SANDGROUSE
Volume 20 (2) 1998
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE MIDDLE EAST
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE MIDDLE EAST
OSME
OSME was founded in 1978 as the successor to the Ornithological Society of Turkey. Its primary aims are:
# To collect, collate, and publish data on all aspects of the birds of the Middle East.
# To promote an interest in ornithology and bird conservation throughout the Middle East.
@ To develop productive working relationships with other governmental and non-governmental organisations with an interest in conservation and/or natural history in the region.
MEMBERSHIP
OSME is open to all, and its membership spans over 40 countries.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Individual £12 (£15 air mail outside Europe)
Family £15 (£18 air mail) for two, plus £3 for each additional family member.
Supporting £24
Cover the subscription of a national birdwatcher in the region (£27 air mail).
LiFE MEMBERSHIP
Individual £225 (£100 if 60 or over)
Family £300
for 2 members.
Please add £3 if payment is made in non-sterling currency. For details of payment by banker's order, and for any other information on the Society, write to the Secretary at the address below.
PUBLICATIONS
OSME publishes a scientific journal, Sandgrouse, containing papers, news and features on all aspects of Middle Eastern ornithology. Published twice yearly, it is issued free to members. Further copies are available for sale from OSME.
IMIEETINGS 2 Eee An Annual General Meeting is held in London at which guest speakers provide new perspectives on ornithology in the region. There are also occasional special meetings, some
taking place outside the UK.
PROJECTS —2 Eee OSME organises field expeditions to collect data on birds in little-known parts of the region and in areas where OSME can assist by teaming up with local groups.
The Conservation & Research Committee grants funds to valuable field projects and desk studies which further knowledge and conservation of birds in the region. Grants have been awarded to over 30 projects since the Conservation & Research Fund was set up in 1982.
VICE PRESIDENTS: Prof. Abdulaziz H. Abuzinada,
Sherif Baha El Din,
Shaika Noora Bint,
Isa Bin Sulman AI Khalifa, B. Behrouzi-Rad,
Dr Saeed Mohamed, Anis Mouasher
Dr Omar AI-Saghier Dr Yossi Leshem
Richard Porter
COUNCIL AS AT SEPTEMBER 1998:
C. G. Bradshaw D. Moore Conservation & Research Publicity A. Colston (co-opted) A. J. Morris R. Daniel (co-opted) SEEN) Librarian O. Roberts P Davideon Membership Information Officer H. I. Scott (co-opted) A {Creve Publications Officer Chairman F. E. Warr (co-opted) Dr D. Harvey SHES Features Editor, Sandgrouse J. Warr (co-opted) Treasurer
R. P. Martins (co-opted) Turkey Bird Report
TS TA
clo THE LODGE, SANDY, BEDFORDSHIRE SG19 2DL, UK OSME WEB SITE - http://www.netlink.co.uk/users/ag/osme/osmehome.html
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Contents
SANDGROUSE Volume 20 (2)
Editor Guy M. Kirwan
Features Editor Derek Harvey
Assistant Editor lan J. Andrews
Editorial Committee Michael Blatr, Paul Goriup, Ben Hoare, Mike Jennings, Rodney Martins, Peter L. Meininger & Dr Stephen Newton
Photographic Editor Paul Doherty
Design & Production
Harry |. Scott
Identification Consultants C. G. Bradshaw, Arnoud B. van den Berg & Steve Madge
COVER PHOTOGRAPH:
Male Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus, taken by Dr Mike Hill in Bahrain.
OSME 1s grateful for sponsorship from Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd. towards the cost of printing the colour photographs inside this issue.
82 OSME News 84 NEWS AND INFORMATION 86 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION
FEATURES
87 Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south -west Jordan FARES KHOURY
94 Kibbutz Lotan—gem of the Arava valley, Israel JAMES SMITH
102 PROFILE Adnan Budieri DEREK HARVEY
105 VHOTOSPOr : Hume’s Tawny Owl Roy E. WRANES
PAPERS AND NOTES
108 Comments on the limits of the Western Palearctic in Iran and the Arabian Peninsula R. P. MARTINS AND ERIK HIRSCHFELD
135 The birds of semi-desert areas of central Iraq KHALID Y. AL-DABBAGH
142. Seawatching at Ras Beirut, Lebanon in spring 1997 SIMON BUSUTTIL AND DAVE FLUMM
143. Migrant raptors at Krak des Chevaliers, Syria M. J. AND E. A. EVERETT
144 ~~ A February record of Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo in south Turkey EDWIN W. A. M. VAASEN
145 The first Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea in Yemen and the Middle East DAvip B. STANTON
146 _ Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus and Black- crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps breeding in Kuwait P.J. COWAN AND D. L. NEWMAN
147 ‘The first Semi-collared Flycatcher records Ficedula semitorquata in Lebanon SIMON BUSUTTIL AND DAVE FLUMM
148 ~The first Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis in Iraq MUDHAFAR A. SALIM
150 REVIEWS & RECENT LITERATURE 157 AROUND THE REGION Guy. M. KIRWAN
81
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
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OSME SUMMER MEETING 1999
Plans for next year’s OSME Summer Meeting and AGM are already under way. The event will once again be held at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square, London on 17 July 1999. Full details will be announced in Sandgrouse 21 part 1.
COMINGS AND GOINGS ON OSME COUNCIL
It was with sadness and a little heaviness of heart that three members retired from OSME Council on completion of their five-year, or longer, contribution to the increase in strength and vitality of OSME.
Rosemary Parslow was Membership Secretary and, together with Adrian Colston, maintained the membership database, an extremely important task. OSME is very grateful for all the assistance that Rosemary has rendered the Society over many years. Adrian continues as a co-opted Council member to allow a smooth passage of the
financial reins to the next Treasurer. Owen.
Roberts has taken over as Membership Secretary and we welcome him in his new role.
Gary Allport has provided a very important connection to BirdLife International, chaired the Conservation and Research Committee and provided a link with the wider conser- vation world. Through his good offices, OSME has continued to promote ornithological research in the Middle East through its small grants scheme. Chris Bradshaw takes over as
82
~ Chairman of the Conservation and Research
Comittee.
Hilary Welch has been, and continues to be, strongly associated with OSME and all its work, and her active participation on Council will be sorely missed as she relinquishes the Librarian’s post. This has, at last, allowed her to clear the spare bedroom! Ray Daniels has taken over this role and provides more information about the OSME library below.
Andrew Grieve, OSME Chairman
OSME SUMMER MEETING 1998
A relatively small, but typically, enthusiastic audience enjoyed OSME’s summer meeting, held in London at the School of Oriental & African Studies, on 25 July. The meeting opened with the now traditional round-up of conservation news from the region, summarised by Adnan Budieri, the new head of BirdLife International’s Middle Eastern division. Hilary Welch discussed the highs and lows of travel in Turkey outside the popular spring and summer periods. The main business of the meeting, the AGM, was chaired in his own unique style by Andrew Grieve. After lunch the Grieve style continued with a highly entertaining Chairman’s quiz loosely following the format of BBC’s Question of Sport. The main talks continued with Nigel Cleere discussing recent ringing work in Kuwait, whilst Tim Loseby completed proceedings with some excellent slides from just beyond the OSME region, in Central Asia.
Chris Bradshaw
OSME/SUNBIRD TRIP TO YEMEN
Led by Rod Martins and Dave Fisher, the joint OSME/Sunbird trip to Yemen which ran in April 1998 was highly successful, recording all of the south-west Arabian endemics, Arabian Bustard Ardeotis arabs and a host of rare migrants, including two first country records: Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus and Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius. Further details appear in Around the Region. Another joint tour is planned for autumn 1999. Full details will be announced in due course.
OSME News
THE OSME LIBRARY
The OSME Library is 20 years old this year. It currently has 1940 items: 68 books, 55 booklets, 499 journals, 677 newsletters, 210 Papers, 295 reports, 131 trip reports, five maps and.videos. These are in nine languages: Arabic (22), Czech (three), Dutch (94), English (1568), French (44), German (124), Hebrew (34), Swedish (five) and Turkish (46). The high number of journals and newsletters is due to the fact that exchange agreements exist with over 40 clubs and societies. The main disappointment has to be the low number of books. As OSME’s policy is to rely on donations, the begging bowl is out. Some notable omissions are Birds of the Arabian Gulf Jennings), Birds of southern
Arabia (Robinson & Chapman), Directory of
wetlands in the Middle East (Scott), and Raptors in Israel: passage and wintering populations (Yekutiel). In addition, we do not hold The birds of Israel (Shirihai), the Birdwatching guide to Ouiar (Oldfield) and Deserts of Israel (Shirithai & Bahat). The number of recent additions to the library is only 89 in the last
five years (exchanges apart). The largest
collection of material is, unsurprisingly, devoted to Turkey (329), but Cyprus (283),
‘Witplives
Return Fares From.....
(Correct at time of going to press) subject to taxes
TURKEY £129 SAUDI £385 ISRAEL £159 UAE £285 EGYPT £179 IRAN £382 YEMAN £370 SYRIA £242 KUWAIT £276 OMAN £340
TEL OI1I17 984 8040
| FAX O1LI17 961 0200
Israel. (180) and. UAE, (175) are also well represented. At the other end of the spectrum are Afghanistan (nothing), Iran (four), Qatar (six), and Djibouti, Morocco and Syria all with nine. We have only received five trip reports in the last. five yedrs (Turkey excepted). More, please.
Ray Daniel, Librarian
© 9 O. SME?
Enjoy a year’s fleas for only £12!
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promotes the study and conservation of birds throughout the Middle East encourages the standardised recording of bird observations brings together knowledge of the region’s birdlife maintains a conservation and research fund to support small-scale projects by members publishes Sandgrouse twice a year, sent to all members
FLIGHTS WORLDWIDE Birding Holidays es
EILAT SPRING MIGRATION 14-21 MARCH 1999 FROM £525 - LOCAL LEADERS, INCLUDES BIRDING EXCURSIONS
EASTERN ARABIA (UAE, OMAN & YEMEN 08-23 FEBRUARY 1999 FROM £2,299 - LED BY COLIN RICHARDSON & DAVID ROSAIR
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE +e BANK ROAD - BRISTOL? BSI5 2LX °UK
HTTP://WWW.WILDWINGS.CO.UK TATA
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DISCOUNT FLIGHTS e CAR HIRE e ACCOMMODATION ¢ TRAVEL INSURANCE is PACKAGE HOLIDAYS « SEA TRAVEL e GROUPS & EXPEDITIONS WORLDWIDEe ~
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The aim of this section 1s to inform readers about events in the OSME region. It relies on members and others supplying relevant news and information If you have anything concerning birds, conservation or development issues in the OSME area please send it to News & Information, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL UK
This section is not intended as a definitive report or write-up of the projects concerned. Many of the projects are sponsored; such support 1s appreciated but is not generally given acknowledgement here.
GENERAL
BirdLife International has a new head for its Middle East division. Adnan Budieri, from Jordan, has taken over from Richard Porter and with the creation of a new BirdLife regional office in Jordan, the Middle East programme will now be administered from there. A profile of Adnan appears elsewhere in this issue.
Bird Re-introductions is the title of a round- table discussion to be held at the 22nd International Ornithological Congress, Durban, South Africa in August 1998. The intention was to have a free exchange of ideas and experiences, and to allow participants to make contact with the IUCNs Re- introduction Specialist Group (RSG) and those working on related topics. An abstract based on the discussions was to be prepared
for participants. Those requiring further .
information should contact Dr Philip Seddon (IOC RID), NWRC, P.O. Box 1086, Lait Saudi Arabia. Tel: (966) 2 7455188; Fax: (966) 2 7455176. E-mail: nwrc@compuserve.com.
Bald Ibis We have previously given information on Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in the Middle East and Morocco, which has the only known wild breeding population. The June 1998 World Birdwatch reports on research and conservation measures undertaken in Morocco since 1994. The cause of death of 40 Morroccan birds in nine days in May 1996
INFORMATION
compiled by Simon Albrecht
remains a mystery despite analyses and tests. Intoxication from an obscure source remains a possibility and demonstrates how vulnerable the remaining 200 wild birds are.
In Birecik, lurkey, a small tree flying breeding population supported by feeding is taken into captivity in winter. It is thought that some of these birds may disperse in autumn and not get taken into captivity. To test this, birds at Birecik are being ringed. There are still suggestions of a Bald Ibis population in Yemen but no recent positive sightings. Anyone seeing a Bald Ibis in the Middle East is asked to note whether it is ringed (but not endanger the bird). Any sightings or past reports, including circum- stantial evidence from local people, should be sent, as previously requested, to: Geott & Hilary Welch, Minsmere Reserve, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk IVI7 BBY, U7) ko el: +44 (0)1728 648298. Fax: +44 (0)1728 648529. E-mail: welch@easynet.co.uk.
Cooperation on migrating birds USAID /MERC has commmitted $1,050,000 for Israel, Palestine and Jordan to cooperate on the issue of migrating birds. The money has been divided equally between the three countries. In Israel it has gone to the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration at Latrun while in Palestine a new centre was opened in April 1998 at Talitha Kumi School in Beit Jalla, west of Bethlehem. (Source: SPNI News)
BAHRAIN
Socotra Cormorants on Sawad AI Janabiyah | In Sandgrouse 20: 3, we reported that heavy rains had devastated the Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis colony in November 1997. Michael Hill returned to the colony a week later and found the colony replenished and back to its original size. It is unclear why the adults returned but many had nested again. It was predicted that most chicks would not survive but information is unavailable. It remains unclear whether the
84
Simon Albrecht
News and Information
devastation has had long-term effects on the colony. (Source: Bahrain Nat. Hist. Soc. Newsletter 1 May 1998)
Bahrain signs Ramsar Convention Bahrain signed the Ramsar Convention protecting internationally important wetlands on 27 February 1998. It has submitted two sites to the Ramsar List of Wetlands. (Source: Ramsar Newsletter 27 in Oryx 32 (2)).
CYPRUS
Breeding Birds Atlas Visitors to Cyprus (north and south) from March-—July are invited to assist the Cyprus Breeding Birds Atlas, which is based on 5-km squares and uses methodology similar to European atlas projects. Those willing to help are asked to contact David Whaley and Judy Dawes, Armou, Paphos 8522, Cyprus. Fax: + 356 (0)6 249787. Tel: + 356 (0)6 249788 before they go.
EGYPT
Crocodiles return The Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus was apparently extirpated -in Egypt in the mid-1800s but with the construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s there has been speculation that it would return, colonising from upstream Sudan. Since the mid-1990s, both stuffed and live juvenile crocodiles have been on sale in Luxor. There have also been recent reports of crocodile attacks, including at least one fatality, in Lake Nasser. No direct observations have been made because Lake Nasser has strict military restrictions but the regional governor has approached IUCN and the Crocodile Specialist Group is developing a management plan. (Source: [UCN/SSC in Oryx 32 (2)).
New Protected Area Lake Burullus and its adjacent sandbar, in the Nile Delta east of Alexandria, has recently been declared a Protected Area. The lake is one of the country’s most spectacular Important Bird Areas (IBA) and is a focal point of the MedWet GEF project. (Source: BirdLife International Update 8).
ISRAEL
Stork migration on the internet The use of satellite transmitters to track Houbara Bustards Chlamydotis undulata has been reported previously (Sandgrouse 20: 5). In Israel transmitters have been attached to species such as White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Simon Albrecht
and Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus. Movement of individuals over time can be followed on the internet. The site is in English and Hebrew and _ is located at: http:/ /www.birds.org.il. For more information contact Dr Miri Rosenboim, The Kibbutzim State Teachers College, 147 Namir Road, Tel Aviv, Israel. Tel: (+972) 36902324. Fax: (+972) 39330924. E-mail: romi@netvision.net.il.
LEBANON
Aammiq Project Information concerning this project (also spelt Ammiq) was presented in Sandgrouse 20: 13-16. The aim of the project is to create a field studies centre to facilitate conservation, education and research in the last remaining significant wetland in Lebanon. It is hoped the area will be protected in the near future. For further information contact: Chris Naylor, The Post Office, Qabb Elias, The Bekaa, Lebanon. Tel: 03 877387. E-mail: csnaylor@destination. com.lb or: A Rocha Trust International, 3 Hooper Street, Cambridge CB1 2NZ, U. K. Tel/Fax: (44) 01387 710286. E-mail: a_rocha@compuserve.com.
SAUDI ARABIA
The Houbara Bustard captive breeding programme at Taif, Saudi Arabia has had another record-breaking year. With the laying period already completed, 485 eggs have been laid by 73 macqueenti females compared with 439 eggs laid by 63 females in 1997. The first chick hatched on 24 January. 1998 was the most successful breeding season to date with more than 240 chicks reared. More than 100 birds will be released into Mahazat as- Sayd, the largest release since the first re- introduction in 1991. Successful breeding of re-introduced birds was first observed in 1995 with one brood and two nests discovered. This year at least 20 nests were found and 13 chicks seen. Following the successful 1997 season, thé National Wildlife Research Center is continuing its major release programme. (Source: Stephane Hemon in litt. 1998)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE bird recorder Colin Richardson has recently changed his telephone and fax numbers. The new numbers are as follows. Tel: +9714 472277; Fax: 9714 472276. You can also contact him on the following mobile telephone no.: +97150 6503398. Colin is always happy to hear from visiting birders and exchange up-to-date information on birds and
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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
sites in UAE. If you are planning a trip to the country, you can also contact him at: P. O. Box 50394, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
TURKEY
Yelkouan Shearwater survey Ttirk Deniz Arastirmalan Vakfi (TUDAV) are operating a research project on Yelkouan Shearwaters Puffinus yelkouan in the Black Sea, Bosphorus and Marmara Sea with the approval of the National Parks and General Management of Game and Wildlife. It aims to count the species, discover its breeding sites and investigate its ecology. TUDAV hope to ring 200 shearwaters. The rings are marked as follows: TR Ist. TUDAV P.K. 10 Beyoz followed by a number. Anyone finding a ring should send full details, including the number to: TUDAV, P.K. 10, Beyoz, 81650 Istanbul, Turkey.
YEMEN
Captive Leopards Yemen harbours over half the total population of Arabian Leopard Panthera pardus nimir mumbering c. 200 individuals. A remote gorge called Al Wadi- A c. 120 km north of Sana’a is an important area for the species and there are moves to create a protected Leopard area there. Due to hunting pressures much of the Leopard’s natural food, especially Dorcas Gazelle Gazella dorcae, has been depleted. This has resulted in remaining Leopards turning to livestock and they are now regarded as a pest by local people who trap, shoot and, more recently, sell them into captivity.
Captive animals are kept in an appalling state in Yemen where they are teased and taunted by their keepers for the amusement of onlookers. It is illegal to kill or sell Leopards, or to use them commercially for public display without a licence. However few people know of these laws and they are rarely
enforced. There is apparently some pressure -
to establish a zoo in Yemen. Before this is done, the conditions of animals currently in captivity require dramatic improvement, the laws protecting native wildlife must be enforced, and game reserves protecting Leopards and other rare species be established and operational. (Source: International Zoo News 45: 22-25).
Bankoualé Palm The Bankoualé Palm Livistona carinensis is a-rare tree with just 38 in Somalia and c. 400 in Djibouti. A survey of the palm’s stronghold in Yemen in March 1998
JREQUESTS for PN EP ORM ee
found 1357 trees, including three at a new site. The palms were all healthy but young with no trees taller than ten metres. Mature trees can grow to at least 26 metres. The tree is valued for its long straight trunk which makes it ideal for roofing timbers, and the survey counted 1936 cut stumps. This explains the even aged structure of the population in Yemen and demonstrates heavy local exploitation. A suggested conservation strategy is being developed. (Source: Oryx 32 (3)).
Photos required for Sylvia warbler monograph
The long-awaited monograph, by Hadoram Shrihai, Gabriel Gargallo, Andreas Helbig, Alan Harris and David Cottridge, on the Palearctic Sylvia warblers (including the Afrotropical genus Parisoma, which the authors subsume within Sylvia) is nearing completion. The book will include 80 colour plates. Dave Cottridge has managed to photograph most of the species covered by the book during the project but photographs of various plumages and races are still required. High quality field shots of any species are welcomed, and photographs of the following, either in-the- hand or field, are especially sought: Sylvia deserticola, S. mystacea (principally the races mystacea and turcmenica), S. rueppelli (juvenile), S. melanothorax (juvenile), S. nana (race deserti), S. leucomelaena (south Arabian and East African forms), S. hortensis (nominate race), S. nisoria, S. curruca (althaea and minula), and all species of Parisoma. A fee will be paid for each photograph published and all photographers will be fully credited in the text. The final photo selection will be made in late 1998 and material should be forwarded as soon as possible to: David Cottridge, 6 Sutherland Road, Tottenham, London N17 OBN. Tel.: 0181 8081341.
86
Simon Albrecht
i peice page ts ya A a a EY
_parts of Dana Nature Reserve where Syrian
The climate is Mediterranean semi-arid with
tails Secipaiglicna aes
Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south-west Jordan
Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus -syriacus in south-west Jordan
PARKES KHOURY
he Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus breeds in montane Lebanon, Syria, north-east
Israel and south-west Jordan, on rocky slopes with scattered trees and shrubs, and in open woodland (Shirihai 1996, Khoury 1998). Due to its restricted range, and the fact that it is the only endemic breeding bird species within its range, the species should receive the highest conservation priority in the region. Data on population trends and ecology is needed for species and habitat management. Little has been published on the species’ ecology, although Shirihai (1996) provides some information on its breeding biology and habitats at Mount Hermon. Syrian _Serin was only recently proven to breed in Jordan (RSCN 1995). Here, I summarise habitat selection as defined during research in south-west Jordan which aimed to identify key factors limiting the species’ distribution and analyse the local bird
community.
STUDY AREA Precipitation varies with altitude and location, the annual mean ranging from 200-400 mm at least.
The study focused on an area of 200 km’ between Busseira and Shaubak, and included
Serin breed. The area comprises the The vegetation is generally of steppic
fe otains cast of Wadi Araba and the Catacter with .lrano-luranian and
adjacent Sharra Highland plateau—a high Mediterranean elements (Baierle 1993). altitude (1200-1630 metres) plain with Various dwarf shrub communities cover most
of the landscape, but remnant Pistacia and Amygdalus trees suggest that many parts were formerly covered by open steppe woodland.
moderate relief.
cool wet winters and hot dry summers.
SS \ KC \
an oc —o Av Plate 1. Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus, adult with juvenile, Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan, June 1996. (F. Khoury)
\
Fares Khoury 87
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 87-93 1998
Extensive open woodland of evergreen Quercus calliprinos and Juniperus phoenicea still cloak some west-facing slopes of the ridge (Plate 2). Most stands are highly degraded due to wood cutting and grazing, and the undergrowth is typically dominated by annuals and dwarf shrubs. Trees are generally low, their mean height in most areas being 3-4 metres. Mediterranean plant communities exist this far south due to the higher rainfall at this altitude.
There are few towns and villages in the study area (Rashadiyah, Gharandal, Busseira, Qadissiyah, Dana and Mansura). The local population herds sheep and goats, and cultivates land around the villages. Nomadic Bedouin use the area in March—October.
Dry farming, mostly cereal cultivation, is still practised. Plants such as Picnomon, Cousinia
and Lactuca cover most fallew and non-
irrigated fields after harvesting. Ruderal vegetation dominates along roads, in orchards, at camp sites and in villages.
METHODS
Fieldwork was conducted between October 1995-October 1996 and April-May 1997. Bird counts and habitat variables were recorded using point counts (Bibby et al. 1992) in the 1995-96 winter and 1996 breeding season (Table 1). At least 130 counts were made in each season in habitats from open steppe to
Plate 2. Oak-juniper woodland with remnant pool in Dana Nature Reserve (c. 1220 metres), Jordan, May 1997. (F. Khoury)
ge
woodland. Although points were not random, they were evenly distributed in the breeding area and selected for their general habitat composition, especially tree cover. Species-habitat relationships were explored by multiple regression analysis.
