THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE MIDDLE EAST BULLETIN 14 1985 SPRING OSME BULLETIN: 14 SPRING 1985 EDITORS: DJ Fisher and C A Harbard All. records. in this Bulletin are subject to acceptance by (ene 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 weicomed and may be printed in the Bulletin free of charge as’ "Announcements", subject-to the discretiom Of) Gace mae ris EdtTors: Cover: Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe (pleschanka) cypriaca by Mike Hodgson. IN EGYPT Sherif M Baha El Din iaeicmelassical work on the birds of Eeypt, Meinertzhagen (71930) Eaves nO indication of the possible occurrence of tne- Palestine SUpbeed=in Heypt. Im recent years there have been many observations Saeeese pied In sina andicaring their probable residence in the area. The first published record of the spécies in Egypt is from Pienipush nn. October, 1979 (Petersen & Sorensen 1980). Meininger and Mullie (1982) list this species as accidental, Wahid Salama (pers. comm.) observed it throughout the year at El Arish. On 26 June 1984 I observed a pair displaying and carrying food appre. SKM WES ©f the israeli -border at Rafah, this is the first breeding’ record from with Egyptian. limits. On 18 August 1984 more than 8 birds were found in Wadi Nasab about S0km cast Of (Gebel Musa ian south Sinai’ (more: than 1000m above sea ievel). Males in breeding plumage and juveniles were observed, two males were still displaying and singing. The habitat in which the birds were found in south Sinai is very diiserecnt. from that. in north Sinai, while in’ the latter they were found in orange and olive: groves, in south Sinai they were found on acacia trees in deep narrow wadi. Krabbe (1980) lists the Palestine Sunbird as resident at Elat, though Shirihai (1982) didnot record the species there in 1980. Jennings (1981) shows this species as breeding north to Wadi Sawawin. he distribution of this species seems toi be nathersparceny-seute of its Mediterranean range occurring only in suitable habitats. Lt iss srebabliesthat it occurs- im: other sui tabilie] habsseareeenm south Sinai as well as between Wadi Sawawin and Elat. Rec Eee EN Ces Jennings, MC 1981 The Birds of Saudi Arabia: a Check-List, Cambridge. Krabbe, N 1980 Check-List of the Birds of Elat, Copenhagen. Meinertznazen, R 1930 Nicoll's Birds of Egypt, 2 Vols, London, Hugh Rees. Meininger, P L amd Mullie, WC 1981 The Significance of Egyptian Wetlands for Wintering Waterbirds, Holy Land Conservation Fund, New York. Petersen, I and Sorensen, U G 1980 Ornithological Observations from the Bardawil Lagoon, North Sinai, Egypt, October 1979). Unpubl, report. Shirinai, H 1982 Bird Migration in Elat (in Hewbrew), SPNI, Tel Aviv. BIRDWATCHING IN QATAR IN THE ARABIAN GULF Mair Hutton It is possible to create an oasis in the desert if there is a regular supply of treated effluent water available. Reeds 500m 270w and spread giving the birds safe niding places. thew oeldwertiuent ponds near Doha were a perrect iarea for many Speeves( Or Water birds. -Every spring many Moorhens, a few Coots anda Hew Little Grebes bred successfully amongst the big spread Curreceds waleh Wained the ponds. Dirhrerent species: of duck dropped iMod viere were also waders presenr ineiuding Kentish Plovers Noten mesvea ia the surrounding “desert. “The vast reed area Pave cover tO Many Snipe “and to at least sone Water ‘Raill:- Two tenavte Marsh Harriers usually spent the winter there finding enough prey among the small” residents and visitors. Ferruginous Pickmsmaested Tor the first time ain? )983)and- 10 ducklings ‘were seen on 5 May, they bred again in 1984 when three separate broods or 6, 2 and 5 ducklings were seen with adults on 6 June. 1984 was a very special year because Black-necked Grebes bred there. for Che first time.