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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.

= Jo 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 £10

(£13 air mail outside Europe)

"Family £15 ae.

(£18 air mail) for two, plus £3 for
— each additional family member.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Individual £200
(£100 if 60 or over)

Family £275

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.

-Lord: Barber of f Tewkesbury, :

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.

MEETINGS 22 0 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

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, , B. Behrouzi- Rad,

Sherif Baha El Din, © ‘Prof. W. Biittiker,

Shaika Nora Bint : ie Major M. D. Gallagher, MBE
Isa Bin Sulman Al Khalifa, : i fe Dr Saeed a

“iN: Yazgan

. oben. AS AT SEPTEMBER 1996:

Dr G. Allport R. P. Martins (co-opted)

Conservation & Research Turkey Bird Report
A. Colston R. Parslow
Treasurer Membership
P. Davidson H. Scott (co-opted)
Information Officer Publications Officer
A. Grieve F. E. Warr (co-opted)
Publicity Officer Sales
Dr D. Harvey G. R. Welch
Features Editor Chairman
A. J. Morris H. J. Welch (co-opted)
Secretary Librarian

clo THE LODGE, SANDY, BEDFORDSHIRE, SG19 2DL, UK
OSME Wes site - http://www.netlink.co.uk/users/ag/osme/osmehome.html _

Contents

SANDGROUSE
Volume 18 (2)

- Editor
Guy M. Kirwan

Features Editor
Derek Harvey

Assistant Editor
lan J. Andrews

Editorial Committee
Duncan J. Brooks,
Mike Evans, Mike Jennings,
Rodney Martins
& 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:
Painted Snipe Rostratula
benghalensis, male in Oman
taken by Conrad Greaves

OSME is grateful for sponsorship from
Bird Images Video Guides towards the
cost of printing the colour photograph
on the cover of this issue.

OSME NEws

NEWS AND INFORMATION
REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION
FEATURES

Middle East Birding and Conservation Organisations
R. F. PORTER AND F. E. WARR

Observations on breeding Rtippell’s Weaver Ploceus
galbula in the Republic of Yemen Dr M. M. AL-SAFADI

The birds of Barr Al Hikman, Sultanate of Oman J. ERIKSEN

PROFILE

Nergis Yazgan J. FENTON

PHOTOSPOT

Sinai Rosefinch I. J. ANDREWS

PAPERS AND NOTES

Preliminary data on raptor passage in Jordan I. J. ANDREWS

A baseline survey of White Storks Ciconia ciconia in
central Turkey S. J. PARR, P. COLLIN, S. SILK, J. WILBRAHAM,
N. P. WILLIAMS AND M. YARAR

Observations on the avifauna of the Azraq wetland,
Jordan, June 1995 F. KHOURY

A short breeding bird survey of Kulu Golu, Central
Anatolia, Turkey in May 1995 S. KIRAC AND C KIRAC

Did Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos formerly
breed in Jordan? M. I. EVANS AND S. AL-MASHAQBAH

Long-eared Owl Asio otus breeding in north-west Syria
G. R. MANNERS AND J. DIEKMANN

The first Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii in Egypt
and the Western Palearctic A. ROSIER

The first Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris in Jordan
M. I. EVANS

Winter status and distribution of Alpine Accentor
Prunella collaris in Turkey R. & S. UHLIG, G. M. KIRWAN
AND Y. SANCAR BARIS

Records of Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata in north-
eastern Turkey V. DIERSCHKE, F. STUHMER AND T. STUHMER

Additional information on breeding biology of Rufous
Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes P. CASTELL

Description of the nestlings of Olive-tree Warbler
Hippolais olivetorum P. CASTELL

Additional information on Meénétries’s Warbler Sylvia
mystacea breeding biology in south-east Turkey P. CASTELL

The first Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos in Jordan
B. C. MINSHULL

A new specimen record of Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica
from Turkey G. M. KIRWAN

Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala breeding
behaviour in Turkey P. CASTELL

72 REVIEWS & RECENT LITERATURE

AROUND THE REGION

P. DAVIDSON AND G. M. KIRWAN

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

CHANGES TO OSME COUNCIL

At this year’s AGM the following Council
members retired after 5 years service:

Stan Howe - having recently returned from
the region Stan brought a valuable expatriate
perspective to Council; he was also a source of
current information through his links with
many of OSME’s members still in the Middle
East. His experience proved especially useful
in developing ideas of how OSME can best
make use of its members resident in the region
and identified the need for a person to
coordinate OSME’s contact with key members
- a role which still needs to be filled.

Guy Kirwan - Guy has not so much left
Council as moved to ‘better things’! After two
years as Turkey Information Officer,
providing information on birding sites and
work that could be done by visiting birders, he
has assumed the role of Sandgrouse Editor
allowing him to combine his writing and
editorial skills with his regular contact with
birders active in the region. The new-look
Sandgrouse is fitting indication of Guy’s ability
to fill the new role and take OSME forward.

Two new members of Council were elected -
Andrew Grieve and Derek Harvey - both have
been assisting OSME in co-opted roles since
autumn 1995. Andrew has assumed the
Publicity Officer role and has done a splendid
job selling advertising space in Sandgrouse - this
income contributes considerably towards the
journal’s production costs. Derek has joined the
Sandgrouse editorial team as Features Editor,
obtaining and editing material which would
formerly have gone in the OSME Bulletin.

- CHANGE TO THE CONSTITUTION

The following change was made to Clause 6
of the Constitution: ‘The Council shall not
have less than six members. Members of
Council can serve for up to five consecutive
years. From among the members of Council
the executive officers - Chairman, Secretary
and Treasurer - shall be elected for periods
not exceeding five years from the date of their
election as executive officers. Additional
executive officers can be elected as necessary.
No member of the Council can be re-elected
without a clear interval of one year, unless it
be to become an executive officer.’

The change this effects is the removal of the
Editor of Sandgrouse as an elected member of
Council. This is necessary as Council now
wishes to pay the Editor an honorarium in
recognition of the amount of work taken in
producing Sandgrouse, and under the current
Constitution members of Council cannot be
paid (clause 12). This is an administrative
change to assist in the more efficient running
of OSME.

SUBSCRIPTION RATE CHANGES

Due to increases in the running costs of the
Society, subscription rates are being raised as
of 1 January 1997. The new rates will be:
Individual £12; Family £15; Institution £25;
Life Member £225 and Family Life Member
£300.

Council is also introducing a new category,
Supporting Member £24. This will allow
members to cover the cost of a year’s
subscription of a Middle Eastern national
who would benefit from receiving OSME’s
publications but either cannot afford to pay
the full rate or finds it impossible to pay
because of currency exchange difficulties.
This is a very simple but effective way of
encouraging an interest in the study and
conservation of birds in the region where the
Society’s presence is still comparatively small.
All members are urged to consider upgrading
to become Supporting Members.

SANDGROUSE SPECIAL OFFERS

Are you missing some of the early issues of
Sandgrouse or have a special interest in
Turkey or Yemen? Then this is your chance to
fill those gaps and save money.

OSME News

Sandgrouse 1-5 - there is now a small supply
of these issues available for sale at just £3
each (£3.70 inc p&p or £5 airmail) but stocks
are very low so it’s strictly first come, first
served.

Turkey Bird Reports 1976-1991 (Sandgrouse 8,
11 and 16[2]) - these three issues are available
as a bundle at the reduced price of just £10, a
Savane Of. £3, (E1120 inc p&p or £1350
airmail). So if you’re planning a visit to
Turkey or just want to put your previous
observations into perspective, don’t miss this
offer.

OSME in Yemen (Sandgrouse 9 and 17) - these
two issues present the results of OSME’s
expeditions to northern Yemen in 1985 and
Souter Vemen and Socotra’ in 1993.
Together they form the definitive work on the
country’s avifauna and alongside Important
bird areas in the Middle East (also available
from OSME price £22.50 inc p&p or £28.50
airmail) will be the main works of reference
for birders and bird conservation in Yemen
for many years to come. The two are
currently available together at the discounted
price of £12 (£14.50 inc p&p or £18.50
airmail).

SITUATIONS VACANT

With the continuing development of OSME,
new opportunities for members to become
more involved with the running of the
Society are arising all the time. The following
three posts have been identified by Council as
priorities and OSME is seeking keen,
committed members to fill them.

Sales Development Officer - OSME sales
consist primarily of journals and reports plus
a small range of membership items. Council
seeks to develop a wider range of items to
benefit members, promote the Society and
generate income - the new T-shirt and
baseball cap are examples. Council is not
short of ideas to get you started but we are
seeking someone with flair and initiative to
develop our sales.

Events Officer - one of the key areas where
Council wishes to expand OSME’s activities
is that of events and meetings both in the UK
and overseas, to give members more
opportunity to meet and to raise OSME’s
profile. Working closely with other Council
members, the Events Officer will develop and

organise OSME events; identify events at
which OSME should be present; and laise
with overseas organisations, in Europe and
the region, to identify opportunities for joint
meetings. If you have sound organisational
skills and are a good correspondent, you
could enjoy this challenge.

Network Coordinator - OSME is keen to
develop better contacts with those resident
outside the UK and establish a network of
corresponding members to keep OSME better
informed of activities ‘on the ground’ and
assist in the promotion of the Society. The
Network Coordinator will establish regular
contact with key OSME members, bird and
natural history clubs, and set up a system for
the regular exchange of information and
literature. This post could suit someone who
has lived in the region. You must be a good
correspondent, ideally with access to
computer and fax facilities.

All these posts run for five years; the ability to
attend Council meetings regularly is
desirable. Council currently meets four times
per ‘year at.BirdLife International in
Cambridge. Meetings are on Saturdays with
the morning devoted to OSME business and
afternoons taking the form of workshops on
specific topics. -OSME: -relies« on the
commitment and involvement of its members
to function. If any of these posts appeal to you
or you have another special skill to bring to
OSME, then contact the Chairman, Geoff
Welch (tel: 01728 648298; fax: 01728 648529 or
write c/o OSME).

OSME ON THE INTERNET

The official OSME World Wide Web site was
launched on 1 July and has already attracted
considerable interest and at least 2 new
members!- .@heck” the: OSME <> site “at:
http://www. netlink.co.uk/users/ag/osme/os
mehome.html, for Sandgrouse articles and
latest news from the region.

OSME SUMMER MEETING 1996

OSME’s second summer meeting to be held at
the School of Oriental and African Studies,
University of London, again coincided with
one of the hottest days of the summer. An
enthusiastic audience enjoyed the cool shade
of the lecture theatre whilst being entertained
by three highly engaging talks, preceded by
Richard Porter’s resumé of conservation
news. The first, by Peter Symens provided a

=
Oo

Sandgrouse 16 (2)

fascinating insight into the pioneering
research of the NCWCD in Saudi Arabia,
hitherto little known to most OSME members.
The eighteenth OSME AGM was followed by
lunch, liberally spiced with Middle Eastern
flavours, “Next, “Dr. Omar al-Saghier
highlighted bird conservation issues in
Yemen in his own endearing and inimitable
style, before Ian Andrews spotlighted some of
Jordan’s birding treasures, complete with
mouthwatering photographs - what further
encouragement could members want to go
and discover more? The meeting closed at
4pm, when a sizeable contingent discussed
intriuging ideas and plans generated at the
meeting, in the local hostelry. Next year’s
Summer Meeting will be on 12 July at SOAS.

Pete Davidson

OBITUARIES

Charles Bennett OBE MC

Cyprus Ornithological Society (1957)
Secretary 1977-84 and 1986-92, editor of 19
Bird Reports and many newsletters between
1973-91, Charles Bennett died in Nicosia on
2nd February 1996. Widely respected, he
brought Icng term stability and integrity to
the Byzantine world of Cyprus ornithology.
His extensive co-operation and assistance was
invaluable to Peter Stewart and myself. An
ex-prisoner of war, former merchant banker
and deeply involved in charity work, Charles
was an old-fashioned gentleman of great
modesty and dry humour with a strong
belief in doing the right thing. He will be
greatly missed by his many friends.

Peter Flint

Sir Wiiliam Wilkinson 1932-1996
William Wilkinson was the father of OSME.
Not only was he its first chairman, but he was
also one of the founders of the Ornithological
Society of Turkey “(@S1),, OSM s
predecessor.

William’s first involvement in the Middle
East was in Turkey, where he was posted in
1961; to head-the operations of Borax
Consolidated. He spent his spare time
engrossed in archaeology or watching birds.
Geese had a particular fascination and he

made regular winter counts, especially
around Tuz Golu. In 1967 a conference on
wetland conservation was organised in
Ankara by the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature, the International
Council for Bird Preservation and the
International Wildfowl Research Bureau. At
this William presented two papers covering
wetland conservation issues in Turkey and
from this stemmed his commitment to
wildlife conservation. The first evidence of
this was the formation of the OST, which was
born of the Ankara conference.

On his return to England in 1970, he moved
into the field of international banking and
finance, becoming the finance director of
Lonrho and later a director of Kleinwort
Benson. He enjoyed his life in the City and
was highly respected, but was becoming
increasingly involved with voluntary conser-
vation. He was elected onto the Council of the
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and
became its Treasurer in 1971, a position he
held for ten years (in two spells) until 1983,
when he was head-hunted for the position of
Chairman of the Nature Conservancy
Council, probably the most important and
demanding job in British conservation.

Meanwhile, his involvement with the OST
continued and in 1977, ten years after its
formation, it became OSME. The need for a
Turkish society with a heavy foreign
influence was no longer considered
appropriate now that the Istanbul based
DHKD was flourishing. William chaired
OSME through its fledgling years and later
became a vice-president.

Ornithologists will see his chairmanship of
the Board of West Palearctic Birds Ltd. as one
of his most important roles. He steered the
financing of the project to produce the
definitive 9-volume study and played a major
part in seeing the ambitious but often
troubled programme through to conclusion.

William was great company and a generous
host as many a council meeting at his home
bore witness. When blindness struck him a
cruel blow it never affected his enthusiasm or
spirit, though being a keen birdwatcher and
botanist, close friends knew how much he
pined for the wildlife sights that had been a
source of inspiration to him from childhood.
His knowledge matched that of most profes-

sionals over whom he presided but what set
him apart was his understanding of how to
get things done, his fairness and skills as an
orator. He will be remembered as one of the
great conservation statesmen of the 20th
Century.

Richard Porter

Hans Kumerlove 1903-1995

Hans Kumerloeve’s 318 page treatise Zur
Kenntnis der Avifauna Kleinasiens published
in a single volume of Bonner Zoologische
Beitrage in 1961 remains the only Turkish
avifauna, despite much attention by
birdwatchers in the last three decades. Based
on museum and field studies, this work is
remarkably comprehensive and a tribute to
the author’s renowned thoroughness.

The aim of this section is 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 and
Information, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, U.K.

