these latter figures may be
underestimates (See review of Max Kasparek's "Die sultanssumpfe" in
Bull. 16: pp 33-36).

In recent years the Camalti Tuzlasi has been exploited for salt
extraction by the Monopolies Department of the Ministry of Customs and
Monopolies which has apparently destroyed 8000 hectares of wetlands and
marshes along the Aegean coast.

22

The successful outcome of the conference is that the Monopolies
Department has promised through Mr Gungor Tuncer that:

1) Together with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism they will
leave the last 500 unexploited hectares as a "Protected Area
of First Degree Importance".

2) The Ministry of Monopolies and Customs will ensure that the |
balance between fresh and salty water will be returned to its
former natural state.

3) The Monopolies Agency will give all possible assistance by
the provision of accommodation for wardens, erection of
fences and provision of communications.

4) The Nine September University will provide research staff and
facilities to carry out relevant studies in the area.

It is hoped that the area will become a National Park under the
National Parks Division of the Ministry of Forestry and that Turkey
will than have its third most important wetland-bird sanctuary under
protection. Members of Nine September and Aegean Universities are to
be. congratulated on organising this successful conference.

Information supplied by The Society for the Protection of Wildlife,
Turkey.

PROBLEMS AT LAKE MANYAS

Lake Manyas and its famous ‘Bird Paradise’ Nature Reserve to the south
of the Sea of Marmara in Turkey is seriously threatened by
over-drainage and pollution according to an article in a recent issue
of the Robert College Newspaper. Last summer a new drainage scheme

23

left the bed of the lake dry and cracked. The water level has now been
returned to its previous level through the efforts of Kamil Seyhan, the
National Park Chief, but the threats to the lake remain.

DOGAL HAYATI KORUMA DERNEGI - THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF

WILDLIFE, TURKEY

The Turkish Society for the Protection of Wildlife has recently elected
a new President, Ms Nergis Yazgan who is a former journalist and
specialist in foreign affairs. As part of its 1986 programme the
Society is participating in the worldwide campaign to explain the
importance of wetlands and their vital need for conservation. Turkey,
though rich in wetlands, has already lost some, such as Amik Golu and
the famous Lake of Antioch, which is now a dust bowl, and others are
under threat. The Society has already participated in the protection
of the Camalti Tuzlasi and is now actively seeking ways to protect lake
Manyas (see above). In addition the Society is continuing its
protection work on the Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita and on education
which is its main area of activity.

The Education Programme falls into three main areas:

1) The production of a notice-board newsheet which is
distributed free at least twice a year to secondary schools
throughout Turkey.

2) Explanatory slide shows, using an audio-visual projector
donated by the RSPB, which have become a regular feature of
the Society's activities. The shows, which explain the
importance of nature and conservation, are shown in various
schools, hunting clubs and village centres and have seen by
over 40,000 people over the years.

24

3) Since 1979 the Society has given daily instruction to fifth
grade students in selected schools during the special Nature
and Child week in May.

The Society is keen to increase its membership and to receive support
both moral and financial. Their address is: The Society for the
Protection of Wildlife, PK 18, Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey.

NATIVE LANGUAGE POPULAR BIRD BOOKS

The bird book covering Turkey has now been published and distributed
both in Turkey and Turkish Cyprus. Further books covering other
countries are being planned and prepared. For further details of
books already produced see OSME Bull. 16:18.

IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS IN TURKEY

In the last OSME bulletin (16:22-23) your attention was drawn to an
important project being organised by the International Council for Bird
Preservation in collaboration with the International Waterfowl Research
Bureau. The aim of the project is to identify the most important areas
for birds throughout Europe, which for the purposes of the project
includes all of Turkey - a country well known to many members of OSME.
Knowledge of, and information on, the most important areas or sites for
birds is a fundamental conservation objective. There are undoubtedly a
large number of sites in Turkey that are in international importance,
probably more than in any other country in Europe. However,
information on these sites is currently fragmented, often poorly known
Or now out of date. Some sites that have never been

25

adequately recognised have been lost, whilst others are likely to be
undergoing changes. Although OSME's Site Register Scheme and
particularly the Birds of Turkey series (Kasparek et al) have taken
some steps, very few Important Bird Areas in Turkey are currently
internationally acknowledged.