--1 caught a glimpse of one independent immature bird on 15 June just before it disappeared into the reeds. -However, on 20 June seven adults and eight chicks were present, five adults with one chick each on its back, one adult with two chicks on its back and another one with an older chick Swimming beside it. The adults with chicks on their backs did not dive but dabbled on the surface of the water with their beaks and turned around and fed the chicks. Unfortunately, the area is now dry and has been since August 1984 and the water is being piped to the new ponds, 17kms south. Moorhens, Coots and Little Grebes have been breeding ‘there for several years. Black-winged Stilts bred there in 1982, 1983 and 1984 and Avocets in 1983 and 1984. This iS noW a vast area and it is very difficult to see everything that may be present. BREEDING BIRDS AND OIL POLLUTION ON THE ISLANDS AT THE MOUTH OF: THE GULE._OF .SUEZ, EGYPT: 22 SEPTEMBER — 13) OGTOBER Rises. — INTERIM REPORT Members: M C Jennings, D Parr, P C Heathcote and S M Baha El Din. This study was carried out on behalf of the Oil Pollution Research Unit Pembroke and completed previous studies made by the members in November 1982 and April-May 1983. Information gained during the present and previous studies will be used to prepare a comprehensive report on the breeding seabird communities of the islands and of oil pollution and its effect on birds. The team surveyed breeding birds and oil pollution on 25 islands (or groups of islands) including Ras Gemsa Islets and Saal Hashish, two islands which it was not possible to visit in 1983. The coastai zone and deep water areas were also visited oo to assess their importance for feeding and activity by breeding birds. Seventeen species are now known to breed on the islands and the total population of these during September and October 1984 was established at over 19,500. Breeding was proved for late summer breeding species including Sooty Falcon, White- cheeked Tern, Lesser Crested Tern and Bridled Tern. (NB The latter three birds had not arrived in the area by the time the 1983 expedition departed in mid May). It was found that the intertidal zone, plus tne relatively shallow (reef protected) waters around islands and the deeper water between islands, Seabirds, including herons. bic The autumn movement cf passerine birds over the islands, whilst relatively light, was found to be more numerous than in the spring of the previous year but, surprisingly, no pronounced movement or raptors or other soaring birds was observed over the islands and the Strait of Gubal from southern Sinai. The amount and area of tar contamination was approximately the same as in Aprii and May 1983, with north and north-west facing: beaches being most effected. However in most cases it appeared to be mucr older, very little fresh oil was discovered an@etar pads, Especiaily the thick Sludgy type, were absent. As in 1983 there was a high incidence of oiled birds and species particularly vulnerable to oil contamination during the breeding Secsom mave been adentified.. Birds nesting or feeding young Geos une high tide line being especially at risk. Peel repork’ 15.4an preparation for OPRU and separate papers are planned concerning breeding seabirds, raptor migration angman wccount Of O11 pollution in the area. Further information ccncerning the above mentioned surveys, including details of publications to date, are available from Michael C Jennings Moonraker Cottage, i Zastcourt, Burbage, Wiltshire, England. 