This section is not intended as a definitive report
or write up of the projects concerned. Many of the
projects are sponsored; such support is appreciated
but is not generally given acknowledgement here.

~ CYPRUS

Ecognosia Ltd is an environmental research
and information centre in Cyprus which aims
to fill a gap in the field of environmental
studies and dissemination of information in
Gyprus: ltyseeks: tox establish a better
relationship between people and the
environment..[ts services are free to interested

OSME News

I never met him, but we corresponded
regularly in the late 1960s and 1970s when
every few months a reprint of one of his
numerous papers on Turkish birds would
land on my desk. He was a prolific author
and the recently published Songbirds of Turkey
by Cees Roselaar contained over 50 references
to his papers. These spanned the 32 years
from 1957 to 1989, although most of his
writings date from the late 50s to mid-70s.

The esteem with which he was held as an
ornithologist is reflected in Volume 3 of
Bonner Zoologische Beitriége in 1973. This issue
commemorated his 70th birthday and rightly
acknowledged him as the expert on the birds
of Turkey.

Richard Porter

people. Ecognosia would welcome being sent
relevant journals/reports. Ecognosia, PO Box
7510, 2430 Nicosia, Cyprus. Tel: 357-2-355560.
Fax: 357-2-355822. (Source: Urban Wildlife
News 13 (3).)

RAFOS Akamas Peninsula report - The full
report of the Royal Air Force Ornithological
Society expedition to the Akamas Peninsula
that we reported in Sandgrouse 18 (1) is now
available from Mr V. Cozens, 9 Dendys,
Hemingford Grey, Cambs PE18 9EU, U.K.
The price is £5.00. Cheques payable to:
Akamas /95. Profits are going to The Cyprus
Conservation Foundation. The report is also
available from OSME Sales @ £5.75 including
postage. A follow-up expedition is planned
from 26 March to 7 May 1997. Further
information on RAFOS can be obtained from
Chf Tech John N. Wells, RAFOS, Chinook
EDIT, RAF Odiham, Hook, Hampshire RG29
LOT Usk.

Simon Albrecht

A oe
INFORMATION

compiled by Simon Albrecht

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

IRAN

Siberian Cranes released Two male Siberian
Cranes Grus leucogeranus, captive bred by the
International Crane Foundation in the USA,
were released last winter to join up to 11 wild
birds in the Caspian Lowlands. It is hoped
that they will be tracked to their breeding
grounds. (Source: ICF Bugle Feb 96 via Oryx
30 (3).)

JORDAN (Contributed by Mike Evans)

Management Plan for Mujib Nature Reserve
Baseline surveys of the flora, fauna and socio-
economic situation are now in progress to
help prepare a five-year management plan for
this Important Bird Area (IBA) by the end of
1996. The bird survey work (Sandgrouse 18 (1))
has produced some exciting discoveries
including about 30 breeding pairs of the
globally threatened Lesser Kestrel Falco
naumanni as well as a strong migration of
Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax along the
Dead Sea coast in March. A pair of displaying
Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus and
a pair of displaying Bonelli’s Eagles Hieraeetus
fasciatus indicate breeding. (Source: Mike
Evans and Network News 4 (2).)

Egyptian Vulture
Neophron percnopterus

Syrian Serin research in Dana Reserve In Bull. 35
we reported that the largest world population
of the Near East endemic Syrian Serin Serinus
syriacus was breeding in the Dana Nature
Reserve IBA (at least 800 pairs). Since
November 1995, a Jordanian researcher has
been carrying out a two-year field research
project on the species in Dana. It is expected
to yield valuable information in managing the
reserve for this species.

Original Dead Sea Sparrow site re-discovered
Ghor Safi, at the south end of the Dead Sea,
was one of the sites where Dead Sea
Sparrow Passer moabiticus was discovered in
the last century. The site was only revisited
in March 1996 when a small breeding colony
was found. The site is threatened by
planned expansion of saltpans for the local
potash works.

Badia bird survey The spring survey by
Durham University, U.K. which included the
Burqu’ Nature Reserve IBA (Bull. 35) located
several Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos nest
sites. The survey was part of the Badia
Research and Development Programme to
improve the knowledge of the status of
national biodiversity.

National Biodiversity Study UNDP/UNEP have
provided the Department of the Environment
and the Royal Society for the Conservation of
Nature (RSCN) with $300,000 to prepare a
National Biodiversity Study. This is required
as part of Jordan’s obligations to the
Biodiversity Convention (ratified in 1994).
Local experts will prepare the study, which
will include a section on bird biodiversity, and
conservation and research needs for the future.

Developments under the new Environment Law A
new agency, the Environmental Protection
Corporation (EPC), has been formed as
coordinator and highest authority under the
recently ratified Environment Law. The
RSCN will advise the EPC on all nature
conservation issues and, as required by the
law, will draft a bye-law listing all species of
flora and fauna needing special protection
measures. The list includes about 70 bird
species, based mainly on the priority-species
lists developed during the Middle East IBA
project. When completed the list will be
presented to Parliament for approval.

International cooperation on birding centre RSCN
is studying proposals to set up a centre for
bird migration research and birding tourism
in Wadi Araba in cooperation with
neighbouring countries.

New bird book in Arabic Several Arabic books
on birds of Jordan have appeared in recent
years. The latest, The birds of Jordan: status and
distribution by A. Sutari, is the most detailed
and comprehensive so far. It has just been
published with help from RSCN and UNDP.

Simon Albrecht

News and Information

The 183 pages describe and illustrate in
colour all species known from Jordan. Much
onzinal, unpublished -field-data are
incorporated. To obtain a copy write to: A.
- Budieri, RSCN, P.O. Box 6354, Amman 11183,
Jordan. Price is unknown.

Nubian Ibex in Dana Nature Reserve Last autumn
(Bull. 35) we reported on the bird importance of
this reserve in south-west Jordan. The rare
Nubian Ibex Capra nubiana also occurs in the
area but at very low levels — just two sightings
between November 1994 and June 1995. Urgent
conservation efforts are needed, including
habitat improvements and the reduction of
livestock grazing which has led to soil erosion
and desertification. (Source: Catullo, G. et al.
1996. Nubian ibex in Southwest Jordan (Dana
Nature Reserve). Oryx 30 (3) 222-224)

OMAN
ABBA Survey No.-18 to Dhofar Province,
Oman in October/November 1995 has
recently been published. Birds of interest
include up to 270_Lesser Flamingo

Phoenicopterus minor at Khor Mughsail in
early November and Hume’s Tawny Owl
Strix butleri calling at Jebel Qamar on 6
November. Further details from: Michael
Jennings, 1 Warners Farm, Warners Drove,
Somersham, Cambs, PE17 3HW, U.K.

Lesser Flamingo
Phoenicopterus minor by S. M. Andrews

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Mangroves and Kingfishers The coastal
mangroves in Sharjah hold a rare endemic
subspecies of the White-collared Kingfisher
Halcyon chloris. BirdLife International has
written to the ruler of Sharjah expressing its
concern over the recreational pressure at Khor
Kalba which poses a threat to the kingfisher.
(Source: Network News 4 (2).)

Survey of Arabian Leopard A ‘Leopard Group
of Arabia’ based at the National Heritage
Centre at Sharjah in the UAE has been
founded to save the 100-200 Arabian
Leopards Panthera pardus nimr. Saudi Arabia,
Oman, Yemen and the UAE are involved.
Each country will prepare action plans for
leopard conservation including reviewing
wildlife legislation, conducting surveys,
proposing protected areas, increasing natural
prey, reducing livestock and feral animals
and promoting public awareness. (Source: Cat
News, Autumn 1995 via Oryx 30 (2).)

YEMEN

Yemen Ornithological Society - new newsletter
The YOS has expanded its newsletter which is
now called The Lammergeier. Four issues have
been. produced with: the: fifth due in
september. ~The newsletter includes
noteworthy sightings, information on YOS
activities, bird identification and gardening
for birds. For further details contact Mr David
Stanton, Secretary YOS, PO Box 2002 Sana’‘a,
Republic of Yemen. Tel: 248 309. Fax: 234 438.
E-mail: david.s@netqsi.com

Aden Wetlands This Important Bird Area (IBA)
was visited by Dr Omar Al-Saghier and
Richard Porter over eight days between 23
March and 3 April. About 80 species were
seen including two birds new for Arabia.
These were Black Egret Egretta ardesaica and
African Spoonbill Platalea alba.

The wetlands have five main areas: 50 ha of
marsh supporting over 10 000 waterfowl
(including over 5000 Lesser Flamingo
Phoenicopterus minor, which have built nests);
sewage treatment works which provide
freshwater run-off for the maintenance of the
marshes; four large lagoons by the Aden
Causeway which provide a disturbance-free
feeding area for flamingoes and waders; inter-
tidal mudflats (a rare habitat in Arabia) which
provides important feeding for waders;
Abyan beach which is used for roosting birds.

Unfortunately the marsh is threatened by a
proposed port pavement extension to the port
of Aden. No final decisions have been made
at the time of writing. The various authorities
have been made aware of the international
importance of the area, it is hoped that any
decisions will be consistent with the conser-
vation of the wetlands. (Contributed by Dr
Omar Al-Saghier & Richard Porter)

Simon Albrecht

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Socotra Dr Omar Al-Saghier supported by
Richard Porter gave an important presen-
tation at a conference in Aden to promote the
conservation of the island of Socotra. The
island has a unique and remarkable flora and
fauna including six endemic bird species and
at least 12 endemic sub-species. It is hoped
that future developments on the island will
protect the ecological requirements of the
flora and fauna. (Source: Network News 4 (2).)

Book on Yemen birds The book (Sandgrouse 18
(1)) has now been distributed to Yemen
schools together with a very attractive poster.
A number of excess copies of book and poster
were on sale at the OSME AGM. Anyone
interested in copies should contact Richard
Porter via OSME.

Join before 31 December and you can enjoy
your 1997 membership at the 1996 price
- only £10!
OSME
a

promotes the study and conservation of birds
throughout the Middle East

m encourages the standardised recording of
bird observations

m brings together knowledge of the region’s
birdlife

™ maintains a conservation and research fund
to support small-scale projects by members

m publishes Sandgrouse twice a year, sent to all

members

This offer applies to new members only. Single
membership from 1997 is £12.

To join, write to: Membership Secretary,
OSME c/o The Lodge, Sandy,

Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL U.K.

BALD IBIS

38 killed by mystery poison in Morocco 38 Bald
Ibis Geronticus eremita were found dead at the
Souss-Massa National Park in Morocco in
mid-May, this included 11 at a tidal drinking
pool. Some birds had vomited and others had
haemorrhaged suggesting that the culprit is a
toxin rather than an infectious micro-
organism. Tests have found no pathogenic
bacteria or viruses. Results of toxin tests are
unknown at the time of writing. (Source: New
Scientist 13 July 1996).

Bald Ibis
Geronticus eremita
by S. M. Andrews

Simon Albrecht

The BIRDS of the
Hashemite Kingdom of
JORD

by Ian J. Andrews

_ | The Birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of
| Jordan.is the first comprehensive —
summary of the status and
distribution of all 374 bird species
recorded in Jordan.

Foreword by His Majesty King Hussein !
|® Description to all habitat types accompanied
by 30 photographs
® 160 bird photographs by the author,
Tim Loseby and others
@ Detailed species accounts, giving up-to-date
information on where and when each species
occurs
Breeding distribution maps
Migration timing charts
Detailed birdwatching sites guide, with maps
Full Jordan checklist
Mustrations by John Busby

£18.50
| (plus £1.50 P&P UK, £2.50 Europe, £4.35
elsewhere}

Enquines and orders to the author/ publisher:

[\LJ. Andrews, 39 Clayknowes Drive,
Musselburgh, Midlothian EH21 6UW,
Scotland

@ 0131-665 0236 |

| Instant Access.
to your Bird Records
: is yours with our time-saving,

Js easy-to-use computer programs

5 * maintain all your bird records
# «update your lists instantly and systematically
. ‘organise all your sightings and trip records at will
* produce your own trip reports and checklists

Bird Recorder 2 World Edition*
with World species database & additional features £85
Bird Recorder 2 Standard Edition*
is with species database for W Palearctic, as powerful £65
Bird Recorder Professional*
with additional mapping, graphical & other features £125
Please add postage: UK nil, Europe £3, rest of world £7

Specify 5''s or 32" dises
ue to WCPS

YCPS

Wildlife Computing

_ Dept D16, 6 Fiddlers Lane, East Bergholt,
Colchester CO7 6SJ , UK.
Tel/Fax +44 (0)1206 298345 / Tel 0850 658966
E-mail wildlife@cix.compulink.co.uk

SEE OUR WEB PAGE AT http:/www.compulink.co.uk/~wildlife/

Requests for Information

arene fT

REQUESTS por
INFORM

te Ng A

Raptor capture and ringing volunteers

The International Birding Center in Eilat, Israel
is conducting a migrating raptor ringing project
at Eilat from mid-February to mid-May 1997.
The study aims to understand the status and
physical condition of raptors migrating through
the area. All potential volunteers are asked to
apply as soon as possible. Volunteers are
required to help build traps and assist in
capturing raptors. Previous experience is
preferred. Accomodation and basic subsistence
are provided. Details can be obtained from Dr
Reuven Yosef, I.B.C.E., P.O. Box 774, Eilat,
Israel (fax +972 7 6367002, tel. +972 7 6374276, e-
mail shanik@BGUMAIL.BGU.AC.IL).

Important Bird Areas in Greece

The Hellenic Ornithological Society is currently
revising the Greek Important Bird Areas (IBA) list.
All visiting birders are invited to submit their
information on known or potential IBAs; data on
wintering and migrant birds in wetlands, and all
breeding observations are particularly valuable.
Birdwatchers planning to visit Greece are
welcome to contact Hellenic Ornithological
Society in advance of their trip for advice on how
they can most usefuily assist the project. All
contributions will be fully acknowledged. For
further information contact: Hellenic
Ornithological Society, Em. Benaki 53, GR-106
81, Athens, Greece. Tel./Fax. +30 1 3811271.

Desert habitats in Abu Dhabi

Ron Loughland is gathering information for a
database on the past and present state of natural
desert habitats in Abu Dhabi. The database will
enable a rapid assessment of such habitat and
assist with the future conservation and rehabili-
tation of these areas. All sources of information,
e.g. video footage, maps, photographs, personal
comments etc. are of interest. If you can help
please contact Ron Loughland, National Avian
Research Centre, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates. Tel. +971 3 747555. Fax.
+971 3 747607.