Over the next eighteen months the ICBP/IWRB Important Bird Areas
project intends to prepare a comprehensive inventory of Turkish sites.
The information gathered, in conjunction with the information gathered
for all other countries in Europe, will enable national authorities to
determine the international significance of their important areas and
will be used by ICBP and IWRB (and other international conservation
Organisations) to encourage the development of a European-wide network
of nature reserves for birds. The work will result in an authoritative
ornithological database that will aid the implementation of regional
agreements (such as the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European
Wildlife) and global agreements (such as the Ramsar Convention, the Bon
Convention and the World Heritage Convention). Turkey has signed and
ratified the Bern Convention and World Heritage Convention. The former
requires the Contracting Party to take measures to conserve the
habitats of Appendix II bird species (which includes most of the
important species occurring in Turkey), the latter to identify, protect
and conserve areas of natural heritage. Furthermore, it is hoped that
Turkey will sign the Ramsar and Bonn Conventions in the near future.

Both ICBP and IWRB have gathered data on important bird areas in the
country. Of particular value have been the IWRB wetland surveys in the
late 1960's and early 1970's. More recently ICBP has gathered, at the
request of the Council of Europe (which provides the secretariat for
the Bern Convention) information on important areas, with assistance
from the National Parks Department in Turkey. This information is
currently being expanded and revised and a finalised inventory wil! be
published in early 1988. A valuable source of reference has been the
Turkish Bird Reports (1966-75). They have admirably demonstrated how
valuable it is to place on record observations in the country.

26

The information available to ICBP indicates that the following sites
are of particular importance, indeed many are likely to be selected and

included in the final inventory.

We currently have little or no

information on the sites marked with an asterisk (*).

Abant Golu*

Acigol

Adala Golu*

Aktas Golu

Aksehir GolU

Akyatan Goli (Ceyhan Delta)
Akyayan Golu (Ceyhan Delta)
Ala Dag (including Demirkazik)
Alanya, marshes near*
Alplaslan Golu

Amik GOolU

Apolyant G6lu (Ulubat G6l1ii)
Arapciftligi Golu*

_ Avian Golu

Arin Golu

Aynas Golu (Seyhan Delta)*
Bafa G6lu (Menderes Delta)
Balikdami |

Balik Golu (Kizilirmak Delta)
Bayinder G6olu (Corak G6olu)*
Belgrade, forest of*
Beynam Ridge*

Beyshir Golu

Birecek

Boreka-Hopa

Bugur GOlu (Bulok Golu)*
Burdur Goll

Buyukcekmece*

Calti Goll

Catal Dag*

Camlica Hills

Golbek GOlU (Kurak G6lu)
Giilen Dag*

Golhisar Golu*

Cardak lagoons*

Cavuscu GOiu

Celtik Golu*

Ceyhan Delta
Ceylanpinar

Cihanbeyi Golu (Gez Golu)*
Cildir Golu*

Civril Golu (Isikli Golu)*
Colak Golu*

Corak Golu*

Cubuk I Baraji*

Cubuk II Baraji*

Dalyan GOolu

DemirkOpru Baraji*
Dogubayazit marshes*
Durusu G6lU (Terkos G6Olu)*
Eber Golu

Egridir Golu

Egrigoz Dag

Emen Golu (Emer G61U?)*
Emir Golu

Ercis, marshes near*
Ercek Golu

Erdek, Gulf of*

Eregli Golu

Fahril Golu*

Gala Golu

Gavur GOlu

Gogenc GOlu

Gokceli GOlUu

Goksu Delta

Meric Delta

Morgan GOlu

Murat Valley west of Bulanik

Gulluk Golu*

Havaalani Ridge*

Hazapin GOlUu

Hazar Golu*

Hirfanli Baraji*

Hotamis Golu (Bataklik G6lii)