6 STRATEGIES OF MIGRATING BIRDS CROSSING THE SAHARA DESERT We have recently received a summary of a project from the Swiss Ornithological Institute (SOI). The project aims to discover more adout how birds cope with crossing the Sahara and the following details will be of interest to members. ine SOI nas been studying migration throughout central Europe using modified tracking radar in the area of the Alps. No similar studies have yet taken place in the Sahara Desert region. A research group from the Max Planck Institute for Ethophysiology (MPIE) has been capturing and studying birds in the Egyptian part of the Sahara and their data has suggested that migrating birds may not use a non-stop strategy to cross the Sahara. Observations show that birds trapped ae desert Sites, sheltering in shady places, were signifi- cantly heavier and in better condition than birds caught at oases. It is the aim of the SOI and MPIE to re-examine tne strategy of Palearctic migrants crossing the Sahara. Two ex-military tracking radars with up-dated and exchangeable recording systems will be used to describe the course which migration takes over the Sahara both at day and night. One site will be fixed near the oasis Bahariya, while the second installation will be mobile unit working south of the main station and then northeast to the Nile Valley near Asyut. MPIE studies will gather data on the species involved, tnelr age structure, fat deposits, time of appearance as | | well as water and energy budgets of birds in the desert. ireapping, will occur at beth radar sites. The researcr aims to: 1. Record tne volume and height of migration near an oasis and detect any differences between daytime and night Gaui guileaarene ane) ale 2. Record tne volume and height of migration at points from the desert up to the Nile Valley. 3. Measure the vertical speed of birds. to see if they climb more at dusk or dawn. 4. Measure the direction of migration to see if there is any ccnvergence towards oases. ‘5. Describe any cnanges in the volume, height, vertical speed and. direction during the season, from day to day or. during the day. ' ©. Measure variations in air speed and ground speed with “height'-to discover any advantages of flight at given revels and to find out information about the time taken to cress’ the-sahara. | {. Discover any preferences that different species have for certain flight levels, directions and speeds. 8. Track reieased birds to record wing-beay patterns of identified species and their methods of climb to high altitudes. Further information can be obtained: from Dr B Bruderer, SOI, CH-6204 Sempach, Switzerland. OSME SITES REGISTER SCHEME N J Collar Progress report no 1 To date, 60 forms have been returned by 12 contributors covering 10 of the 19 countries/geopolitical units within our area. Five forms, have been. single contributions; the remaaname 55 are the work of just seven people, namely A M Macfarlane (25), LN Anderson (8), F R Lambert (5), J Palfrey (5), D I M Wallace (5), D J Wilson (4) and G W Rayner (2). Countries not yet with a site registered are Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, North Yemen and Soutn Yemen. Forms are held (by NJC, duplicates with NJR) on the following sites (spellings as by the contributor, sites: listed frominorth to south, countries listed alphabetically). Afghanistan Salang Pass (n of Kabul) 35°28'N 69°O0'E F R Lambert Cyprus Khrysokou River estuary 352028 Nas2e25 hr G W Rayner (n-w Cyprus) Larnaca Salt Lake B4055 NN 33°39 CE T Jenkins Asprokremos Dam (Paphos 6342940" N Sa 2°25 us Ca Ge"Bennett Da Ssteriet) Akrotiri Peninsula (southern 34°36'N 33°00'E G W Rayner Cyprus) United Arab Emirates Saffa (Safa) Park, 2km ‘s=w°) 25°3'N 55°6'E C Richardson Dubai City Egypt 1km eastof Aswan 24°04" N 3235s F R Lambert / israel Nahal Amud Fishponds in Bet She'an area Kishon (Qishon) Lake Mishar 'Ayyalon imma Ze! elim Nizzana Jordan Zaro River ( or Wadi Zarqa or Nahr) Wadi El