Simon Albrecht

oe OY oo yee

ATION _

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Middle East Birding
and Conservation
Organisations

Compiled by Richard Porter
& Effie Warr

There is now a wealth of ornithological
activity in the Middle East, most of it
organised on a national or local basis. This
feature is designed to serve as an introduction
for OSME members to the Middle Eastern
birding and wildlife conservation community.
Organisations and journals are presented in
alphabetical order on a country-by-country
basis. Hopefully by publicising the existence
and publications of the relevant natural
history societies it should allow anyone
resident or planning to visit a given country
to+ap into the local birding community.
Where possible the address and phone
number of the-tocal bird recorder is given.
OSME members are encouraged to submit
their bird records wherever possible to these
individuals. Updates or corrections to this list
are welcome and should be sent to Derek
Harvey, c/o OSME, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds
5G19 2DL, UK. Note: telephone and’ fax
numbers are given in international format.
The number represented by + is the interna-
tional prefix (consult directory).

BAHRAIN

BAHRAIN BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
Recorder: Howard King.
Tel: +973 742739.

BAHRAIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
P.O.Box 1858, Bahrain.

Publication: Newsletter (monthly) & Report
(Wildlife in Bahrain) (annual to irregular).
Meetings: Monthly.

NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR WILDLIFE
PROTECTION

P.O. Box 28690, Bahrain.

Secretary General: Dr Saeed Mohamed.

CYPRUS

BIRDLINE CYPRUS

Run by Major J.J. Gordon, c/o Cyprus
Ornithological Society (1957).

Tel: +357 6 652203 (24 hours).

CYPRUS ORN ITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY (1970)
4 Kanaris Street, Strovolos 154, Cyprus.
Publication: Bird Report (annual).

CYPRUS ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY (1957)
Hon Secretary: Jean Sadler, Yiangou
Souroulla 6, 6037 Larnaka, Cyprus.

Tel: +357 4651002. Fax: +357 4 651002.
Publication: Newsletter (monthly) & Report
(annual). :
Recorder: A. E. Sadler (address as secretary).
Meetings: monthly field meetings.
Information centre: at the Apollo Hotel,
Paphos.

DJIBOUTI

REVUE DE L’ISERST (a journal)

Mr Nader Abdoulkarim, Centrede — ~
Documentation d’Information, BP 486*:
Djibouti, Djibouti.

EGYPT

EGYPTIAN BIRD REPORT

c/o Sherif Baha El‘Din, 4 Ismail El Mazni St.,
Apt.8, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt.

Fax: +20 2 3457234.

EGYPTIAN WILDHIFE:‘SERVICE |. 2:
Giza Zoo, Cairo, Egypt jexes.234 pigal

Bos ET UT

IRAN

DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
P.O. Box 15875-5181, Tehran, Islamic Republic
of Iran.

IRAQ

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM,
UNIVERSITY OF BASRAH
P.O. Box 432, Basrah, Iraq.

ISRAEL

BETH GORDON
A.D. Gordon Agriculture and Nature Study
Institute, Deganya A 15-120, Israel.

ERETZ (Magazine) ISSN 0793-1514

P.O. Box 565, 53104 Givatayim, Israel.
Subscription: per year: NIS 160 or US$ 45.
Tel: +972 3571 2681. Fax: +972 3 571 4184.
Published: in association with SPNI.

INTERNATIONAL BIRDWATCHING
GEN URE EEA

P.O. Box 774, Eilat 88106, Israel
Publications: Irregular.

Richard Porter and Effie Warr

Middle East Birding and Conservation Organisations

ISRAEL BIRD RINGI
155 Herzl Street, Tel
Publication: Torgos (

Turkish ar
second |

DO
sations). | is:
BY,
ISRAEL JOURNAL O
c/o Laser Pages Publi ‘
Box 50257, Jerusalem =
Tel: +972 2 370 625. S

Published: Four issue
Subscription: $190 ing
(institutions) or $95 b

Mastercard or Euroch)

ISRAEL ORNITHOLG
155 Herzl Street, Tel A
Publication: Torgos (j
sations) twice a year.
Tel: +972 3 6826802. |

ISRAEL RAPTOR INE
Har Gilo, D.N. Zfon.¥
Publication: Torgos (\
sations) twice a year. |

KING KHALID WILDLIFE RESEARCH

CENTRE, THUMAMAH

c/o NCWCD, P.O. Box 61681, 11575 Ri
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (see below).

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

MINISTRY OF THE E
P.O. Box 34033, Jerusé

RARITIES AND DISTRIBUTION
COMMITTEE FOR ISRAELI BIRDS

c/o Hadoram Shirihai, P.O. Box 4168, Eilat
88102, Israel.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF
NATURE IN ISRAEL (SPNI)

3 Hashfela Street, 66183 Tel Aviv, Israel.

Tel: +972 3375063. Fax: +972 3 377695.
Publication: Has a section in Eretz and (with
other organisations) Torgos.

JORDAN

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WILDLIFE

ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSER-
VATION OF NATURE IN JORDAN (RSCN)
P.O.Box 6354, Amman 11183, Jordan.

Tel: + 962 6 811689. Fax: + 962 6 847411.
Publication: E! Reem (quarterly magazine).

BIRD RECORDER (temporary)

Ian J. Andrews, 39 Clayknowes Drive,
Musselburgh, Lothian EH21 6UW, U.K.
Tel: +44 131 665 0236.

KUWAIT

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COUNCIL

OF KUWAIT
General Secretary, P.O.Box 24395, Safat,
Kuwait.

BULLETIN OF THE AFRICAN BIRD CLUB

(twice yearly) ISSN 1352-481X

African Bird Club, c/o BirdLife International,

Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge

CB3 ONA, U.K.

Membership: Individual £12.
‘braries/Institutions £25.

torial: Articles published in English or

Sultanate of Oman.
Publication: Oman Bird News (twice a year).
Tel: +968 605400. Fax: +968 602735.

OMAN BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

Z & (with summary and plate/figure

=< ‘nthealternative language).

5 = Cin 1994, the Bulletin of the African

4 prum for news, views and

a A ¢ ~ birds. Of particular interest

A st fg = «=Ewill be the regular recent
ie

zi Aw SB’ ge EAST

O- ES 5 2% g 3ISSN 0939-7140

Bg, Bo BREE Eo

Soe £2 4g PR &

Axe Sx LOGY & <crgss.

Dy pe ee OA) See = SS Ratan

OS tat SO ee 6 Se at Ol" S

Om Ze BOOS WHoM-

P.O. Box 246, Muscat 113, Sultanate of Oman.

Recorder: Jens Eriksen.

OMAN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
P.O. Box 668, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Tel: +968 605400. Fax: +968 602735.

PALESTINE

CHILDREN FOR THE PROTECTION OF
NATURE (West Bank and Gaza)
P.O. Box 14076, Jerusalem 91140, Via Israel.

QATAR

OQATAR NATURAL HISTORY GROUP
c/o R. Nation, ICS Department, QGPC, P.O.
Box 3212, Doha, Qatar.

SAUDI ARABIA
FAUNA OF SAUDI ARABIA (Journal)
Subscription: Kager Libri AG, P.O.Box, CH-
4009 Basel, Switzerland.

Price: Vol.14 was 159 Swiss Francs.

Richard Porter and Effie Warr

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Middle East Birding
and Conservation
Organisations

Compiled by Richard Porter pce oe ee of
& Effie Warr

There is now a wealth of orniti CENTER
activity in the Middle Eastsaudi Arabia.

organised on a national or |!
feature is designed to serve ORY SOCIETY
for OSME members to, United Saudi
birding and wildlife cJ. Box 931113, Riyadh
Organisations and Saudi Arabia.
alphabetical orchly.
basis. Hopetv’
and publiABIAN NATURAL HISTORY
history 1
residene Bursar, The Continental School, P.O.
to-k 6453, Jeddah 21442, Kingdom of Saudi
\Arabia.
Publication: Journal of the Saudi Arabian
Natural History Society.

THE TRAVELLING NATURALISTS OF AL-
KHOBAR

Secretary: (Carlos Maeztu), ARAMCO Box
5971, Dhahran 31311, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.

Publication: Newsletter (monthly).

WILDLIFE SANCTUARY FOR THE GULF
REGION

P.O. Box 11071, Jubail 31961, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia.

TURKEY

DOGAL HAYATI KORUMA DERNEGI
(DHKD, the Society for the Protection of
Nature)

P.K.18, Bebek 80810, Istanbul, Turkey.

Tek +90 212 279 01 39/40: Fax: +90-212 279
55 44.

Publication: Kelaynaktan Haberler (a
newsletter, six per year).

TURKISH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

ISSN 1300-0179

Published: (for Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknik
Arastirma Kurumu) by the Scientific and
Technical Research Council of Turkey,
Ankara, Turkey.

Tel: +90 312 468 5300. Fax: +90 312 427 1336.
Editorial: Quarterly journal published in

-.d English (with abstracts in the
CYPRUSanguage). .
4 Kancription: Tubitak, P.O.Box 5, Kizilay
Puk20, Ankara, Turkey.
“rice: $100 per year.
Contains some bird material.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

DUBAI NATURAL HISTORY GROUP
P.O.Box 9234, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Publication: Gazelle (newsletter).

Meetings: Monthly. Also field trips.
Annual photographic competition.

EMIRATES BIRD GROUP & EMIRATES
BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

Bird recorder: Colin Richardson, P.O. Box
50394, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Tel: +971 4313378. Fax: +971 4 31378.
Publication: Emirates Bird Report (annual).

EMIRATES NATURAL HISTORY GROUP
(ABU DHABI)

P.O. Box 791, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Publications: Tribulus (twice a year) & Bulletin.

EMIRATES NATURAL HISTORY GROUP
(AL AIN)

P.O. Box 18057, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates.

Publication: newsletter (monthly).

FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY
P.O. Box 5951, Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates.

NATIONAL AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER
P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates.

Tel: +971 2319317. Fax: +971 2 349154.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

(Near Al Dhaid, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates).

Tel: +971 6311411

YEMEN

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ECORINEGHE
P.O. Box 19719, Sana’a, Republic of Yemen.

YEMEN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
c/o David Stanton (Secretary), P©Box2002

Sana’a, Republic of Yemen. Fax: +967 1 234438.

Publication: Newsletter (monthly).
Meetings: Monthly.

Richard Porter and Effie Warr

GENERAL

ARAB GULF JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH ISSN 1015-4442.

Published: since 1983 by the Arab Bureau of

Education for the Gulf States, Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia.
Bird content minimal.

ARABIAN WILDLIFE (MAGAZINE)

(twice yearly)

Subscriptions: Planet Publishing Ltd., 20
Berkeley Street, London W1X 5AE, UK.

Tel: +44 171 491 1799. Fax: +44 171 493 5524.
Price: £2.50 per issue.

Published in conjunction with the National
Commission for Wildlife Conservation and
Development (NCWCD) - see Saudi Arabia.

ATLAS OF THE BREEDING BIRDS

OF ARABIA (ABBA)

M.C. Jennings, 1 Warners Farm, Warners
Drove, Somersham, Cambridgeshire, PE17
SEIW -- U.K:

Tel: +44 1487 841733. Fax: +44 1487 841733.
Publication: The Phoenix (annual)

ISSN 0268-487X.

Advertising in

If you wish to advertise in future
issues, please contact:

_Andrew Grieve,

Hillcrest, Whitgift, near Goole,
North Humberside DN14 8HL UK -
Tel: 01405 704294
Fax: 01405 704665

Middle East Birding and Conservation Organisations

BULLETIN OF THE AFRICAN BIRD:CLUB
(twice yearly) ISSN 1352-481X

African Bird Club, c/o BirdLife International,
Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge
CB3 ONA, U.K.

Membership: Individual £12.

Libraries /Institutions £25.

Editorial: Articles published in English or
French (with summary and plate/figure
captions in the alternative language).
Established in 1994, the Bulletin of the African
Bird Club is a forum for news, views and
studies of African birds. Of particular interest
to OSME members will be the regular recent
bird reports from Egypt.

ZOOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

(Annual or twice yearly journal) ISSN 0939-7140
Max Kasparek Verlag, Bleichstr.1, 69120
Heidelberg, Germany. .

Tel: +49 6221 475069 Fax: +49 6221 471858.
Subscription: DM27 (c£11) per volume.
Editorial: Articles published in both English
and German (with summaries in the
alternative language).

BIMONTHLY
JOURNAL

ON FIELD
ORNITHOLOGY

Excellent papers on identification, distribu-
tion, occurrence, movements and behaviour
of Palearctic birds

Regular contributions on Asian-Pacific birds

Latest news on rare and interesting birds in
the Netherlands and the Western Palearctic

Well produced with numerous high quality
colour photographs

Yearly report on rare birds in the Netherlands

In English or with extensive English summaries

For information or a tree sample issue, write t
Dutch Birding Association, Postbus 756
1070 AP Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Richard Porter and Effie Warr

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Observations on breeding Ruppell’s Weaver
Ploceus galbula in the Republic of Yemen

DR M. M. AL-SAFADI

uppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula is a common breeding resident in south-west
rabia (with escapes recorded breeding in Riyadh and noted in Dubai, UAE,
Jennings 1995), and north-east Africa in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan
(Mackworth-Praed & Grant 1960, Archer & Godman 1961). It is widely distributed
through most of Yemen’s habitats, except those bordering the Rub Al-Khali desert,
principally below 1500 metres and most commonly in the Tihama from Harad south
to Bab Al-Mandab and east to Mukallah (see map 1). Flocks of up to 60 are frequently

encountered in and around the cultivated areas of the Tihama.

FOOD

It feeds principally on grain and seeds,
causing damage to cereal crops such as millet,
sorghum, maize, wheat and sesame. The
birds settle on the heads of millet and
sorghum picking off the seeds, or perch on
the ripe maize cobs, tearing off the husk from
the top to feed on the kernels.

PREDATORS

By placing its nest at the end of thin branches,
Ruppell’s Weaver escapes most predators
except man. Village boys certainly try to
destroy the nests of this species. A snake
Psammophis schokari observed climbing an
acacia tree in pursuit of a chamelion
Chamaeleo calyptratus made no attempt to
investigate the weavers’ nests. It is unknown
if the species has any avian predators in
Yemen.

BREEDING SEASON

The species’ breeding season is largely
influenced by the availability of food, which
is associated with the onset of the rains.
Rainfall in the highlands is usually from late
February to mid-May and again between July
and September, but has been recorded in all
months. On the Tihama there is some rainfall
from October to December.

Egg-laying in Yemen is mainly between
March and August, although it can occur in
any month when rain falls. Barnes (1893)
reported eggs in February, April, June, July,
October and December, whilst Meinertzhagen
(1954) stated that eggs could be found during
every month, but usually between mid-March

and late May. Mackworth-Praed & Grant
(1960) recorded breeding in several different
areas in north-east Africa and southern
Arabia from January to August, Archer &
Godman (1961) mention breeding and egg-
laying in April, May and November, and
Gallagher & Woodcock (1980) confirm the
occurrence of nests from March to September.
Jennings (1995) notes eggs in almost every
month of the year.