Hoyran GOlU

Incesu Salt pans*

Ismit Golu*

Iznik Golu*

Kara Dag

Karagol*

Karorak Golu*

Karamik Golu*

Karanfil Dag

Karapinar ovasi (Konya marshes)

Karatas Golu

Kemer Baraji*

Kestrel GOlU

Kizilirmak Delta

Kizilcahamam

Kokarot Golu (Ceyhan Delta)

Kovada Golu

Koycegiz GOlu

Krater Goli

Kucukcekmece*

Kulu Golu

Kurbaga Golu (Sultansazligi
marshes)

Kus Golu (Manyas GOli)

Marmara GOlU

Menderes Delta including Bafa GOolu

2/7

Murat Valley north of Mus
Nemrut Dag*

Nip Dag*

Ova Goll

Patnos area

Porsuk Baraji*

Salda Golu*

Samsun Harbour*
Sapanca GOlu

Sariyer Baraji*

Saros Kofezi Bay*
Selevir Baraji*

Seyfe GOlu

Seyhan Delta

Silifke Golu*

Sogut Golu*

Sugla GOlu*

Sultan Dag*
Sultansazligi marshes
Suphan Dag*

Todurke Golu*

Tortum Golu*

Toros Dag*

Tuz Golu

Tuzla Golu (Seyhan Delta)
Uludag*

Van GOlu

Yarisli Golu*

Yarma marshes (Karapinar ovasi?)
Yenicaga GOlU*
Yesilirmak Delta*
Yuksekova marshes*

Every attempt has been made to ensure the correct spelling of these

sites and to avoid duplication.

However, this cannot be guaranteed and

some names might in fact refer to the same site.

28

How OSME members can assist the project

The OSME sites register scheme is an excellent procedure for submitting
information. The response for Turkey has so far been very poor. Sites
register forms would be welcomed for any one of the above sites. If
you have visited any of these areas since the mid-19/0s then this would
likely up-date much of the information on file. If you have ever
visited any of the lesser known areas (particularly in eastern Turkey)
then information on habitat, area and ornithological importance is
likely to be new. There is in particular a lack of woodland sites
(especially sites for breeding raptors), seabird nesting sites and
grassland/steppe and montane sites. Alternatively, we would like to
hear which areas you know well so that we can be more specific in our
request for information. A site register form is enclosed with this
bulletin. Now, more than ever is the time to fill one in.

Richard Grimmett : Co-ordinator of Important Bird Areas project.
Michael Rands : Co-ordinator of OSME sites register scheme.
ICBP, 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL.

THE ICBP CONSERVATION EXPEDITION COMPETITION

In 1986/1987, ICBP will again be running a Conservation Expedition
Competition to encourage more expeditions to carry out conservation
based ornithological research abroad and to gain experience of
international issues and co-operation.

The competition is open to university or other ornithological teams and
ICBP will contribute up to $1,000 to each of the best two proposals and
may provide letters of endorsement and management support to the
runners-up. Projects will be judged on their: conservation content,
feasibility and likely impact; they must involve a local counterpart
and have clearance from the host government and/or a local institute.

29

In 1986, awards went to teams planning ornithological surveys of the
Reserve Naturelle no. 12 Marojejy in Madagascar and Rio Mazan in
southern Ecuador. The two expeditions have been incorporated into
ICBP's Conservation Programme which includes nearly 100 conservation
projects all over the world.

To enter the competition, a project proposal must be submitted to the
ICBP Secretariat not later than 31 January and prizes will be announced
at the end of March. Full details and entry forms are provided in a
guide to the competition, which costs £3 and can be returned from ICBP,
219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL, UK.

THIRD WORLD CONFERENCE ON BIRDS OF PREY, ISRAEL, 1987

This International Conference will be held from 22 to 2/7 March 198/ at
Elat, in Israel. It will be organised by ICBP's World Working Group on
Birds of Prey in conjunction with the Israel Raptor Information Centre
and the US Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association.

It will consist of seven paper sessions, each of which may occupy up to
one whole day. The themes and their organisers will be:

1) Conservation and biology of rare raptors - B U Meyburg &
N Collar.