Karak Dead Sea, south-eastern end isoucnern Highlands" Wadi Rum Lebanon Palmier (Nakhl) Island Harissa Hotel Al Ameriye, Bikfaya Ras Beruit Beirut Airport Pond or Khalde Pool Aammiq Swamp Anjar Pond - Damour Marsh Qaraoun Lake Saudi Arabia Doumat al Djandal or Al Jauf Dibdibah, Eastern Province Tarut Bay, Eastern Province Abqaiq sewage (tank) lagoons West Abqaiq sewage lagoons Jebel Tuwayq (Tuwaiq), nr Durma Wadi Daval Al Ha'ir lagoons Al Mansouriyah sewage lagoons Haradh Farm, Eastern Province Islet near Qunfudah Islet 82255 N SZ Son 82°36 N Seb 2'N Silbaeda Nl 30°50 'N e32°10'N S20 4N 31265 "N c30°40'N E29°30 IN 34°29 'N B3229N S355) 118) 33°54'N 33°48 'N 33°44'N 33°44'N SSc43N 33°34'N 29°49'N 28°00 'N 26°32'N ARS ou 25°54'N 24°45 'N 24°40'N 24°38'N 24°30 'N 24°08 'N 18°57" N SD SOM 3p 7 SOE Bil Sess 34°56'E SA ald 34°25 UE 35°48°E 354648 Bo SOME: Sb 8o) Sp 2oe E 35°46'E 35°40'E 85° 4008 SS) 8) Ne 35° 2948 Stone Spe Ser E 35220 Ei 35°42 °E 3985S) 46°O0O'E 50°O00'E 49°4O0'E 49°39'E 46°10'B 46°30'E 46°47 'E 46°50'E 49°00'E 41 90575 Eenbe rPrPer Yr Pp ite) Te) iw) Leak Dena aes teas Pe YP LS N Andersen N Andersen N Andersen N Andersen N Andersen N Andersen I M Wallace I M Wallace I M Wallace I M Wallace I M Wallace Macfarlane Macfarlane Macfarlane Macfarlane Macfarlane Ce eee Macfarlane Macfarlane Macfarlane Macfarlane Se carta A Green Palfrey Palfrey Palfrey Palfrey J Wilson J Wilson J Wilson J Wilson Palfrey Vihonryer 10 Syria Al Sharkrak Pond and 36°25" Ne socOOrE A M Macfarlane Skiro Vii lage Lake Assad (north-west part) 36°78'N 38°10'E M Macfarlane Jabbul Salt Lake (Sabkhat Bl OS IS Zs; A M Macfarlane Al-jabbul) Lake Assad (south-east part) 35°49'N 38°28'E A M Macfarlane Shumaytiyah Pond 35°23 N 392564 A M Macfarlane Mayadin Pool 34°58'N 40°29'E A M Macfarlane Lake Qattine or Bahret Homs 34°37 *N S6e32r5 A M Macfarlane Pumping Station T-3 34°31 "N. 382457 A M Macfarlane Palmyra (Tadmur) 34°30MN Seales A M Macfarlane Kharbaga (Dam) S4°974" No 3723708 A M Macfarlane Abu Zad, Bludan 33°43 UN SOc O70 A M Macfarlane Wadi El Karn (Qarn) 33°37, N= 36° 0008 A M Macfarlane Ghouta, Damascus B2CS0UNE S6e7alE: A M Macfarlane Jebel Sis (Jebel Sies) S32 18 N Si C22 A M Macfarlane "Marj Mann", Golan Heights 33°17 'N 34°45" L N Andersen Wadi Dalyyot, Golan Heights 322544 NeS5 24308 L N Andersen Yarmuk Valley 82°48 N: Boe a4 iE: A M Macfarlane Lake Mzerib 32°42°N 36°01 E A M Macfarlane Turkey Kulu (Kucuk) Golu 39°08'N 33°08'E F R Lambert Nemrut Dag 38°60 "N 42°200 F R Lambert Demirkazik Village 37°48 'N 34°45'E F R Lambert near Durnalik Kogu B7225 Ne Sb°SOuE F R Lambert near Duzce 40°40'N 31°10'E S Albrecht Site Register Scheme forms are being enclosed with this Bulletin “and we hope that members who have yet to fill them in will do so. The guidelines were published in Bulletin 10 but these and extra Site forms can be obtained from the Conservation Research Committee, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, England. 11 OSME GRANTS tine icomservarion, Research Fund, set up. to promote and. assist suit— able conservation-orientated projects in the Middle East, has awarded the following grants for 1985. ile Michael C Jennings (UK): for assistance with launching a long- term project to produce an "Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Avaaalys £150: Max Kasparek (West Germany): for assistance with publication costs of an ecological study of the Sultan Marshes, Turkey: 2100). Lindon Cornwallis and Don Parr (UK): for assistance with a project to investigate the taxonomic and biological status of "Strickland's Wheatear" Oenanthe picata opistholeuca in north-east Jordan: £50. Hilary and Geoff Welch (UK): for assistance with a second expedition to Djibouti, concerned in part with Autumn migration