NEST BUILDING

The males commence nest building prior to
pair formation, mainly during, but
occasionally outside, the breeding season.
Nests are placed on trees, each nest
suspended from the end (or near the end) of a
branch or twig. Nesting trees include the
thorn Ziziphus spina-christi, the acacias Acacia
ehrenbergiana, A. tortillis and A. oerfota,
balanites Balanites aegyptiaca, tamarind
Tamarindus indica, guava Psidium guayava,
henna Lawsonia inermis, fig Ficus sycomorus,
citrus, banana and palms.

The nest is placed 2-6 metres above the
ground and constructed entirely of fresh
green bent-grasses e.g. Setaria verticillata, Poa
annua and Eragrostis sp. which are intricately
woven. The use of dried plant material for
nest building reported by Meinertzhagen
(1954) was not observed in this study. The
nest is penduline and retort-shaped with a
side entrance which is sometimes elongated
and tubular.

The nest is lined with cotton down, small
feathers and soft leaves, principally at the
base. It is 15 cm in length and 10 cm wide,

Dr M. M. Al-Safadi

Observations on breeding Riippell’s Weaver in the Republic of Yemen

Plate 1. Ruppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula, Yemen (S. Kennedy)

and constructed almost solely by the male.
Occasionally the female shares nest building,
but the male typically rebuilds her work.

To start the nest, the male brings a fresh green
bent-grass stem (20-30 cm long) and fixes it
firmly at or near the end of a twig by twisting
it round. He repeats this with 8-10 stems to
form an initial loop. The frame of the nest is a
circle, c. 7 cm in diameter, consisting of 15
green grass stems. The bird pushes one end of
each stem into the initial loop, twists it into a
circle and then twists the other end back onto
_ the initial loop.

At this stage the side where the circle is
attached to the initial loop will be at the rear
of the nest; the opposite side will act as the
entrance. The circle is located about a third of
_the way up the nest, so the upper and lower

parts are constructed by fixing new stems to
the existing structure. This work continues for
approximately three successive days.
Sometimes the male will construct a new nest
on the same site before completing the first
one, and may construct up to four nests in a
breeding season, although only one will be
occupied. Barnes (1893) reported that females
will occasionally use old nests but no
evidence of this was found during this study.

Ruppell’s Weavers typically nest colonially in
large trees but will occasionally nest singly or
with one other pair. The number of nests in a
colony ranges from four to at least 50
depending on tree size. Weaver colonies in
acacia trees are sometimes asociated with
House Sparrow Passer domesticus and Arabian
Golden Sparrow P. euchlorus nests.

COURTSHIP AND PAIR FORMATION

At the start of the breeding season, males
select potential nest sites. Usually the males
establish a songpost, fly off a few metres,
bring back nest material and busy themselves
weaving a nest. Occasionally violent disputes
ensue when one male trespasses on another’s
territory. The males flutter their wings and
strike with their bills, mainly at their rival’s
head, until the intruder leaves. In many cases
the defending male will chase the interloper
for a few metres before returning to his nest
to call and sing. Males preen vigorously, call
loudly, fly a few metres and return to their
nest in order to attract the attention of
females. Often, when a female perches near
the nest site, the male will burst into full song,
hopping and shivering his wings. The female
soon solicits the male by fluttering her wings.

Table 1. Mean dimensions and weights of Ruppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula eggs from the Yemen.

Colour. Pink
‘Sample size | 5
‘Max. diameter(mm) 23.6 x 14.1
Min. diameter(mm) 22.5 x 13.8
Mean (mm) 23.0 x 14.0
Mean weight(g) 21.6

White Brown Green
10 10 50
23.5x15.0 , 22.2 x 14.0 21.5x14.5
22.2x 14.1 21.5x 13.5 19.3 x 13.5
22.6 x 14.4 21.6x 13.8 20.6 x 13.9
21.8 21.4 Pe Ou

The dimensions of the green eggs in this study are almost identical to those recorded by Archer & Godman (1961)

= max. 21.0 x 14.5, min.19.0 x 13.5, mean 20.0 x 13.8.

Dr M. M. Al-Safadi

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

EGGS AND EGG-LAYING

Over 200 occupied Ruppell’s Weavers’ nests
were examined in Yemen between January
1989 and June 1993. Egg-laying occurred in all
months but mainly from February-August.
The clutch is usually two, sometimes three
and rarely one or four eggs. Barnes (1893),
Archer & Godman (1961), and Gallagher &
Woodcock (1980) report the usual clutch size
as three and occasionally two to four eggs,
whilst Meinertzhagen (1954) and Mackworth-
Praed & Grant (1960) record the number of
eggs as two to four. It is possible that rainfall
during previous decades was higher than
recently, creating sufficient food resources to
permit larger clutches.

The egg is oval and varies in colour. Pinkish,
white, green and blue eggs have been
recorded (Meinertzhagen 1954, Archer &
Godman 1960, Mackworth-Praed & Grant
1960, Gallagher & Woodcock 1980). In the
present study brown eggs were found but
none were blue.

INCUBATION

The female: alone incubates the eges
commencing after the first egg is laid. The
male perches near the nest, calling loudly,
hopping from branch to branch and guarding
the nest from intruders. The male makes short
feeding forays of 2-3 minutes. The female
leaves the nest to feed 3-4 times daily, for 4-10
minutes on each occasion. The incubation
period is 14-15 days. Immediately after
hatching, the female removes the egg shells. In
a small number of instances one of the eggs
fails to hatch (about one in 40-50 nests). This is
not removed and remains in the nest.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG

During February-March 1993, detailed
observations were made on three nests, each
with two young, in thorn trees at Wadi
Surdud on the Tihama.

The growth period of the young can be
considered in two stages. For the first six days
growth is very rapid, varying from 10-85%
per day (note the larger increase on day 4

Plate 2. Ruppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula nests, west of Ta’izz, north Yemen (R. F. Porter)

Dr M. M. Al-Safadi

Observations on breeding Riippell’s Weaver in the Republic of Yemen

Figure 1. Distribution and relative abundance of Ruppell’s Weaver Ploceus galbula in Arabia

AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHI |
ABABABABABABABABAB.
A ee ee

when for the first time both parents fed the
young). From day 7-17 the growth rate
decreases to 2-5% per day.

Day 1: on hatching the chicks are blind, naked and
weigh 3 g. The skin colour ranges from reddish to
orange with a few scattered yellowish-white
down feathers on the head and mantle. The gape
is yellowish-white. They are able to raise their
heads and open their mouths widely to encourage
feeding. During the first three days the chicks are
fed at intervals throughout the day by the male,
by regurgitating food directly into the chick’s
throat. Usually the female spends most of the first
three days brooding the chicks.

Day 2: the chicks are still blind and unable to
change their position in the nest. They have large
abdomens and weigh 5 g. The first black feathers
appear on the wings.

Day 3: the chicks open their eyes but are still
unable to move in the nest. The black wing
feathers are larger, and the first sign of black
feathering is visible on the head, mantle and tail.
The rest of the body is naked with some
yellowish-white down still present. The chicks
call continuously to be fed. Weight c. 6.5 g.

Day 4: the female begins to leave the nest for long
periods and takes a large share in feeding the
young. The black feathers on the wings, head,
mantle and tail are longer and denser. The bare
skin on the abdomen and flanks is still reddish
orange but most of the down has disappeared.
The young are able to extend their necks and call
loudly but unable to stand. On approaching the
nest, the young crouch low and grab the nest with
their claws. Weight c. 13.5 g.

Day 5: the chick’s appearance is much as on day 4,
but the black feathers are longer and denser.
Weight c. 16 g.

Day 6-9: black feathers begin to emerge on the
thighs. Weight c. 18-19 g.

Day 10: the body is covered with greenish-yellow
feathers except on the inner thigh. The chicks try
to balance on their tarsi and are quite capable of
moving around the nest. Weight c. 20-21 g.

Day 12: the young are almost completely feathered
with greenish-yellow plumage. The yellow is
most distinct on the throat, thorax and inner
margins of the wing feathers. Weight c. 21-22 g.

Day 15-17: the young acquire full juvenile
plumage. The weight on fledging ranges between
23-25 g.

Dr M. M. Al-Safadi

Ny,

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Plate 3. Riippell’ Ss Weaver Beeate Fane Oman iH. 8 J Eriksen)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My sincere thanks are due to D.J. Brooks for commenting on the manuscript and providing relevant
literature.

REFERENCES

ARCHER, G. AND GODMAN, E. M. (1961) The birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden Vol.4. Oliver & —
Boyd, Edinburgh. :

BARNES, H. E. (1893) On the birds of Aden. Ibis Garis 6) 5: 57-84, 165-181.

GALLAGHER, M. AND Woopcock, M.W. (1980) The birds of Oman. Quartet Books, London.

JENNINGS, M. C. (1995) An interim atlas of the breeding birds of Arabia. N.C.W.C.D. Riyadh.

MACKWORTH-PRAED, C. W. AND GRANT, C. H. B. (1960) The birds of eastern and north-eastern Africa Vol.2.
Longman, London.

MEINERTZHAGEN, R. ees Birds of Arabia. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.

Dr M. M. Al-Safadi, Biology Bbuannene Sana’a University, P.O. Box 13499, Sana‘a, Republic of
Yemen.

18 | Dr M. M. Al-Safadi

The birds of Barr Al Hikman, Sultanate of Oman

The birds of Barr Al Hikman,
Sultanate of Oman

JENS ERIKSEN

Bo" Al Hikman, a peninsula approximately 30 x 30 km, on the east coast of Oman
is 350 km due south of the capital Muscat. Until a decade ago fewer than 10
birders had visited the area. The importance of Barr Al Hikman for waders and other
birds was recognised in the early 1970s by Ralph Daly, and the mudflats were
described as ‘the most important wintering place for shore-birds in Oman’ (Gallagher
& Woodcock 1980). Since the mid-1980s Barr Al Hikman has been visited annually,
notably during the mid-winter Asian Waterfowl Censuses. For three weeks in winter
1989-90, a West Asian Shorebird Survey was performed by a four-man team (Green et
al. 1992). It is now clear that Barr Al Hikman is of major ornithological importance
during migration and winter for the huge numbers of shorebirds, gulls and terns
which congregate there. Over 1000 Great Knots Calidris tenuirostris, 5000 Broad-billed
Sandpipers Limicola falcinellus and 3 Slender-billed Curlews Numenius tenutrostris are
examples of recent discoveries and the area undoubtedly holds yet more ornitho-

logical secrets.

DESCRIPTION

Barr Al Hikman is an area of low gravel
planes, sabkha (a mixture of sand, salt
and mud) and sand surrounded by
extensive tidal mudflats. To the north is
the village of Hayy and beyond, the vast
Wahiba Sands. The important bird areas
begin in the north-east at the seasonal
fishing village of Nuqdah and the
mudflats stretch for 40 km through
Khawr Barr Al Hikman and south along
Masirah Channel, including the island of
Ma’awil. The south coast largely consists
of sandy beaches, but two lagoons, both
known as Khawr Al Milh, are important
for birds. The bay of Ghubbat Hashish,
on the west coast has further large mud-
flats and two islands, Mahawt and Abb.
The former has mangroves while the
more remote Abb is an important
breeding site for gulls and terns. The
tidal mudflats cover at least 120 km’.
Except for small fishing villages at
Nuqdah, Shannah, Filim and on Mahawt
Island, Barr Al Hikman is uninhabited.

ACCESS as ae

Access to many of the important birding
areas on Barr Al Hikman is not straight-
forward. At present there are no legal

restrictions, but the remoteness of the
area and lack of roads make it difficult to
reach several key places. A 4-WD is
essential. From Muscat there are
excellent paved roads as far as Sanaw.
From here the journey is on a very rough
graded road south towards Duqm along
the west side of the Wahiba Sands. After
195 km there is an obvious turn to Hayy
which lies 18 km from the Sanaw - Duqm
road. From Hayy the graded road
continues for 57 km to Nuqdah. Another
graded road leads south from Hayy for
20 km to Filim continuing west and
eventually joins up with the Sanaw -
Duqm road. An elevated track leads
through the sabkha from the Hayy -
Nuqdah road 43 km from Hayy. It is
signposted Shannah and ends after 12
km at the coast where several ferries take
vehicles and passengers to and from
Masirah Island. The roads shown on the
accompanying map should be passable
at all times and provide access to some
good birding areas. There are several
other tracks made by local fishermen that
can be investigated, but great caution
must be exercised.

From Filim it is possible to cover parts of
the mudflats in Ghubbat Hashish. A

J. Eriksen

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

_.toSanaw’
& Muscat —s

GHUBBAT
HASHISH
Khawr Al Milh

particularly good vantage point is a
rocky outcrop about 5 km west of Filim.
If the sabkha looks dry and the track
seems well used, a 4-WD can be used.
Otherwise walk! At low tide it is possible
to walk to Mahawt Island, although the
mud is knee-deep at the mangrove end
of the island. Keep to the walkway used
by the locals. At high tide it may be
possible to hire a fishing boat at Filim.

At Shannah a track leads south along the
high tide line for a few kilometres. Along
this track birds can be seen at high tide
roosts. At low tide one can walk to
Ma’awil, but beware of the unpredictable
tides. Although there should be two low
tides during a 24-25 hour period, these
can vary by as much as two metres in
water level.

There is no accommodation available at
or near Barr Al Hikman so camping (well
above the tideline!) is necessary. In this
flat area a 10 cm rise in water level can
result in several kilometres of land being

inundated. Some have found themselves
on a small sand hill in the morning with
no land visible in any direction! All
supplies must be brought, although
some very basic items may be obtained
in Hayy. Petrol is available 125 km south
of Sanaw and at Hayy. Water is
obtainable free of charge from the desali-
nation plant in Filim.

ORNITHOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

A total of 140 species of birds has been
recorded at Barr Al Hikman; only a few
are known to breed. It is during passage
and winter that the area is of special
importance. Some measure of this
importance on a local, regional and
continental scale can be calculated from
the annual winter Asian Waterfowl
Census results. Barr Al Hikman was
visited during the five counts in 1989 -
1993. Although such an area is very
difficult to cover in detail, the results
give some indication of its importance.
During the 1990 count, the area was
covered in the West Asian Shorebird

J. Eriksen

The birds of Barr Al Hikman, Sultanate of Oman

Plate 1. Coastline, Barr Al Hikman, Oman (H. & J. Eriksen)
Plate 2. Khawr Milh, Barr Al Hikman, Oman (H. & J. Eriksen)

Survey (Green et al. 1992). The data
obtained in this extensive three-week
survey agreed closely with those from
other winter counts indicating that the
data are reasonably reliable. Table 1
presents the average counts for 33
species for which Barr Al Hikman is
considered to be most important. These
data are also expressed as percentages of
average totals for Oman, south-west Asia
(principally Iran and the Arabian
peninsula) as well as for all of Asia. It is
clear that for many species Barr Al
Hikman is by far the most important
wintering area, not only in Oman, but for
south-west Asia as well. For several
species (Oystercatcher Haematopus
ostralegus, Crab Plover Dromas ardeola,
Great Knot, Sanderling Calidris alba,
Dunlin C. alpina, Broad-billed Sandpiper,
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica,
Turnstone Arenaria interpres, Sooty Gull
Larus hemprichii, Slender-billed Gull L.
genet and Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvti-
censis) Barr Al Hikman may hold up to a
third of the entire Asian wintering
population and for Bar-tailed Godwit,
Slender-billed Gull and Sandwich Tern
numbers approach a staggering two-
thirds. If one included the west coast of
Masirah Island, just across the Masirah

Channel, the totals would be even more
impressive. Of course, there is much
uncertainty in this type of calculation,
but the area is undoubtedly of critical
importance to many wintering waterbirds.