Vegetation communities and habitat variables were recorded within 50 metres of nesting sites (Table 1), so as to accurately describe the breeding habitat. Plant species were identified using Zohary & Feinbrunn-Dothan (1966-1986). Areas known or expected to be used by Syrian Serin were visited 4—5 times per week, each visit commencing soon after dawn and lasting 4-8 hours. The use of habitat structures, mainly trees, during the breeding season and winter was analysed by noting the first observation of a certain behaviour (e.g. males singing on juniper or oak) during each session.
The X’-Test was used to compare observations with expected frequencies derived from the abundance/ frequency of the different tree species.
STATUS AND POPULATION SIZE
Syrian Serin was found breeding only in Al Barra, a wooded area of c.15 km’ above Wadi Dana, at 1000-1350 metres, the only known breeding area in Jordan. The population size in 1996 was estimated at 600-650 pairs. This population is considered resident as birds
88
Fares Khoury
Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south-west Jordan
Table 1. Habitat variables at nesting sites of Serinus syriacus in Al Barra, Dana Nature Reserve. The variables were recorded to a range of 50 m from the nests (n=37).
Habitat variable Altitude [m a.s.1.] Slope ['] Shrub cover [%] Diversity of shrub layer [no. of species] Mean height of shrub layer [cm] Ground cover [%] Bare ground [%] Rock cover [%] Stone cover [%] Tree cover [%] Diversity of trees [no. of species] Proportion of Juniperus [%] - Proportion of Quercus [%] Artemisia cover [%]
Plate 3. Fallow and wheat fields near Qadessiyya (c. 1500 metres shrubs (e.g. Crataegus) and dwarf shrubs. (F. Khoury)
were present throughout the research period. Movements are, however, likely in years when food, especially Artemisia seeds, is insufficient due to climatic variations (Khoury 1998).
BREEDING HABITATS
The species bred at high density in open oak- juniper woodland, but less frequently in juniper-dominated woodland (relative densities 60 and eight pairs/km’*) and avoided pure oak.-stands ~and- pine plantations. According to multiple regression analysis, the species’ breeding season
Minimum Maximum 1100.0 1330.0 0.0 40.0
5.0 30.0 1.0 10.0 40.0 100.0 10.0 35.0 3.0 35,0 10.0 65.0 0.0 40.0 35.0 60.0 2.0 3.0 32.0 98.0 0.0 67.0 00 | 25.0
), Jordan, late April 1997. Fields are often lined with remnant trees,
abundance correlated positively with tree cover. A preference for the densest patches in extensive open woodland is evident (mean tree cover at nesting sites was c.45%, Table 1). In contrast, breeding birds avoided sparsely wooded areas (<30% tree cover, Table 1) and highly degraded dry stony slopes where the undergrowth was dominated by dwarf shrubs, e.g. Artemisia sieberi.
At least one third of the trees or high shrubs at nesting sites were junipers (Table 1). Nests were built in either oak or juniper, but J. phoenicea over three metres high were often
Fares Khoury
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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
GH
Plate _ Juniper Juniperus phoenicea, Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan, April 1997. (F. Khoury)
preferred by males as song perches (Fig. 1; significant when compared with oak trees Q. calliprinos; p<0.01; X*-Test). Singing males used the highest defoliated branches of mature junipers, which are generally higher than the bushy oak trees (Juniperus: max. 9.5 metres, mean 3.5 metres, Ouercus: max. 6.5 metres, mean 3 metres).
Breeding density is also related to the presence of remnant pools (Plate 2) and open feeding sites with a high density of annual vegetation which contains the most important fo0d resources, especially in the carly breeding season (March—May). Ground cover including annuals was always present near nest sites, and covered a mean of 21% of the ground surface (Table 1). Grazing is permitted here only in winter, thus short-living annuals can develop after the rainy season; overgrazing is, however, causing soil erosion
120
_ expected frequency
100 EA observation
kk
80
60
40
20
Juniperus
Quercus
Figure 1. Breeding season habitat use by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in Dana Nature Reserve. Males prefer Juniperus
phoenicea trees as song perches (**- p<0.01).
90
Fares Khoury
. ; }
Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south-west Jordan
and general habitat destruction (Plate 5). In surrounding areas annual vegetation is sparser due to year-round grazing. Shrub cover (including dwarf shrubs) is lower at breeding sites (mean 15.5%) than in surrounding areas where dwarf shrubs cover over 30% of. the surface area (except cultivated fields).
The mosaic of vegetation types in one nesting area (c. 100 x110 metres) represents the typical vegetation pattern of a breeding site, including essential habitat structures (e.g. trees for nesting and song perches) and food resources. However, the serins used larger areas while breeding and often flew over 200 metres from their nests in search of productive feeding sites and pools. The undergrowth in the shade of the oak and juniper trees consists of thermophilic species of the Ceratonio-Rhamnion association. Some annuals are found in this community, including foodplants of Syrian Serin, e.g. Evopiila, Uhlaspi, Holosteum. Steppic vegetation which dominates surrounding
See
a Nature Reserve, Jord
Plate 5. Active erosion in Dan
Fares Khoury
areas is often prevalent between trees. The plot includes a section with annual and ruderal vegetation (3b in Fig. 2) consisting of Schismus arabicus*, Crepis aspera, Matricaria gurea , seneciO wernalis Erodinm sp", Hirschfeldia incana* and others (those marked with an asterisk are foodplants of Syrian Serin in the breeding season).
HABITATS AT OTHER SEASONS
Following breeding, the species generally moved to higher ground in the vicinity of Rashadiyya and Qadessiyya (1300-1600 metres) and Dana orchards (c.1000 metres). The following habitats were used for foraging: waste places, gardens and orchards with ruderal vegetation containing the foodplants Hirschfeldia, Sysimbrium, Reseda, Polygonum and Phalaris, wheat and fallow fields (Plate 3) .with segetal : plant communities including the foodplants Triticum, Cardaria, Raphanus and Lactuca, and dwarf shrub communities including the foodplants Piptatherum, Melica, Tanacetum, Nepeta and Noaea.
91
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
Figure 2. Vegetation complex at a breeding locality of Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in Dana Nature Reserve (c. 1150 metres). The plot (c. 100 x 110 metres) demonstrates the structural pattern and cover of plant communities including fragmentary associations. 1. Mediterranean-type, evergreen open woodland (Junipero-Quercion). Stands very open or in dense patches of high shrubs or trees (Quercus calliprinos and Juniperus phoenicea), up to six metres high. 2. Rocky ground (calcareous sandstone) with crevices containing: 2a Varthemitea montanae (e.g. Centaurea damascena); 2b Mediterranean semi steppe/batha (Ballotetalia, Sarcopoterietalia, e.g. Ononis natrix, Sarcopoterium spinosum) and perennial grass species among the thorny bushes e.g. Piptatherum milaceum. Lavandula dentata is locally found in rock crevices. 3. Sandy terraces and depressions between rocky sections: 3a short grass areas of Poa bulbosa, Carex pachystilis, Bromus sp. associated with Astragalus spinosus, Onobrychis weststeinii and others. 3b Annual and ruderal vegetation largely consisting of short annuals. 4. Dwarf shrub formations dominated by Fumana thymifolia, Cistus creticus. 5. Dwarf shrub formations dominated by Noaea mucronata and Astragalus bethlehemiticus or Artemisia sieberi associated with Helianthemum vesicarium, Astragalus sanctus, Stipa barbata.
: J
D2 Fares Khoury
ST
Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south-west Jordan
In January 1996 the serins had moved lower and were found in flocks of up to 200 birds in Wadi Dana (300=800 metres) and the Mansura/Wadi Bustan area (800-1100 metres) mainly in Artemisia steppe with few trees. Certain habitat structures also proved essential in the selection of feeding habitats, as demonstrated by observations of foraging birds. Tall trees, boulders or walls are always present in feeding habitats and were used by birds on arrival at the site or as cover when sensing danger. In winter the species preferred scattered indigenous trees e.g. Pistacia and Juniperus, whose vegetation was dominated by the dwarf shrub Artemisia sieberi. Most foraging Syrian Serins in winter in open steppe habitat were around single trees or tree stands (Fig. 3).
Among all trees and shrubs (>2m), Pistacia atlantica trees were used most frequently: the use of other species, including Juniperus, corresponded to their abundance (p<0.01; X*- Test). Pistacia trees are the largest in the area (up to ten metres high) and provide an
. overview of the site. Birds using these trees
can locate other foraging individuals, foodplants and predators, especially Sparrowhawk Accipter nisus, which are common here in winter.
In the non-breeding season, Syrian Serins principally used open habitats for feeding from Gharandal south to Mansura, but returned daily to wooded areas, especially in Dana Nature Reserve, to roost. They always roosted in relatively tall trees (>four metres), in the evergreen oak Q. calliprinos, and in summer also in Pistacia atlantica.
CONSERVATION
Especially in summer and autumn, Syrian Serin selects secondary habitats including cultivated areas for feeding, e.g. waste places, orchards, wheat and fallow fields. Thus it can adapt to or benefit from human activities, provided these are non-intensive and traditional. Intensive agriculture and urbani- sation are, however, expected to expand in the area as a result of development and human population increases. Unless carefully planed and limited, these will fragment and destroy habitats important for Syrian Serin and other bird species.
1200
Sum of observed foraging Serins |
1000
800
600
400
200
<50m <100m <200m >200m Distance from next tree/tree stand
Figure 3. Relation between the number of foraging Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in open steppe habitats in winter and the distance to next tree or tree stand.
The insular nature of the Al Barra breeding habitat has been exaggerated by human influences and now covers an area of only 15 km’. In the Dana Nature Reserve, this small area is currently subject to high grazing pressure. Wood cutting, overgrazing and other activities are degrading this unique woodland habitat, as well as preventing natural succession and regeneration. Although avoided by Syrian Serin and most other bird species, the only protected and ungrazed areas are those planted with Pinus halepensis. These plantations have low biodiversity compared to natural woodland in south-west Jordan (Khoury 1998).
REFERENCES
BAIERLE, H. U. (1993) Vegetation und Flora im stidwestlichen Jordanien. J. Cramer, Berlin & Stuttgart. Published Ph.D. thesis.
Bipsy, C. J., BURGESS, N. D. AND HILL, D. A. (1992) Bird census techniques. Academic Press, London.
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE (RSCN) (1995) Dana Nature Reserve, phase II bird survey, March-May 1995. Unpubl. report, RSCN, Amman.
KuHoury, F. (1998) Habitatwahl und Nahrungsokologie des Zederngirlitzes Serinus syriacus in Jordanien. Ph.D. thesis, University of Bonn.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
ZOHARY, M. AND FEINBRUNN-DOTHAN, N. (1966-1986) Flora Palaestina. Vols. 1-4. Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
Fares Khoury, Dept. of Ornithology, Zoological Research Institute and Museum Koenig (ZFMRK), Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany.
Fares Khoury
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 94-101 1998
| Kibbutz Lotan—gem of the Arava valley, Israel |
JAMES SMITH
BE has an international reputation amongst birders. However, the town is developing fast, encroaching on habitats once rich in migrant and resident birds, and visitors should consider the potential of otherwise unwatched migrations and rarities just 40 minutes north of Eilat town. Kibbutz Lotan nestles in _a beautiful desert enviroment: the red sandstone hues of the Edom mountains in Jordan to the east and the limestone escarpments of the Negev plateau to the west provide a spectacular reminder that Lotan lies in the heart of the Arava valley. This introduction to birding in the area is designed to encourage others to come and ‘discover’ Lotan.
Plate 1. Arava Valley with Kibbutz Lotan and, in the background, the Edom mountains in Jordan, April 1996. (B. R. Hughes)
94 James Smith :
Kibbutz Lotan—gem of theArava Valley, Israel
Plate 2. Acacia woodland at Nahal Quetura, January 1998. The acacia holds wintering Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei, Long-eared Owl
le
oy
Asio otus, Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomalaena, Cyprus Warbler S. melanothorax and Sardinian Warbler S. melanocephala. (James Smith)
SPRING RAPTOR MIGRATION
~The mountains, cliffs, date plantations and fields around Lotan all provide important roosting places for migrating raptors. The flight direction, height and volume of passage depends on the species involved and can vary dramatically with weather changes. Perhaps most interesting, on days when few raptors pass through the Eilat mountains, 100s or 1000s of raptors may be visible at Lotan. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis is the first migrant raptor of the spring, appearing in small flocks from around 10 February. Adults _make up the bulk of the passage until late March when immatures become more obvious. This is the only eagle to migrate in reasonable numbers over the southern Arava: there have been counts of over 200 in early March. Imperial Eagle A. heliaca may number up to four in a day. Lesser Spotted Eagle A. pomarina is extremely scarce.
Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo rufinus passage can be very impressive. During east winds streams of birds overfly Lotan into Jordan. Late afternoon passages are often the most exciting. After the quiet hours of midday when passage may be too high to observe from the Arava, 1000s may pour through, low along the cliffs of the Negev plateau. Counts of 2000-10,000 birds are regular. On 4 April 1996 I made a conservative estimate of 35,000 birds passing across a front of less than three
km in just three hours. To the south I could see great swirls of raptors looking for roosting sites in the mountains on the western side of the Arava, perhaps numbering a further 5000 birds.
Levant Sparrowhawks Accipter brevipes often take the observer completely by surprise when they put in their first appearances in mid-April, sweeping low over the Kibbutz fields in dense flocks. Flocks of 2500 are not unusual between 16-30 April, but Lotan has yet to match some of the massive flocks (up to 25,000) recorded at Eilat. This species favours wind-breaks between the fields for roosting. Breathtaking . views. and excellent photographic opportunities are possible.
Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus is the last of the common migrant raptors to appear, although singles occur from 23 March. In late April they often mix with Levant Sparrowhawks and other raptors, but subsequently huge flocks dominate the skies almost daily until about 20 May. Big days can occur on light northerly winds, windless days, or east-south east winds. On 17 May 1995 c. 27,000 passed over Lotan in three hours with much of the passage drifting east towards the Edom mountains. Large numbers of raptors are often visible from Lotan well into Jordan and more almost certainly pass unrecorded.
James Smith
95.
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
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. Map References A Recommended migration watch points 1 Kibbutz Lotan 1a Residential area
SDD Sand Dunes and Desert 4 1b Car Park 1¢ Swimming Pool SD Stony Desert 1d Eastern Organic Garden je Dairy Barn AW Acacia Wadi 1f Main Gate 1g Lotan Bird Reserve = = m /srael/Jordan border 2 Kibbutz Lotan Date Palm plantations 3 Kibbutz Lotan fields wii Cliffs 4 Kibbutz Neot Smadar Citrus groves 5a Kibbutz Neots Smadar Date palms — Paved road 5b Kibbutz Neots Smadar fields 6 Exposed area of Roman Road ummm Single lane paved road 7a Upper Nahal Quetura, National Nature Reserve 7b Lower Nahal Quetura, National Nature Reserve
Dirt Track 8 Nahal Grofit
96 James Smith
, :
One of the most exciting aspects of Lotan is the constant movement of passerines along the Arava valley in spring. Fresh migrants appear almost daily from c. 15 February until late May. It can be problematic choosing between observing visual raptor and songbird migration, and concentrating on passerines in the trees and bushes.
From mid-March to mid-May there is always a good sprinkling of Hoopoe Upupa epops,
-Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Nightingale Luscinia
megarhynchos, Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica, Masked Lanius nubicus and Woodchat Shrikes L. senator, and Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli orientalis. However, the bulk of migration consists of up to 1500 each of Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca and Blackcap S. atricapilla, and up to 500 Olivacious Warbler Hippolais pallida. East Mediterranean specialities include Cyprus Sylvia melanothorax, Ruppell’s S. rueppelli and Orphean Warblers S. hortensis, and Semi- collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata in March or early April. Upcher’s Hippolais languida and Olive-tree Warblers H. olivetorum appear in early May, when Lesser Grey Shrikes Lanius minor destined for eastern Europe also pass through. The acacias by the main gate are particularly good for the last three species.
Kibbutz Lotan—gem of theArava Valley, Israel
Plate 3. Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus, Kibbutz Lotan, Israel, April 1996. (B. R. Hughes) ~ PASSERINES
Other notable migrants found in spring include a River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis in late April 1995, whilst Savi’s L. lusciniodes and Great Reed Warblers Acrocephalus arundt- naceus are regular in the residential area. Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus has been found in the car park in March and Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala is regular in May when they drink from dripping irrigation pipes.
VISIBLE MIGRATION
Apart from the superb raptor passage, the northward migration of other species (especially passerines) can be surprisingly obvious. Light to moderate northerly winds usually provide the best days, with passage of some species. often continuing all day, especially bee-eaters Merops spp. and hirundines. It is the migration of White Ciconia ciconia and Black Storks C. nigra that really fires the imagination. Observing White Stork passage over the southern Arava requires strong to gale force westerly winds as most migration over southern Israel occurs through the western Negev. However, Lotan does occasionally witness passages of up to 25,000 White Storks in mid- or late March. Black Stork more consistently appears in late February-late May, and flocks of 100-600 are reasonably regular.
James Smith
97
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
Flocks of Garganey Anas querquedula, Pintail A. acuta and Shoveler A. clypeata occasionally move north over the Kibbutz, but wildfowl are poorly represented at Lotan as no open standing water exists in the area. V- formations of passing Cranes Grus grus (up to 120 per day) are regular in late autumn and less frequent in early spring, and there is one record of Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius
cursor; a flock of 11 moving north-west on 6 March 1995.
From mid-February, Common Swifts Apus apus cruise steadily north along the Arava numbering up to 1500 per day by early March. Pallid A. pallidus (up to 250) and Alpine Swifts A. melba (up to 150) may appear
amongst them and all three species will pause -
for a few hours if a sudden rain storm stimulates a hatch of flying termites. Little Swift A. affinis is very rare in the first two weeks of March. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster is one of the most abundant migrants through Lotan, their stunning colours and rich fluid calls being one of the most welcome signals that spring migration is in full swing. Any day in late March—mid-May can produce more than 1200 passing in flocks of up to 120 birds. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater M. superciliosus is very scarce in comparison, but especially regular in late April to mid-May and October.
98
Plate 4. White Storks Ciconia ciconia, resting in kibbutz fields near Lotan during desert storm, March 1997. (Doug Friend) }
Short-toed Lark Calandrella cinerea appears from c. 10 February; visual passage is most evident in March with up to 1500 daily. Lesser Short-toed C. rufescens, Calandra Melanocorypha calandra and Bimaculated Larks M. bimaculata are scarce at this time. Hirundine passage can be immense in early May, with counts suggesting a minimum of 25,000 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica and 18,000 Sand Martin Riparia riparia passed through during 1-6 May 1996. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica usually peaks in late March. House Delichon urbica and Crag Martins Ptyonoprogne rupestris occur in much smaller numbers. The adult males of several races of flava wagtail are often present alongside each other, although Motacilla f. feldegg is the most common in March and M. f. beema very common in April. Equally impressive are the numbers that pass without stopping, peaking at c. 1000 per day in late March. Parties of Tawny Anthus campestris and Red-throated Pipits A. cervinus are often involved in these passages. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola is rare but annual; the compost heaps just west of the dining room are the best piace to see one.
Mysterious and unpredictable, small parties
of Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia brachydactyla would go undetected were it not for their soft
James Smith
bee-eater_like calls. Late February to early April is the peak time but ground views are rare. Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesi peak in mid-March with day counts of up to 180. This precedes the peak of up to 300 Ortolan Bunting E. hortulana per day, by about three weeks.
VAGRANTS FROM THE EAST
Lotan has great potential for attracting rare amd scarce migrants, late - autumn (October-November) being the most productive period. Small Skylark Alauda gulgula, Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca, Pied Stonechat Saxicola caprata (fourth record in Israel), Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus, Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler P. humei and Dusky Warbler P. fuscatus (second record in Israel) were recorded in 1996 and 1997. Yellow- browed Warbler overwintered in both these years. Spring has produced fewer rarities but an adult male Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus on 14 May 1995 was accepted as the second record in Israel. Black Bush Robin Cerotrichas podobe and Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus have lingered for several days during mid- to late April. Winter has recently produced two Striated Scops Owls Otus brucei
<
Plate 5. Male Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia, Kibbutz Lotan
, Israel, April 1996. (B. R. Hughes
Kibbutz Lotan—gem of theArava Valley, Israel
in remote acacia wadis near Lotan. Up to three individuals winter near Eilat, but elsewhere in Israel they remain extremely rare (but probably overlooked) winter and passage visitors.
asec
Plate 6. Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei, Nahal Quetura, Arava Valley, Israel, January 1998. (James Smith)
)
James Smith
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
WINTER
BREEDING BIRDS
Imperial, Steppe and Short-toed Eagles Circaetus gallicus all occur around Lotan in winter. Other raptors include 2-3 each of Hen Harrier’ Cireus” cyaneus, Nerlin Falco columbarius and Barbary Falcon. F. pelegrinoides. A Long-eared Owl Asio otus roost in Nahal Quetura usually holds 3-4 birds, which seem particularly adept at catching roosting Laughing Doves Streptopelia senegalensis.
Common wintering passerines around the Kibbutz include Water Anthus spinoletta (up to 60) and Red-throated Pipits, Bluethroat Luscinia svecica, Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis and as many as 300 Desert Finch Rhodopechys obsoleta. Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens is often present by the compost bins while Spectacled Sylvia conspicillata and Cyprus Warblers (up to six) prefer acacia wadis and are rarely observed in the Kibbutz. Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus occur in the Quetura mountains but can be difficult to see. Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena can also be found in Nahal Quetura and has been observed displaying in March.
Plate 7. Long-eared Owl Asio otus, Nahal Quetura, Arava Valley, Israel, January 1998. (James Smith)
Despite being an artificial oasis in a desert enviroment, Lotan boasts healthy populations of typical desert species. Barbary Falcon breeds on Mount Quetura and regularly gives breathtaking hunting demonstrations in late afternoon. Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi is quite common in the mountains and Chukar Alectoris chukar is present near the date palm plantations. Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus is present but virtually nocturnal with no conclusive proof of breeding. However, an adult with young has been seen in the Quetura mountains. Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus recently colonised Lotan and can occur near the dairy barn year-round. Distraction displays have been noted but eggs and young have yet to be located. Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis is one of the most obvious residents, with at least 30 pairs. African Rock Martin Pytonoprogne fuligula, Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos, Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha, White-crowned Black Wheatear O. leucopyga, Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta, Arabian Babbler Turdoides squamiceps, Palestine Sunbird Nectarinia osea and
100
James Smith
Kibbutz Lotan—gem of theArava Valley, Israel
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus are each represented by three or more pairs in the immediate area of the Kibbutz.
VISITING
Lotan is located east of Quetura junction between Routes 90 and 40, and just north of km 63 post from Eilat. Regular bus services to and from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv pass Lotan daily and Ovda international airport is just 20 minutes by car.
A variety of guided and self-guided birding programmes are offered and full details are available from the address below. Self-guided day visitors are welcome and should report to the educational tourism office ( Tel: +972-7-
James Smith
Plate 8. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis, Kibbutz Lotan, Israel, April 1996. (B. R. Hughes)
6350935; fax: +972-7-6356827, e-mail: edt_lot@hotmail.com). Half-day tours of Lotan’s nature trails are available by advance arrangement, and medium distance hikes through the Quetura mountains can also be made. Details of ecological programmes such as practical ecology, alternative building methods, and applications for ecological volunteers are available from Mike Kaplin (fax: +972-7-6356827; e-mail: gwenik@ hotmail.com).