studies: £1750. Council has approved that £500 be set aside for grants in 1986. Applications, which must be from fully paid-up OSME members, should reach the Conservation Research Committee, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Beds, UK, by 15 November 1985. Guidelines and conditions concerning these awards were set out in Bulletin 10. New members should contact Nigel Redman for further information. Donations to the Conservation Research Fund are always welcome and will enable the Society to increase its support of worthy proj 12 BIRDS OF EGYPT PROJECT - PROGRESS REPORT The "Birds of Egypt Froject" BEP is organised by Sherif Baha el Din (Egypt), Steven M Goodman, Peter L Meininger and Wim C Mullie (Netherlands). The aim of this project, which includes an atlas scheme for breeding birds, is to compile an up-to-date book on Egyptian birds. The book is currently being written, but information can be added until late 1985. People who stiil have unpublished information on birds in Egypt are kindly requested to send this to us as soon as possible. Recent expeditions in-tne framework of the project, whiten has been supported by an OSME grant of £125 - (Bulletin gg 0 8, include mid Marcn-May 1983 (PLM and U G Sgrensen, paper on breeding birds in the Nile Delta for Sandgrouse in prep.), January-June 1984 (SMG), December 1984 (WCM) and Jan-May 1985 (SMG andPLM). in spring 1985 attention will be paid to the Gebel Elba area in the extreme southeast of Egypt (and under Sudanese administration). This remote area is known to hold breeding Ostrich Struthio camelus, Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verrauxii, Bateleur Terathopus ecaudatus, Pink-headed Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea and several other species belonging to the Afrotropical fauna. - Peter Meininger, Grevelingenstraat 127, 4335 XE Middelburg, The Netherlands. ; in north-west Cyprus. COS 29th Ann Rept 67-79. 13 RECENT LITERATURE Compiled by C A Harbard AIZIK, D & PINSHOW, B (1984) Notes on the breeding biology of the Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena in the Arava (Rift Valley), lisieacts bis 126: 82-89. ALBRECHT, J S M (1984) Some: notes on the identification, song and habitat of the Green warbler in the western Blaczx Sea coastlands of Turkey. Sandgrouse 6: 69-75. ALKON, 2 U (1983) Nesting .and brood production in an Israeli pepuuaiuon: Or Chukacs Alectoris chukars) Isr. iJ .Zs01 (324): 185+193. ANON 19S4) Exercise -Busn Chat°’= 1984. Cyprus. Adjutant 14: 3-27. ANON (1984) Vogelmassaxer in Libanon. Orn Mitt 24: 37-38. BAHA EL DIN, S (1984) The Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura in BeviMe. “COurser: 13 5-7. BAHA EL DIN, S (1984) New and interesting records for Egypt 1980-82. Courser 1: 47-51. BAHA EL DIN, S (1984) Birding spots in Egypt: Isiand of. Wadi: Gimaiy. sCourser 12. 52-53. } BAHA EL DIN, S & SALAMA, W (1984) Waterbird migrazion study at awanik, Sinai 2-24 Sept 1982. , Courser 1:,.28-43. BELLE, PT & SUMMERS, A B (1984) The-ecology of. tre Chukar Alectoris chukar and the Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus BIJLSMA, R G & MEININGER, P L (1984) Behaviour cf the House Crow Corvus Splendens and additional notes’ on its distribution. Gerfaut. 