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

The following list provides status details
of all species recorded at Barr Al
Hikman. Species recorded once are
regarded as vagrants if they have been
recorded on fewer than 10 occasions in
Oman, but rare if recorded regularly
elsewhere in the country. Abbreviations
used are as follows: N, S, E, W indicate
north, south, east and west, whilst pm =
passage migrant and wv = winter visitor.
All records have been approved by the
Oman Bird Records Committee.

J. Eriksen

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Vagrant: one at Ma’awil 4 Nov 1974 (the first
record in Oman).

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
Rare: one near Ras Shajrit at the SW corner of
Barr Al Hikman 28 Nov 1995 is the only

record.

Red-billed Tropicbird Phaeton aethereus
Rare: one flew north at Nuqdah 27 Dec 1989.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Common wv. Roosts at Khawr Barr Al
Hikman.

Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis
Uncommon, but one huge flock estimated at
15,000 in Ghubbat Hashish 3 Jan 1992.

Striated Heron Butorides striatus

Rare: two at Filim 5 Sep 1987 may indicate
breeding in the mangroves or at Mahawt
Island.

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Rare: five at Ma’awil on 4 Nov 1974.

Squacco/Indian Pond Heron Ardeola
ralloides/grayii Rare: seven in Ghubbat
Hashish 3-12 Jan 1990.

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis

Abundant wv to all coasts. Both phases occur,
with the dark form usually commoner.
Maximum was 1023 on E coast 23 Dec 1989-2
Jan 1990. Breeds on Abb Island where c. 79
nests found (Jensen & Salm 1991).

Plate 3. Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, Barr Al Hikman,
Oman (H. & J. Eriksen)

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Uncommon wv. Difficult to separate from
white phase of more common Western Reef
Heron.

Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
Vagrant: one at Khawr Al Milh 8 Jan 1989 (the
seventh record in Oman).

Great White Egret E gretta alba
Common pm and wv, especially in Ghubbat
Hashish.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea .
Abundant and widespread pm and wv.

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Rare: one in Ghubbat Hashish 3-12 Jan 1990.

Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
Vagrant: one at Ma’awil 29 Jul 1979 was the
first record in Oman.

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Common pm and wv. Roosts at Khawr Barr
Al Hikman and Ghubbat Hashish.

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Abundant and widespread pm and wv. Three
ringed birds, found dead, originated in Iran.

Wigeon Anas penelope
Rare: three on E coast 30 Nov 1995 is the only
record from the coast.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Rare: one at Ma’awil 4 Nov 1974.

Pintail Anas acuta
Rare: one near Nuqdah 24 Oct 1989 is the only
coastal record.

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
Vagrant: an unconfirmed sighting 13 Oct 1985.

Black Kite Milvus migrans
Rare: one on E coast 28 Nov 1991.

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
Rare: two at Filim 9 Jan 1989.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

Common pm and wv in small numbers along
all coasts. Females/immatures outnumber
adult males by at least 10:1.

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
Uncommon pm and wv. Several records of

adult males.

Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus
Rare: singles along E coast.

J. Eriksen

eee
~

The birds of Barr Al Hikman, Sultanate of Oman

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus
Rare pm: one at Khawr Al Milh 23-26 Mar
1993;

Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
Rare: adult on E coast 31 Dec 1989.

Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
Rare: adult at Filim 9 Jan 1989.

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
Rare: three singles at E, S and W coasts.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Common and widespread wv especially at
coastal lagoons.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Uncommon pm in Oct-Nov and Mar.

Hobby Falco subbuteo
Rare pm: male at Nuqdah 23 Sep 1995.

Sooty Falcon Falco concolor
Rare pm: one at Ras Shajrit 29 Nov 1995.

Saker Falcon Falco cherrug
Rare wv: one at Filim 9 Jan 1989.

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Regular wv in small numbers in Nov-Mar. An
apparently territorial pair on cliffs at Filim 4-
~ 10 Jan 1990 may indicate breeding.

Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides
Rare: one at Khawr Al Milh 31 May 1995.

Quail Coturnix coturnix
Rare pm: one near Khawr Al Milh 25 Oct 1989.

Coot Fulica atra
Rare: one at Ma’awil 4 Nov 1979 is the only
coastal record.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Abundant and widespread pm and wv. The
annual mid-winter waterfowl censuses 1989-
1993 suggest that Barr Al Hikman is perhaps
the most important wintering area for this
species in all of Asia, see Table 1. Most
numerous on E coast.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Uncommon pm and wv, usually near Filim.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Uncommon wv Dec-Jan especially in Ghubbat

Hashish near Filim where 64 counted 9 Jan
1989 and 46 3-13 Jan 1990. Only one record, of
two, from E coast.

Crab Plover Dromas ardeola

Abundant wv, small numbers summer. Barr
Al Hikman and W side of Masirah Island
form a core wintering area for this species, see
Table 1. Some birds may breed on nearby
Shaghaf Island off the W coast of Masirah.

Vig a ae IAA Pt

Plate 4. Crab Plover Dromas ardeola, Barr Al Hikman, Oman
(H. & J. Eriksen)

Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor
Rare pm: three at Khawr Al Milh 23-26 Mar
1993.

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Rare: one at Ma’awil 4 Nov 1974 is the only
coastal record, where the habitat does not suit
this species.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Regular and widespread pm and wv
especially along E coast.

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Abundant pm and wv especially along E
coast, where also a breeding resident.

Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus
Abundant and widespread pm and wv.

Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaulti
Abundant and widespread pm and wv, but
much less numerous than previous species.

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
Uncommon pm and wv in irregular numbers.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Abundant and widespread pm and wv from
late Jul to late May.

J. Eriksen

bo
(Se)

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris

Regular pm and wv. First discovered at Barr
al Hikman in Jan 1989 this species is now
known to winter in numbers exceeding 1000.
It associates with Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa
lapponica at high tide roosts where it can be
quite difficult to separate the two species.
Results from Asian Waterfowl Censuses
indicate that Barr Al Hikman is the species’
main wintering area in Arabia (see Table 1).
These birds may originate from a different
breeding population to those in north-
eastern Siberia which largely winter in
north-west Australia.

Sanderling Calidris alba

Abundant pm and wv late Jul to late May,
especially along E coast. Barr Al Hikman may
hold a large proportion of the entire Asian
wintering population (see Table 1).

Little Stint Calidris minuta
Abundant and widespread pm and wv.
Records from early Aug to late May.

Temminck’s Stint Calidris temmincki
Rare: one near Ras Al Shajrit 21 Feb 1996.

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Abundant pm and wv from late Jul to late
May. Not easy to separate from next species
in non-breeding plumage.

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Abundant pm and wv and with Bar-tailed
Godwit the most numerous wader. Recorded
from early Sep to early Jun. Estimates of up to
50,000 make Barr Al Hikman one of the most
important wintering areas in all of Asia for
this species.

Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus
Common pm and wv especially in the
muddiest areas of Ghubbat Hashish where a
flock of 5000 was recorded 3 Jan 1992.
Recorded from mid-Aug to mid-Mar. Barr Al
Hikman is a major wintering area for the
species (see Table 1).

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Rare spring pm: one at Khawr Al Milh 23-26
Mar 1993.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Rare pm: recorded only from Khawr Al Milh
20 Nov 1987 and 23-26 Mar 1993.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
Abundant pm and wv. Asian waterfowl
counts indicate that Barr Al Hikman may be
the most important wintering area in Asia for
this species. Most are of the nominate race but
the larger eastern race, L. |. baueri, has also
been recorded.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Common autumn pm and wv, rare in spring.

Slender-billed Curlew Numentius tenutrostris
Vagrant: one at Abb Island 5 Jan 1990, one at
Filim 6 Jan 1990 and one at the SW corner on
8 Jan 1990 are the second to fourth records in
Oman of this globally threatened species.
These records hint at the surprises Barr Al
Hikman may hold and are perhaps linked to
recent winter records of up to 50 on the
Iranian Gulf coast.

Curlew Numenius arquata

Abundant and widespread pm and wv late
Jul to late May. Much more common than
Whimbrel.

Redshank Tringa totanus

Abundant pm and wv late Jul to late May,
especially on E coast. Barr Al Hikman is an
important wintering area for this species (see
Table 1).

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Uncommon autumn pm and wv. Records
from early Oct to late Jan.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Abundant pm and wv, but much less
numerous than Redshank, especially in

spring.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Rare: one at Khawr AI Milh 20 Nov 1987.

Plate 5. Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus, Barr Al Hikman, Oman
(H. & J. Eriksen)

J. Eriksen

The birds of Barr Al Hikman, Sultanate of Oman

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus

Very common pm and wv. Probably most
numerous during autumn (500 on 5 Sep 1987)
but few visits at this season.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Regular pm and wv in small numbers. Most
records are from Filim and Khawr Al] Milh.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Abundant pm and wv from late Jul to early
May. Barr Al Hikman is an important
wintering area for this species (see Table 1).

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Rare pm: 30 on E coast 21 May 1992 and one
at Khawr Al Milh 31 Aug 1995.

Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus
Rare wv: records from late Dec to early Feb.

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
Uncommon pm and wv; more frequent than
previous species.

Great skua sp Catharacta sp. .
Skull of one long dead at Khawr Al Milh 20
Nov 1987.

Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii

Abundant pm and wv. Breeds on Abb Island
where 75-100 nests found (Jensen & Salm
1991). A very large colony of at least 10,000
pairs breed at Shaghaf Island off the west
coast of Masirah Jul-Oct.

Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus
Common wv late Dec to late Mar, rare at other
times. One ringed as juv in north Caspian Sea
was recovered at Mahawt 21 Jan 1990.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Irregular wv in varying numbers mid-Dec to
late Mar. Only two recorded during the West
Asian Shorebird Survey (Green ef al. 1992).

Slender-billed Gull Larus genei

Abundant pm and wv early Sep to early Jun,
especially along SE and S coasts. Barr Al
Hikman may hold more than half of the total
Asian wintering population (see Table 1).

Yellow-legged Gull group Larus cachinnans,
fuscus

Abundant pm and wv. Due to unresolved
taxonomic difficulties, the group has been
lumped together here. Probably 90% are

Yellow-legged Gulls (L. cachinnans), but very
dark L.f.fuscus are also encountered. A
wintering population of at least 100,000 birds
estimated.

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Regular pm and wv, in small numbers, but 69
at Ghubbat Hashish 3-12 Jan 1990.

Caspian Tern Sterna caspia

Common pm and wv. Records from late Jul to
early Jun. A total of 1208 in Ghubbat Hashish
3-12 Jan 1990.

Swift Tern Sterna bergii

Common to abundant pm and wv, recorded
early Sep to early Jun. Largest flock 3000 on E
coast 11 Apr 1975.

Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis
Regular pm and wv but much less common
than previous species.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Common to abundant pm and wv. A winter
population of 45,000 in 1991 appears an
overestimate, but it is undoubted that the area
is very important for this species (see Table 1).

Roseate Tern Sterna dougalli

Rare summer visitor. A breeding colony of c.
10 nests recorded on Abb (Jensen & Salm
1991). Three on E coast 31 Aug 1995.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Uncommon or irregular pm and, rarely, wv.
Difficult to separate in non-breeding plumage
from following species.

White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa
Uncommon pm and rare wv. A colony of 20-
30 nests on Abb Island (Jensen & Salm 1991)
and a flock of 500 on E coast 11 Apr 1995.

Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus

Rarely recorded from land. A breeding colony
on Abb Island held an estimated 1500-2500
nests (Jensen & Salm 1991). A colony on
Shaghaf Island off the west coast of Masirah
holds at least 10,000 pairs in summer.

Saunders’ Tern Sterna saunders

Common pm and wv. Also breeds in loose
colonies on E coast and perhaps elsewhere in
spring and early summer. During migration
the similar Little Tern S. albifrons may occur,
but confirmation required.

J. Eriksen

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

Rare early spring and late autumn pm. A
flock of 60 over mudflats on 13 Feb 1987 is
noteworthy.

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Rare wv: two on E coast late Dec 1989.

Common Noddy Anous stolidus
Rare: a pair nesting on Abb Island is the only
record (Jensen & Salm 1991).

Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus
Rare: 12 ina flock 27 Nov 1991.

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus
Rare: two 23 Feb 1985 and 30 at Filim 3 Jan
1992 are the only records.

Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
Resident at Filim in small numbers.

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Rare autumn pm: one at Filim 5 Sep 1987.

European Scops Owl Otus scops
Rare autumn pm: one at Khawr AI Milh 14
Oct 1993:

Eagle Owl Bubo bubo
Rare wv: one 7 Jan 1975 is the only record.

Little Owl Athene noctua
Rare: one calling at Filim 6 Jan 1990.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Rare: one 12 Dec 1989 and one dead on rocks
5 km W of Filim 6 Jan 1990.

Common Swift Apus apus

Rare spring pm: two at Khawr Al Milh 23-26
Mar 1993. A record of five swifts during 30
May-5 Jun 1986 may also relate to this species.

Pallid Swift Apus pallidus
Rare: three at Filim 7 Jan 1989.

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Uncommon wv in the mangroves. Recorded
early Nov to mid-Jan.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
Rare pm: heard near Filim 2 Nov 1979 and
two at Khawr Al Milh 23-26 Mar 1993.

European Roller Coracias garrulus
Uncommon pm. Recorded Apr, May, Aug

and Oct. -

Hoopoe Upupa epops
Rare autumn pm: one E coast 6 Sep 1990 and
one at Khawr Al Milh 14 Oct 1993.

Black-crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps
Probably a breeding resident near Filim with
seasonal movements. Perhaps also an
uncommon pm and wv.

Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti
Rare: two in hills near Filim 2 Nov 1979.

Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes

Probably a resident breeder with seasonal
movements in coastal dunes and near Filim.
A total of 60 estimated near Khawr Al Milh
23-26 Mar 1993. 3

Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata
Rare autumn pm: one near Nuqdah 24 Oct
1989 is the only record.

Crested Lark Galerida cristata

Probably a regular resident breeder with
seasonal movements and possibly wv in small
numbers.