James Smith, Kibbutz Lotan, Doar Na Chevel Eilot 88855, Israel.
101
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
102
Adnan Budieri has recently been appointed Head of BirdLife International’s Middle East Division. Ornithology and wildlife conservation awareness have expanded enormously in the Middle East over the last ten years, and as education programmes, scientific studies, research projects and legislative measures by governments steadily increase, it is appropriate that BirdLife has employed an Arab scientist to manage and. coordimate the ~ many developments—current and projected—being undertaken throughout the region.
Adnan—a Jordanian—was born in Jerusalem and studied hydrobiology and ecology in Moldova. Latterly his interests have extended to wildlife conservation, biodiversity studies and sustainable development policies. He has held a variety of posts within the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, in Jordan, is Jordan’s representative on CITES, and is a National Coordinator for the IWRB. Recently, there has scarcely been a major Middle East wildlife conservation initiative with which he has not been associated. He brings to his new post a wealth of experience, both of the problems associated with bird conservation in the Middle Bast, and ways to achieve conservation objectives.
Adnan sees his new tole as forgime a relationship between the partners, designates, and all related organisations and donors, to conserve birds and their habitats. In the short term, he aims to establish a functional BirdLife office in the region; publish an Arabic version of the Middle East IBA book; update that book and publish at least two country IBAs in Arabic; raise awareness of the IBA book’s importance in the region; establish practical operational Strategies for bird conservation and management; develop strong relations with international and regional conservation organi- sations; and create IBA management strategies in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen. Longer term, Adnan seeks to extend the network of partners and designates to all countries in the region, and to oversee as many IBAs as possible become legally protected areas.
Whilst recognising that the Middle Eastern economy has become oil-dependent, changing moral attitudes towards the use of natural resources, with highway construction, agricultural expansion, housing development and water extraction schemes all disturbing the ecological balance, Adnan is hopeful for the future.
Derek Harvey
Derek Harvey
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Photo Spot
| Poe few birders have had the opportunity to study a Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri outside of Israel. The species’ distribution is poorly understood. Most records are from Israel, Jordan and western Arabia, with fewer observations from Egypt and Oman, and one old record from Pakistan. Occurrence in Syria is unconfirmed.
On a visit to Yemen in spring 1998, I found four Hume’s Tawny Owls along a steep rocky cliff at c. 3000 metres at Kawkaban, just north of Sana’a. The species appears to be restricted to this habitat. It breeds in warm arid places with rocky mountains, wadis and steep slopes.
In the north of its range, it is liable to be confused with pale Tawny Owls Strix aluco, and observers should note the lack of broad breast streaks on adultss (juveniles not studied in the field). The eye colour is also different: dark in Tawny, orange-yellowish in Hume’s.
Hume’s Tawny Owl is a very pale owl, almost the same size as a Tawny Owl. The sexes are similar. The facial disc is pale buff or dirty white with near-white half-spectacles meeting above the bill. The crown and nape are golden- buff, with dark brown-black feather tips giving a strongly mottled appearance. The collar on the lower hindneck is pale golden-buff and
distinct. The upperparts are cream-buff, with indistinct bars and spots on the mantle, and brown with pale cream spots on the scapulars. The upperwing possesses a pattern akin to Tawny, but paler with a buff ground colour and obvious brown spots on the coverts. The underwing is buff-white with dark barring on the tips of the primary-coverts and all flight feathers. The tail is buff, barred dark brown. The underparts are largely buff-white, with faint grey-buff bars and streaks on the flanks. The unmarked vent appears a little paler. The plumage should be fresh in a first adult in August-September, still relatively fresh in a January adult, but slightly worn by March. As the Hume’s Tawny Owls in Yemen were only observed by torchlight it was impossible to establish if there were any observable differences from other birds in other areas. I know that a bird from Wadi Kelt, near the Dead Sea in Israel, had markedly greyer upperparts than a Jerusalem bird.
As Hume’s Tawny Owl is strictly nocturnal it is more often heard than seen. Only one of the birds found in Yemen was seen perched, by torchlight roosting on a cliff edge, but song and calls were regularly heard. Some calls do not appear to have been previously described in the literature. The Hume’s reacted sponta- neously to an imitation of a Tawny Owl. The song of Hume’s is like a Tawny, but without the latter’s vibrating character. The territorial call is a: “Whoo, hoo-hoo, who-who”, easily distinguished from tawny Owl. Similtaneously, from a different individual, I heard a “kuwitt” call, repeated several times whilst the male was singing. This was reminiscent of a female Tawny Owl. Could it have been a female Hume’s calling? Both birds were then observed flying between two cliffs and started to duet again. Whilst imitating the territorial song of Hume’s Tawny Owl, the same male came right over my head uttering a deep “squeeek”, like rubbing a balloon.
When roosting on a rock or cliff edge Hume’s Tawny Owl appears to leans slightly forward. The flight is like Tawny. Hume’s Tawny Owl has rather long, broad wings with rounded wing-tips. At night, leaving the roost, they move along their cliff face with only a few wingflaps and then glide silently into the dark.
Roy E. Wranes, P. O. Box 766, N-4601 Kristiansand, Norway.
Roy E. Wrénes
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998 The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd
’ Plate 1. Kawkaban, Yemen, 30 October 1989. (Magnus Ullman)
Plate 2. Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri, Israel. (Yossi Eshbol)
106 Roy E. Wrdnes
| The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd Photo Spot
Plate 3. Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri, En Gedi, Israel, October 1986. (Pau/ Z ee Doherty)
OEE NEI
Plate 4. Dead Sea area, Israel, March 1987. (Pau! Doherty)
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Comments on the limits of the Western Palearctic in Iran and the Arabian Peninsula
R. P. MARTINS AND ERTK HIRSGHEELD
Birds of the Western Palearctic adopts arbitrary limits to the geographical area treated at its south-west fringe. There is scope to consider the most zoogeo- graphically representative definition of the limits of a western subregion of the Palearctic. An attempt is made to justify revised and more comprehen- sively reviewed limits based (in Arabia) upon a significantly improved understanding of breeding bird distributions. A proposal is made that Arabia, excluding two small areas where Afrotropical influence is dominant, and part of Iran be henceforth included in the geographical area formally treated as a western subdivision of the Palearctic. Novel limits to western influence within the breeding landird avifauna of Iran are proposed.
INTRODUCTION
UBDIVISION OF THE PALEARCTIC into Western and Eastern generates helpful
interpretation when examining bird breeding distributions and considering zoogeo- graphical patterns within this avifaunal realm. The term Western Palearctic, stimulated by the publication of Birds of the Western Palearctic (BWP), is widely established among ornithologists and birders. The problems of defining such a subdivision are acknowledged in the introduction to BWP (Cramp & Simmons 1977) where it is conceded that delimitation, especially at the southern/south-eastern peripheries, was largely arbitrary. The eastern limit adopted is the western frontier of Iran (which has changed slightly since publication) and the southern border within Arabia is the southern frontier of Kuwait, extending west across northern Saudi Arabia.
Since this problem was addressed by the editors of BWP, understanding of the distri- bution and status of the Arabian avifauna, almost all of which was excluded from the area treated, has substantially advanced. The information now available, collected by a growing number of experienced observers, some resident for extended periods, permits reconsideration of the boundaries of the Western Palearctic, as currently applied, in relevant areas of Arabia and Iran. These areas are mainly (Arabia) or totally (Iran) excluded from the area of Eurasia treated as Western Palearctic by BWP. As this position becomes widely accepted and remains unquestioned, it appears likely that the declared limitations of the definition of the Western Palearctic used in BWP, will remain ignored.
Here, we review the variety of treatments adopted by past authors confronted by this problem, with particular reference to the Arabian peninsula. We also provide supple- mentary information concerning those areas where Afrotropical elements are dominant within the breeding avifauna (and which are therefore clearly not Palearctic) in south-west Arabia. We discuss statistics concerning zoogeographical affinities of species which are constituents of the breeding avifauna within certain countries /regions in Arabia. We feel that the limits of the area conventionally treated as Western Palearctic merit reassessment and hope to stimulate discussion so that consensus may arise.
Our views concerning the Arabian Peninsula have developed through examining the literature; field experience in Bahrain, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and
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Oman; and extensive discussion with other observers familiar with the region. We lack field experience in Iran, but have substantial relevant experience in adjacent Pakistan and Turkey. The eastern limit of the area treated as Western Palearctic in BWP, apparently reflecting mere administrative convenience, coincides with the western frontier of Iran—a boundary lacking any zoogeographical relevance. As the avifauna of the Zagros mountain range further east shows strong Western Palearctic influence, we feel it justifiable to examine this question in [ran using the limited information available.
Any attempt to define the limits of a natural avifaunal realm—or subdivisons and provinces thereof—in a geographically explicit way is clearly an artificial exercise, seeking to define man-made categories within a natural continuum. BWP discusses this dilemma as follows: “If the boundaries of the Palearctic region elude any logically unquestionable demarcation, the determination of the eastern limits of the western part is clearly arbitrary”. This assertion has failed to quell interest in the issue. We consider the term Western Palearctic, even given conceptual shortcomings, carries a degree of meaningfulness which warrants more careful consideration.
TREATMENT IN THE LITERATURE
Here we document the approach taken by successive authors when discussing the nature and affinities of the Arabian breeding landbird avifauna and the classification of Arabia with regard to global avifaunal realms. In this section, the term “Ethiopian” is synonymous with “Afrotropical”, following Benson et al. (1979), wherein it is argued that this is a more appropriate and less ambiguous term.
Hartert (1903-23) included north Arabia and Iran in the Palearctic but excluded south Arabia due to the localised dominance of tropical forms. It may be questioned whether bird distributions were sufficiently known within the region at that time for a properly informed judgment to be made.
Meinertzhagen, an authority on the Palearctic region, acknowledged the dominance of Palearctic elements within Arabia. In Birds of Arabia (1954), he writes: “...1 regard it [Arabia] as a transition zone between the Palearctic and Ethiopian regions, predomi- nantly Palearctic at the specific level, with a small Oriental admixture and also a small bird element peculiar to itself at the specific level” (i.e. endemic). Further “There is...a large African element in Yemen but an equal number of purely Palearctic species, which confirms the transition zone idea”. He concludes “on the whole...I prefer to treat Arabia as part of the Palearctic region; the alternative is an awkward transitional zone between three major zoogeographical regions”. However, in Campbell & Lack (1985) where the essay on the Palearctic (originally written by Meinertzhagen) is repeated, following revision by K. H. Voous, it is stated “at present mountainous south-west Arabia is included by most biogeographers in the Afrotropical region”. Much of this area received no extensive attention from field ornithologists until the early 1980s. Through contributions, including Cornwallis & Porter (1982), Jennings (1981, 1995), Phillips (1982) and Stagg (1985), data gathered by the OSME expeditions to North Yemen in autumn 1985 and South Yemen in spring 1993 and resultant reviews of bird status and distribution in Yemen (Brooks et al. 1987, Martins et al. 1996, Porter et al. 1996b), it is now possible to define the limits of Afrotropical influence more precisely (Martins & Hirschfeld 1994). This subject is discussed in a following section.
Vaurie (1959) included all of Arabia in the Palearctic whilst excluding local breeders of Afrotropical affinity in an undefined area of the southern peninsula from his
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ey
Plates 1 & 2. Extensively vegetated coastal slopes in south coastal Arabia: Mahrah province, Yemen, late April 1993. (RA. P. Martins)
Plate 3. Open forest on limestone karst, Mahrah province, Plate 4. Deep wadi, Mahrah province, Yemen, late April 1993. Yemen, late April 1993. (R. P. Martins) (R. P. Martins)
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Hy LM his
Ta ii} HH) Hi ie i
a ee Ln ie | OME tas i de Hy i HT i H Hf i
Hi Hy
hihi
ite ’
Plate 6. Vegetation eradication around nomadic tribal settlemen
Plate 5. Limestone scarp with limited small caves caused by solution weathering, Mahrah province, Yemen, late April 1993. (R. P. Martins)
Plates 8. Densely wooded coastal hills, Dhofar, Oman. (Erik Hirschfeld)
Piates 7. Densely wooded coastal hills, Dhofar, Oman. (Erik Hirschfeld) late March 1993 (G. M. Kirwan)
old 111
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Mh
treatment of its avifauna. Voous (1960) “...avoids suggesting the existence of a Palaearctic faunal region but instead indicates a Palaearctic fauna, or else a distri- bution range covering parts of the Palaearctic region”. Consequently, Voous (1973) included the entire Arabian Peninsula and Iran in the Holarctic region acknowledging that this meant “the happy incorporation of a small number of species of an Ethiopian and Oriental origin respectively”. Udvardy (1975)—in a study of all plants and animals—classified all of Arabia as Palearctic.
Lees-Smith (1986) analysed the composition of the south-west Arabian avifauna, concluding that Afrotropical taxa dominate within a coastal strip 50-100 km in width. This area is mapped as extending parallel to the Gulf of Aden coast east but not for a known distance, illustrating the lack of information from central south coastal Arabia at that time. A smaller number of Afrotropical taxa also occur on the seaward slopes of the Dhofar region of south coastal Oman (Gallagher & Woodcock 1980) extending west into the Mahrah (province) of Yemen for c. 50 km (Martins 1996, Porter et al. 1996a). It may be speculated that Afrotropical/Paleotropical influence in south-west and southern Arabia was, in more pluvial climatic phases, associated with the coastal periphery in general rather than the isolated enclaves found today. However, as Ripley (1954) has noted, the presence of several genera with species common to both areas, but with morphologically distinct subspecies in each, demonstrates that the central south coast of Yemen has presented an enduring barrier to faunal interchange. The area of Afrotropical dominance defined by Lees-Smith lies west of that suggested by Chapin (see Ripley 1954). This includes part of the Rub’ Al-Khali (hyper-arid central Arabia) where the breeding avifauna is overwhelmingly Palearctic. As Lees- Smith remarks, Chapin’s line merely indicates the northern and eastern limits of the breeding distributions of a small minority of the Afrotropical species in Arabia.
Hollom et al. (1988) stated the aim of treating the southern part of the Western Palearctic. The entire Arabian Peninsula is included and, while acknowledging the existence of Afrotropical and Oriental elements, especially in southern Arabia, the authors consider it “difficult to draw a...comprehensive line further north than Arabia’s southern coast-line”. Iran is also treated. The inclusion of these areas apparently results from a need to make new information accessible rather than any attempt to examine zoogeographical issues.
METHODS OF ANALYSING THE AVIFAUNA
Here, in an attempt to examine this question in a (inevitably fairly crude) systematic way, distributions of Arabian breeding species and their associated zoogeographical affinities are categorised according to the headings below. Categories used are largely those adopted by Lees-Smith (1986) with the following changes: species with Old World and/or Holarctic distributions have been merged with other widespread (Cosmopolitan) species. These are too extensively distributed to contribute meaningfully to this discussion and are labelled Pan-continental. No distinction has been made between species considered by Lees-Smith “Afrotropical—Eurasian” and “Eurasian—A frotropical” for the same reason. These have been categorised as Pan- continental. Species categorised by Lees-Smith, which have been reclassified are discussed below (see Appendix 1). Iranian breeding species are categorised as eastern, western or widespread within the Palearctic (see Appendix 2).
ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL CATEGORIES USED AND THEIR DEFINITIONS
The categories adopted and associated comments below refer only to known breeding distributions. Each distributional category is indicated by letters in bold.
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1. Pan-continental (PC) This category is used for species in the three categories below. These are widespread and therefore cannot contribute any information relevant to this investigation.
Cosmopolitan Distributed extensively through a minimum of three continents.
Old World
Widely distributed within Africa and Eurasia (and in some cases beyond through south-east Asia to Australia) including species classified “Afrotropical—Eurasian” and “Eurasian—Afrotropical” by Lees-Smith (1986).
Holarctic Distributed extensively through northern Eurasia and northern North America (circumpolar).
2. Saharo-Sindian (SS)
Distributed within the Saharo-Sindian zone as discussed by Hareson (19827 1986), ie: from arid north-west Africa and Macaronesia (the temperate Atlantic islands) east to north-west India. The ranges of a few species extend north-east beyond montane south Central Asia to Mongolia and western China or through the arid lowlands fringing the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
3. Afrotropical (A) _ Distributed primarily within sub-Saharan Africa and the south and south-west margins of the Arabian Peninsula.
4. Oriental (O)
Distributed primarily within the Indian subcontinent and/or Indochina south of the arid trans-Himalayan zone (thus including the Sino-Himalayan avifauna) variously west and—in a few cases—through southern Baluchistan, the northern Gulf coastlands to the flood plains of Iraq, occasionally west to southern Turkey.
5. Paleotropical (PT)
Distributed south of the Himalaya within Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with or without isolated breeding populations in the Middle East. The use of the term Middle East here refers to an area extending from lowland areas adjacent to Red Sea coasts in the west and south, north to. the Black Sea coast of Turkey and east to Baluchistan, south of lowland arid Central Asia.
6. Palearctic (P)
Distributed within the Palearctic: the middle and high latitude temperate zone of Eurasia north of the Himalaya, tropical China and the Sahara, including species primarily distributed through relict wetlands of the Sarmatic Sea. While Saharo- Sindian species breeding within this region are treated separately, species within the Palearctic category differ in their significance to this analysis. They may be subdivided as follows:
Wide-ranging Extensively distributed throughout most of the Palearctic, with distributions showing neither a western nor eastern bias. Not meaningful for analysis of west/east influence.
Eastern Palearctic A distribution showing an easterly bias: significant for this analysis.
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Western Palearctic A distribution showing a westerly bias: significant for this analysis.
7. Middle Eastern and/or Central Asian (MC)
Distributed primarily within one or both of these regions where Central Asia is defined for the purpose of this paper, as the arid and semi-arid mainly lowland region of steppe and desert east from the Caspian Sea to Lake Balkash and Ozero Zayan, bordered to the south by the Elburz, Hindu Kush, Pamirs and Tien Shan and, in the east, by the Altai. Species with this distribution pattern may be considered part of an expansively defined Western Palearctic avifauna, but form a group with distributions which are more similar to each other than those shown by the fundamentally western or eastern elements. Species endemic to Central Asia are included in this category.
In the analysis of the different areas, we have looked mainly at the number of species within each zoogeographical category detailed above. The percentage of the Palearctic breeding avifauna represented by the total number of species in each category is calculated (such figures have been approximated to the nearest whole number). Two differing methods are adopted for this analysis:
Method 1
We consider an area classifiable as Palearctic where Palearctic species are more numerous than Afrotropical and Oriental species considered together. Subdivisions within the Palearctic avifauna of Iran are also examined, with the aim of identifying the interface along which areas showing substantial western and eastern influence are contiguous.
Method 2
In the second analysis we have considered Middle East and/or Central Asian and Saharo-Sindian elements combined to be Palearctic, since they do not usually breed in Oriental or Afrotropical areas. In contrast, Paleotropical, Afrotropical, Oriental and Indian Ocean species are clearly not Palearctic. Pan-continental elements are excluded from this analysis.
Attention has been restricted to the breeding avifauna. (Inclusion of the substantial number of Palearctic migrant species passing through the region would not be relevant.) We have included breeding seabirds for completeness, although their distri- butions are unrelated to the zoogeographical phenomena examined here. Most are globally widespread and do not affect the discussion significantly.
Introduced species are excluded from the analysis because they are not natural elements of the breeding avifauna examined.
THE GEOGRAPHICAL EXTENT OF WESTERN PALEARCTIC TAXA IN IRAN
While we lack field experience in Iran, we have attempted to understand Iranian breeding bird distributions by examining maps compiled by D. A. Scott (Scott et al. 1975). The text of this publication is in Farsi and we have been unable to make use of it. Given the historical scarcity of observers in Iran it is perhaps inevitable that such maps are based upon limited data. The maps in BWP and Hollom et al. (1988) are based on unpublished information from D. A. Scott and are more recent but the differences between.these and Scott et al. (1975) are slight and would not appear to suggest significantly different conclusions. Species which appear likely to breed (indicated by question marks on maps) are included. Twelve taxa, not now believed to breed in Iran (D. A. Scott pers. comm.) are excluded.
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Types of distribution pattern apparent from maps
Fifty-one species have breeding distributions restricted to wooded or forested altitudes in the Elburz and/or the (more isolated) montane areas of Azerbaijan. Distributions in the Elburz typically extend east well beyond the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea, usually to the vicinity of Bojnurd and occasionally as far as the environs of Mashad. The breeding avifauna within this area is almost entirely (see analysis section below) Western Palearctic and includes such typically western forms as the migratory western race of Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina, Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius and Woodlark Lullula arborea. The easternmost ranges of such species extend over 1500 km beyond the area treated in BWP at this latitude. While ranges of species showing western bias in their Eurasian breeding distributions often extend east of the Elburz range at higher latitudes, this region is the terminus of many ranges of such species south of the lowland steppe zone east of the Caucasus, from which they are absent. The avifauna of the forests of northern Iran is thus most correctly interpreted as an outlier of what might be labelled a ‘middle European’ avifauna. It extends disconti- nously, south-east through montane temperate forest zones in the Balkans east through the Turkish Black Sea coastlands and the Caucasus to the temperate Elburz. At c. 56°E (c. 100 km west of Bojnurd) the deciduous forests of the north slope of the Elburz range end abruptly, marking a precise limit to the distribution of many woodland passerines (e.g. Blue Tit Parus caeruleus and Treecreeper Certhia familiaris) in northern Iran. East of here, forested areas are juniper-dominated, with some deciduous scrub (D. A. Scott in litt.).
_ When distributions of western and eastern counterparts are examined, several closely
related taxa demonstrate a gap between respective ranges or a zone of marginal overlap (Haffer 1977). Eastern forms extend west through Afghanistan terminating in upland north-east Iran while western forms do not extend further east than the Elburz. Examples of pairs of taxa or discrete populations demonstrating this include Pied Oenanthe pleschanka and Black-eared Wheatears O. hispanica, the green- and grey- mantled populations of Great Tit Parus major, the black-headed and grey-headed races of Goldfinch (Carduelis c. carduelis and C. c. paropanisi) and Red-headed Emberiza bruniceps and Black-headed Buntings E. melanocephala. As Haffer (1977) has shown, this region constitutes a zoogeographical divide representing a locally meaningful division between western and eastern influence within the Palearctic avifauna.
The breeding distributions of 72 additional species extend both through the Elburz and also to a variable extent south-east through the Zagros range, where western elements are overwhelmingly dominant (see Paludan 1938). The avifauna of the Zagros thus constitutes a different aspect of western influence, again showing similarities with the ‘middle European’ avifauna.
These two patterns reoccur and are demonstrated by numerous distributions, either individually or combined, to variable degrees. Maps 1 and 2 illustrate this point. Taken together, these two patterns suggest southern and eastern limits to the dominance of western elements in the Iranian Palearctic avifauna.
Thirteen species have breeding ranges extending no further west than the eastern third of Iran, demonstrating that the hyper-arid lowland central deserts of the Dasht- e-Kavir and the Dasht-e-Lut constitute a barrier to range expansion. Examples of exclusively eastern species whose distributions terminate east of these physiographic regions include Small Skylark Alauda gulgula (Map 3) and Pied Stonechat Saxicola caprata (Map 4) while Pleske’s Ground Jay Podoces pleskei (clearly eastern in origin) is endemic to the area (Map 5). The breeding avifauna of this region is primarily Saharo- Sindian with eastern and western elements occurring at its margins.
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Map 1. Breeding range of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius in Iran.
Map 2. Breeding range of Woodlark Lullula arborea in Iran
Map 3. Breeding range of Small Skylark Alauda gulgula in \ran.