2) Conservation and biology of rare owls - RJ Clark &
H Mikkola.

3) Raptors on migration and wintering grounds - M Fuller &

JM Thiollay.

4) Population biology and breeding - I Newton.

30

ae Raptors in polluted environments - R Risebrough & J Ledger.
6) Education - Y Leshem & J Brett.
7) Legislation - P Robinson.

Contributions to these different themes can also take the form of

poster papers.

The conference will take place within the framework of an international
festival which will include a raptor photography competition (under the
patronage of Eric Hosking), a painting and drawing competition (patron,
Roger Tory Peterson), a film festival and competition, and
ornithological and cultural excursions and tours.

At this season the famous and massive migration of raptors over Elat is
in full swing. This, in 1985, included 1.1 million raptors of 30

Species.

For further information, write to the Hon. Secretary of the World
Working Group: Mr R D Chancellor, 15 Bolton Gardens, London SW5 OAL,
UK.

ORNITHOLOGY IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN

Public and scientific interest in the birds of Oman has grown
remarkably during the last 20 years, and the trend is increasing, aided
by development and higher education, and by the media, particularly
with the publication of The Birds of Oman (1980) and its companion in
Arabic, Tuyur Oman (1985).

31

The opening of the Sultan Qaboos University in September 1986, with a
Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science, provides an
Opportunity not only for further academic and practical studies of the
ornithology of this large and varied country, but also for the
construction of a database of the known fauna and flora, which has been
started in conjunction with Government ministries and departments
already involved.

With these developments in view the committee which since 1977 has been
assessing records of species which are scarce, difficult to identify or
not on the Oman Bird List, has been enlarged and re-named the Oman Bird
Records Committee.

Observers of birds in Oman are invited to send their records to the
Committee and asked to ensure that full field notes are provided for
claims of scarce or previously unrecorded species.

A copy of the periodically revised Oman Bird List will be sent free of
charge to anyone interested. The latest edition is dated June 1986 and
includes Intermediate Egret, African Spoonbill and Long-billed
Dowitcher (all to be reported in Sandgrouse 8).

Records and requests should be addressed to: David Foster, Recorder,
Oman Bird Records Committee, c/o PO Box 246, Muscat, Sultanate of
Oman.

THE BIRDS OF OMAN (1980) and TAYYUR OMAN (1985)

Members of natural history groups in the Gulf region who experience
difficulty in obtaining these books are invited to contact the author,
Michael Gallagher, at the Natural History Museum, PO Box 668, Muscat,
Sultanate of Oman. Telephone: Oman 560 267, (evening). He has
presented a copy of each volume to the library of each group; any group
which has not yet received them should contact him.

32

RECENT CHANGES OF ADDRESS
The following groups have recently changed their addresses to:

Emirates Natural History Group (Abu Dhabi), PO Box 303, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates.

Qatar Natural History Group. Chairman, Bryan Eccleston, PO Box /660,
Doha, Qatar.

NEW BIRD BOOK FROM LEBANON

A new book about the birds of the Lebanon has just been published in
Beirut by the Lebanese University. ‘Birds of Lebanon’ is written by
OSME vice-president Dr George Thomé and his wife Henriette. This A4

Sized paperback book which is written in Arabic, runs to 165 pages and

includes 24 colour plates illustrating 226 species. There are also
many black and white photographs and line-drawings. Hopefully, it
should foster considerable interest in birds amongst the Lebanese

people and we wish it every success.

RESEARCH PROJECT ON BIRD MIGRATION ACROSS THE SAHARA DESERT

The project organised by Schweizerische Vogelwarte (Station
Ornithologique Suisse) has been postponed until 1987 due to delays in
obtaining permits to use radar. Enquiries to Dr B Bruderer,
Schweizerische Vogelwarte, CH-6204 Sempach, Switzerland.