Sand Martin Kiparia riparia
Uncommon pm in Mar and late Sep-late Dec.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Regular pm in small numbers late Jul to late
Dec and late Jan to early May.

Richard’s Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
Rare autumn pm: one at Nuqdah 24 Oct 1989.

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
Uncommon wv in very small numbers
between early Nov-early Jan.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
Rare: two at Ma’awil 4 Nov 1974.

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
Rare: two in coastal scrub near Khawr Barr Al
Hikman 2 Nov 1979.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Uncommon pm: recorded early Sep to mid-Dec.

White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Regular wv in small numbers. Recorded mid-
Oct to late Mar.

J. Eriksen

The birds of Barr Al Hikman, Sultanate of Oman

Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes
Rare autumn pm: one on E coast near
Shannah 6 Sep 1990 is the the only record.

Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
Rare pm: one on S coast 25 Oct 1989 and one
at Khawr Al Milh 23-26 Mar 1993.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Rare wv: male on rocky outcrop 5 km W of
Filim 2 Jan 1990.

Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka
Rare: one at Ma’awil 4 Nov 1974.

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti

Common and widespread wv on coastal
dunes and near Filim. Recorded early Sep to
late Mar.

Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna
Rare wv, recorded mid-Nov to early Jan.

Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus
stentoreus

Rare wv to mangroves at Filim, recorded
mid-Dec to early Jan.

Desert Warbler Sylvia nana
Uncommon wv, recorded early Nov to late
Dec. Often seen with Desert Wheatears.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis
Rare pm: recorded in late Apr to early May
and in early Nov.

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Rare autumn pm: one near Shannah 6 Sep
1990 is the only record.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Uncommon wv or pm: recorded Jan, Mar and
Nov.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
Probably a regular pm in early May and early
Sep to early Nov.

Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
- Rare autumn pm and wv. Recorded at Khawr
Al Milh 20 Nov 1987 and 2 Jan 1992.

Arabian Babbler Turdoides squamiceps
Rare: recorded at Filim 1 Nov 1979 and 9 Jan
1989:

White-eye sp. Zosterops sp.

Status unknown. A white-eye has been
recorded in the mangrove of Mahawt Island
(R. A. C. Jensen pers. comm.), over 500 km
from the resident White-breasted White-eye
Z. abyssinica population in Dhofar, South
Oman. The Mahawt bird may represent a
different (sub)species but further research is
required.

Isabelline Shrike Lantus isabellinus
Uncommon autumn pm early Sep to early
Nov.

Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Rare spring pm: male near Shannah 9 May 1991.

Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor
Uncommon wv in late Oct to mid-Feb.

Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis
Uncommon visitor largely to Filim in winter.
More common inland near Hayy.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Uncommon late autumn pm early Nov to
mid-Dec.

FURTHER STUDIES

The ornithological importance of Barr Al
Hikman is principally based on mid-
winter surveys. There has been no
attempt to quantify the number of birds
utilising the area during migration. We
do not know whether most of waders
winter in Africa or if Barr Al Hikman is
their final destination. In addition to it
being a very important wintering area,
Barr Al Hikman is presumably a crucial
migration stopover site. For Terek
Sandpipers at least, this is almost
certainly true, as this species appears
most common in early September, rather
than mid-winter. A West. Asian
Shorebird Survey during spring and/or
autumn migration would be most
welcome.

We have noted problems in estimating
wader numbers by counting high tide
roosts. Massive flocks have been seen
flying inland as high tide approaches,
presumably to roost on the dry sabkha.
After high tide they return to the

J. Eriksen

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

exposed mudflats. High tide roost counts
could therefore lead to an underestimate
of true numbers. Attempts should be
made to locate these inland roosts.

CONSERVATION

The remoteness and low human
population of Barr Al Hikman have
ensured that the area is not under
particular threat at the moment. In recent
years there has been an increase in traffic
to and from Masirah Island with several
ferries operating from Shannah.
Furthermore, a project to pave the
Sanaw-Dugqm road has now begun.

Although this is welcome it will make
access to Barr Al Hikman considerably
easier and bring more visitors. The
Omani government now encourages
tourism including bird tours, which may
include Barr Al Hikman in their
itinerary. Clearly, an area of international
ornithological importance should be
protected. A consultancy firm has
proposed that the area should be
preserved as the Barr Al Hikman
National Nature Reserve. The Omani
government is now giving urgent consid-
eration to formal protection of the area.

Table 1. Importance of Barr Al Hikman as a wintering ground for selected species of waterbirds. Mean of five annual winter counts during
1989-1993 (calculated from data in Asian Waterfowl Census 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993, see references).

Barr Al Hikman

mean totals* mean Oman
Species totals
Cormorant 3046 93
Western Reef Heron 851 43
Great White Egret - 94 64
Grey Heron 348 28
Spoonbill 97 27
Greater Flamingo 4159 85
Oystercaicher 3797 71
Crab Plover 1175 66
Kentish Plover 1152 54
Lesser Sand Plover 3391 43
Greater Sand Plover 619 52
Grey Plover 1031 56
Great Knot 276 100
Sanderling 4796 78
Little Stint 11457 90
Curlew Sandpiper 10528 95
Dunlin 30432 93
Broad-billed Sandpiper 2283 98
Bar-tailed Godwit 26378 92
Whimbre! 427 67
Curlew 799 44
Redsnank 8074 92
Greenshank 841 70
Terek Sandpiper 341 80
Ruddy Turnstone 1389 68
Sooty Gull 7291 41
Great Black-headed Gull 562 15
| Slender-billed Gull 19287 75
Herring Gull group ° 27181 58
Caspian Tern 385 53
Crested Tern 1386 27
Sandwich Tern 13451 72
Saunders’ Tern 79 40

Percentage of

Percentage of Percentage of Species with
mean South- mean Asia > 1% of world
west Asia totals totals population”
13 if
28 21 x
2 <1
8 1
if 1
< 2
62 49
38 34 X
16 3
33 6 x
2a 8
25 10
99 37
76 55
66 11
82 21
77 40 X
72 43 X
80 69 X
35 2
17 5
53 24
47 7
23 5
43 31
35 34 X
8 5
72 64 X
42 31
31 8 X
26 18 x
69 65 X
15 15

2Data from Oman Bird Records as part of the annual Asian Waterfowl Census. By comparison with data in Waterfowl population
estimates (Rose & Scott 1994). “Includes Herring Gull Larus argentatus, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus and Yellow-legged

Gull Larus (argentatus) cachinnans.

]. Eriksen

The birds of Barr Al Hikman, Sultanate of Oman

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank Matt Cummins for help with the maps and for valuable statistical data and all those
observers who, have submitted the observations from Barr Al Hikman on which this article is based, to the
Oman Bird Records Committee.

REFERENCES

JENSEN, R. A. C., AND SALM, R. V. (1991) Coastal birds in the Sultanate of Oman. Report to the Ministry of
Commerce & Industry.

GALLAGHER, M. AND Woopcock, M. W. (1980) The birds of Oman. Quartet Books, London.

GREEN, M. G., McGrapy, M., NEWTON, S., AND UTTLEY, J. D. (1992) The shorebirds of Barr Al Hikman and
Ghubbat Al Hashish, Oman. Unpublished report.

MUNDKUR, T. AND TAYLOR, V. (1993) Asian Waterfowl Census 1993. AWB, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and
IWRB, Slimbridge, U.K.

OBRC (OMAN BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE) (1994) Oman Bird List 4th edn. OBRC, Muscat.

PERENNOU, C., ROSE, P. AND POOLE, C. (1990) Asian Waterfowl Census 1990. IWRB, Slimbridge, U.K.

PERENNOU, C. AND MUNDKUR, T. (1991) Asian Waterfowl Census 1991. IWRB, Slimbridge, U.K.

PERENNOU, C. AND MUNDKUR, T (1992), Asian Waterfowl Census 1992, IWRB, Slimbridge, UK.

Scott, D. A. AND RosE, P. M. (1989) Asian Waterfowl Census 1989. IWRB, Slimbridge, U.K.

Jens Eriksen, Sultan Qaboos University, College of Science, P. O. Box 36, Al Khod,123,
Sultanate of Oman.

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]. Eriksen 29

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02229

Photo Spot

Rosefinch

wo young Middle East explorer-

naturalists, Friedrich Hemprich and
Christian Ehrenberg, discovered the Sinai
Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus at St
Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt, over
170 years ago. Although isolated populations
were later found thousands of kilometres to
the east in Afghanistan and China, it is in the
Middle East that most people get to see this
beautiful dinch. Even here it is rather
localised, its range being restricted to the
sandstone deserts of the Sinai Peninsula,
southern Israel, south-west Jordan and the
extreme north-west corner of adjoining Saudi
Arabia. In Israel it is uncommon and numbers
fluctuate markedly from year to year; it is
most likely to be encountered in the
mountains behind Eilat or when the birds
move to lower ground in winter. However, it
is more abundant in the higher mountains of
Sinai and Jordan/ Arabia, where it can be
most (easily Seen im the spectacular
surroundings of St Catherine’s Monastery
(Sinai) and Petra, Wadi Dana and Wadi Rum
(Jordan). There can be no more evocative
place to see this bird than amongst the rock-
hewn monuments of Petra, where its pink
coloration so closely matches the red
sandstone bedrock. It is fitting therefore that
Jordan should have recently designated the
Sinai Rosefinch its national bird.

The species’ main habitat requirement is
rocky, highland desert with a permanent

source of water. This reliance on water often
brings it into contact with human habitation,
where they become less timid and even
forage amongst refuse left by tourists. Several
of the accompanying photographs were taken
at an artificially-constructed drinking pool
above Wadi Dana in part of Jordan’s Royal
Society for the Conservation of Nature’s
wildlands reserve. In spring, the birds easily
find natural supplies of water, but in October
several hundreds of birds made constant use
of this pool along with Yellow-vented Bulbuls

», Pycnonotus xanthopygos, Tristram’s Grackles
»~ Onychognathus tristramit, Rock Sparrows

Petronia petronia, Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla
and Great Tits Parus major.

The Middle Eastern (nominate) race is the
smallest of the four described races, but the
males are distinctively brighter than their
larger eastern counterparts. Particularly after
their post-breeding (July-September) moult
the males are almost wholly drenched
carmine-red and pink - as well-illustrated in
the photographs here. Other published
photographs and several field guides show
altogether duller birds in more worn
plumage, with the red restricted to the face
and pink (not silvery-white) feathers on the
crown. Females and first-winter birds are the
palest and least marked of the West Palearctic
Carpodacus rosefinches, with a rather
unremarkable pale buffish-grey or sandy-
brown hue. First-summer males, which do
not usually breed, sometimes have a pinkish
tinge to the breast and crown, but do not
attain their full red coloration until after their
moult into second-winter plumage.

Outside the breeding season Sinai Rosefinch
are gregarious and form flocks of 10-50 birds
centred on water sources. There is also
evidence that in winter, especially colder
winters, small parties descend up to a few
tens of kilometres to lower lying areas.

A Sinai Rosefinch is most likely to be located
by its characteristic call, variously described
as “chig” and “tsweet”. In most field guides
the song is only vaguely described as “varied
and melodious”, but during its display the
male also gives a distinctive “buzzing sound”
rather reminiscent of a Wood Warbler’s trill.

Ian J. Andrews, 39 Clayknowes Drive,
Musselburgh, Midlothian EH21 6UW, U.K.

I. J. Andrews

Ss)
OPT

Sand grouse 18 (2) The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd

Plate 2. Wadi Dana Wildlife Reserve,
Plate 1. Wadi Dana Wildlife Reserve, Jordan (7. Loseby Jordan (T. Loseby)

Plate 3. Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus

34 I. J. Andrews

The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised

by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd

Photo Spot

Plate 5. Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus, Plate 6. Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus

ARS: Raney
ee
EST Sat
BN

ae
ee oe

ye
ets

R
~.

adult male, Jordan (T. Loseby) (T. Loseby)

I. ]. Andrews

oe)

Sandgrouse 18 (2): 36-45

Preliminary data on raptor passage in Jordan

IAN J. ANDREWS

A total of 17,644 migrating raptors was counted in Jordan in 1989-92, as part of
a regional reconnaissance study. Details of more intensive counting at Wadi
Dana in 1994 and 1995 are also given. In spring, few birds were seen at Aqaba,
the majority following the mountains of the rift margin at Petra and Wadi
Dana. Further north, some followed tributary wadis to the north-east and east,
away from the rift valley. Species composition showed many similarities with
that found in Israel with Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Black Kite Milvus
migrans, Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes, Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo
\ vulpinus and Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis dominating spring passage. In
N autumn, raptor passage was less concentrated and exhibited a great attraction
to water. Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus,
Montagu's Harrier Circus macrourus, Levant Sparrowhawk, and Steppe
Buzzard were the most numerous species.

by x 2
yr ee 6

| _ : Ses,

ae =

INTRODUCTION

IMITED DATA ON raptor passage in Jordan have been published, despite its

location, which is aligned with one of the Western Palearctic's most significant and
well-documented routes passing through neighbouring Israel and strengthening
evidence that large numbers cross into Jordan.

Christensen et al. (1981) first suggested that in spring raptors cross from Eilat into
Jordan at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba in a north-easterly direction. Shirihai &
Christie (1992) provided additional information and reported that most raptors at
Eilat head north-east and, under normal weather conditions, cross onto the eastern
side of Wadi Araba north of Aqaba. Only during a period in the afternoon (when
birds pass at high altitude) and during strong westerly winds does the main passage
overfly the Gulf of Agaba and Aqaba town. Interestingly, during Israeli observations
Levant Sparrowhawks Accipter brevipes were not seen to cross Wadi Araba or the Gulf
of Aqaba and it is postulated that this was due to the more westerly breeding range of
this species (Shirithai & Yekutiel 1991, Shirihai & Christie 1992). In autumn, observers
in Israel have reported large flocks of Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis soaring over the
mountains behind Aqaba (Shirihai 1982). These then headed north-north-west, 6 km
north of the coast, before passing to the north or north-west of Eilat. It was suggested
that they were crossing the rift valley into the prevailing wind before continuing on a
south-westerly route on the western side of the Gulf of Aqaba (Shirihai 1982, Shirihai
& Christie 1992).

PREVIOUS DATA FROM JORDAN

Wallace (1984) recorded 354 large raptors during 12 April-11 May 1963 including 200
over Ras an Naqab on 6 May. At Azraq, few raptors were recorded until 1965-66,
when a total of about 1320 were counted (Wallace 1982). This was the first indication
that passage extended this far east of the rift. Nelson (1973) who also reported consid-
erable passage over Azraq in spring and autumn considered it part of a broad front,
rather than a narrow flyway.

Twenty-five years later Flaxman (1982) recorded passage at new sites: 60 Honey
Buzzard Pernis apivorus at Mount Nebo on 10 May 1982 and 200-300 probable Honey
Buzzards west of Na'ur on 11 May. At Agaba during 14-18 May he also saw a small
number of raptors, mostly Honey Buzzards, moving east or north-east.