Map 4. Breeding range of Pied Stonechat Saxicola caprata in |ran.
Map 5. Breeding range of Pleske’s Ground Jay Podoces pleske/ in Iran.
Map 6. Breeding range of Spotted Little Owl Athene brama in Iran.
Map 7. Breeding range of Great Stone Plover Esacus recurvirostris in |ran.
Map 8. Breeding range of Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis in |ran.
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A fourth group of species, principally of Oriental or Paleotropical origin, including three Sindian elements, have distributions demonstrating eastern bias. The Sindian (eastern) species—Sykes’s Nightjar Caprimulgus mahrattensis, Sind Pied Woodpecker Dendrocopos assimilis and Sind Jungle Sparrow Passer pyrrhonotus—are restricted to the south-east of the country in Baluchistan and are at the margins of their ranges. Sind Jungle Sparrow seems likely to have been a breeder in the past (D. A. Scott pers. comm.) but is now perhaps a rare and irregular visitor (Grimmett 1987). It is included because this area has apparently not been visited by ornithologists since Zarudny (1911). Sindian species are scarce in Iran (D. I. M. Wallace pers. comm.), but it is clear that eastern influence in the south-east is a recognisable phenomenon, discernable north to the Elburz.
Species with southern or south-eastern distributions comprising widespread Oriental taxa at the margins of their ranges in Iran, e.g. Grey Francolin Francolinus pondericanus, or Paleotropical in distribution, e.g. Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis, extend from Iranian Baluchistan west between the Zagros watershed and the northern Gulf coast for varying distances. Ranges of 11 (excluding Sindian) species terminate on the northern Gulf coast east of, or at approximately, 300 km west of the Straits of Hormuz e.g. Spotted Little Owl Athene brama (Map 6) and Great Stone Plover Esacus recurvi- rostris (Map 7). Others extend further west, either to the head of the Gulf, e.g. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis (Map 8), or further north-west, e.g. Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia xanthicollis or around and beyond the head of the Gulf and along its - south coast, e.g. White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys (although introductions have perhaps played a role in this case). Generally, species extending this far west appear merely to reflect the consequences of post-Pleistocene expansion as well as a tolerance of, or affinity for, habitats created or adapted by human activities. Species of Oriental origin or Paleotropical distribution which occur throughout southern Iran are, we suggest, insufficient in number for any part of western Iran not to be considered Palearctic. In contrast, Oriental influence is significant east of the Straits of Hormuz.
Based on the patterns of bird distributions in Iran detailed above we have divided the country into the four regions mapped in Map 10 and calculated the proportional occurrence of relevant elements among the breeding species of these regions.
Mountainous north and west
Two hundred and seven breeding species occur in this region, the largest number among the four subdivisions of Iran adopted here. Analysis by method 1 reveals an overwhelming dominance of Palearctic elements—71%—followed by 19% Pan- continental elements. Figures derived through Method 2 are 79% Palearctic elements and 2% non-Palearctic elements.
Percentage occurrence of breeding species within relevant zoogeographical categories in the mountainous north and west PC MC Pq. P. O SS lO 19%: 6% 1% Tors tN e 2% 0%
SS+MC+P O0+IO+PT 79% 2%
Makran coast region
The Makran coast region supports 96 breeding species. Method 1 demonstrates that the largest single category excluding Pan-continental species (30%) is Oriental (20%), closely followed by Palearctic (16%). If method 2 is employed Saharo-Sindian, Middle
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Eastern/ Central Asian and Palearctic species together comprise 38% of the avifauna while Oriental, Indian Ocean and Paleotropical species comprise 32%. Among 16 Palearctic species, nine are wide-ranging, five western and two are eastern.
Percentage occurrence of breeding species within relevant zoogeographical categories in the Makran coast region PC MC PT P O Shs) lO 30% 4% 12% 16% 20% 18% 0%
SS+MC+P O+10+PT 38% 32%
Gulf coast region
The Gulf coast region supports 94 breeding species. The largest single relevant category excluding Pan-continental species (32%) is Palearctic, comprising 19%. Oriental influence is diminished to 15% while there is no Afrotropical influence. If method 2 is employed the three Palearctic categories comprise 43% of the avifauna and the three non-Palearctic categories 25%. Among the 19 Palearctic species 13 are wide-ranging, five western and one eastern.
Percentage occurrence of breeding species within relevant zoogeographical categories in the Gulf coast region PC MC PI P O SS lO 32% 8% 8% I= eb G6 276
SS+MC+P O+lO+PT 43% 29%
East region
The (non-mountainous) east region supports 164 breeding species. Here Palearctic species dominate, constituting 33%, while Oriental influence is demonstrated in only 9% of the avifauna. Among the 58 Palearctic species 35 are wide-ranging, 18 western and five eastern. Method 2 generates 55% for Palearctic and 20% for non-Palearctic.
Percentage occurrence of breeding species within relevant zoogeographical categories in the East region PC MC Fale P O SS lO Os WN NG SEG. SH 11% 0%
SS+MC+P O+IO+PT 55% 20%
Oriental influence increases from north to south in east Iran being most strongly expressed within the region labelled Makran coast.
THE ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS OF IRAN
The Makran coast region can thus be considered transitional, supporting both Oriental (eastern) and true Palearctic elements in approximately equal proportions. Palearctic elements dominate along the Gulf coast, which is best assigned to a western subregion. In the eastern region Palearctic species are the largest category. Among these, western elements outnumber eastern species threefold. The western limits of three eastern Palearctic species are located within the region. These, together with the Oriental and Palaeotropical species (here an extension of the south Asian part of their global ranges), suggest that a weakly defined eastern influence can be recognised within the breeding avifauna east from Iran’s central arid core at commensurate latitudes.
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ANALYSIS OF BREEDING BIRDS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF ARABIA BY COUNTRY
Although zoogeographical and political subdivisions of Arabia are clearly unrelated, we have seen no alternative to the use of bird distributional information in national checklists or reviews as political subdivisions are typically the basis through which such information is presented.
We have reassigned one south-western breeding species which was, in our opinion, incorrectly categorised by Lees-Smith (1986)—Yemen Parisoma (Yemen Warbler) Parisoma buryi. We suggest that observation of Yemen Parisoma in life strongly suggests that it is best assigned to Parisoma (not Sylvia). Close similarities exist—in field characters and behaviour—between this and other Parisoma species. This genus is largely Afrotropical in distribution and apparent origin (Brooks 1987). It is difficult to see what evidence supports its treatment within Sylvia as in Lees-Smith (1986) or as an “intermediate link”—most closely to Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena as has been suggested (Shirihai 1988)—between Parisoma and Sylvia. The ‘systematic position of Arabian Woodpecker Dendrocopos dorae is incompletely understood. We follow Winkler ef al. (1995) in treating the species within Picoides which would imply Palearctic origin. However, the species’ relationship to Afrotropical Campethera requires examination.
The systematic position, relationships and zoogeographical affinities of Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus—a highly distinctive monotypic genus—are ~ unclear (Martins 1987). Lees-Smith (1986) considered it Palearctic in origin. Rather than create an ‘indeterminate’ category for this species, this approach has been followed.
Four south-west Arabian breeding species omitted by Lees-Smith (1986): Goliath Heron Ardea goliath, Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus, Spur-winged Piover Hoplopterus spinosus and Zebra Waxbill Amandava subflava are included here, as are breeding seabirds.
Bahrain
Of the 32 species breeding in Bahrain, the majority—47%—are Pan-continental; 28% are Saharo-Sindian, 6% are Palearctic, 3% are Oriental species and there is no Afrotropical influence. Method 2 generates 34% of species showing Palearctic affinities and 19% with non-Palearctic affinities. Two Palearctic breeders, Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur and Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida are essentially western.
Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in Bahrain PC MC PT. P A O SS lO 47% 0% 9% 6% 0% 3% 28% 7%
SS+MC+P O+10+PT+A 34% 19%
Oatar Qatar has a breeding avifauna similar to that of neighbouring Bahrain. We have not undertaken an analysis for Qatar as sufficient information is not available.
The United Arab Emirates
Seventy species are regular breeders in the United Arab Emirates (Richardson 1990). The largest proportion of species—30%—are Pan-continental while 19% are Saharo- Sindian. There are 6% Oriental species, 2% Afrotropical and 12% Palearctic. Method 2 generates a total of 39% of the breeding avifauna exhibiting Palearctic affinities while
RK. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld 119
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
26% show non-Palearctic affinities according to the categorisation we have adopted. Of the eignt Palearctic breeders four can be considered wide-ranging and four western.
Two breeding species, Grey Francolin and Chukar Alectoris chukar seem most likely to have been introduced into the UAE (and Oman) by man, and have been deleted from the analysis. The status of Grey Francolin might merit re-examination as it is possible that Arabian populations represent relicts from a period when the Arabian Gulf was less extensively inundated by marine waters.
Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in the United Arab Emirates PC MC Pale P O A SS lO 30% 8% 1996" Wi2vou ~ 676 2% 19% 4%
SS+MC+P O+IO+PT+A 39% 31%
Oman
Oman may be subdivided into Dhofar and elsewhere within the country. Monsoon rainfall strongly influences Dhofar, sustaining drought-deciduous vegetation (as occurs, for the same reason, on the lower western slopes of montane south-west Arabia) supporting a substantial proportion of Afrotropical species. In strong contrast, most of Oman has a climate and vegetation more typical of Arabia.
Seventy-six species have been treated as breeding outside Dhofar, the largest proportion (37%) being Pan-continental. There are 5% Oriental, 3% Afrotropical and 8% Palearctic species. Method 2 generates 367% of species showing Palearctic affinities and 26% non-Palearctic. Of the six Palearctic species two are western and four wide- ranging. Grey Francolin and Chukar have been excluded for the same reasons as recorded under the treatment of the United Arab Emirates.
Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in primarily arid Oman PC MC PT R A O SS iO END 37% 3% 138% 8% 3% 5% 25% 5% 1%
SS+MC+P O+IO+PT+A 36% 26%
The avifaunal composition differs greatly in Dhofar. Of 73 breeding species 30% are Pan-continental, 26% Afrotropical, 26% Saharo-Sindian and 3% Palearctic. Method 2 generates 32% in Palearctic categories and 33% in non-Palearctic. Only two widely distributed Palearctic species are present, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius and Little Owl Athene noctua.
Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in Dhofar, Oman PC MC PT P A O S}s) lO END 30% 3% 6% 3% 26% 0% 26% 1% 5%
SS+MC+P O+IO+PT+A 32% 33%
Yemen
One hundred and thirty-three species breed in Yemen where the two most strongly represented categories are Afrotropical (37%) and Pan-continental (27%). Palearctic species constitute only 3% and no Oriental species are present. Employing method 2
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generates 17% of species with Palearctic affinities and 46% showing non-Palearctic affinities. The four Palearctic breeders are all considered wide-ranging.
Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in Yemen PC MC Pi P. A O SS lO END 27% 2% 7% 3% 37% 0% 12% 2% 10%
SS+MC+P O+lIO+PT+A 17% 46%
South-west Saudi Arabia
One hundred and twenty-four species breed in south-west Saudi Arabia. Afrotropical elements are strongly represented at 34% followed by 26% Pan-continental. Method 2 generates 19% Palearctic and 44% non-Palearctic species.
Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in south-west Saudi Arabia PC MC PT. P A O AE Ss lO END 26% 1% 7% 3% 34% 0% 2% 15% >, 3% 9%
SS+MC+P O+1O+PT+A 19% 44%
In central and eastern Saudi Arabia the locally breeding landbird avifauna is overwhelmingly Saharo-Sindian.
THE POSITION OF THE LIMITS OF AFROTROPICAL DOMINANCE IN SOUTH-WEST ARABIA
The presence of substantial Afrotropical influence in Dhofar and montane south-west Arabia has prevented consensus among authors seeking to describe the zoogeography of Arabia in general. Inadequate understanding of bird distributions in much of southern Arabia has sustained the idea that such an admixture of species of differing affinity exists that the area is best treated as a transition zone. An alternative view, apparently determined by the location of the easternmost limits of a small number of the most widespread Afrotropical species, has driven the frontier of a recognised Afrotropical zone in Arabia east to the fringe of its arid core. Neither treatment properly reflects patterns of bird distribution, which are now more adequately understood. Lees-Smith (1986) highlighted the difficulty of judging whether Afrotropical influence is best seen as a continuum—from montane south-western Arabia through the coastal fringe to eastern Dhofar—or whether some alternative view would be more appropriate. A limited number of Afrotropical species do occur locally through southern Yemen, but the composition of the breeding landbird avifauna does not suggest strong continental influence. By contrast, such influence is readily apparent in the field on the seaward slopes of Dhofar and west from the western ramparts of the Yemen highlands.
Therefore we suggest that Afrotropical influence is dominant in two disjunct ecological islands sustained by monsoon rainfall—Dhofar (Oman)/the eastern Mahrah (Yemen) and montane south-west Arabia—surrounded by radically different (oceanic or arid) environments. The extremely small proportion of the Arabian Peninsula these areas comprise—less than 5%—is striking. Below, we discuss them in more detail.
Dhofar A division between Palearctic and Afrotropical avifaunas in Dhofar is readily apparent in the field, reflecting the topography of the region. North of the narrow (up
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to 20 km in width) coastal plains, a range of mountains rises to 2000 metres. Seaward slopes receive substantial precipitation during the monsoon (May-September: Gallagher & Woodcock 1980), mainly through the influence of regular and persistent fog, and are heavily vegetated. Climax drought-deciduous woodland occurs on slopes with tropical evergreen riparian vegetation along wadis. Permanent or regular seasonal surface water, often originating from springs, may be locally common. At higher altitudes woodland is replaced by grassland which diminishes toward stone and gravel desert with decreasing altitude toward deserts further north. Directly north of Salalah, the interface between monsoon-influenced and arid areas is located c. 35 km from the coast. Further east it coincides more closely with the coast. Summer temperatures may vary across this interface by up to 20°C within a few hundred meters (pers. obs.). The desert and northern slopes of this range support typical (arid) Saharo-Sindian zone species such as Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi, sandgrouse Pterocles spp., Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti and Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis, whilst the grassland and scrub along the summits of the mountain range supports substantial populations of Singing Bush Lark Mirafra cantillans, South Arabian Wheatear Oenanthe lugens and African Rock Bunting Emberiza tahapisi. The forests on the seaward slopes support typical Afrotropical species such as Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus, sunbirds Nectarinia spp., African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis and White-breasted White-eye Zosterops abyssinica. The border between the dry Palearctic and coastal Afrotropical zones lies along the summits of this coastal range. At least seven Saharo-Sindian and one Cosmopolitan species occur only on the northern dry slopes and/or the desert plateau beyond. If these species are excluded from an analysis of the southern slopes and the coastal plain, the view that this part of Dhofar is best considered predominantly Afrotropical is strengthened.
Two species occurring both in desert areas and the wetter montane habitats--Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis and Blackstart Cercomela melanura—show strong morphological differentiation betwen zones, being represented by different subspecies in each. Laughing Doves in the mountains and coastal plains are of the Afrotropical subspecies senegalensis while those in the more arid zone north of the watershed are Oriental cambayensis (Gallagher & Woodcock 1980, Bundy 1986). Bundy (1986) has already drawn attention to the differences in habitat occupied by Afrotropical erlangeri and nominate (Arabian) melanura subspecies of Blackstart in Dhofar. These examples demonstrate that differences within bird populations and plant communities in south-coastal Arabia have been stable and enduring: when examining avifaunal relationships within this area there is more to consider than simply the natural variation between the bird communities of different habitats.
Montane south-west Arabia
Western Yemen
In western Yemen (roughly speaking, the western part of the erstwhile political state of North Yemen), the Afrotropical component is dominant within the breeding landbird avifauna throughout the heavily dissected western scarps, extending more weakly across the central plateau and, to a much diminished degree, beyond through the eastern flanks of the highlands. Afrotropical influence is too weakly expressed along the eastern fringe of this montane bloc to justify the frequent presentation of all south-western Arabia as wholly Afrotropical. Equally, treating such an extensive area as ‘transitional’, another approach adopted by past authors, fails to adequately reflect local differences in bird distributions. If a transition zone has to be defined, then this would be best restricted to the highland plateau only. Thus, the poorly demarcated
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eastern and more clearly evident western fringes of the central plateau denote restric- tively and expansively defined limits to Saharo-Sindian/western Palearctic influence (Martins & Hirschfeld 1994).
South-west Saudi Arabia
The position of the limits of Afrotropical influence in south-west Saudi Arabia is not completely clear (S. Newton in litt.) and there is interesting (if unsurprising) evidence that relationships between the distributions of related species occupying similar niches may be remarkably fluid. P. Symens & S. Newton (in litt.) offer examples from the environs of Taif: Spotted Eagle Owl was recorded breeding in virtually every suitable wadi around the National Wildlife Research Center during 1986-89 but has since been replaced by Eagle Owl Bubo bubo at the same sites and Spotted Eagle Owl has not been recorded since 1991. Since 1988, particularly following heavy rainfall in 1992, several Afrotropical breeders including African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea, Black Bush Robin Cercotrichas podobe and African Silverbill Lonchura cantans have increased substantially in numbers. By contrast, others such as Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala and Hamerkop Scopus umbretta appear subject to severe pressure here at the northernmost limits of their ranges due to anthropo- morphic factors associated with settlement of nomadic people in permanently watered wadis.
CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that the variety of opinions presented in the literature demonstrate that the categorisation of Arabia and Iran with respect to the most meaningful definition of the ‘limits’ of the Western Palearctic awaits proper resolution. As attempts to delineate zoogeographical realms (or provinces therein, where subdivisions are even more difficult to define) are typically problematic we see no compelling reason why past uncertainty should be maintained. The time has come for reconsideration of where the ‘best-fit’ border, or border zone, might be positioned. It should also be noted that all authorities cited except BWP, consider Arabia mainly Palearctic. Considering the geographical position of Arabia at the ‘crossroads’ of three continents, the Palearctic elements dominating within the breeding avifauna of the region and the lack of true eastern Palearctic elements, it is seems natural to assign it to the Western Palearctic.
We conclude that the most defendable boundary between western and eastern Palearctic influence within the Iranian breeding avifauna is as depicted in Map 10. This passes from the northern Gulf coast just west of the Straits of Hormuz through a (more lowland) gap between the south-westernmost flanks of the Zagros and the uplands of the Makran coast/Iranian Baluchistan, north-west along the eastern flank of the Zagros turning east along the southern flank of the Elburz at the lowest altitude at which temperate taxa dominate, as far as the Kuh-e Hazar Masjed and thence west along the lower northern flanks of the Elburz (west of Ashkabad in Turkmenistan) to the Caspian. West and north Iran is Palearctic, with lowland eastern areas being perhaps most properly viewed as a transitional zone. Interestingly, several Palearctic species with eastern affinities have their westernmost limits in the eastern part of the country. Map 4 shows the distribution of Pied Stonechat, which illustrates this well. However, species with western affinities still dominate within this area.
We readily acknowledge that in reality no absolutely clear boundary may be defined in Iran and that ranges of taxa either side of the divide may sometimes extend a short distance beyond it. Also, certain distribution patterns indicate that it might be equally
R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld 123
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
meaningful to treat the Makran coast as a transition zone. However, we suggest that this boundary offers a helpful tool toward a better understanding of the avian zoogeography of this region of the southern Palearctic and that it should be adopted as the real eastern limits of the Western Palearctic.
We choose not to seek a clear boundary north of the Elburz. While a meaningful divide may be recognised in Iran, at higher latitudes sufficient overlap exists in the distributions of western and eastern (i.e. including widely distributed Eurasian species which clearly do not show any western bias in their distribution) taxa to render an attempt at clarification without extensive field experience perhaps too adventurous. As latitude increases north of the Elburz, especially within the more arid zones of central Eurasia, the ranges of most species show such a wide longitudinal spread that labels such as west and east, when applied to the avifauna in general, lack meaning. A clear periphery of western influence not only, to requote BWP, eludes “any logically unquestionable definition” but would apparently need to be wholly
TURKMENISTAN
Gulf Coast
PERSIAN GULF
Areas 2000—4000 metres above sea level SEA OF OMAN
Map 9. The limits of the Western Palearctic in Iran and the zoogeographical regions of the country used in this paper.
124 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld
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{>
© Riyadh
Saudi — | Arabia
P : A $ aN — ———_ ~ 1) > ~~. Dhofar (Oman)/
Mahrah Province (Yemen) N Republic of Afrotropical enclave <s Yemen
S south-west Arabian ARABIAN Afrotropical enclave SEA
Map 10. Arabia: the limits of Afrotropical dominance within the breeding avifauna in Dhofar (Yemen/Oman) and south-west Arabia.
contrived. Further north, the situation changes. If a zone of Palearctic Eurasia were to be defined as western using the position of the easternmost limits of expansively distributed Western Palearctic species as the primary criterion for its identification, then, as Harrison (1982) recognised, the frontiers of the Western Palearctic might extend east to Lake Baikal or at least to the Yenisei river. Equally, if the same criterion were to be applied to eastern species, the area where a substantial proportion of taxa show a primarily eastern bias could be extended well west of Baikal and even west of the Yenisei. The vague definition of an extensive zone of overlap is (as would be expected in a continental area with extensive tracts of similar habitat types lacking strongly significant physical barriers) would seem the best achievable result. However, if the eastern limits of extensively distributed western elements is considered as a sole criterion to force the delimitation of a boundary, then this might run from just west of the Yenisei, then along the western edge of the highlands of the Altai, Pamirs and the Tibetan upland, skirting the western end of the high Himalaya.
The avian zoogeography of the Arabian peninsula is less easy to simplify than the situation in Iran and any statistical analysis less powerful because the relatively low number of breeders make quantitative comparisons less meaningful. The overwhelming majority of Arabia has a minimal number of predominantly Saharo- Sindian breeding species with an almost total absence of fundamentally eastern elements. While recognising the validity of a Saharo-Sindian avifauna, we follow BWP and treat the Palearctic as embracing it, primarily because the majority of Saharo-Sindian taxa are apparently derived from Palearctic or common ancestral stock. Given this treatment and the scarcity of eastern elements, we view most of Arabia as Western Palearctic.
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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
The situation changes around the coastal fringes of south-west, south and eastern Arabia. Here, adjacent avifaunal realms naturally exert some influence upon the breeding avifauna and relict enclaves of Afrotropical dominance persist in montane regions, surrounded by radically different marine or arid conditions, in vegetation types sustained by the influence of a monsoon climate. These areas, with limits as discussed, cannot be treated as Western Palearctic. They represent an extremely small proportion (c. 5%) of the area of Arabia. In the east a small number of Oriental, i.e. eastern, forms breed along a primarily lowland coastal fringe. In limited areas of the east Arabian coastal fringe therefore, the avifauna might best be regarded as transi- tional. This fact does little to diminish the argument that the overwhelming majority of the Arabian peninsula is most defendably classified as Western Palearctic.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Numerous individuals have assisted, through discussion, in the development of the thoughts presented here and we thank them all: Mike Blair, Duncan Brooks, Ian Brown, Jens Eriksen, Mike Evans, Alec Forbes- Watson, Mike Gallagher, the late Gunter Groh, Colin Harrison, C. D. R. Heard, Peter Hellyer, P. A. D. Hollom, Mike Jennings, Guy Kirwan, D. T. Lees-Smith, Rob Morris, Saeed A. Muhammad, Bob Nation, Stephen Newton, Tom Nightingale, R. F. Porter, Colin Richardson, Tom Roberts, Derek Scott, Bill Simpson, Tadeusz Stawarczyk, Peter Symens, Magnus Ullman, D. I. M. Wallace and Pierre Yésou.