74: 3-173. BRAUNIG, C (1984) Wilsonwassertreter Phalaropus tricolor in der tigen, Orn Mitt 362-139 BRUNN, B (1984) Cinereous bunting Emberiza cineracea in Egypt. Courser 1: 44-46. BRUNN, B (1984) Spring migration of raptors at Suez compared with PicGe Duccn Barding 2 6-11. BUHOT, D (1983) Deux mois d'observation d'un courile d'aigles de Bonelli Hieraaetus fasciatus en Israel. Alauca 51: 92-108. BUNDY, G (1984) Little Stints feeding in flight. BB77: 156. BUNDY, G (1984) Collective mobbing by Black-winged Stilts and terns in winter. BB77: 419-420. BUNDY, G (1984) Slender-billed Gulls feeding by aerial-skimming. BBP tr 4212 14 BUNDY, G (1984) Whaskered Terns robbing Saunder's TérnssS S577 2 9422- BUNDY, G (1985) Grey Hypocolius. BB78: 93-95. BUNDY, G (1985) Communal feeding by Western Reef Herons. BB78: 107-108. BUNDY, G (1985) Communal winter roosting by Imperial Eagies. BBYTSs 21 08% CASEMENT, M B (1983) Landbirds from ships at sea 1981-@2. Sea Swallow S23) S5=3:7-. CHARALAMBIDES, -C -et “al (eds) ':( 1984) “The Birds) (om Cy prustegn: esesied Report 1979. CLAYTON, D (1984) Kuwait's Natural History. Kuwait. COLSTON, PR: & GALEACHER, DD. (1984) (First 2Pecornd Ommrgcmeace Stonechat Saxicola caprata for Arabia. Bull BOC-1042 69-—73— COOPER, J, WILLIAMS, AJ & BRITTON, P L (1984) Distribution, population sizes and conservation of breeding seabirds in tre Afrotropical region. “ Orn Beob 81: 319-321. MACLEAN, G L (1984) Evolutionary trends in the Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae). Malimbus 6: 75-78. MARCHANT, J H (1984) Identification of Slender-billed Curlew. BEYiet el Sor MEININGER,P L & SORENSEN, U G (1984) Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar brecding in Heype-. Buse BOG 104." 54-57. MUMFORD, S (1984) A report on the Eleonora's Falcon at Akrotiri, Cyprus 1982, COS Ann Rept 1982: 64-66. MURPHY, C (1984) Recent trip to eastern Turkey, 19@3— ~OSME Bui er SadiZ: NEUFELDT, I A & WUNDERLICH, K (1984) Sitta kruperi: in Atlas der Verbreitung Palaearktischer, Vogel 12. Berlin: OLSEN, K M (1983) Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse in Israel and Sinai. Dutch Birding 5: 75-76. PHILIPPONA, J (1983) Observations of water birds at some wetlands in Turkey, autumn 1983. Private publ. PHILIPPONA, J (1984) Enige waarnemingen van Kraanvogels in Turkije en Hongarije. Het Vogeljaar 32: 242-244, PORTER, R (1984) Additions to the North Yemen 'list'. OSME Bull 13: 4-7. PORTER, R (1984) Mystery photograph: Slender-billed Curlew. BBY fs 661-586). RAKHA, M A & KANDEEL, MM H (1983) Acarophenax meropsi n sp from the European Bee-eater Merops apiaster in Egypt. Acarologia (Paris) 24(3): 295-297. ar a 17 RAYNER, G W (1984) The breeding of Night Heron in Cyprus 7982. COS Ann Rept 1982: 62-63. RISTOW, D, WINK, C & WINK, M (1984) Studies of Eleanora's Falcon holkeeneleanorac. Birds of Cyprus, 10th Bird Rept: 66-79. ROUNDE Oe eb (985) Dunn's Lark. BBY76:42. SALEH, M A.(1984) Birds of the Eastern desert-of Egyst; the Bir Abraq area. Courser 1: 58-61. SALEH, M A (1984) Does the ostrich bury its head in the sand? Courser 1: 62-63. SCHULER. G (1984) Ala - Exkursion nach Israel, 9-24 April 1983. Orn Beob 81: 78=80. SHARROCK, J T'R (1984) Bill length of Isabelline Wheatear. BB 77: 362-363. SHEnnAt,, H (1984) Hume's Tawny Owl. BB/7: 6137614. STANDFORD, W (1984) Notes on the birds of Iraq 1919-7327. Adjutant 13: 41-44. STROMAR, L (1983) Contribution to the study of the migration of binds tin lsrawlh.> Larus 33-35: 7-23. (English summary). STUART, B & PILCHER, C (1983) Birds in Kuwait's Natural History (ed D Clayton): 130-170. MvnOne © B (1983) Preld adentification: of ;Sand-plovers in Fast Africa. Dutch Birding 5: 37-66. TURRIAN, F & SCHMID, T (1984) Migration d'ardeliedes au delta du Kizilirmak, Turquie du Nord. Nos Oiseaux 37(6): 289-292. ULLMAN, M (1985) Raptor migration at Suez in March 1982. Dutch Breda 8 (ln 17. VAN DER HAM, N F (1984) Squacco Heron attempting to swallow Wood SanaoTper.. Beye. We WALLACE,-D I M (1984) Identification of Wheatear and Isabelline Wheatear. BB77: 363-365. WALTER, H & FORRS, R- (1984) Falco eleanorae on Cyprus. Birds of Cyprus 10th Bird Report: 58-65. WELCH, G & H (1984) Birds seen on an expedition to Djibouti. Sandgrouse 6: 1-23. WELCH, GR &H J (1984) Djibouti Expedition - March 1984. Unpub typescript. YOM-TOV, Y (1984) On the difference between the spring and autumn migrations in Eilat, Southern Israel. Ringing and Migration. 