36 I. J]. Andrews

Papers

Few migrating raptors were reported over Petra by early visitors (see Wittenberg
1987), and the first indication that sigificant numbers passed over this site came in
spring 1983, when over 1000 were recorded (Wittenberg 1983). Most were flying north
over Petra and north-north-east over nearby Al Bayda with peaks of 200 Steppe
Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus on 21 April and 650 Honey Buzzard in one hour on 10
May. A large north-easterly passage was also noted at Petra on 4 April 1988 including
2000+ Steppe Buzzard, 200 Black Kite Milvus migrans and 10 Steppe Eagle (J.
Wittenberg pers. comm.). On 24 March 1989, the same observer reported the following
numbers at Fidan in only 30 minutes: 30 Black Kite, 2 Short-toed Eagle Circaetus
gallicus, 1 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus, 3 Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, 3
Marsh Harrier, 3 Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, 800 Steppe Buzzard and 20 Steppe
Eagle.

METHODS

During 1989-1992 the author made extensive bird observations throughout Jordan (see
Andrews 1995), although it should be noted that raptor sightings were incidental and
no sustained systematic observations were attempted. Since systematic counts could
not be undertaken it was decided to attempt extensive coverage to locate sites for
possible future study (Figures 2 and 3). Observations from Wadi Araba and the Jordan
Valley were limited due to military presence.

SPRING PASSAGE

Spring passage was evident from 6 February to 10 June, peaking from late March to
mid-April and during early May (Figure 1). The first peak consisted mainly of Steppe
Buzzard, Steppe Eagle and Black Kite, whilst the second included many Honey
Buzzard and huge flocks of Levant Sparrowhawk. Other species recorded in spring
were Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus and Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni with small
numbers of Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
and Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca (Table 1).

Table 1. Total numbers of migratory raptors recorded by the author in Jordan during July 1989 to June 1992. [Note: Resident raptors are
not included in this list (except where clearly related to passage), for the purposes of this study these are: Griffon Vulture, Long-legged
Buzzard Buteo rufinus, Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus, Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii, Kestrel!
Falco tinnunculus, Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus and Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides. In addition winter records of Marsh and Hen
Harrier Circus cyaneus, Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, Imperial Eagle and Merlin Falco columbarius are excluded (see Andrews 1995) as are
records of Lesser Kestrel, Hobby Falco subbuteo, Short-toed Eagle, Egyptian Vulture and Sooty Falcon Falco concolor in breeding habitat.]

Autumn

I. J. Andrews

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus 607 44
Black Kite Milvus migrans 221 65
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus 54 8
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus 42 24

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 56 70
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus 10 18
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 29 237
harrier sp. Circus sp. 11 11
Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes 9697 100
Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus 4896 1052
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina 16 3
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 147 22
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca 2 0
eagle sp. Aquila sp. 11 12
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 22 3
Osprey Pandion haliaetus 6 15
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 87 1
Hobby Falco subbuteo 20 19
Total 15,940 1704

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Table 2. Sites with more than 100 migrating raptors counted in Jordan, spring 1990-92.

number of raptors main direction of flight
1. Azraq 182
2. Qa’ al Hibabiya 102
3. Kafrayn 281
4. Na’ur hill 1805
5. Ash Shuna Janubiyya 129
6. Wadi Shu'ayb 140

7. west Amman, including the Amman National Park 268
8. Wadi al Hidan 8191
9. Wadi Dana 1205 -.
10. Petra 2257
11. Ras an Nagab 304
12. Jabals Rum and Umm Ishrin 261
13. Aqaba

Few raptors were seen at Aqaba despite the presence of an estimated three million
birds using the ‘Eilat migration route’ which passes nearby. Initially it was thought
that birds were being missed, but the relative lack of birds supports the supposition
that most passage follows the west side of Wadi Araba until some distance north of
Aqaba, except in mid-afternoon and certain weather conditions (Shirihai & Christie
1992). Flaxman (1982) reported small numbers of raptors heading north-east or east at
Aqaba, and in April 1992 a few Montagu's Harrier, Steppe Buzzard and Booted Eagle
were seen coming in off the sea and heading north. Large numbers have been
recorded at Aqaba just once: during light northerly winds on 27-28 March 1994, when
passage was recorded between 09.45-12.45 and 10.30-12.15 respectively. Birds crossed
the Gulf from the direction of Taba (the Egypt-Israel border), passing high over Aqaba
town and continuing north along the rift margin mountains. Between 27 March and 8
April, 22 Black Kites, 3931 Steppe Buzzards, 21 Spotted Aquila clanga or Lesser Spotted
Eagle and 175 Steppe Eagles were counted (Dr R. D. Oades pers. comm.).

North of Aqaba, along the southern part of the rift margin, large numbers of raptors
were observed at Fidan, Wadi Dana and Petra, confirming the importance of this area
for raptor passage. At Petra, Wittenberg's counts are supplemented by maxima of 200
Steppe Buzzards on 7 April 1990, 50 Honey Buzzards on 10 May 1991 and 1900 Steppe
Buzzards on 27-28 March 1992 (pers. obs.).

2500 Figure 1: Counts of

migratory raptors by
ae 10-day periods,
2000 Jordan 1989-92
(excluding 8000
Levant Sparrowhawks
on 24 April and 1680

1500 on 1 May)

1000

500

Jan

38 I. J. Andrews:

Papers

Further north at Wadi Dana, large numbers of migrating birds were seen during both
days the site was visited during 1989-92. They used the entire escarpment, which is
10-20 km wide, with the lines of flight possibly dependant on the time of day or wind
direction. On 13 April 1990, 700 Steppe Buzzards, 35 Steppe Eagles and fewer than
five individuals of seven other species were seen. On 10 April 1992, 400 Steppe
Buzzards, 21 Steppe Eagles and fewer than five individuals of six other species were
seen. Additional data from spring 1995 confirm the importance of the rift margin
route, with daily maxima at Wadi Dana of 1973 Steppe Buzzards on 1 April, and 490
Honey Buzzards and 500 Levant Sparrowhawks on 28 April (RSCN 1995b, Table 3).
Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Steppe Eagle
were also well represented.

Table 3. Totals of migrating raptors seen at Wadi Dana, Jordan, March-May 1995 (RSCN 1995b; R.F. Porter pers. comm.). Any passage

of Short-toed Eagles and Lesser Kestrels was obscured by the presence of local breeding birds; only obvious passage counts are given
for the former and bird-day totals for the latter have been omitted.

March 1995 April 1995 May 1995

1-10 11-20 =. 21-31 1-10 11-20 21-30 1-10 11-20 21-31
Number of observation days 3 10 7 7 8 10 4 5 6
Honey Buzzard 0 0 0 0 0 1243 Sa 190 733 2
Black Kite 0 0 49 32 8 14 0 1 1
Egyptian Vulture 0 0 10 11 4 25 0 1 0
Short-toed Eagle 0 15 30 - - - - -
Marsh Harrier 0 0 1 0 0 6 2 1 1
Pallid Harrier 0) 0) 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
harrier sp. 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0
Goshawk 1 0 0 2? 0 0 0 0 0
Sparrowhawk 1 2 2 2 10 14 2 0 0
Levant Sparrowhawk 0 0 0 0 0 649 16 0 0
Sparrowhawk sp. 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Steppe Buzzard 34 359 1493 2742 227 397 36 2 0
Lesser Spotted Eagle 0 0 6 0 5 21 1 1 0
Spotted Eagle 0 0 0 1? 0 0 0 0 0
Sieppe Eagle 0 4 24 46 64 71 0 0 0
Imperial Eagle 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Booted Eagle 0 0 3 2 0 7 2 0 0
Hobby 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

Further east, a moderate number of raptors were seen flying north over the Rum
Desert jabals of Rum and Umm Ishrin and subsequently heading north over the Ras
an Naqab escarpment. Birds were seen gaining height over the jabals from early
morning having presumably roosted nearby. It seems likely that these birds had
crossed the Red Sea south of Eilat, presumably at the Bab al Mandab, before moving
north through Arabia. Raptor migration, particularly of Black Kites and harriers
Circus sp. occurs on a broad front across north-central Saudi Arabia in spring (S.
Newton pers. comm.), and some birds may have arrived in Jordan via this route.

Along the scarp east of the Dead Sea, raptors were seen flying north at several sites,
the largest numbers being seen at the mouth of Wadi al Karak and from a vantage
point above the confluence of Wadi al Mujib and Wadi al Hidan. At this site, an
estimated 8000 Levant Sparrowhawks were seen migrating rapidly north on 24 April
1992, accompanied by smaller numbers of Honey Buzzards and other species.

More extensive coverage north of the Dead Sea and in the vicinity of Amman has
identified a tendency for birds to veer east and north-east following the tributary
wadis of the Jordan Valley. At Kafrayn (at the mouth of the Wadi Na'ur) and a few

I. J. Andrews 39

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

kilometres further north at Ash Shuna Janubiyya (at the mouth of Wadi Shu'ayb) large
numbers of raptors were observed migrating north-east, following valleys.
Observations along the length of both these valleys and their tributaries demonstrated
that passage was continuing on an east to north-east axis (depending on the
orientation of the wadi). Black Kite, Steppe Buzzard and Steppe Eagle used this route
early in the season, whilst at dusk on 1 May 1990 a single spiral of 1680 Levant
Sparrowhawks and 160 Honey Buzzards was over the wadi west of Na'ur.

On the plateau above these wadis large numbers of raptors were observed at As
Suwayfiyya (a western suburb of Amman) confirming that birds were continuing in a
north-easterly direction from Wadi Na'ur. At this urban site, a total of 1424 birds
followed the course of an eastward draining wadi (Dr M. Griffin and pers. obs.) and
the true total was probably much greater.

Further north there are fewer observations, but notable passage was noted at Ajlun
and Umm Qays (pers. obs.). Large numbers have also been reported from the Dibbin
area (Ornitholidays) but I have no details of the precise site or direction of movement.

At Azraq, relatively small numbers of raptors were recorded in spring. During the
three years reviewed here, there were only four days when raptor counts exceeded 10
Steppe Buzzards (on 18 and 19 April) and Honey Buzzards (on 16 and 25 May). A few
Levant Sparrowhawks were also seen. To the north-west of Azraq, at Qa’ al Hibabiya,
100 Honey Buzzards were seen travelling ahead of a storm on 1 May 1991; their
direction of flight was predominantly north-west. At Wadi al Butm, four Lesser
Spotted Eagles flew north-east on 20 April 1992 — the highest count of this species in
the period. Larger numbers of birds clearly do pass over Azraq: Nelson (1973)
reported very large northward movements of Steppe Buzzards with smaller numbers
of Black Kites, Egyptian Vultures, Lesser Spotted Eagles and Lesser Kestrels. In the
1960s, Wallace (1982) also reported a wide variety of raptors, including 18 Red-footed
Falcons Falco vespertinus (and a Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus) at Azraq.

Unfortunately, spring coverage in the eastern desert areas was less comprehensive
than in autumn and there would appear to be no evidence of broad front migration at
this time of the year. Thus fewer raptors were seen from the Amman to Azraq road in
spring than in autumn.

AUTUMN PASSAGE

In autumn, raptor passage was evident from 22 July to 17 November with peaks in
late September and late October (Figure 1). Numbers were lower than in spring and
the most common species was Steppe Buzzard. In autumn there was an increased
proportion of Montagu's, Marsh and Pallid Harriers and Osprey (Table 1).

Table 4. Sites with more than 100
migrating raptors counted in Jordan,
autumn 1989-91.

number
of raptors

1. Amman National Park 570

2. Ghadir Burqu' 102
3. Azraq 563
4. Aqaba

Plate 1. Montagu’s Harrier Circus
pygargus, Burqu’ (Jordan), September
1991. (lan J. Andrews)

40) I, J. Andrews:

Papers

The only raptors seen at Aqaba in autumn were 75 Levant Sparrowhawks roosting in
palms behind the beach on the night of 30 September/1 October 1990. Passage was
also insignificant at Wadi Rum, Petra and Ras an Naqab, compared to that in spring.

In autumn 1994, more intensive raptor watching was undertaken at Wadi Dana by a
Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature team (RSCN 1995a). Unfortunately the
survey was too late to cover the main autumn passage of Honey Buzzard, Marsh and
Montagu's Harriers and Lesser Spotted Eagle, all of which peak in September
(Andrews 1995) and it remains to be discovered whether large numbers of these
species use this route in autumn. Significant numbers of Steppe Buzzards were
recorded in early October 1994 (Table 5), including a peak of 1966 on 7 October 1994
(RSCN 1995a). Dana is relatively well-wooded and undisturbed, and has numerous
cliffs and water sources, but although on occasions large numbers of Steppe Buzzards
roosted there, they did not appear to specifically select this as a traditional roost site
(RSCN 1995a). Relatively low numbers of Steppe Eagles were observed (Table 5),
confirming the view that the large numbers which pass through Eilat in autumn cross
Wadi Araba further south (Shirihai 1982), having presumably crossed the interior
desert. Migrant Lesser Kestrels and Sparrowhawks were also recorded in relatively
large numbers during this survey (Table 5).

Table 5. Totals of migrating raptors seen at Wadi Dana, Jordan, October-November 1994 (RSCN 1995a; R.F. Porter pers. comm.).
() = presumed resident birds.

October 1994 November 1994
1-10 11-20 =. 21-31 1-10 11-20 21-30
Number of observation days 10 10 7 6 9 3

Honey Buzzard 2 0 0 0 0 0
Black Kite 8 1 1 2 0 0
Egyptian Vulture 3 0 1 0 0 0
Short-toed Eagle (10) (2) 0 1 0 1
Marsh Harrier 25 2 3 0 0 0
Pallid Harrier 1 4 1 0 0 0
Montagu's Harrier 4 1 0 0 0 0
harrier sp. 9 0 1 1 1 0
Sparrowhawk 50 60 6 6 8 4
Levant Sparrowhawk 15 | 0 0 0 0
sparrowhawk sp. 8 4 0 4 0 1
Steppe Buzzard 4841 179 1060 88 5 0
Long-legged Buzzard (3) (17) (2) 20 (4) 0
Lesser Spotted Eagle 20 2 0 0 0 0
Spotted Eagle 1 0 0 0 0 0
Steppe Eagle : 31 43 2 14 1 0
Imperial Eagle (2 1 0 0 1 0
Booted Eagle 5 0 0 0 0 0
Osprey 1 1 0 0 0 0
Lesser Kestrel 31 15 0 0 0 0
kestrel sp. 114 74 6 10 0 0
Red-footed Falcon 0 1 0 0 0 0
Hobby 0 0 0 0

Further north light passage of Steppe Buzzards was noted at Mukawir and low
numbers were also seen at Wadi ash Shita and As Salt. At the Amman National Park
(15 km south-west of Amman) large numbers of Steppe Buzzards were seen at dusk en
30 September 1991 (300 birds) and 22 October 1990 (250, all of the grey-brown morph
discussed in Shirihai & Doherty 1990). On both dates the birds appeared from the
north-east or east, descending over the pines of the park, before continuing south-west.