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Brooks, D. J. (1987) The Yemen Warbler in North Yemen. Sandgrouse 9: 90-93.
Brooks, D. J., EVANS, M. I., MARTINS, R. P. AND PorTER, R. F. (1987) The status of birds in North Yemen and the records of the OSME expedition in autumn 1985. Sandgrouse 9: 4-66.
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CAMPBELL, B. AND LACK, E. (eds.) (1985) A dictionary of birds. T. & A. D. Poyser, Calton.
CORNWALLIS, L. AND PORTER, R. F. (1982) Spring observations of the birds of North Yemen. Sandgrouse 4: 1-36.
CRAMP, S. AND SIMMONS, K. E. L. (eds.) (1977) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press.
GALLAGHER, M. D. AND Woopcock, M. (1980) The birds of Oman. Quartet Books, London.
GRIMMETT, R. (1987) Little-known Oriental bird. The Sind Sparrow. Oriental Bird Club Bull. 5: 23-24.
GOODMAN, S. M. AND SABRY, H. (1984) A specimen of Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri from Egypt. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 104: 79-84.
HAFFER, J. (1977) Secondary contact zones of birds in northern Iran. Bonn. Zool. Mon. 10. Bonn.
HARRISON, C. J. O. (1982) An atlas of birds of the Western Palearctic. Collins, London.
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HARTERT, E. (1903-1923) Die Vogel der Palaarktischen fauna. Vols. 1-3. Friedlander, Berlin.
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JENNINGS, M. C. (1981) Breeding birds in central Arabia. Sandgrouse 1: 71-81.
JENNINGS, M. C. (1995) An interim atlas of the breeding birds of Arabia. National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Riyadh.
Legs-SmITH, D. T. (1986) Composition and origins of the south-west Arabian avifauna: a preliminary analysis. Sandgrouse 7: 71-92.
MARTINS, R. P. (1987) The Golden-winged Grosbeak in North Yemen. Sandgrouse 9: 106-110.
ManrtTINS, R. P. (1996) Some aspects of southern Yemen: an introduction for field ornithologists and conservationists. Sandgrouse 17: 15-21.
MARTINS, R. P., BRADSHAW, C. G., BROWN, A., KIRWAN, G. M. AND PorTER, R. F. (1996) The status of passerines in southern Yemen and the records of the OSME survey in spring 1993. Sandgrouse 17: 54-72.
MARrTINS, R. P. AND HIRSCHFELD, E. (1994) Where are the limits of the Western Palearctic? Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 114: 207-208.
MEINERTZHAGEN, R. (1954) Birds of Arabia. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh & London.
PALUDAN, K. (1938) Zur Ornis des Zagrossgebietes, W.-Iran. J. Orn. 86: 562-638.
Puitiips, N. R. (1982) Observations on the birds of North Yemen in 1979. Sandgrouse 4: 37-59.
Porter, R. F., MARTINS, R. P. AND STONE, F. (1996a) The Ornithological Society of the Middle East’s survey of southern Yemen and Socotra, March—May 1993: an introduction. Sandgrouse 17: 5-14.
PorTER, R. F., MARTINS, R. P., SHAW, K. D. AND SORENSEN, U. G. (1996b) The status of non-passerines in southern Yemen and the records of the OSME survey in spring 1993. Sandgrouse 17: 22-53.
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|= Voous, K. H. (1960) Atlas of European birds. Nelson, Edinburgh.
E Voous, K. H. (1973) List of recent Holarctic bird species. Non-passerines. Ibis 115: 612-638.
a VAURIE, C. (1959) The birds of the Palearctic fauna. Vol. 1. Passeriformes. H. F. & G. Witherby, London.
= WINKLER, H.,-Curistigz, D. A. AND Nurney, D. (1995) Woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks of the world.
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y
| R. P. Martins, 6 Connaught Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 3BP, U. K. Erik Hirschfeld, Sodra Forstadsgatan 62, SE-211 43 Malmo, Sweden.
a nn
Plate 10. Immature Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis senegalensis, Khawr Rouri, Dhofar, Oman, 19 November 1994. (M. Ullman)
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Appendix 1. Complete list of breeding species in Arabia and Iran assessed in this paper, and their affinities.
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe Red-necked Grebe Black-necked Grebe Persian Shearwater Red-billed Tropicbird Masked Booby Brown Booby Cormorant
Socotra Cormorant White Pelican Dalmatian Pelican Pink-backed Pelican Bittern
Little Bittern
Night Heron Striated Heron Squacco Heron Indian Pond Heron Cattle Egret Western Reef Heron Little Egret
Great White Egret Grey Heron
Purple Heron Goliath Heron Hamerkop
Black Stork
Abdim’s Stork
White Stork
Glossy Ibis
Sacred Ibis Spoonbill
Greater Flamingo Greylag Goose Ruddy Shelduck Shelduck
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Garganey
Marbled Teal Red-crested Pochard Pochard Ferruginous Duck Tufted Duck White-headed Duck Honey Buzzard Black-winged Kite Black Kite White-tailed Eagle Lammergeier Egyptian Vulture
Indian White-backed Vulture
Griffon Vulture Lappet-faced Vulture Black Vulture Short-toed Eagle
Tachybaptus ruficollis Podiceps cristatus Podiceps grisegena Podiceps nigricollis
Puffinus (Iherminieri) persicus
Phaethon aethereus Sula dactylatra
Sula leucogaster Phalacrocorax carbo Phalacrocorax nigrogularis Pelecanus onocrotalus Pelecanus crispus Pelecanus rufescens Botaurus stellaris Ixobrychus minutus Nycticorax nycticorax Butorides striatus Ardeola ralloides Ardeola grayll Bubulcus ibis
Egretta gularis
Egretta garzetta Egretta alba
Ardea cinerea
Ardea purpurea Ardea goliath
Scopus umbretta Ciconia nigra
Ciconia abdimii Ciconia ciconia Plegadis falcinellus Threskiornis aethiopicus Platalea leucorodia Phoenicopterus ruber Anser anser
Tadorna ferruginea Tadorna tadorna Anas strepera
Anas crecca
Anas platyrhynchos Anas querquedula Marmaronetta angustirostris Netta rufina
Aythya ferina
Aythya nyroca
Aythya fuligula Oxyura lecucocephala Pernis apivorus Elanus caeruleus Milvus migrans Haliaeetus albicilla Gypaetus barbatus Neophron percnopterus Gyps bengalensis Gyps fulvus
Torgos tracheliotos Aegypius monachus Circaetus gallicus
128
PC
UU UU UU UD
Bateleur
Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier Montagu’s Harrier Dark Chanting Goshawk Gabar Goshawk Goshawk Sparrowhawk
Shikra
Levant Sparrowhawk White-eyed Buzzard Common Buzzard Long-legged Buzzard Lesser Spotted Eagle Greater Spotted Eagle Tawny Eagle Imperial Eagle Golden Eagle Verraux’s Eagle Booted Eagle Bonellis Eagle Osprey
Lesser Kestrel Kestrel
Hobby
Sooty Falcon
Lanner Falcon
Saker Falcon Peregrine Falcon Barbary Falcon Caucasian Black Grouse Caspian Snowcock Chukar
Philby’s Partridge Arabian Partridge See-see Partridge Sand Partridge
Black Francolin
Grey Francolin
Grey Partridge
Quail
Harlequin Quail Pheasant
Helmeted Guineafowl Little Button Quail Water Rail
Spotted Crake Baillon’s Crake Corncrake
Moorhen
Purple Gallinule
Coot
Little Bustard Houbara Bustard Arabian Bustard Great Bustard Pheasant-tailed Jacana Oystercatcher
R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld
Terathopius ecaudatus Circus aeruginosus Circus macrourus Circus pygargus Melierax metabates Micronisus gabar Accipiter gentilis Accipiter nisus Accipiter badius Accipiter brevipes Butastur teesa
Buteo buteo
Buteo rufinus
Aquila pomarina Aquila clanga
Aquila rapax
Aquila heliaca
Aquila chrysaetos Aquila verrauxii Hieraaetus pennatus Hieraaetus fasciatus Pandion haliaetus Falco naumanni Falco tinnunculus Falco subbuteo
Falco concolor
Falco biarmicus Falco cherrug
Falco peregrinus Falco pelegrinoides Tetrao mlokosiewiczi Tetraogallus caspius Alectoris chukar Alectoris philbyi Alectoris melanocephala Ammoperdix griseogularis
_ Ammoperdix heyi
Francolinus francolinus Francolinus pondicerianus Perdix perdix Coturnix coturnix Coturnix delegorguel Phasanius colchicus Numida meleagris
Turnix sylvatica
Rallus aquaticus Porzana porzana Porzana pusilla
Crex crex
Gallinula chloropus Porphyrio porphyrio Fulica atra
Tetrax tetrax Chlamydotis undulata Ardeotis arabs
Otis tarda Hrophasaydnius chirurgus Haematopus ostralegus
Black-winged Stilt Avocet
Crab Plover
Stone Curlew Spotted Thick-knee Great Stone Plover Cream-coloured Courser Collared Pratincole Little Ringed Plover Kentish Plover Greater Sand Plover Spur-winged Plover Red-wattled Plover White-tailed Plover Lapwing
Redshank
Common Sandpiper Sooty Gull White-eyed Gull Black-headed Gull Slender-billed Gull Armenian Gull Gull-billed Tern Caspian Tern
Swift Tern
Lesser Crested Tern Sandwich Tern Roseate Tern Common Tern White-cheeked Tern Bridled Tern
Sooty Tern
Little Tern Saunders’s Little Tern Whiskered Tern Common Noddy Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Crowned Sandgrouse Spotted Sandgrouse
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Rock Dove
Stock Dove
Eastern Stock Dove Woodpigeon
Olive Pigeon
African Collared Dove Collared Dove Red-eyed Dove
Turtle Dove
Dusky Turtle Dove Laughing Dove Namaqua Dove Bruce’s Green Pigeon Great Spotted Cuckoo Didric Cuckoo
Klaas’s Cuckoo Common Cuckoo
Himantopus himantopus Recurvirostra avosetta Dromas ardeola Burhinus oedicnemus Burhinus capensis Esacus recurvirostris Cursorius cursor Glareola pratincola Charadrius dubius Charadrius alexandrinus Charadrius leschenaultii Hoplopterus spinosus Hoplopterus indicus Chettusia leucura Vanellus vanellus Tringa totanus
Actitis hypoleucos Larus hemprichii
Larus leucophthalmus Larus ridibundus
Larus gene
Larus armenicus Gelochelidon nilotica Sterna caspia
Sterna bergii
Sterna bengalensis Sterna sandvicensis Sterna dougallii
Sterna hirundo
Sterna repressa
Sterna anaethetus Sterna fuscata
Sterna albifrons
Sterna saundersi Chlidonias hybridus Anous stolidus Pterocles lichtesteinii Ptercoles coronatus Pterocles senegallus Pterocles exustus Pterocles orientalis Pterocles alchata Columba livia
Columba oenas Columba eversmanni Columba palumbus Columba arquatrix Streptopelia roseogrisea Streptopelia decaocto Streptopelia semitorquata Streptopelia turtur Streptopelia lugens Streptopelia senegalensis Oena capensis
Treron waalia
Clamator glandarius Chrysococcyx caprius Chrysococcyx klaas Cuculus canorus
White-browed Coucal Barn Owl
Striated Scops Owl European Scops Owl African Scops Owl Eagle Owl
Spotted Eagle Owl Brown Fish Owl
Little Owl
Spotted Little Owl Tawny Owl
Hume’s Tawny Owl Long-eared Owl
Plain Nightjar
Nubian Nightjar
Sykes’s Nightjar European Nightjar Egyptian Nightjar Mountain Nightjar Common Swift
Pallid Swift
Alpine Swift
Little Swift
Palm Swift White-breasted Kingfisher Grey-headed Kingfisher White-collared Kingfisher Common Kingfisher Pied Kingfisher White-throated Bee-eater Little Green Bee-eater Blue-cheeked Bee-eater European Bee-eater European Roller Abyssinian Roller
Indian Roller
Hoopoe
African Grey Hornbill Green Woodpecker Black Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Syrian Woodpecker Sind Pied Woodpecker
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Arabian Woodpecker Singing Bush Lark Black-crowned Finch Lark Dunn's Lark
Bar-tailed Desert Lark Desert Lark
Hoopoe Lark
Thick-billed Lark Calandra Lark Bimaculated Lark Red-capped Lark Short-toed Lark
Hume’s Short-toed Lark Lesser Short-toed Lark
Centropus superciliosus Tyto alba
Otus brucei
Otus scops
Otus senegalensis
Bubo bubo
Bubo africanus
Ketupa ceylonensis Athene noctua
Athene brama
Strix aluco
Strix butleri
Asio otus
Caprimulgus !nornatus Caprimulgus nubicus Caprimulgus mahrattensis Caprimulgus europaeus Caprimulgus aegyptius Caprimulgus poliocephalus Apus apus
Apus pallidus
Apus melba
Apus affinis
Cypsiurus parvus Halcyon smyrnensis Halcyon leucocephala Halcyon chloris
Alcedo atthis
Ceryle rudis
Merops albicollis Merops orientalis Merops persicus Merops apiaster Coracias garrulus Coracias abyssinicus Coracias benghalensis Upupa epops
Tockus nasutus
Picus viridis
Dryocopus martius Dendrocopus major Dendrocopus syriacus Dendrocopus assimilis Dendrocopus medius Dendrocopus minor Dendrocopos dorae Mirafra cantillans Eremopterix nigriceps Eremalauda dunni Ammomanes cincturus Ammomanes deserti Alaemon alaudipes Ramphocoris clotbey Melanocorypha calandra Melanocorypha bimaculata Calandrella cinerea Calandrella brachydactyla Calanarella acutirostris Calandrella rufescens
PC
10 UO... sO. 0). >
END
nn VU nn OD
R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
2 S ae
Plate 11. Black Bush Robin Cercotrichas podobe, Wadi al-Khubt, Yemen, 24 March 1993. (
ss ai
Plate 12. Spotted Eagle Ow! Bubo africanus, Al Madafin, Yemen, 15 November 1992. (Magnus Ullman
130 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld
Plate 14. Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus, Socotra, April 1993. (G. M. Kirwan)
R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
Indian Sand Lark Crested Lark Woodlark Skylark
Small Skylark Shore Lark
Temminck’s Horned Lark
Sand Martin
African Rock Martin Crag Martin
Barn Swallow Red-rumped Swallow House Martin Richard's Pipit Tawny Pipit Long-billed Pipit Tree Pipit
Water Pipit
Yellow Wagtail Citrine Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail White-cheeked Bulbul Yellow-vented Bulbul Grey Hypocolius Dipper
Wren
Dunnock
Radde’s Accentor Arabian Accentor Alpine Accentor Rufous Bush Robin Black Bush Robin Robin
Nightingale White-throated Robin Black Redstart Common Redstart Blackstart
Whinchat
Stonechat
Pied Stonechat isabelline Wheatear
Red-breasted Wheatear
Northern Wheatear Pied Wheatear Black-eared Wheatear Desert Wheatear Finsch’s Wheatear Red-tailed Wheatear
Eastern Pied Wheatear
Mourning Wheatear
South Arabian Wheatear
Hooded Wheatear Hume’s Wheatear
Calandrella raytal Galerida cristata Lullula arborea
Alauda arvensis Alauda gulgula Eremophila alpestris Eremophila bilopha Riparia riparia Ptyonoprogne fuligula Ptyonoprogne rupestris Hirundo rustica Hirundo daurica Delichon urbica
Anthus richardi
Anthus campestris Anthus similis
Anthus trivialis
Anthus spinoletta Motacilla flava Motacilla citreola Motacilla cinerea Motacilla alba Pycnonotus leucogenys Pycnonotus xanthopygos Hypocolius ampelinus Cinclus cinclus Troglodytes troglodytes Prunella modularis Prunella ocularis Prunella fagani Prunella collaris Cercotrichas galactotes Cercotrichas podobe Erithacus rubecula Luscinia megarhynchos lrania gutturalis Phoenicurus ochruros Phoenicurus phoenicurus Cercomela melanura Saxicola rubetra Saxicola torquata Saxicola caprata Oenanthe isabellina Oenanthe bottae Oenanthe oenanthe Oenanthe pleschanka Oenanthe hispanica Oenanthe deserti Oenanthe finschii Oenanthe xanthoprymna Oenanthe picata Oenanthe lugens Oenanthe lugentoides Oenanthe monacha Oenanthe alboniger
White-crowned Blk. Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga
Little Rock Thrush Rock Thrush Blue Rock Thrush
ley
Monticola rufocinerea Monticola saxatilis Monticola solitarius
Yemen Thrush
Ring Ouzel
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Cetti's Warbler
Yemen Warbler Fan-tailed Cisticola Graceful Prinia
Scrub Warbler Grasshopper Warbler Savi’s Warbler Moustached Warbler Sedge Warbler Paddyfield Warbler Blyth’s Reed Warbler Marsh Warbler European Reed Warbler Clamorous Reed Warbler Great Reed Warbler Basra Reed Warbler Olivaceous Warbler Booted Warbler Upcher’s Warbler Icterine Warbler Ménétries’ Warbler Desert Warbler
Arabian Warbler Orphean Warbler
Barred Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat Hume's Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat
Blackcap
Brown Woodland Warbler Greenish Warbler
Plain Leaf Warbler Mountain Chiffchaff Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Spotted Flycatcher Gambaga Flycatcher Red-breasted Flycatcher Semi-collared Flycatcher African Paradise Flycatcher Bearded Tit
lraq Babbler
Common Babbler Arabian Babbler Long-tailed Tit
Sombre Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Turkestan Tit
Nuthatch
Eastern Rock Nuthatch Western Rock Nuthatch Wallcreeper
Turdus menachensis Turdus torquatus Turdus merula
Turdus philomelos Turdus viscivorus Cettia cetti
Parisoma buryi Cisticola juncidis Prinia gracilis Scotocerca inquieta Locustella naevia Locustella luscinioides Acrocephalus melanopogon
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Acrocephalus agricola Acrocephalus dumetorum Acrocephalus palustris Acrocephalus scirpaceus Acrocephalus stentoreus Acrocephalus arundinaceus Acrocephalus griseldis Hippolais pallida Hippolais caligata Hippolais languida Hippolais icterina
Sylvia mystacea
Sylvia nana
Sylvia leucomelaena Sylvia hortensis
Sylvia nisoria
Sylvia curruca
Sylvia (curruca) althaea Sylvia communis
Sylvia atricapilla Phylloscopus umbrovirens Phylloscopus trochiloides Phylloscopus neglectus
- Phylloscopus sindianus
Phylloscopus collybita Regulus regulus Muscicapa striata Muscicapa gamabagae Ficedula parva Ficedula semitorquata Terpsiphone viridis Panurus biarmicus Turdoides altirostris Turdoides caudatus Turdoides squamiceps Aegithalos caudatus Parus lugubris
Parus ater
Parus caeruleus Parus major
Parus bokharensis Sitta europaea
Sitta tephronota
Sitta neumayer Tichodroma muraria
Ss
R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld
Treecreeper Penduline Tit
Nile Valley Sunbird Purple Sunbird Shining Sunbird Palestine Sunbird White-breasted White-eye Golden Oriole Black-headed Bush Shrike lsabelline Shrike Red-backed Shrike Bay-backed Shrike Lesser Grey Shrike Great Grey Shrike Woodchat Shrike Masked Shrike
Jay
Magpie
Pleske’s Ground Jay Alpine Chough Chough
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow Brown-necked Raven Raven
Fan-tailed Raven Tristram’s Grackle Amethyst Starling Starling Rose-coloured Starling Common Mynah House Sparrow Spanish Sparrow
Sind Jungle Sparrow Dead Sea Sparrow Tree Sparrow
Arabian Golden Sparrow Pale Rock Sparrow Yellow-throated Sparrow Bush Petronia
Rock Sparrow
Snow Finch
Ruppell’s Weaver Arabian Waxbill
Zebra Waxbill
Indian Silverbill
African Silverbill Chaffinch
Red-fronted Serin Arabian Serin
Yemen Serin Golden-winged Grosbeak Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Yemen Linnet
Twite
Certhia familiaris
Remiz pendulinus Anthreptes metallicus Nectarinia asiatica Nectarinia habessinica Nectarinia osea Zosterops abyssinica Oriolus oriolus
Tchagra senegala Lanius isabellinus Lanius collurio
Lanius vittatus
Lanius minor
Lanius excubitor
Lanius senator
Lanius nubicus
Garrulus glandarius
Pica pica
Podoces pleskei Pyrrhocorax graculus Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Corvus monedula Corvus frugilegus Corvus corone
Corvus ruficollis
Corvus corax
Corvus rhipidurus Onychognathus tristramil Cinnyricinclus leucogaster Sturnus vulgaris Sturnus roseus Acridotheres tristis Passer domesticus Passer hispaniolensis Passer pyrrhonotus Passer moabiticus Passer montanus Passer euchlorus Carpospiza brachydactyla
~ Petronia xanthocollis
Petronia dentata Petronia petronia Montifringilla nivalis Ploceus galbula Estrilda rufibarba Amandava subflava Eudice malabarica Eudice cantans Fringilla coelebs Serinus pusillus Serinus rothschildi Serinus menachensis Rhynchostrutus socotranus Carduelis chloris Carduelis carduelis Carduelis spinus Carduelis cannabina Carduelis yemenensis Carduelis flavirostris
END
Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguinea Ss
Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta MC Mongolian Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes mongolicus P Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus SS Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus P Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula P White-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas carnipes Gy Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes P White-capped Bunting Emberiza stewarti P Rock Bunting Emberiza cia P House Bunting Emberiza striolata $s African Rock Bunting Emberiza tahapisi A Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea MC Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana E Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani MC
Emberiza schoeniclus P Emberiza bruniceps F Emberiza melanocphala af Miliaria calandra P
Reed Bunting Red-headed Bunting Black-heaed Bunting Corn Bunting
Omitted species are Pygmy Cormorant
No evidence of breeding. Red Kite
No evidence of breeding. Red-headed Merlin Falco chicquera
Apparently historical records only. No evidence of breeding.
Phalacrocorax pygmaeus
Milvus milvus
White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus No evidence of breeding. Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri
One specimen from the Makran coast in Pakistan (Roberts 1991) is extralimital to the known range elsewhere. Discussion of possible occurrence in lran (Goodman & Sabry 1984) indicates that there is no incontrovertible evidence of occurrence and that the provenance of the only apparent record is mysterious, concluding that “it seems possible...that this species has never been recorded in Iran’.
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula kramen
Although there are records from 14 widely separated localities in lran, virtually all are from city parks and gardens in urban areas and there is no indication that the species occurs as anything other than an introduced exotic (D. A. Scott in /itt.).
Wryneck No evidence of breeding.
Jynx torquilla
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
No evidence of breeding.
Gildenstadt’s Redstart No evidence of breeding.
Desert Lesser Whitethroat = Sylvia (curruca) minula
Apparently does not breed in Iran. C. D. R. Heard (in /itt.) did not record the species during three months of extensive travel there
in spring 1977 and D. A. Scott (in /itt.) does not consider this form to breed in Iran.