5: 141-144. 18 LETTER "Intermediate" Booted Eagles V Holmgren (Sandgrouse 6:76-79) provides much needed descriptions with excellent photographs of variant Booted Ealges Hieraeetus pennatus showing a dark bar on the underwing. Such birds can GCause confusion in. the field and may oe¢cur more frequenViaye than is realised. The underwing pattern is not apparent on examination of conventionally prepared skins upon which descriptions and illustrations in all but some recent works seem to be based. However whether these birds are correctly consideredy tombe "intermediates". is questionable. - The photographs clearly shew that the prominence of the dark bar is due, in part, .to the flight feathers being abnormally light. I have seen at least three birds showing this bar in’Menorca, where the species iS common and noted of one. !Unlike any picture or description of Booted I have seen: very iLike picture of juvenile Bonelli's in Gooders' Birds of the World'. At’. close range in good light normal dark phase, Booteds, Show, a Similar contrast to light phase birds, reddish-brown underbody and forewing contrasting with dark flight feathers. J GoParker,- [ye- House, -Brantord. ipswich. Sub Goma. 19 ANNOUNCEMENT ATLAS OF THE BREEDING BIRDS OF ARABIA Over 200 bird species breed within the area of the Arabian Peninsula. In 1985 I launched an atias scheme which has the Spijceulve, Or Getermining stacus- and distribution of all these breeding birds. The atlas will use the breeding evidence criteria of the European Ornithological Atlas Committee. The atlas unit will be the 4 degree square, in common with current Similiar atlases proceeding for Egypt and Turkey, and will make the Arabian atlas compatible with most current African atlas Decwiecus. .Lhere are over) 100 atlas squares involved. The project will be based, to a great extent, on reports from cuigigenit, Observers buy wil also include a review of the relevant lnivetarLuRre.s Input Prom museum collections and TI will-=seek to track down ali Sources of ‘unpublished data. All observers currently aGrivic in une wArabian Peninsula, who have not yet received details Ot eae) project from me, are invited to contact meso that I can Sends wacm documentation for the scheme. Those .with records for any period prior to 1985’ are also asked to: contribute as old records are of particular value in determining range extensions and contractions and population changes. Old records for the Aden Protectorate, now the People's Democratic Republic of South Yemen, are specially sought as this country is likely to receive the poorest coverage during the current period of observations. Contributors and potential contributors, are asked to particularly note that it is not essential to prove breeding to make a record for the atlas, mere presence of.a "breeding' species in suitable breeding habitat constitutes a record towards the atlas. 20 a Ie During the compilation period I will seek to cooperate with all relevant societies and organisations interested in Arabian ornithology, eg OSM=E, HASA, BWP and local natural history groups and recorders. Subject to any embargo placed on records by observers and the cverall objectives of the atlas, information collected will be made available to those researching papers concerning Arabian birds. Contributors will receive regular updates of interesting records and details of breeding birds and coverage of their local area and any other information needed. It is hoped to obtain sponsorship to organise expeditions to areas with poor coverage to ensure completeness. A free newsletter Tne