33

Bava

A NEW JOURNAL COVERING AFRICAN RAPTORS

GABAR (Growth and Biology of African Raptors) is a new journal
publishing material on African raptors, here defined as eagles, hawks,
harriers, buzzards, falcons and owls, (ie. excluding vultures, seabirds
and other predatory birds already covered by specialist publications in
the region). Contents will include: short papers on completed studies,
progress reports on ongoing research, short notes, unusual sightings,
conservation problems and a Forum in which opinions, continuing
controversies, constructive criticisms and new ideas are aired and
challenged. The first edition has been printed and copies can be
obtained free of change from the address below. Subsequent editions
will be distributed on receipt of a subscription fee.

Robert Simmons, Editor - GABAR, Dept of Zoology, University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2001, Republic of South Africa.

OSME NEWS

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY 1986 - 87

VICE-PRESIDENTS:

S. Cramp
Sir Hugh Elliott
P. A. D. Hollom

COUNCIL MEMBERS:

J. S. M. Albrecht (Sales Officer)
D. J. Brooks

- Dr L. Cornwallis

D. Fisher (Bulletin Editor)

M. C. Jennings

R. P. Martins

D. Parr (Sandgrouse Editor)

NINTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

34

Dr H. Kumerloeve
Prof H. Mendelssohn
Dr G. Tohme

R. F. Porter (Chairman)

Dr M. R. W. Rands (Sites Register)

N. J. Redman (Treasurer)

Mrs F. E. Warr (Secretary &
Membership Secretary)

G. R. Welch (Publicity)

OSME's ninth AGM will be held on Saturday 4th July 1987 at the Natural
History Museum in London and will be accompanied by a programme of

Short talks and slides. We very much hope that this early announcement

of the date will enable a good number of our overseas members to join

us. Further details will be given in the next bulletin.

35

MEMBERS' PUBLICATIONS

All members who paid a subscription of £7 (£10 airmail) for 1985 should
have received Sandgrouse Vol. 7 as well as Bulletins 14 and 15.

Members joining the Society this year may order these from the Sales
Officer (see Sales List). Those having paid a full subscription of £7
(£10 airmail) for 1986 will have received Bulletins 16 and 17 and
Sandgrouse Vol. 8 will be mailed as soon as it is published.

SANDGROUSE 7

Sandgrouse 7 was distributed in June. Unfortunately two maps relevant
to Graham Bundy's article "Blackstarts in Southern Oman" were omitted.
These have now been printed as an addendum and will be sent out with
Sandgrouse 8 which it is hoped will be published before the end of
1986. If any member would like a copy of the addendum before then
please contact the Editor, Don Parr. It has also been brought to our
notice that certain copies of Sandgrouse 7 were spoiled with ink marks.
If any member has such a copy and wants it changed please let us know.
We apologise to all for these mishaps.

CAR STICKERS

The original stock of OSME car stickers is almost exhausted and a new
car sticker has been produced. The design is the same as before but
incorporates the Society's address. Those members who require a new
car sticker should write to the secretary who will send them one free
of charge. Extra stickers are available as before from the Sales
Officer. Price SOp.

OSME BULLETINS

The single of copies of OSME Bulletins 1 to 12 are now out of stock.
However the Bulletins have been reprinted in two volumes (1 to 6 and /

36

to 12) with card covers and a plastic binding strip. They are similar
to the OST set of 15 Builetins. The price of each volume is £2.00.
Single copies of OSME Bulletin 13 onwards remain available at 0.25p
each. (See sales list).

“SEASONS GREETINGS" CARDS

We still nave a large supply of “Seasons Greetings” cards which
continue to be for sale. The selection remains as before. (See saies
List?

BIRDS OF ADEN

OSME has recently received two typescripts concerning the birds of
_Aden. Stan Howe kindly gave us a copy of "A List of Birds of Aden and
the Aden Protectorate 1944-1945" by R Bark Jones and P HT Hartley.
This particular version lacks the appendix of game birds and ducks
included in a version printed in Aden in 1957. We are also grateful to
Michael Gallagher for "Birds of Aden" which summarizes the sightings of
K J Smitn, P W Munday, Mr & Mrs F W Rant, “the writer" (P. W. P.
Browne?) and others during the years 1943 to 1947. Please let the
Secretary know if you would be interested in borrowing either of these
typescripts.