Pheonicurus erythrogaster
R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld
133
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
Appendix 2. Subclassification of Palearctic species used in this paper
WIDESPREAD Dalmatian Pelican Greylag Goose Ruddy Shelduck Shelduck
Garganey Red-crested Pochard Pochard
Tufted Duck White-tailed Eagle Griffon Vulture Black Vulture
Marsh Harrier Sparrowhawk Common Buzzard Long-legged Buzzard Greater Spotted Eagle Lesser Kestrel Hobby
Saker Falcon Chukar
Grey Partridge Pheasant
Water Rail
Great Bustard Oystercatcher
Little Ringed Plover Greater Sand Plover Lapwing
Redshank
Common Sandpiper Black-headed Gull Common Cuckoo Little Owl
Tawny Owl European Nightjar Common Swift Wryneck
Black Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Short-toed Lark Lesser Short-toed Lark Skylark
Crag Martin
House Martin Tawny Pipit
Tree Pipit
Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail Dipper
Alpine Accentor Bluethroat
Black Redstart Isabelline Wheatear Pied Wheatear Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush
134
Blackbird Paddyfield Warbler Blyth’s Reed Warbler Clamorous Reed Warbler Booted Warbler Barred Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Greenish Warbler Chiffchaff Goldcrest Red-breasted Flycatcher Bearded Tit Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch Wallcreeper Treecreeper Penduline Tit
Jay
Alpine Chough Chough
Rook
Carrion Crow
Tree Sparrow
Rock Sparrow Snow Finch Goldfinch
Siskin
Twite
Common Rosefinch Bullfinch
Hawfinch
Rock Bunting
Reed Bunting
WESTERN
White Stork
Marbled Teal Ferruginous Duck White-headed Duck Honey Buzzard
Red Kite
Short-toed Eagle Montagu’s Harrier Levant Sparrowhawk Lesser Spotted Eagle Imperial Eagle Caucasian Black Grouse Spotted Crake Corncrake
Little Bustard Slender-billed Gull White-winged Black Tern Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Stock Dove Woodpigeon
Turtle Dove
European Scops Owl European Roller
Green Woodpecker
Syrian Woodpecker
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Calandra Lark
Woodlark
Water Pipit
~ Dunnock
Robin
Nightingale
Redstart
Whinchat — Black-eared Wheatear Ring Ouzel
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Cetti’s Warbler Grasshopper Warbler Savi’s Warbler Moustached Warbler Sedge Warbler
Marsh Warbler European Reed Warbler Great Reed Warbler Olivaceous Warbler Icterine Warbler Orphean Warbler Whitethroat
Blackcap
Spotted Flycatcher Sombre Tit
Blue Tit
Rock Nuthatch Red-backed Shrike Lesser Grey Shrike Woodchat Shrike Jackdaw
Starling
Spanish Sparrow Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
Ortolan Bunting Black-headed Bunting Corn Bunting
EASTERN
Sind Pied Woodpecker Hume’s Short-toed Lark Citrine Wagtail Glldenstadt’s Redstart Pied Wheatear
Eastern Pied Wheatear Isabelline Shrike Mongolian Trumpeter Finch White-winged Grosbeak White-capped Bunting Red-headed Bunting
R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld
Papers
The birds of semi-desert areas of central Iraq
KHALID Y. AL-DABBAGH
Fieldwork was conducted at three sites, since recognised as Important Bird Areas (IBAs), in central Iraq during February 1988 to October 1989. A total of 172 species was recorded including four globally threatened species: Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris, Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni and Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata, and at least ten restricted-range and regionally threatened species in the Middle East.
INTRODUCTION
VER 400 SPECIES OF BIRD were recorded in Iraq by Allouse (1960-63). Since
then, many of the country’s habitats have been damaged and fragmented but little work has been performed on the effects of this on birds. Some work was done in the southern marshes during the 1960s and 1970s (George & Savage 1970, George & Vielliard 1970). The most recent work was that of Scott & Carp (1982), who were considering birds wintering from south-east Asia.
This paper reports a study on birds in two habitats in central Iraq: riverine forest and semi-desert. Most of the original riverine poplar forests have been replaced by fruit orchards; the semi-desert areas have been exploited for underground water, grazing and agriculture. The paper aims to update information on the avifauna of central Iraq; to report on wetland birds outside the southern marshes; and to evaluate the effects of habitat change.
STUDY SITES
Three sites were chosen, all within the area (34°-35" N 43°-44° E) which is part of the lower Jazzira desert (Gest 1966) that stretches from the foothills of Hemrin in the east, to the River Euphrates in the west. It includes the major towns of Baiji, Tikrit and Samarra.
Site 1: Al-Mahzam
This site is 120 km north of Baghdad. It is bounded by lake Tharthar to the west, the Baghdad—Mosul road between Samarra and Baiji to the east, the Baiji-Haditha road to the north, and part of lake Tharthar to the south. The site covers c. 4000 km’ including part of the lake. Its centre is located at approximately 42° 22’ E, 34° 30’ N. This area is a typical uniform-surfaced semi-arid calcareous desert pavement. Most of the south and centre are covered by desert pavement (small sandy stones); the north is mainly sandy. Overlooking the lake in the west are small hills covered in larger stones. A few wadis run across the whole area, descending towards the lake, and there is extensive groundwater.
The natural vegetation consists of sparsely scattered scrub and bushes with thicker patches of scrub around some of the wadis. The main species are Halaxylon salicornicum, Achillea frangrantissima, Artimisia herba-alba, and Ranterium epaposum. In spring, most of the area becomes covered with a thin layer of grasses and annual plants, which grow flower and die within one month. A distinctive feature of the vegetation is the presence of small scattered individuals of Zizyphus sp., sometimes in groups of 3-5.
Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh 135
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 135-141 1998
The climate is hot and dry for most of the year. Mean annual rainfall is c. 150 mm, most falling during December—February. Average annual temperature is c. 20°C, ranging from 5°C in January to 45°C in July-August.
Between 150 and 200 farmers lease land from the government. Each has drilled a well for irrigation. Most of the farms are on the main Baghdad—Mosul road but there is a 20 km wide strip of land near the lake that is unsuitable for agriculture. The farms have brought soil- and habitat destruction and introduced exotic species.
Site 2: Abu-Dalaf
This site is centred on c. 34°15’ N. 44° 00’ E, 10 km north of Samara and east of the River Tigris. The site is bounded by the Samara—Al-Dor road to the west, Al-Dor—Doz to the north and Lake Shari to the east. It covers c. 1200 km’ plus 80 km’ of Lake Shari, a highly saline shallow lake which varies in size depending on floodwater from the Hemrin hills and Al-Authaim River. The soil, natural vegetation. and climate is similar
Tigris River
136 Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh
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to Site 1 but has more bushes and a thicker cover of grasses and annuals during spring, especially near the lake, when sheep graze the area.
Site 3: Lake Samarra and the Tigris valley
This site comprises a five km strip of land either side of the River Tigris between Samarra and the town of Baiji. The area includes several habitats. Immediately behind the Samarra dam is a large, well-established lake with thick reedbeds and an area of old stone quarries, covered by a rich growth of poplar and tamarisk trees. The rest of the river valley comprises orchards, open agricultural fields, open shallow water pools with marsh vegetation and small remnants of the original Ahrash Forest (mainly poplar Populus euphratica) particularly on small islands within the river. In some areas, the river bank forms high cliffs overlooking the river valley. The general climate is similar to that of the other two sites.
METHODS
The study consisted of at least one visit a month in February 1988—October 1989. Each area was covered by driving a slow-moving vehicle systematically through the entire site and recording the numbers and species of birds seen. In addition, mist-nets were used among the trees of Site 3, and evidence of breeding (nests or young) was noted. During the winter, waterbirds were recorded from a boat travelling along the River Tigris from Baiji downstream to Samarra.
RESULTS
A total of 172 species was recorded: 103 at Site 1; 79 at Site 2; and 146 at Site 3 (see Appendix 1). The maximum number recorded in a day at each site and evidence of breeding is recorded. The distribution of birds from the three sites according to their status is shown in Table 1. Site 3 had the highest number in all categories. In general residents were more common, but a substantial number were winter visitors, partic- ularly ducks and waders.
Table 1. Bird status at the three study sites.
sites 7 Residents Winter visitors Summer visitors Passage migrants Total site 1 36 32 . 15 20 103 site 2 31 24 13 14 79 site 3 AQ nt 40 28 36 146 DISCUSSION
The three sites contained a large range of bird species, despite the original habitats not being pristine. At all three sites, as well as aquatic or semi-arid species, there were still a substantial number of birds usually associated with agricultural land. It seems, therefore, that human influence and the destruction of the original habitats have caused a noticeable change to the avifauna. It was clear that in areas not covered by this study semi-arid species were more common where original habitats remained.
Scott & Carp (1982) included all three sites in their list of important wetlands in Iraq. They considered Samarra Barrage and Tharthar Lake as wetlands with large concen- trations of waterfowl and possible international importance and quoted maximum counts of 5,800 and 3,000 waterfowl at Samarra and Tharthar. The estimates from this study exceed 30,000 and 20,000 for Samarra and Tharthar despite the present study covering only a small part of Tharthar. It is apparent that these two sites are of international importance for wintering waterfowl in the Middle East. All three sites qualify as Important Bird Areas (IBAs): they hold more than 20,000 waterfowl and Site
Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh 137
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
3 more than 1% of non-breeding populations in the Middle East of several aquatic birds (Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Purple Heron A. purpurea, Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexan- drinus, Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterus indicus, White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura, Gull-billed Gelochelidon nilotica, Little Sterna albifrons and White-winged Black Terns Chlidonias leucopterus).
Both sites 1 and 3 hold globally threatened bird species. At site 1, the most important of these is Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata. Two breeding pairs were located at an inaccessable area in the north. The other species were Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris and Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni. At site 3, the latter three species were more common and suspected to breed. Other globally threatened species e.g. Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and Slender-billed Curlew Numentus tenuirostris, which were reported to occur in in the past (Allouse 1960) were not seen during this study.
The three sites also support at least 10 restricted-range and regionally threatened species in the Middle East. Most important of these are those that occur and breed in significant numbers: See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis, Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus, lrag Babbler Turdordes altirostris and Dead, Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus.
The study strongly suggests that the sites should receive conservation designation, probably in the form of National Parks. In site 1, the eastern shores of Tharthar Lake with a 20 km strip of the semi-desert area along the shore would be the most suitable part for conservation and is also important for Desert Monitor Varanus gresius, a globally threatened lizard present in relatively significant numbers. At site 3, the reedbeds behind the Samarra Barrage and up to 25 km north of the dam would make an excellent conservation site for most threatened species. At Site 2, the whole of Shari Lake could be considered as another conservation site; it attracts fewer birds than the other two sites but its shores are probably more important for geese and waders.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to extend my thanks to colleagues who helped me during the fieldwork: Dr Anmar Sabri, Jameel H Jiad, Dr Imad Al-Mukhtar, Dr Abdul-Latif M Jaward, Sabah Al-Samarii and Khalid A Rasheed. Financial support and research facilities were made available by the former Biological Research Centre, Baghdad. Mark Boyd made many improvements to the original manuscript.
REFERENCES
ALLOUSE, B. (1960-1963) The birds of Iraq. 3 vols [in Arabic]. Ar-Rabita press, Baghdad, Iraq.
GEORGE, P. V. AND SAVAGE, C. D. (1970) Status of the main waterfowl resorts in Iraq. In: Isakov, Y. A. (ed.) Proc. Inter. Regional Meeting on Conservation of Wildfowl Resources, Leningrad 1986. Moscow.
GEORGE, P. V. AND VIELLIARD, J. (1970) Mid-winter observations on birds of central and south Iraq. Bull. Irag Nat. His. Mus. 4 : 61-85.
GEsT, E. (1966) The flora of Iraq. Vol 1. Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Iraq.
ScoTT, D. A. AND Carp, E. (1982) A midwinter survey of wetlands in Mesopotamia, Iraq: 1979 Sandgrouse, 4 : 60-76.
Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh, Birds of Australia, 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Victoria 3123, Australia.
138 Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh
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Appendix 1. Systematic list of birds recorded within the three study sites. RA: Relative abundance, a measure of the number of visits in which a species is seen (A, very abundant (80—100% of site visits); B, abundant (60-80%); C, common (40-60%); D, frequent (20-40%); E, occasional (5-20%); F, rare, (< 5%). Numbers are the highest daily
count. Status: W = winter visitor, S = summer visitor, R = resident, and P = passage migrant.
Species
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Black-necked Grebe P. nigricollis
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus
White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Little Bittern /xobrychus minutus Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Great White Egret E. alba
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron A. purpurea
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
| Greylag Goose A. anser
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Wigeon Anas penelope
Gadwall A. strepera
Teal A. crecca
Mallard A. platyrhynchos
Pintail A. acuta
Garganey A. querquedula Shoveler A. clypeata
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris Pochard Aythya ferina Ferruginous Duck A. nyroca Tufted Duck A. fuligula
Black Kite Milvus migrans Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Hen Harrier C. cyaneus
Pallid Harrier C. macrourus Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Levant Sparrowhawk A. brevipes Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Long-legged Buzzard B. rufinus Steppe Eagle Aguila nipalensis Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Kestrel F. tinnunculus
Merlin F. columbarius
Saker Falcon F. cherrug Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus Barbary Falcon F. pelegrinoides
See-see Partridge Ammoperaix griseogularis
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus Quail Coturnix coturnix
Moorhen Gailinula chloropus
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio Coot Fulica atra
Sites/RA
C100 E20, B10000 E20
Fo
E2 B10000 E10 C400 E10
E4
C6
E4
Fl
E2
Z D6
E10 E10 E20 C200
E2 C200
C200 E2.
C4
A10 B20 A15000
SU DDD UD Up UD oD Ue oo Se USE SE SESE TW SESE SESS SESS SESS SEO ODP SET OHM TIO SE DSS
Breeding status
20 pairs, Site 3
Prob. breeding, Site 3
20 pairs, Site 3 Prob. breeding, Site 3
Prob. breeding, Site 3
Prob. breeding
Prob. breeding, Site 3
? ? Hemrin Hills
Many, Site 3 20 pairs, Site 2 Many, Site 3 Many, Site 3
? Site 3
Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh
139
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus Caspian Plover C. asiaticus
Dotterel C. morinellus
Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterus indicus Spur-winged Plover H. spinosus Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria White-tailed Plover C. leucura
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Little Stint Calidris minuta
Temminck’s Stint C. temminckii
Dunlin C. alpina
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Curlew WN. arquata
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Redshank 7. totanus
Marsh Sandpiper 17. stagnatilis Greenshank 7. nebularia
Green Sandpiper 7. ochropus Black-headed Gull Larus ridubundus Slender-billed Gull L. genei
Lesser black-backed Gull L. fuscus Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinnans Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Little Tern S. albifrons
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus White-winged Black Tern C. leucopterus Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata Rock Dove Columba livia
Woodpigeon C. palumbus
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Turtle Dove S. turtur
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Barn Owl Tyto alba
European Scops Owl Otus scops
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo
Little Owl Athena noctua
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Common Swift Apus apus
White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus European Bee-eater M. apiaster
European Roller Coracias garrulus
Hoopoe Upupa epops
Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra Bimaculated Lark M. bimaculata
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla
E10 B2000 A50
D4
VDVVVDDGAYPNANAWNADWDIAIVNOANNATDA ND DV
oy (Op) 20) 30) nj as} ey @e) py Ce) (SS 5 te) Se) Sel es ae) ae) 0) Gs es so) Se 30) ea) a0) ae) Op) 30) 3) SS aa) 0
Many, Site 3 ? Site 2
20 Site 1: 6, Site 2 30+, Site 3 20,Site 1; 5, Site 2
20 pairs, all sites
10, Site 2: 50, Site 3
4 Site 2
- ?Site 3
? Site 3
? Site 3
Many, Site 2 Many, all sites Many, Site 3 Many, all sites Many, all sites Egg in Great Grey Shrike nest
Pair, Site 1
? all sites ? all sites 50 pairs, Site 3
50 pairs, Site 3 10 pairs, Site 3
? Site 3
? Site 1
140
Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh
Papers
Lesser Short-toed Lark C. rufescens Crested Lark Galerida cristata
Skylark A/auda arvensis
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
House Martin Delichon urbica
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Water Pipit A. spinoletta
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Grey Wagtail M. cinerea
White Wagtail M. alba
White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus Dunnock Prunella modularis
Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes Robin Erithacus rubecula
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Bluethroat L. svecica
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Common Redsiart P. phoenicurus Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
Stonechai S. torquata
Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina Northern Wheatear O. oenanthe Finsch’s Wheatear O. finschii
| Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
Blackbird Turdus merula Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis
E10
European Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scripaceus -
Great Reed Warbler A. arundinaceus Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca Desert Lesser Whitethroat S. (curruca) minula’ Whitethroat S. communis
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Willow Warbler P trochilus
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata lraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris Common Babbler T. caudatus Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Lesser Grey Shrike L. minor
Great Grey Shrike L. excubitor Woodchat Shrike L. senator
Magpie Pica pica
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Rook C. frugilegus
Hooded Crow C. corone cornix Raven C. corax
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Dead Sea Sparrow P. moabiticus Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Goldfinch C. carduelis
Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta
E1
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala_ -
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra
B400 A50 B200
E6 E10 E10
E2
E4
E20 ASO C10 E20 C100 E20 E2 C6 C40 E10 B50 A200
B10 C10
C20
B20
UVC NS UU DD UWS DS UU EONS USS mS OD
? sites 1 and 2 Many, all sites
Many, Site 3
Many, Site 3 50 nests, Site 3
? Sites 1 and 2
Many, all sites
Many, Site 3
60, Site 1; 20, Site 2
Many, Site 3
? Site 3
Many, all sites Many, Site 3
Many, Site
Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh
141
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
Seawatching at Ras Beirut, Lebanon in spring 1997 SIMON BUSUTTIL AND DAVE FLUMM
ETWEEN 8-11 APRIL 1997, DF spent some time seawatching from the roof of a 30 metre-
high apartment block on the seafront at Ras Beirut (west Beirut), Lebanon. On 8 April, he was joined by SB. Observations were made with a 30 x 80 Optolyth telescope and 10 x 40 Zeiss binoculars. The principal species recorded are summarised in Table 1.
Table 1. Species recorded at Ras Beirut 8-11 April 1997. 8 April 9 April 10 April 11 April
0800-— 1440- 0730- 1430- 0830-_ 0800- 0830 1800 0950 1530 1030 0900
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 1000 1000 950 400: 1000 160 Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan 3 100 18 20 30 7. European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1 Gannet Sula bassana 1 2 8) Garganey Anas querquedula 15 5100 60 Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus 2 1 1 | | Arctic Skua S. parasiticus 4 Pomarine/Arctic Skua 1 1 2 Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 2 Little Gull L. minutus 1 Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 10 4 6 3 Slender billed Gull L. gene/ 14 Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus 500 800 400 300 50 Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinnans 5 5 40 30 - 5 Sandwich Tern Sterna sandwichensis 11 5 3 | Common Tern S. hirundo 600 500 194 40 Black Tern Chlidonias niger 1
The commonest species was Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea with 1000 or more seen on three dates. The large numbers may have occurred as a result of unseasonally strong westerly winds prior to 8 April which were particularly marked south of Beirut. The sea was very rough throughout this period although the windspeed subsided between 8-10 April and had dropped even further by 11 April (when numbers of birds offshore declined). However, the shearwaters were clearly congregating around large schools of tuna so their appearance off Beirut in such numbers may have been attributable to these—which moved further out to sea on 11 April and were perhaps followed by the seabirds.
All the Mediterranean Shearwaters P. yelkouan seen well were of the nominate form; no P. y. mauretanicus were seen despite being searched for. A European Storm-petrel on 10 April was the second record in Lebanon although it breeds in the western Mediterranean (Cramp & Simmons 1977). Gannet Sula bassana is recorded as accidental in Lebanon (Cramp & Simmons 1977) but with three recorded in one morning must, in fact, be commoner. Only one was adult. Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus was seen on all dates except 11 April: all those seen well were considered to be first- or second-summer birds. On 10 April, three adult light phase and one adult dark phase Arctic Skua S. parasiticus were seen. Three or four other skuas were too far away to be identified.
Six gull Larus species were seen including a flock of 14 adult Slender-billed Gull Larus genet on the sea just off the promenade for 1.5 hours on 10 April. All Lesser Black-backed Gulls L. fuscus appeared to be the nominate race, except a single on 9 April which was paler and may have been heuglini. Virtually all these birds were adult but no Yellow-legged Gulls L. cachinnans over three years-old were seen.
142
Notes
A remarkable passage of Garganey Anas querquedula took place on 10 April when over 5000 passed in two hours heading north in flocks of 40-300. The wind was west-north-west Force five, the sky completely overcast, cold and with a little drizzle. Most birds were moving 1-2 km west of the seawatch station though a few flocks were closer and moving in a more north- easterly direction.
Macfarlane (1978) also recorded Gannet, Pomarine and Arctic Skuas off Ras Beirut between 1974-1977 but his sightings of other seabirds, e.g. Cory’s Shearwater and Common Tern Sterna hirundo give the impression that these species are uncommon in Lebanese waters. Given modern optical equipment, this is clearly not the case.
REFERENCES
CRAMP, S. AND SIMMONS, K. E. L. (1977) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol.1. Oxford University Press. MACFARLANE, A. M. (1978) Field notes on the birds of Lebanon and Syria 1974-1977. Army Bird-Watching Soc. Per. Publ. No. 3.
Simon Busuttil, Dungeness RSPB Reserve, Boulderwall Farm, Dungeness Road, Lydd, Kent, TN29 ORIN MULK.
Dave Flumm, Hayle and Marazion RSPB Reserve, The Manor Office, Marazion, Cornwall, TR17 OEF, EL aK:
Migrant raptors at Krak des Chevaliers, Syria
M.J: AND E. A. EVERETT
ELL WORTH A VISIT in its own right, the magnficent Crusader castle of Krak des
Chevaliers, close to the Lebanese border c. 35 km west of Homs, appears to have great potential as a raptor migration watchpoint. Its wide-topped outer wall and high inner ward command a fine view in all directions and offer numerous comfortable vantage points from which passing birds can be seen low overhead (sometimes at eye- level) and from which counting is relatively straightforward.
The castle rock forms a distinct spur from which, at least in some wind conditions, spring migrants moving north from the Lebanon mountains pass over the valley towards the southern end of the next high ground, Jabal al Nusariyah. A visit on 13 October 1994, when a few Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus and Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus were moving, indicated that the reverse route is used in autumn.
On the hot, almost windless morning of 10 April 1998, a substantial north to north-easterly movement was witnessed: passing birds were counted from 0910-1135 hrs when, frustratingly, it was clear that the movement was still in full swing. The following totals are minima: White Stork Ciconia ciconia 155; Black Kite Milvus migrans three; Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus two; Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus one; Sparrowhawk five; Steppe Buzzard 221; Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina 63; Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus four; and Saker Falcon Falco cherrug one.
Jabal al Nusariyah appears to offer an obvious route for large soaring raptors moving through Syria: casual observations in the area on 11-12 April 1998, included small numbers of migrating
White Stork, Steppe Buzzard and Lesser Spotted Eagle.
M. J. and E. A. Everett, 7 Burlington Way, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon, Cambs PE18 9BS, U. K.
143
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
A February record of Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo in south Turkey
EDWIN W. A. M. VAASEN
N 9 FEBRUARY 1997, during a four-day visit to the Géksu delta, south Turkey, I observed
a group of 53 Common Grus grus and two, possibly five, Demoiselle Cranes Anthropoides virgo in farmland on the west side of the Goksu river, c. six km south of Sékiin village. The flock was observed from c. 70 metres, through a 20-60x telescope, and I compiled a full description of the Demoiselle Cranes (lodged in the Turkey Bird Report files) during the short observation period before the birds took flight.