Phoenix is circulated periodically to all contributors and interested parties and a sample copy will be sent to any interested member of OSME who cares to send a stamped addressed envelope. Michael C Jennings, Moonraker Cottage, 1 Eastcourt, Burbage, Wiltshire, England, SN8 3AG. ADVERTISEMENT . Bird Artistic & Pnotographic Agency requires new material. Write first for our guidelines, specifying artist or photographer to: BIRDERS, 46 Westleigh Drive, Sonning Common, Reading, England, RG4 QLB. ORNITHOLOGICAL SO 21 THE COURSER The Ornithological Society of Egypt has published the first number of its journal Courser. The papers in it are listed in the Recent Literature section. For further details of the Society write to the Secretary: Sherif Baha El Din; 4 -Ismail El Mazni:. Street, Heliopolis, Cairo, EGYPT. CTETY OF NORTH YEMEN APaumber of expatriate residents in Yemen have formed a society BOnscudy Yemen birds’. OSME. expedition announced in Bulletin 13. OUR aims ‘are simitar to. the proposed If anyone would like more information please write to JOHN FINCH, c/o The British Embassy, Sana'a, Yemen Arab Republic. A ORIENTAL BIRD CLUB This new bird club was launched earlier this year. OBC covers the entire Oriental region from the Indian sub-continent east to China and south to Indonesia. Its aims are similar to those of OSME. . Its first of .two annual Bulletins has just been published and a journal, the Forktail, will be published each year. For further details write to The Secretary, Oriental Bird Club, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. XIX _CONGRESSUS INTERNATIONALIS ORNITHOLOGICUS 22 XIX CONGRESSUS INTERNATZONALIS ORNITHOLOGICUS The 19th International Ornithological Congress will be held in Ottawa, Canada, from 22 to 29 June 1986.. Its*President is Prof Dr Klaus Immeimann. The scientific programme has been determined and comprises plenary lectures, symposia, contributed papers (oral and posters), round table discussions, special interest group meetings, and workships. Pre and post-—congress excursions and worksnops are planned, as well as early morning bird waliks and other activities for members 2nd accompanying members. ct a} {) Tne deadline for regis tion and submission ig of contributed papers is January 1986. Additional information, tne final circular and registration forms are available from: Dr Henri Ouellet, Secretary General, XIX Congressus Internationalis Ornithologicus, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A OM8. 23 THE PHOENIX This newsletter is produced for contributors to the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. The first number was published in January 1985 and as well as containing details and reports on the project it also has a section on sites of interest, book reviews and news Of events. Details of che Project and’ the newsletter can be obtained from:M C Jennings, Moonraker Cottage, 1 Eastcourt, Burbage, Wiltshire SN8 3AG, ENGLAND. TO ALL EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGISTS Bonelli's Eagle Hieraeetus fasciatus and Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus are two seriously endangered species in the French Mediterranean region. Amongst the dangers they have to face are disturbances by birdwatchers and photographers who oreo ucrose. LO certain mest sites: We are therefore asking everybody to refrain from such visits or to contact the organisations responsible for wardening the nest sites beforehand. Fonds D'Intervention pour les Rapaces, B.P. 27, 92250 La Garenne- Colombes, FRANCE. This plea naturally applies to birdwatchers who are visiting any country and trying to see or photograph endangered or easily disturbed species. Ed. 24 ADVERTISING RATES Eimer AGVEREESCIEMUSE valet svetamaney cet a atetens