NEW SITES REGISTER SCHEME CO-ORDINATOR

Or Michael Rands has taken over from Dr Nigel Collar as the
co-ordinator for OSME's Sites Register Scheme. As Dr Rands has
recently taken up a new post with ICBP in Cambridge where the site
register forms are stored he was the obvious man for the job! We thank
Dr Collar for all the work he put in running the scheme from it's
inception in 1983.

3/

OSME ARCHIVES

Each year many of our members make visits to various countries within
OSME's recording area and a large amount of information is col lected.
Sadly, some of this is, "lost" by being left in a notebook never to see
the light of day!.

If you are planning a trip, or have notes from the past, and are
prepared to write them up, then OSME would be pleased to receive a copy
for the Society's Archives.

All contributions, type-written if possible, should be sent to Geoff &
Hilary Welch, our new archivists.

REDUCED SUBSCRIPTION TO BRITISH BIRDS FOR OSME MEMBERS

OSME members can subscribe to the monthly magazine British Birds at /58
of the normal cost. For members living in Britain and Europe or Dy
surface mail elsewhere the reduced subscription is £18.00 instead of
£24.00. There is no reduction on the airmail rate. The magazine
includes papers and articles on a wealth of subjects of interest to
birdwatchers all over the world and is thoroughly recommended.

For further details see the enclosed leaflet or contact Mrs Erika
Sharrock, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ.

TURKISH BIRD REPORT: NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Simon Harrap and Rod Martins

The publication of the four Turkish Bird Reports covering the period
1966-75 (with the fifth, for 1976-81, in press), has not only marked a

38

qualitative leap in our knowledge of the Turkish avifauna, but also
served to highlight the gaps that remain. Our understanding of the
status and distribution of many species remains incomplete and new
discoveries which radically alter our understanding of the distribution
of scarcer species continue to be made. These gaps are of special
concern when they involve threatened species or, as is increasingly the
case, threatened habitats. None of these reports is currently
available and it therefore seems appropriate to point out those species
for which information is particularly sought, not only for the period
1982-86 to be covered in the next report, but also of any previously
unsubmitted observations. At the same time, there are a number of
Species which continually cause problems of record assessment, often
contributing to a vague and unsatisfactory picture of their Turkish
distribution. Some observers seem unaware of the potential pitfalls
and do not address the problem of identification with the rigour
necessary to produce a fully documented record.

The following list is therefore keyed to four categories:
RD Red Data Book and Candidate Red Data Book Species.

These 20 species are considered to be threatened on a global basis and
are either included in King (1978-79) or are candidates for treatment

as threatened in the proposed Europe and Asia volume of the ICBP/INCN

Red Data Book.

V Vulnerable Species in Europe

lll of the species described by ICBP as vulnerable in Europe (which,
for this purpose, includes Turkey) occur in Turkey. A selection of
these have been listed, mostly those with limited and/or threatened
populations in Turkey. It should be noted that most birds of prey and
many species associated with wetland habitats have been excluded.
These are, as a group, subject to threat and all information is
required. With regard to wetlands, observers are encouraged to
complete OSME Sites Register forms (only six Turkish sites have had
completed forms submitted so far).

ees 2

39

U Status Uncertain

This includes all species categorised as ‘status uncertain’ in the
1976-81 report or, if they are not given full treatment there, in the
1974-75 report. It also includes those species that have only recently
been discovered in Turkey, but may be assumed to occur regularly.

I Identification problematic

Species in this category have all caused problems in the past and
observers are asked to take special care, both in the field and when
writing-up their observations. In general, written evidence wil]
greatly assist the process of record assessment and in some cases wil]
be essential. This need not be a full description, but should indicate
that observers are aware of the pitfalls and that diagnostic features
have been observed. (NB This list does not include rarities for which
detailed descriptions will always be required.)

Some species may fit into more than one category, and in such cases the
symbols are given in the approximate order of importance.

Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica V
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo U,V
Pygmy Cormorant P. pygmeus RD
White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus V
Dalmatian Pelican P. crispus RD
Bittern Botaurus stellaris y
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis U
White Stork Ciconia ciconia RD
Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita ROD
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis RD
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris RO

White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala RD

Red Kite Milvus milvus
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla

Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus
Black Vulture Aegypius monachus
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Sparrowhawk A. nisus

Levant Sparrowhawk A. Drevipes
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus
Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga

Imperial Eagle A. heliaca

Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus
Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae
Lanner F. biarmicus

Saker F. cherrug
Peregrine F. peregrinus

Caucasian Black Grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi

Caspian Snowcock Tetraogallus caspius
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus

Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Little Crake P. parva

Baillon's Crake P. pusilla
Corncrake Crex crex
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio prophyrio

Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax

Great Bustard Otis tarda
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni

Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterus indicus
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria

White-tailed Plover C. leucura

(edge | c=

“ ww vw w
het < _ _— _
v

et CS GS ee Ce. ee ee ee OC
“
re
“

w
<= — eH
ww

<

<

<_<

41

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus

Great Snipe Gallinago media
Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris

Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii

Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus

Herring Gull L. argentatus/cachinnans
(including Armenian Gull] 'L. armenicus' )

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata

Barn Owl Tyto alba

Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei

Eagle Owl Bubo bubo

Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis

Tawny Owl Strix aluco

Long-eared Owl Asio otus

Tengmalm's Owl Aegolinus funereus

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
Wryneck Jynx torquilla

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
White-backed Woodpecker D. leucotos

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker D. minor

Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus
(as distinct from Water Pipit A. spinoletta)

Citrine Wagtail Montacilla citreola
Radde's Accentor Prunella ocularis
Alpine Accentor P. collaris

Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia

*Gildenstadt's Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogaster

Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka

U

RD
RD

I

I
Unk
us
U

U
U, V
U ?
U

U

U
7
Os
Len ¥
U

U

as
U

U

U

U

U

U

J

I

U ?

42

Red-tailed Wheatear 0. xanthoprymna

River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis

Savi's Warbler L. luscinioides

Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon
Sedge Warbler A. schoenobaenus

Marsh Warbler A. palustris

Upcher's Warbler Hippolais languida

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin

Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus

Mountain Chiffchaff P. sindianus

Chiffchaff P. collybita

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva a

w w

| —
w
<=

.
~~
— RH y
4

w

CE ae Se CG Gt BE a Ce ee
w
ec

Semi-collared Flycatcher F. semitorquata
Collared Flycatcher F. albicollis

Pied Flycatcher F. hypoleuca

Great Rock Nuthatch Sitta tephronota
Rock Nuthatch S. neumayer

Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria
Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

U
U
U
I
I
8)
I

Short-toed Treecreeper C. brachydactyla Good
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor I
Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus U
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus U
Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia xanthocollis U
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella U
U

Cinereous Bunting E. cineracea
*Recently claimed but no substantiated records.

The length of the list indicates the amount of work that still needs to
be done, even in such a comparatively well-known country. It must be
emphasised however, that records, especially those relating to
breeding, are requested for all species. Our knowledge of the exact

43

breeding distribution of many birds in Turkey is seriously incomplete
or absent for many regions. Most observers fail to take even the
simplest notes relating to details of breeding behaviour observed.
Such details would for example, enable migrants to be distinguished
with certainty from locally breeding individuals of the same species.

We would like to thank Richard Grimmett of the ICBP for help in the
compillation of the list of threatened species.

Reference
King, W. B. (1978-79) Red Data Book, 2:Aves. 2nd Edition. IUCN,
Morges.

Simon Harrap

Rod Martins
for the Turkish Bird Report Editorial Committee c/o OSME.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank Mike Hodgson for his cover illustration of Bald
Ibis Geronticus eremita.

thological Society of the Middle East was formed in April 1978
Bice: sor to the Ornithological Society of Turkey.

1 ea

‘ship is open to all and spans over 40 countries.

is: .
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