This appears to be the northernmost winter record of Demoiselle Crane in the Western Palearctic. The species is a very rare breeding summer visitor to eastern Turkey, with records between late March-—September (Kasparek 1992). Most, if not all of the western populations, including that in Turkey, winter in north-east and north-central Africa, where numbers peak in October—February. Spring passage through Saudi Arabia peaks in late March and over Cyprus in late March—mid-April (BWP Concise). In Israel there are records during 1 March-15 December, but the species has never overwintered (Shirihai 1996), although there are two winter (late December and January) records in Egypt, including one from Sinai (Goodman & Meininger 1989). In Arabia, there is a January record in Kuwait (Meinertzhagen 1954), two December records in both UAE and Yemen (Richardson & Aspinall 1996, Brooks ef al. 1987) and the species is a scarce and irregular winter visitor, in September—April in southern Oman (OBRC 1994).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Guy Kirwan for providing information and references on the status of the species in the Middle East.
REFERENCES
BROOKS, D. J., EVANS, M. I., MARTINS, R. P. AND PORTER, R. F. (1987) The status of birds in North Yemen and the records of the OSME expedition in autumn 1985. Sandgrouse 9: 4-66.
GOODMAN, S. M. AND MEININGER, P. L. (eds.) (1989) The birds of Egypt. Oxford University Press.
KasParEK, M. (1992) Die Vogel der Tiirkei: eine Ulbersicht. Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg.
MEINERTZHAGEN, R. (1954) The birds of Arabia. Oliver & Boyd, London & Edinburgh.
OMAN BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE (OBRC) (1994) Oman bird list. The official list of the Sultanate of Oman. 4th edn. OBRC, Muscat.
RICHARDSON, C. AND ASPINALL, S. (1996) A checklist of the birds of the United Arab Emirates. Emirates Bird Records Committee, Dubai.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
SNow, D. W. AND PERRINS, C. M. (1998) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise edition. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press.
Edwin W..A. M. Vaasen, Gimat-2 Koop. 66. Ada, 679 Sokak, Blok 4/10, Cayyolu, Ankara, Turkey.
144
Notes
The first Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea in Yemen and the Middle East
DAVID B. STANTON
N 18 DECEMBER 1997, I approached the Hodeidah sewage ponds to count waterfowl. My
attention was drawn to a preening dove which I soon identified as a Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea, a species with which I have had considerable experience in southern Africa. I observed the bird from a range of 50 metres for 20 minutes through a 20 x telescope, and photographed it with a 400 mm lens, until it settled down and slept. When I returned to the ponds four hours later the bird could not be relocated.
ee Giese
ba guinea (in centre on ground) Hodeidah sewage ponds, Yemen, 18 Decembe
as
Plate 1. Speckled Pigeon Colum r 1997. (David B. Stanton)
Description. A pigeon appreciably larger than a Rock Dove Columba livia with a large patch of bare red skin around the eye. Purplish wash on throat. Head and breast warm blue-grey while the mantle and wings were deep purplish red. The wings were liberally peppered with white spots forming three lines on the greater upperwing-coverts with more diffuse speckling on the lesser upperwing-coverts. Tail not seen. Yellow-orange feet and legs. Greyish cere. This is apparently the first Yemen and Middle Eastern record of this species which is widespread and common in Africa including neighbouring Eritrea (van Perlo 1995, Urban et al. 1986). There is evidence that the species is becoming commoner in nearby Djibouti (G. & H.
Welch in litt. to G. M. Kirwan 1998) and it is spreading its range in Somalia (Ash & Miskell 1983, Clarke 1986).
REFERENCES
ASH, J. S. AND MISKELL, J. E. (1983) Birds of Somalia: their habitat, status and distribution. Scopus Special Suppl. No. 1.
CLARKE, G. (1986) Notes on the Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea in NW Somalia. Scopus 10: 45-47.
VAN PERLO, B. (1995) Collins illustrated checklist. Birds of eastern Africa. HarperCollins, London.
URBAN, E. K., Fry, C. H. AND KEITH, S. (1986) The birds of Africa. Vol. 2. Academic Press, London.
David B. Stanton, Sana’a International School, P. O. Box 2002, Sana’a, Republic of Yemen.
145
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus and Black-crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps breeding in Kuwait
P.J. COWAN AND D. L. NEWMAN
AR-TAILED DESERT LARK Ammomanes cincturus is a resident breeder in the Eastern
Province of Saudi Arabia (Bundy et al. 1989, Jennings 1995). Breeding apparently occurs in three areas of Iraq (north-central), but not in west and south-west Iran (Cramp 1988, Porter et al. 1996). In Kuwait, it is scarce and irregular in occurrence (Bundy & Warr 1980), occurring in some years in very small numbers (C. W. T. Pilcher pers. comm.).
On 5 April 1996, we observed a Bar-tailed Desert Lark in mainland north-east Kuwait. Subsequently, we recorded the species there in May and October 1996 (we were absent from Kuwait in mid-June—mid-September) and in January, April-June, September, October and December 1997 (absent from Kuwait again, July-mid-September). The records involved small numbers, with a maximum of c. five on 10 January 1997. Additionally, two breeding occurrences were documented in mainland north-east Kuwait.
On 10 May 1996, at c. 29°45’N 47°55’E we watched an adult Bar-tailed Desert Lark foraging and occasionally feeding two juveniles. This is the first record of the species breeding in Kuwait and has been accepted by the Kuwait Ornithological Rarities Committee (KORC). Further confir- mation of breeding was obtained on 24 April 1997 at c. 29°35’N 47°50’E where PJC found an adult Bar-tailed Desert Lark with a nest containing four nestlings. Future observations will indicate whether this species is becoming established in Kuwait.
In the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Black-crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps is a breeding summer visitor north of c. 25"N but resident further south (Bundy et al. 1989, Jennings 1995). In Iraq, there are apparently 1-2 breeding sites in the south with none around the northern Gulf in Iran (Cramp 1988, Porter et al. 1996).
Haynes (1979) stated that Black-crowned Finch Lark is a common breeding summer visitor to Kuwait, being very common on post-breeding dispersal. Bundy & Warr (1980) noted the species as scarce and local in Kuwait from October—March. Subsequently there have been relatively few records and no evidence of breeding (C. W. T. Pilcher pers. comm. ).
On 22 February 1996, we watched a male Black-crowned Finch Lark in mainland north-east Kuwait. The species was recorded by us there in April, May, November—December 1996 and in February—May and December 1997. These records involved small numbers, with a maximum of c. eight on 13 December 1996. Additionally, breeding was recorded twice in mainland north- east Kuwait.
On 31 May 1996, we watched a foraging male Black-crowned Finch Lark feeding an adjacent juvenile almost continually for c. 15 minutes at c. 29°45’N 47°55’E. This record has been accepted by KORC. Further confirmation of breeding by this species was obtained on 20 April 1997, when we observed a pair with a nest containing two nestlings in the same vicinity as the previous year’s breeding record.
All of our records reported in this note are of birds seen in ABBA square NB36 (Jennings 1995), with a single exception. On 12 December 1997 we saw a Bar-tailed Desert Lark c. 20 km east of Salmi, in western Kuwait (MB35).
Notes
REFERENCES
BUNDY, G., CONNOR, R. J. AND HARRISON, C. J. O. (1989) Birds of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Witherby, London.
BuNby, G. AND WaRrR, E. (1980) A check-list of the birds of the Arabian Gulf states. Sandgrouse 1: 4-49.
CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1988) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 5. Oxford University Press.
HAYNES, P. R. (1979) Notes on the status and distribution of the birds of Kuwait. Ahmadi Nat. Hist. Newsl. 20: 1-34.
JENNINGS, M. C. (1995). An interim atlas of the breeding birds of Arabia. NCWCD, Riyadh.
PORTER, R. F., CHRISTENSEN, S. AND SCHIERMACKER-HANSEN, P. (1996) Field guide to the birds of the Middle East. T. & A. D. Poyser, London.
P. J. Cowan, Department of Zoology, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait. Present address: Gleann Cottage, Glenlomond, Kinross KY13 7HF, Scotland.
D. L. Newman, Department of Radiologic Sciences, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 31470, Sulaibikat 90805, Kuwait.
The first Semi-collared Flycatcher records Ficedula semitorquata in Lebanon
SIMON BUSUTTIL AND DAVE FLUMM
N 7 APRIL 1997, during wet cloudy weather, while watching migrants at Haouch Ammiq,
a group of farm buildings on the south-west edge of Ammiq swamp (33'46’N 35°46’E), SB noticed a male Ficedula flycatcher in an apple tree c. 50 metres away. We had previously observed several Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis during our stay in Lebanon and I was checking all such black-and-white flycatchers carefully.
From the bird’s neck, it was immediately apparent it was not a Collared Flycatcher, as only a half-collar was visible. Approaching to c. 30 metres and with the bird frequently changing position as it flycatched, SB noted several other features convincing him that it was a Semi- collared Flycatcher F. semitorquata. These included white wingbars at the base of the primaries and—above the main white wing patch—on the inner median coverts, producing a large ‘three- part’ white wing pattern, white outertail feathers, a dark rump and a small white forehead patch, much smaller and less rounded than that of the five nearby male Collared Flycatchers. The restricted amount of white on the neck and smaller forehead patch gave the bird a very different appearance, especially in flight when the dark rump and obvious white outertail feathers were apparent. After several minutes, SB returned to his accommodation and checked the field features of the black-and-white Ficedula flycatchers in Jonsson (1992), which confirmed the identification. SB returned to the orchard but fast-deteriorating weather conditions precluded further good views of the bird.
Following SB’s return to Britain, DF remained in Beirut. On 9 April, he found a male Semi- collared Flycatcher in the grounds of the American University of Beirut (field notes supplied). A male Pied F. ypoleuca, ten male Collared and three unidentified female Ficedula flycatchers were also present. Another male Semi-collared Flycatcher was seen by DF on Beirut promenade on 11 April.
Cramp & Perrins (1993) describe Semi-collared Flycatcher as quite common in spring in Israel and rare in Syria and Jordan, where it perhaps only occurs in spring. In Turkey, it is not uncommon on spring passage, from late March until at least late April, especially in the south and west of the country. Given its apparent status as a regular spring migrant through this part of the Middle East, it is unsurprising that it should be recorded in Lebanon.
147
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
vee re hon ouuly thn ® “ol load
lua > du Ce fied Sa yt aftostids
gi a
Hal why =P / f nop Olah om g cling Gals eas pf uisble Nai eo oa De btlund — wy ine ca Ole aire Ko. pep ee hous witike ofty. Texf feat (perk s 1\ ysl LE oe
of rest wk Ae hrf Uttlie $M Clase
and Hed Repcahle
REFERENCES
CRAMP, S. AND PERRINS, C. M. (1993) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 8. Oxford University Press. JONSSON, L. (1992) Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. A. & C. Black, London.
Simon Busuttil, Dungeness RSPB Reserve, Boulderwall Farm, Dungeness Road, Lydd, Kent, TN29 ORIN AUK
Dave Flumm, Hayle and Marazion RSPB Reserve, The Manor Office, Marazion, Cornwall, TR17 OEF, OL IS.
The first Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis in Iraq MUDHAFAR A. SALIM
N 3 OCTOBER 1997, during fieldwork in the Abu al-Khaseeb area, 14 km south-east of
Basrah in southern Iraq, I discovered an apparent pair of Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis in an area of dense orchards. Two days later a local hunter brought me a juvenile specimen of the same species which had been trapped in the same area (see Plate 1). The specimen could be separated from Bank Mynah A. ginginianus on the basis of the following features: yellow bill, bright yellow bare skin below and behind the eye, large white patch on the base of the primaries, white tail corners and undertail-coverts, and dark grey-brown overall body plumage colour. Local hunters reported that the species appeared to be established and breeding in the area.
Elsewhere in the Middle East, Common Mynah is a localised breeding resident in parts of Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (Porter et al. 1996), It has also recently been discovered breeding in Ankara, Turkey (Bilgin 1996). Most, if not all, of these populations are considered to relate to escapes from captivity.
SL OE ae a a ek UE ee
Notes
Sa
Mudhafar A.
October 1997
Khaseeb
taken at Abu al
Imen
dotheres tristis spec
TI
Juveni
Plate 1
lim)
(
south Iraq,
le Common Mynah Ac
o
S
1
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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 150_ 156 1998
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iG Recent Etterature
Ash, J. S. & Miskell, J. E. (1998) Birds of Somalia. Pica Press, Mountfield, U. K. pp 336, 5 colour plates and 654 distribution maps, £40.
This is really much more than an annotated list of the birds of Somalia, it is in fact, the sum total of our ornithological knowledge of a small, little-known and extremely neglected but important country on the horn of Africa. Written (largely on the results of their own efforts and expeditions) by two of the continent’s leading ornithologists, it is only the third published work dealing with the entire avifauna of the country (and one of the previous two was by the same authors). It is a worthy successor to the almost unattainable Birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden by Archer & Godman published over 60 years ago.
The introductory chapters deal (very readably) in some depth with vegetation and soils, history of ornithology in the country, geology, climate, bird and wildlife conser- vation, bird migration and breeding seasons, and provide a welcome background and illumination into this largely closed country. I was particularly intrigued by the chapter on the ornithological history of Somalia, an impressive piece of work (and a worthy subject for a separate book) in its own right. Bearing in mind that the indefatigable British are usually regarded as the pioneers of the dark continent, it was truly enlightening to hear that we were not the only colonialists to look seriously at the wildlife.
The meat of the book is the 650 species distri- bution maps which are based mainly on the work of the authors or the fortunate few others who have also spent time in Somalia. Comparing these with some of the maps in the volumes of The birds of Africa (BoA), which reflected our previous limited knowledge of the country, I was pleasantly surprised to find that for no less than 45 species in volume 1 alone there were major differences in the
distribution. In BoA the ranges were mainly either too extensive (and presumably a result of guesswork) or too restricted. For four species (Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax, Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus, Kestrel Falco finnunculus and Eleonora’s Falcon F. eleonorae) there were serious discrepancies in the ranges shown and for eight species there was no reference at all to occurrences im Somalia. Clearly anyone either wanting to know the definitive information on ranges in, or planning to visit, the country (once the political climate improves) will now have a more detailed baseline.
In such an impressive work it is superfluous and somewhat pedantic to find fault but if asked what (if any) flaws there are, I would say that since this is such a large step forward in our knowledge of the avifauna I would have appreciated enormously a chapter devoted to the identification of some of the difficult species groups of the region, partic- ularly the multitude of similar-looking larks, all of which are admirably illustrated by Martin Woodcock. Secondly, and this is perhaps more of a niggle than anything else, the title. [his is, after all, an atlas of the birds of Somalia, so why not call it that?
In summary, a massive and splendid contri- bution to African ornithology for which the authors and publishers should be congrat- ulated.
Peter Clement
Baker, K. (1997) Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa. A. & C. Black, London. pp 400, 48 colour plates, 145 colour distri- bution maps, many line-drawings, £32.
Warblers have long attracted the attention of field ornithologists, indeed Ticehurst’s (1938) review of the genus Phylloscopus and Williamson’s 1960s ringers guides remain importtant works for precen da fieldworkers. More recently, the work of
ce
Reviews & Recent Literature
Martens and Alstr6m & Olsson and their co- workers has highlighted our incomplete knowledge of Asian Phylloscopus and other genera, demonstrating, as Kevin Baker notes in his introduction, that much remains to be discovered about the Sylviinae. This new work is specifically aimed at those who wish to identify warblers, be it in the field or hand, and thus it contains relatively little information on unrelated subjects, e.g. life- history. This is perhaps the most important take-home message in an unusually concise introduction, which, unlike recent guides in the similar Pica Press series, contains no general biological background reading. Given that it is questionable how many such introductions are read by their purchasers, this may be no significant detriment.
I am sure that readers of this review will be familiar with the layout of previous works in this series: Warblers follows the well- established pattern. Typically the book’s first
section is occupied by the plates with facing-
page notes and colour-coded distribution maps. Both are somewhat disappointing. Baker has spent the last ten years researching and illustrating this volume and, as such, it is a personal tour-de-force. Unfortunately the plates, whilst not unattractive are largely not of the quality demanded by modern-day birders. Whilst all are ‘jizzy’ and it is pleasing to see an artist make more effort with backgrounds than most illustrators of this Series, the shapes of many are incongruous--Yemen Warbler Parisoma
[Sylvia] buryi, for instance, is almost unrecog-
nisable—and plumage detail is often very basic. Some of the best illustrations appear to be direct copies of photographs; compare, for example, the adult winter Two-barred Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trocholoides plumbeitarsus with Dave Cottridge’s transparency of the Isles of Scilly bird in 1987 (Twitching 1: 336). For those species treated by BWP and / or Parmenter & Byers (1991), continued use of the illustrations in those volumes appears necessary. Readers whose interest is centred further east must wait for the forthcoming field guides to the Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia, both of which, I hope, will deliver finer illustrations than those found here. Afrotropical Sylviinae, beyond the ambit of Baker’s work, are already covered in the most recent volume of Birds of Africa.
Furthermore, in this first section, the wholly inadequate distribution maps cannot escape comment. Although the author points out that these are not designed to more than broadly indicate a species’ range, I noticed a number of omissions (repeated in the species accounts) which should not have gone uncorrected. On the plus side, the ranges of many east Asian species are mapped for the first time in this volume. However, the larger- scale maps of the Pica Press series, although not colour-coded, are much easier to use and significantly more useful. To add insult to injury, several maps have the country boundaries reproduced so pale that, at normal reading distance, they appear as nothing more than area/s of colour within a box. Although an errata sheet has been issued by the publishers, the whole issue of the maps requires significant attention in future volumes of the series.
The text describes, in great detail, the identifi- cation of 145 species. Quite without rationale, African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus, which breeds in mangroves on the Red Sea coasts of Saudi Arabia, Yemen and perhaps Egypt, as well as south through Africa, is omitted by Baker. This decision, if indeed it was one, is left unexplained and acquires greater significance given the proposal by Leisler et al. (1997) to promote A. b. avicennae, the subspecies involved, to specific status- under the name Mangrove Reed Warbler-a proposition which has already accrued support (Sangster 1997). Baker states that he has not made any judgement over species or subspecies status for any taxa, following Peters et al. (1934-1987) with species order and some additions being taken from Beaman (1994). Given that Baker has examined all the relevant specimens in one of the largest skin collections in the world, one might be tempted to suggest that his own analysis may have yielded some new insights into the validity of certain taxa (even though he has relied solely on the British Museum collection), but not even this! Baker rightly includes two species of Phylloscopus—Emei Leaf Warbler P. emeiensis and Hainan Leaf Warbler P. hainanus—described in 1993 and 1995 but then inexplicably fails to follow the elevation of chloronotus to species status, distinct from P. proregulus (Alstr6m & Olsson 1990, Sibley & Monroe 1993) and does not specifically note that specific status for kansuensis, from the same grouping, has also
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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
been proposed (Alstr6m et al. 1997), in line with the “further studies” which Baker states are needed for this form.
Recent informative discussions of Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita (Helbig et al. 1996) and Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca taxonomy (Martens & Steil 1997) have also gone unnoticed. Perhaps they appeared beyond the author’s cut-off point for the inclusion of fresh data, but as no such date is provided, it is impossible to be sure of this. Additionally, Baker struggles with the taxonomic position of Yemen Warbler; in this’ case understandably. Of late, mt-DNA studies based on tiny datasets have suggested that, in contrast to the evidence of most field observers, this species belongs to the genus Sylvia rather than Parisoma.
A common complaint with this work must be the incomplete study of the literature: Baker not only fails to note the existence of literature which updates and clarifies the information he presents but even appears guilty of the more heinous crime of not reading some of that which he cites. For instance, he fails to note the occurrence of Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola in Bulgaria and Turkey—references to the latter, of which there are approximately ten, have apparently all been missed, whilst a work discussing in some detail the Bulgarian population is listed in the references. To give the author his due, distribution is not a key priority (e.g. I located no mention of vagrancy, even for those east Asian species which regularly occur in north- west Europe in autumn) but to omit regular, albeit outlying, breeding or wintering areas is not defendable. Surely distribution is used as a major clue by many ornithologists when identifying birds in the field. In the same vein, Baker states that some published material may have been overlooked. Certainly so, but for major works dealing with the status and - distribution—e.g. Shirihai (1996)—and even taxonomy—Roselaar (1995)—to have gone unused is quite frankly incomprehensible. Use of the former and other key works would have corrected a suite of errors and omissions in the distribution section of Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax, whilst reference to Roselaar would have solved many other incorrect or only partially correct statements for some species occurring in Turkey.
Finally, among more regularly occurring
CE EEE__SEOE_O_OveB e
gripes, confusing statements appear with relative frequency. One example— Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia—will gave a flavour of this problem. Under ‘Geographical variation’, the subspecies occurring in Afghanistan is given as straminea. However, in the species introduction, it is listed as a summer migrant “probably [to] northern Afghanistan” and, under ‘Distribution’ straminea is listed as “possibly [occurring in] northern Afghanistan”. Reference to Paludan (1959) would have provided additional confirmation that straminea does occur in the country, and consultation with observers with field experience there, could have clarified its status.
I found the presentation of the reference section for each species, in chronological order, personally irritating. A small, but not insignificant, number of typographical and other errors e.s. reference dates Deine incorrectly cited, further add to the litany of faults.
Having found much to take issue with in this volume, it must be stated that for readers solely concerned with field identification this book has much to recommend it. As a compendium of information for this task it is currently without equal and most Palearctic birders will want to own it for that reason. The plumage texts for Western Palearctic species are largely good, but one wonders how qualified Baker is to write on many of the Asian taxa. I am convinced that individual works, currently in preparation and written by real experts, e.g. Shrihai & Cottridge’s work on the genus Sylvia, will far supercede this volume. Steve Howell, in reviewing one of the recent similar guides from Pica Press (Cotinga 6: 42-43) drew attention to falling standards in ornithological publishing. This work also bears these hallmarks: it is not without its uses, but the birding public has not been best served by its production.
Guy M. Kirwan
del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. (eds.) (1997) Handbook of the birds of the world Vol. 4, Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. pp 6729270 colour plates, numerous €olod: photographs and distribution maps, £110.
Reviews & Recent Literature
The latest volume in this series covers sandgrouse, pigeons and doves, cockatoos and parrots, turacos, and cuckoos; a mix of families that should arouse interest in Middle Eastern birders. For many, sandgrouse are the archetypal desert birds, and have been the flagship for our society’s endeavours since its inception and the vehicle through which we communicate our ornithological discoveries to the wider world (this journal). I continue to be impressed with the general family accounts in this series: they are scholarly, well referenced, up-to-date, easy to read and beautifully illustrated. The 20 pages on sandgrouse alone nearly make the volume worth purchasing! The species accounts certainly give a satisfactory summary of available information on the six species that occur in the OSME region—I will not quibble with the maps as I feel there is much still to be learned of the status and distribution of
sandgrouse in the Middle East.
How does the section on pigeons and doves bear up to scrutiny? This family may be a good one to evaluate the accuracy of accounts and maps as several members are showing range expansions, e.g. Eurasian Streptopelia decaocto and African Collared Doves S. roseogrisea and Namaqua Dove Oena capensis. It looks as though the mapped ranges have been gleaned from the Interim Atlas (Jennings 1995) and are thus fairly representative given the space and size limitations. Unfortunately, there is no mention of the small population of the African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix in Arabia—perhaps it would be unfair to expect a tiny spot of colour on the map, though some mention of this important range extension outside Africa should have appeared in the text. Bruce’s Green Pigeon Treron waalia is cited as a resident in south-west Arabia. This may be true in the extreme south, but further north there is certainly some trans-Red Sea passage during the spring and it may also be an altitudinal migrant. Also, the mapped range of the Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens indicates it is present only in southern Yemen, when in fact its range does extend well into the Saudi Asir Mountains. It is cited as being sedentary, though in Arabia I would suggest it has a fairly pronounced altitudinal migration.
Leap-frogging over cockatoos, parrots and turacos (with 100s of stunning illustrations) to
the next family of Middle Eastern interest, the cuckoos. Accounts and maps for the Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus, Great Spotted Cuckoo C. glandarius, Didric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius, Common Koel Eudynamys scolopacea and White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus are all satisfactory, but at the same time they show how poor is our knowledge of this group in our region. Klaas’s Cuckoo’s Chrysococcyx klaas Arabian range is not shown on the map but the text sections on distribution, movements and status and conservation all give slightly different versions of an uncertain status, when in reality it is probably a scarce migrant visitor.
Despite being able to pick up a few errors or oversights, I urge all serious ornithologists to purchase this series personally or use your influence to get it stocked in any libraries you use. I cannot praise it highly enough.
Stephen Newton
Mearns, B. & Mearns, R. (1998) The bird collectors. Academic Press, London. pp 472, many black-and-white shotopiaple £34.95.
Barbara and Richard Mearns are amongst the leading authorities on the history of ornithology. Their previous books documented, on both sides of the Atlantic, the lives of almost 200 early ornithologists whose legend had been secured through numerous patronymic bird names, but whose living character and actual achievements had often fallen from view. The Mearns’ self-appointed task was to rescue these fascinating figures from obscurity. Now they have examined another huge area of ornithology’s past in this exhaustively researched and highly enjoyable (if rather pricey) book on the life and exciting times of European and American bird collectors mainly in the last two centuries.
It is a measure of the huge shifts in birdwatching culture that the authors should feel it necessary to provide a lengthy justifi- cation—amounting to an apologia—for the methods and mindset of collectors. Not least of this book’s merits is that it makes clear the massive debt owed by the modern environ- mental community to these remarkable characters. To give just one example, the U. S.
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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
ornithologist, Professor Foster Beal collected birds almost exclusively to examine their stomach contents. His slaughter of 40,000 birds seems both appalling and frivolous until one appreciates that his research formed the basis of a book (which ran through 50 editions!) educating farmers on the economic contribution made by birds through their consumption of weed seeds and agricultural pests. In short, Beal’s work was a foundation stone for U. S. conservation legislation.
The Mearns take us to the very origins of bird collecting as a social and scientific activity, then provide a comprehensive survey of the collectors, treating them mainly according to their different social castes and professions. But they also preface this main portion of the book with a fascinating insight into the mechanics and materials of bird killing and preparation. It seems anomalous in a book that emphasises the critical importance of detailed labels for bird skins that they themselves should cite their sources so sparingly. Too often they accumulate in meticulous fashion the facts to support their arguments, but only give a reference where a quotation has been used. By clearing away many of the markers that determined their own trail they have made it more difficult for anyone to follow in their wake.
My other criticism centres on the arrangement of the text. Occasionally they cluster together under a single heading a disparate bag of subjects, which occasionally makes the book seem rather fragmented. It is as if the synoptic model they established in their previous two books was almost irresistible for them in this one. However I should stress that these are minor gripes in the context of their greater achievement. The Mearns have trawled and ably synthesised a vast body of literature and their final product is very well written and displays a wonderful eye for the telling detail and humorous anecdote. They should be congratulated for opening up to us all this largely neglected seam in our ornithological past and for mining it to such profit.
Mark Cocker Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long,
A. J. & Wege, D. C. (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the world. Priorities for biodiversity
conservation. BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7), Cambridge, U. K. pp 846, many black- and-white photographs and maps, £37.
BirdLife International’s IBA concept has been widely accepted and utilised as an important conservation tool around the world. The production of books and databases by region or continent is well advanced and in some areas second editions or national compendiums have been produced. BirdLife have maintained its position at the forefront of the global biodiversity awareness campaign by producing this amazing new directory of Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs).
The book largely (70%) comprises succinct descriptions of 218 Endemic Bird Areas and 138 Secondary areas (those with only a single restricted-range species). Each account is usually two pages and includes a small tabulated basic facts file, a larger table which summarises status and habitat of restricted- range species, and three accompanying text sections on “General Characteristics . “Restricted-range Species” and “Threats and Conservation”. It is well worth going through the introductory chapters and regional overviews which clearly describe how EBAs are identified, defined and prioritised for conservation action.
Within the core OSME region, there are four EBAs: Socotra, south-west Arabian mountains (Saudi Arabia, - Yemen), Mesopotamian Marshes (Iraq) and Cyprus, with the Levantine Mountains identified as a secondary area on the basis of the Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus. Other EBAs and secondary areas in the Caucasus and in African countries on the south shore of the Red Sea may be of interest to Sandgrouse readers.
How useful are these accounts to those interested in Middle Eastern ornithology? Interesting yes but, as can be imagined, rather too brief to give anything but the flavour of the area in question. To me, some of the accounts focus too much on why various endemic species have been omitted from the definition of the EBA, e.g. Arabian Partridge Alectoris melanocephala, Arabian Woodpecker Dendrocopos dorae, South Arabian Wheatear Oenanthe lugentoides, Arabian Golden Sparrow Passer euchlorus, Arabian Warbler
ie ee EES Sea iy PRP et ee en aS
Reviews & Recent Literature
Sylvia leucomelaena, Arabian Serin Serinus rothschildi and Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus from the south- west Arabian mountains (perhaps the criteria were too strict?), or the possibility of Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita nesting in the area, rather than giving more detail on birds and habitats that have been included. More annoying are the factual errors that should have been picked up prior to publication: “Estrilda rufibarba.... has not been recorded in the Asir Mountains”, yet they plainly cite a paper which describes the waxbill as a resident breeder in the said mountains! I hope this is an exception and that there are not too many more silly errors in the 846 pages.
Overall, I doubt many with a particular interest in the birds in the Middle East or arid areas in general will buy this book. However, for those birders keen on travel, it is an incredible guide to the key hotspots for avian and other wildlife biodiversity, especially in
Africa, Australasia and the Neotropics. Go
visit them, appreciate their riches and contribute something in the campaign to conserve them.
Stephen Newton
The warblers of Britain and Europe by Paul Doherty. A Bird Images video guide narrated by Bill Oddie. VHS video. Two hours and 28 minutes. 60 species. £16.95 (7 p&p £2 U.K. & Europe, £5 world). Available from Bird Images, 28 Carousel Walk, Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire L525 6LP, U.K.
This, one of Paul Doherty’s latest video guide offerings, reflects the significant strides being made by bird photographers using this media. Virtually all of the species included are captured on near- or IV quality cuts. Having accompanied Paul on two filming trips to Turkey in recent springs I know just how much each few seconds of suitable film costs in time and effort. Only Caspian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus (scirpaceus) fuscus and Syke’s Booted Warbler Hippolais (caligata) rama (indicating Paul’s response to the most recent taxonomic developments) are solely represented by stills. All regular European breeding species are included, as are many Asian vagrants filmed in China (of those on the British list only Thick-billed Warbler
Acrocephalus aedon is not featured) and other extralimitals, e.g. Clamorous Reed Warbler A. stentoreus, Tristram’s Warbler Sylvia deserticola and Cyprus Warbler S. melanothorax. For sexually dimorphic species, both male and female plumages are covered, as are juveniles where possible, and, in addition, distinctive taxa e.g. icterops Whitethroat Sylvia communis are also featured. The narrative describes the breeding range, status in Britain (where relevant), plumage features, identification tips and voice. Handy comparisons are made using stills to explain certain plumage minutiae e.g. tertial spacing in some Hippolais. Middle Eastern birders will enjoy instructive footage of e.g. Blyth’s Reed Acrocephalus dumetorum, Paddyfield A. agricola, Upcher’s Hippolais languida, Olive-tree H. olivetorum, Ménetries’s Sylvia mystacea, Arabian 5. leucomelaena, Desert S. nana, Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita brevirostris, Mountain Chiffchaff P. sindianus and Green Warblers P. nitidus. Indeed, the addition of just a few additional species would make it a complete euide to Western Palearctic warblers, and I’m sure many observers would welcome the chance to study e.g. Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis in moving close-up. This is a first-rate guide worthy of scrutiny by both beginner and expert. Don’t discard your field guides, BWP and shelf-full of journals just yet, but this is highly recommended.
Guy M. Kirwan
ALSO RECEIVED
Gancz, A. (ed.) (1997) The Torgos. 27. Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Tel-Aviv.
The winter 1997 issue of The Torgos is largely devoted to a Hebrew translation of the introduction and Israeli chapter of Important Bird Areas in the Middle East (Evans 1994). Additional articles, in English, highlight specific sites and studies: the status of Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in the Jeruslaem and Ramot-Menashe areas, and a summary of significant results from bird ringing studies at Mt. Hermon between 1979-1997.
Hagemeijer, W. J. M. & Blair, M. J. (1997) The EBCC atlas of European breeding birds. 1. & A. D, Poyser, London. pp 903, many line-drawings and distribution maps, £55.
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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
This truly monumental publication, compiled and produced through the efforts of a legion of amateur fieldworkers, deserves to be on the shelves of all those interested in the status and distribution, breeding and conservation prospects of European or Western Palearctic birds. Four-hundred and ninety-five species receive detailed treatment; a further 17 (not 62 as claimed on the inside of the dust jacket) very localized species are dealt with in summary. Introductory chapters and indices are presented in 14 languages, and species accounts are also available in languages other than English on request from relevant national organisations which participated in the EBCC project. This authoritative and thoroughly excellent work will serve as a benchmark for many years to come, although
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156
Around the Region
—_ —_—
AOUNG the I CO10T7.
compiled by Guy M. Kirwan
Records in Around the Region are published for interest only; their inclusion does not imply acceptance by the records committee of the relevant country. Some records have been authenticated, including all
those from Cyprus, and these are usually
indicated. All records refer to 1998
unless otherwise stated.
Records and photographs for Sandgrouse 21 (1) should be sent, by December 15, to
Around the Region, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, U.K.
a
Bee-eaters Merops apiaster by D. Powell
In Lebanon, the third record of European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus was one off Tyre ruins on 29 January; all have been in the last few years. Following counts in January (Sandgrouse 20: 76), up to 120 Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorrhoa were off Jaffa, Israel on 10 February. The first Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel in Israel and the Western Palearctic, at Eilat on 1 December 1997 (Sandgrouse 20: 76) has recently been accepted (Brit. Birds 91: 242). There are few records of Masked Booby Sula dactylatra from the mainland Yemeni coast but one was seen near Dhubab on 20 March and a total of four off Bab el Mandeb on 22-25 March. A Brown Booby S. leucogaster off Dibba on 9 February will be the fourth record in UAE if accepted.
We rarely receive reports from Iran, thus a number of records made during a Birdquest trip to the country this spring are of interest, including at least ten Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia nests in mangroves at Hara in late April: this species was not previously known to nest along the Gulf coast. In Israel, an immature Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis flew over Eilat on 20 April. In Turkey, two Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus were at Goksu delta on 26 December. The first Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma to be recorded in Israel, the Middle East and Western Palearctic was photographed at km 20 north of Eilat from 22 April-8 May (Birding World 11: 179).
Just outside the OSME region, a Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus was seen migrating north along the Ugam Valley, in the Tien Shan mountains, Uzbekistan on 9 May, is nevertheless of interest. Further records of this species in the UAE involved one at Eastern Lagoon, Abu Dhabi on 26 February, the bird at Mushrif Park remained until 8 April and was joined by a second bird from 12 March-8 April, and two were near Sharjah airport on 17 April, bringing the total number of country records to six. At least four Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus c. 25 km east of Mindab in late April was the first record in Iran, and one at Hamraniyah on 11-12 March was the eighth record in UAE. A female Shikra Accipiter badius at Zabeel was c. 4th record in UAE. The most extraordinary raptor record of the period, if confirmed, involved a Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsont photographed at Sede
7 -o
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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 157-160 1998
Boquer in the central Negev, Israel on 27 March (Birdwatch 71: 64). There is one previous record in the Western Palearctic, in Norway in May 1986 and a record still pending from Israel in March 1989. Single adult Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos north and east of Thamud on 13 and 17 February 1997 were the first records in eastern Yemen (Jennings 1997). An unseasonal Lesser Spotted Eagle A. pomarina at Zabeel, UAE on 15 June was the ninth country record. The third Tawny Eagle A. rapax in Israel was at Urim, near Eilat:on 21 December 1997. A sub-adult Sooty Falcon Falco concolor at Marib on 23 April was the fourth record in Yemen.
Two Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax at Goksu delta, south Turkey on 25 December was interesting, but more significant was the discovery of at least 11 birds, including displaying males, at two sites in the Konya basin in mid-June, the first concrete evidence of breeding in the country for many years. Several localities holding Great Bustard Otis tarda were located during the same survey; this species is now very rare in Turkey (Eken & Magnin in prep.). Nikolaus & Ash (1997) report possible breeding by Spotted Crake Porzana porzana in Saudi Arabia, south of Riyadh in April 1996. A Corncrake Crex crex was heard calling at Esmekaya sazligi in early June; there is one previous confirmed instance of breeding in Turkey (Green 1997). In UAE, the White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus at Emirates golf course remained until 24 March (see Sandgrouse 20: 77) and the eighth country record of Common Crane Grus grus involved three at Al Ain on 23 February—8 March. A Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis was seen at the Jol, east of Thamud on 17 February 1997, the first record in eastern Yemen (Jennings 1997). Potentially the second Israeli record, a Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus was apparently photographed at km 20 north of Eilat on 14-16 April. Spring wader rarities in UAE included: two Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni at Al Wathba on 29 April (sixth record); a Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria at Umm al Quwain on 12 February (11th record); a Knot Calidris canutus at the same place on 14-23 February (fourth record); and a Long-toed Stint C. subminuta in Abu Dhabi on 21-22 May (13th record). The Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterus indicus at Dhahran refuse
158
tip, Saudi Arabia remained until 18 February. Remarkable records from the early spring migration through Israel included the Western Palearctic’s first accepted record of Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala in the Hula valley from 28 February—4 March (Brit. Birds 91: 246).
Among rarities at Eilat, there was a claim of a South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki on 25 April (Birdwatch 72: 56), the second Israeli record if
accepted. The first Cypriot record of.
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus involved two subadults at Akrotiri Bay on 19 July 1994 (Brit. Birds 91: 247) and a Long-tailed Skua S. longicaudus reported at Hamraniyah on 10 April would be the third record in UAE if accepted. On, 8-9 March) 7 a Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus was on Sir Bani Yas island, the fourth record in UAE. Additional interesting gull records from the same country were: the 4-6th records of Little Gull L. minutus, at Umm al Quwain on 4-5 March, Emirates golf course on 11-21 April and Al Ghar lake on 30 April; the sixth Common Gull L. canus at Kalba on 31 March-17 April; and a first-summer Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, the first country record, at Fujeirah on 9 April and then at Kalba from 17 April. A first- or second-summer Grey-headed Gull L. cirrocephalus was well watched and photographed at Hodeidah sewage ponds on 16 April, the first record in Yemen. In July 1997, a pair of Slender-billed Gull L. genei were behaving in a manner strongly suggestive of breeding near Jubail, Saudi Arabia. There are no breeding records of this species in Arabia. A Great Black-backed Gull L. marinus
was reported at Shifdan, Tel Aviv on 24-27 February. The fifth record of Black Tern Chlidonias niger in UAE
was one at Ramtha lagoons on 19 July.
Jennings (1997) reports the first records in eastern Yemen of Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus: two flocks north-east of Marib on 10 February 1997 and two other flocks of birds, thought to be this species seen subsequently in the survey. A Woodpigeon Columba palumbus at Dubai Creek Park, UAE on 16-19 March will be the fourth country record if accepted. During the OSME/ Sunbird tour to north Yemen, a series of interesting cuckoo records was made: three Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus were at Al Midman on 17 April, with singles at Al Qanawais on 19 April and Hajjah on 19-20 April; a first-year Great Spotted Cuckoo C. glandarius at Al Midman on 17 April was apparently the first country record; and a Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas was heard calling south of Numadn on 27 April. Elsewhere in Yemen, the first record of Eagle Owl Bubo bubo in the east of the country was one calling near Minwakh on 11 February 1997 (Jennings 1997) and a pair of Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri was seen near Kawkaban on 7-9 April. At least three Hume’s Tawny Owls were near Hurghada, Egypt on 19 April, a new locality for the species (Birding World 11: 216; Birdwatch 74: 61). The fifth record of Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius funereus in Turkey was heard calling throughout the night at Guizelier in the Yuiluk Dagi, Taurus mountains on 15 May (Eken & Magnin in prep.). Three Alpine Swift Apus melba over the Emirates golf course on 14 April will
Plate 1. Arabian Woodpecker Dendrocopos dorae, near Hajjah, Yemen, 20 April 1998.
(Peter Los)
Guy M. Kirwan
be the 14th record in UAE if accepted. In eastern Saudi, the White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis was at ~ Dhahran until 13 February, whilst a Hoopoe Upupa epops seen food- carrying and entering a presumed nest-site in the same area on 15-16 April appears to be the first evidence of breeding in this part of the country. Records of scarce passage migrants from Yemen included four European Roller Coracias garrulus in the Dhubab area on 20-21 March and a Wryneck Jynx torquilla in Wadi Hajr on 14 March.
The second Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata in Yemen, reported from: Bab el Mandeb on 25 March is accompanied by a description: the first was in November 1985 (Brooks et al. 1987). In early 1997, Jennings (1997) recorded a total of 22 Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda dunni in four squares in-eastern Yemen, and found 78 Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus at eight localities on 15-19 February, the first records in the east of the country. Recently published records of singing Skylark Alauda arvensis in Qatar involve birds at two sites in June 1986 (The Phoenix 14: 2). Following ‘hot-on-the-heels’ of the second record (see Sandgrouse 20: 79), the third Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithi in UAE was at Al Ain camel track on 7 February-2 April. There are few previous records of Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi in Yemen, but a series of records, totalling 14 birds at three localities, was made during the OSME/ Sunbird tour this spring. Three Blyth’s Pipit A. godlewskii overwintered at Al Wathba, UAE until 12 April, whilst the two Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus ‘already reported (Sandgrouse 20: 79) remained in Abu Dhabi from 7 - November 1997-4 April and 12 December 1997—February 1998, with another at Mushref gardens, Abu Dhabi on 13 February, bringing the total number of occurrences in UAE to 12 (see Birdwatch 73: 19).
The sixth Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus in Israel was well-watched and photographed at km 20 north of Eilat from December 1997-12 April (see Birding World 11: 137); one was also reported at Kibbutz Samar from late January into February. A Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia east of Al Qutay on 16 April was an interesting record, there are very few spring records in Yemen. The sixth record of White-crowned Black Wheatear
Guy M. Kirwan
March 1998. (Arie Ouwerkerk)
Oenanthe leucopyga in UAE was on Das island on 8-13 April. The first record in eastern Yemen of Red-tailed Wheatear O. xanthoprymna was north- west of Sanau on 19 February 1997 (Jennings 1997). The first record of Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanni in UAE involved one at Safa Park on 12-24 March, although it may have been present since November 1997 (see Birdwatch 73: 19)..In Turkey, several Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia were singing at Esmekaya sazligi in early June: there is just one previous breeding record in Turkey in late May 1965 (Kumerloeve 1967). Up to four Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis were apparently breeding at Al Hair, south of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 14 April-5 May 1996 (Nikolaus & Ash 1997). The species has recently started to colonise Kuwait, presumably in response to the continuing drainage of its breeding habitat in southern Iraq. This record may also indicate fresh colonisation, although the possibility that the species had _ previously — been overlooked cannot be eliminated. In Israel, the eighth record was one at km 20 north of Eilat on 24 March-10 April (see Plate 2). The tenth record of Moustached Warbler A. melanopogon in UAE was of one at Dhayah or’ 13 February. Very few records of Olive- tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum are available from Yemen; one was east of Al Quaty on 16 April. In June 1996, Booted Warbler H. caligata was proven to breed south of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a considerable range extension from UAE, and in Turkey, there was one south of Beysehir Golii on 25 May, the westernmost record in the country (Eken & Magnin in prep.). Single Ménétries’s Warblers Sylvia mystacea were at the rarity hotspot of
Plate 2. Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis, km 20 north of Eilat, Israel, 27
Around the Region
km 20 north of Eilat on 12 and 16 April. On Das Island, UAE there was an Icterine Warbler H. icterina on 24-25 April, the eighth country record, a Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus. on 19 February—7 April (second record) and a Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler P. humei on 30 April. At Yotvata in south Israel there was a Hume’s Yellow- browed Warbler on 23-29 March and two were apparently at Eilat on 24 March. A Green Warbler P. nitidus was in Abu Dhabi on 11-13 May, the fourth record in UAE if accepted. A Yellow-browed Warbler at Mansourieh on 29 September 1997 is apparently the first record in Lebanon, and probably one of the earliest autumn records in the Middle East.
There are no previous confirmed records of Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus in Syria; thus 2-3 birds at Sed Wadi Abiad, 20 km north of Palmyra on 22 May are the first. In Turkey, an Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus, of the race phoenicuroides, was trapped and photographed at Kizilirmak Delta on 3 May. The seventh Bay-backed Shrike L. vittatus in UAE was at Dibba on 11 March. In Iran, House Crow Corvus splendens was found to be common aroud Bushire and at a fishing village 70 km further south-east along the coast: in the 1970s this species was known, in the country, only from the island of Khark, north-west of Bushire. The third Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus to be found in Yemen was at Marib on 23 April. Arthur Stagg has drawn my attention to the fact that recent records of Bank Mynah Acridotheres gingianus in Saudi Arabia and published here (Sandgrouse 19: 159; 20: 80) are not the first, and details
159
Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998
of its occurrence, since at least 1987, in the Riyadh region have been published (Stagg 1991). The first Common Myrnah A. tristis to be found in Egypt was located at Ain Sukhna on 20-29 April when it died of gunshot wounds (Birding World 11:
216). In the 1970s, Indian Silverbill Lonchura malabarica was not known to occur west of Minab, but in late April it was found 45 km east of Bandar Lengeh and in the Bandar Abbas and Minab areas of Iran, suggesting that the species is expanding its range. The
fourth record of Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis in UAE was of one on the migrant trap of Das island on 26-27
- April, which also recently hosted the
third record (Sandgrouse 20: 80).
REFERENCES
BROOKS, D. J., EVANS, M. I, MARTINS, R. P. AND Porter, R. F. (1987) The status of birds in north Yemen and the records of the OSME expedition in autumn 1985. Sandgrouse 9: 4-66.
EKEN, G. AND MAGNIN, G. (in prep.) A preliminary biodiversity atlas of the Konya basin, central Turkey. Dogal Hayati Koruma Dernegi, Istanbul.
GrEEN, I. A. (1997) Corncrake Crex crex breeding in north-east Turkey. Shade 19: 145-146.
JENNINGS, M. C. (1997) ABBA survey 20: eastern Yemen, February 1997. The Phoenix 14: 3-5.
KUMERLOEVE, H. (1967) Neue Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Avifauna von Nordost- und Ost-Kleinasien. Istanbul Fen. Fak. Mecm., Ser. B32: /9_ 213.
NIKOLAUS, G. AND ASH, J. S. (1997) Riyadh river, Saudi Arabia; notes on breeding nde The Phoenix 14: 18-19.
STAGG, A. (1991) Birds of the Riyadh region. Second edition. National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Riyadh.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following have assisted in the compilation of this review: Sancar Baris, Arnoud van den Berg (Dutch Birding), John Chitham, Brian Clasper, Dave Fisher (Sunbird), Steve Gantlett (Birding World), Mike Jennings, Graham R. Lobley, Guy Manners, Rod Martins (Sunbird), Tom Quittenden, Colin Richardson (Emirates Bird Records Committee), Omar Al-Saghier, Bob Scott, Derek Scott (Birdquest), Arthur Stagg, Geoff & ie Welch and Roy Wranes.
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