I. J. Andrews 41

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

In contrast to the pattern of observations in spring, the largest numbers of raptors was
seen in the interior desert and in particular at Azraq. In part this reflected a clear
attraction to water with birds at Azraq, Ghadir Burqu', Al Khirba as Samra sewage
works (Az Zarqa), even gathering around an isolated bedouin water well in the desert
south-west of Ar Ruwayshid (Figure 3). At Azraq this habit probably originated when
the area was a true oasis, but the marshes were virtually dry during the investigation
period and the majority of birds were seen at a small area of fish pools. Birds often
whiffled out of the sky, cautiously alighting to drink. The main passage period was 1-
29 September and the more common of the 15 species involved were Honey Buzzard,
Black Kite, Marsh and Montagu's Harriers, Steppe and Booted Eagles. Most notable
were 66 drinking Montagu's Harriers on 8 September 1990 and 14 Honey Buzzards on
15 September 1990 (Andrews 1991). In 1991, this pool was dry and very few raptors
were seen that autumn. On only one occasion were spiralling Steppe Buzzards seen at
Azraq (300 on 22 September 1989). The direction the birds take from Azraq is
unknown, but it is possible that they may follow the topographical trend of Wadi as
Sarhan to the south or south-east, rather than cutting across country to Aqaba.

A few raptors were seen in autumn at Al Khirba as Samra sewage works, the only
permanent water in much of Jordan at this season: 6 Marsh Harriers, 6 Honey
Buzzards, 5 Black Kites, 4 Montagu's Harriers and single Short-toed Eagle, Pallid
Harrier, Steppe Buzzard, Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus and Hobby were seen.

aC mei,

Plate 2. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, Azraq (Jordan), April Plate 3. Hobby Falco subbuteo, Samra (Jordan), October 1990.
1990. (lan J. Andrews) (lan J. Andrews)

peti ees ter

Ghadir Burqu' is an isolated and almost permanent spring-fed pool north-west of Ar
Ruwayshid (see Andrews 1995). A large number of raptors are known to visit this site
to drink (J. Chitham and several archaeologists pers. comm.), and it is also widely
known amongst the local bedouin for the raptors it attracts in autumn. Ar Ruwayshid
has a thriving local industry selling the necessary paraphernalia for falcon catching,
and people travel there from far afield using doves as lures. At times there is also
excessive shooting at this site (archaeologists pers. comm.). Al Jafr acts as a similar
centre for falconers in southern Jordan. Ghadir Burqu' was briefly visited on two
occasions (Table 6): in 1991 many raptors were drinking there, whilst in 1994, many
were flying over, only descending at dusk ahead of a storm.

42 I. J. Andrews.

Papers

Table 6. Numbers of raptors seen at Ghadir Burqu’, north-east Jordan in 1991 and 1994.

21-22 September 1991 29-30 September 1994
Honey Buzzard
Black Kite
Short-toed Eagle
Marsh Harrier
Pallid Harrier

Montagu's Harrier
harrier sp.

Steppe Buzzard
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Steppe Eagle
Sparrowhawk

Elsewhere in the southern and eastern desert, in arid areas, small numbers of birds
were seen along broad, north-south trending wadis but away from any prominent
geographical features. They were normally seen at dusk as they descended to roost
and again as they rose in the morning. For example Steppe Buzzard, Black Kite and
three species of harrier were seen at Bani Murra (on the border with Saudi Arabia) on
25/26 September 1989; 35 Steppe Buzzards and a few Marsh and Pallid Harriers were
seen at Wadi al Hasa on 5/6 October 1990 and Honey Buzzard, Steppe Buzzard,
Hobby, Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture and all three harriers were seen at Jabal Qattafi
(east of Azraq) on 20/21 September 1991. Along the Amman to Azraq road it was
normal to see a few raptors perched on the high-tension pylons at dusk. Egyptian
Vulture and Short-toed Eagle were the most frequent, but two perched Ospreys and
migrating harriers were also seen along this route.

CONCLUSIONS

From personal observations during 1989-92 and previously published records it is
possible to make some preliminary conclusions regarding the numbers, route and
composition of raptors migrating through Jordan:

m In spring, a major proportion of the birds using the well-described 'Eilat migration
route’ cross into Jordan to the north of Aqaba. These birds continue north along the
mountainous rift margin over-flying Petra, Wadi Dana and the mountains east of
the Dead Sea. North of the Dead Sea, birds disperse to follow north-east or east-
trending wadis, some passing over Amman.

@ Contrary to previous ideas (Shirihai & Yekutiel 1991, Shirihai & Christie 1992),
Levant Sparrowhawks do cross the rift and can occur in Jordan in considerable
numbers in spring.

@ In autumn, raptor passage occurs on a broader front than in spring, and (due to the
relative slow pace of migration at this season) there is strong reliance on water.
This is not apparent in spring. There is an urgent need to preserve and protect the
few remaining watering sites.

m There is considerable scope for systematic raptor watching in Jordan to advance
knowledge of this major Middle Eastern raptor migration route. In spring, further
study could contribute data from sites such as Wadi Dana, plus the tributary wadis
of the rift valley (e.g. at Kafrayn and Wadi Shu'ayb) and also further north near
Umm Qays. In autumn, more extensive data is urgently needed from Ghadir
Burqu' and other possible foci in the interior desert. Study of the Steppe Eagle
passage through Aqaba in September would also be of interest.

I, J. Andrews 43

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Lebanon “36° 38° E

TE BA.

2
157 dex Amman ‘ es
1347 % On a eee
24 5 ee Seg - e Saas w
aie, es ee
Israel and : : “
the occupied : é x S Saudi
territories NS i
Yb, Arabia
\%
\S
! Ng
: ot a
B ) S. ‘Sy
Wee e ee
\ - a
* ft 10! °. % /
\ We = d
‘ / se e /
. / uf
oe! a
. i pad 5 ee
‘ i e e oh N
ye ; <>
: 7 © e é /
Egypt: ,<7 ia! -~. “ee
De : 5 ee 0 50km

Lebanon 35°.

FS
ee

e «, ex Amman
Haat ®e05
1 we eon se”

Israel and
the occupied

territories NI Saudi
NZ Arabia

100km

30° N

Figure 2: Location of migratory raptors in
spring, Jordan 1990-92.

KEY TO SITES:

1= Azraqg-

2= Qa'al Hibabiya
3= Kafrayn

4= west of Na'ur

5= Ash Shuna al Janubiyya

6= Wadi Shu'ayb

7 = west Amman including Amman
National Park

8= confluence of Wadi al Mujib and
Wadi al Hidan

9= Wadi Dana

10 = Petra (and Al Bayda)

11.= Ras an Nagab

12 = Jabals Rum and Umm Ishrin
13 = Agaba

KEY TO SYMBOLS:

large spot:

site with over 100 raptors counted
(with arrow, if direction of flight known)

small spot:
other sites where raptors were seen

Figure 3: Location of migratory raptors in
autumn, Jordan 1989-91.

KEY TO SITES:

1= Amman National Park
2= Ghadir Burqu'

3= Azrag
= Aqaba
5= Mukawir

6= Al Khirba as Samra sewage works
= water well SW of Ar Ruwayshid
8= Bani Murra
= Wadi al Hasa
10 = Jabal Qaitafi
11 = Amman to Azrag road.

KEY TO SYMBOLS:
large spot:
site with over 25 raptors counted

small spot:
other sites where raptors were seen

I. J. Andrews

Papers

Hy ae

1B:
Bie
[Total beled ai)
EH ‘4 ey

bis He
oe i
My Hh Hy He POOL yi wae NE UM 1a ae ea ij
Wipelht: Nu FN ERT Wie “Waa if SE aaa sg GC SEE: Be APs
iy $6 u We «53; Hil } Hi pereceio feet ae setae tS aH j i: Bp | ui ei i f
uch ie i ye ei : ‘ i) ay Hi , q “i Pits ier pbk
see Wie oe lee ee = i i) - y a EI Hh fn oe aan pic ut i if Ht

Tees f er Le
Dy, 4 a

wes
; wo
we ae.,

Levant Sparrowhanks citer brevipes by J. P. Smith

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank M. I. Evans, Dr. M. Griffin, Dr. R. D. Oades, Ornitholidays, R. F. Porter and J.
Wittenberg (Natur-Studienreisen, Germany) for supplying copies of their bird notes which have been
incorporated here.

REFERENCES

ANDREWS, I. J. (1991) Is Azraq still an oasis? Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 27: 13-19.
ANDREWS, I. J. (1995) The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Andrews, Musselburgh.
CHRISTENSEN, S., LON, O., MULLER, M., AND WOHLMUTH, H. (1981) The spring migration of raptors in
. southern Israel and Sinai. Sandgrouse 3: 1-42.
FLAXMAN, E. W. (1982) Observations of raptor migration in Jordan, May 1982. Orn. Soc. Middle East
Bull. 9: 45.
NELSON, J. B. (1973) Azraq: Desert Oasis. London.
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (RSCN) (1995a)
Dana Nature Reserve, Phase I Bird Survey, October-November 1994. UNDP/World Bank
- Global Environment Facility, Project for the Conservation of Dana Wildlands. Unpublished report.
ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (RSCN) (1995b)
Dana Nature Reserve, Phase II Bird Survey, March-May 1995. UNDP/World Bank
- Global Environment Facility, Project for the Conservation of Dana Wildlands. Unpublished report.
SHIRIHAL, H. (1982) The autumn migration of Steppe Eagles at Eilat, Israel, 1980. Sandgrouse 4: 108-110.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND CHRISTIE, D. A. (1992) Raptor migration at Eilat. Brit. Birds 85: 141-186.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND DOHERTY, P. (1990) Steppe Buzzard plumages. Birding World 3: 10-14.
SHIRIHAI, H. AND YEKUTIEL, D. (1991) Raptor migration at Eilat - spring 1988. In: Yekutiel, D. (ed.) Raptors in
Israel: passage and wintering populations. IBCE, Eilat.
WALLACE, D. I. M. (1982) Observations of migrant birds at Azraq in northeast Jordan, up to April 1967.
Sandgrouse 4: 77-99.
WALLACE, D. I. M. (1984) Selected observations from Lebanon, Syria and Jordan in the springs of 1963 and
1966. Sandgrouse 6: 24-47.
WITTENBERG, J. (1983) Vogelkundliche Ergebnisse einer naturkundlichen Forschungsreise nach Jordanien
(10.4. bis 14.5.1983). Sonderheft 11: 127-153.
WITTENBERG, J. (1987) Zur Vogel-Fauna einer semi-ariden Gebirgsregion in Sud-Jordanien (Petra und
Umgebung) (Aves). Verh. naturwiss. Ver. Hamburg 29: 549.

Ian J. Andrews, 39 Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh, Midlothian EH21 6UW, ULK.

I. J. Andrews 45

Sandgrouse 18 (2): 46-51

A baseline survey of White Storks Ciconia
ciconia in central Turkey

STEPHEN J..PARR, PAUL COLLIN, SUSAN SILK, JULIETTE WILBRAHAM, NICK P.
WILLIAMS AND MURAT YARAR

White Storks Ciconia ciconia were surveyed, using repeatable methods, in
central Turkey in spring 1993. A population of 1,200-3,200 pairs was estimated
for central Turkey. Presence of nests was correlated with the amount of wet
grassland within 1km of the nest site. The distribution of occupied nests was
not uniform within the censused area. Some 100-km squares with a low ratio
of occupied nests had been subject to apparently unfavourable land-use
changes, including drainage of wet pastures and burning of reed-beds; the
conservation of such areas is required. This may be best achieved through
wider countryside measures similar to those in use within the European Union
such as Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Agri-Environment Regulations.
A repeat survey of the 20 10-km squares which held occupied or recently
occupied nests should be conducted in 5 years.

INTRODUCTION

HE TURKISH BREEDING population of White Storks Ciconia ciconia is estimated

to be between 15,000 and 35,000 pairs and is considered to have declined by over
50% between 1970 and 1990. The species has been classified as a Species of European
Concern (SPEC) Category 2 because of large and widespread population declines
(Tucker & Heath 1994). It is a widely dispersed species and has been shown to be
adversely affected by habitat change, particularly agricultural intensification (Goriup
& Schulz 1991). In addition, the decline of northwest European populations which
migrate to west Africa has been associated with winter mortality due to variable
rainfall within the Sahel region causing increased winter mortality; breeding habitat
changes have been shown to be less important (Kanyamibwa et al. 1993). The eastern
populations which migrate to east Africa are more stable because traditional
agricultural practices have been maintained (Dallinga & Schoenmakers 1989) and
possibly because the species is opportunistic and has adapted to breeding habitat
changes, particularly by making increasing use of man-made habitats such as refuse
tips and waste ground.

Historical data on distribution and abundance within Turkey indicate that a
widespread decline has probably occurred since the 1950s. Kumerloeve (1989)
undertook three long distance transects (>10,000km) across Turkey and counted the
number of White Storks and the number of occupied nests. However, none of the
routes taken were the same and comparative analyses are therefore impossible.
Kasparek & Kalig (1989) provide an inventory of sites checked within Turkey. They
also suggest that numbers are declining because the mean number of occupied nests
within settlements has declined between 1958 and 1986. The data do not show
whether the same settlements were checked in each year for which data are presented
or whether a random survey of settlements was made in each of the 16 years. In
contrast, monitoring of populations within three coastal areas, the Buyuk Menderes
valley and Goksu and Kaizilirmak deltas, over the last 30 years (V. van den Berk in litt.
in Tucker & Heath 1994) suggested that the population of approximately 600 pairs in
these three areas had remained stable or even increased locally.

A survey of the ‘globally threatened’ Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni in central Turkey
in spring 1993 (Parr et al. 1995), provided an opportunity to count occupied and

46 S. J. Parr, P. Collins, S. Silk, J. Wilbraham, N. P. Williams & M. Yarar

Papers

Fig. 1. The natural vegetation of central Turkey from Noirfalise (1987). The Universal Transverse Mercator 100-km grid is shown and
the 12 100-km survey squares are indicated

BLACK SEA

fs “i Pre-steppe forest

Salata ra Lewerat A
Salt-steppe | | 100 Kilometre Survey Square
Water 0 100km

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

unoccupied White Stork nests. The objective for both species was to provide both a
population estimate for the region and, more importantly, baseline data against which
future trends might be measured.

METHODS

Twelve 100 x 100 km squares were selected from the Series GSGS 4380 1:500,000 map
(1957) to cover 70% of the central steppe habitats as shown in Noirfalise (1987) (Fig.
1), and also to sample open country habitats to the west and east and uplands to the
north (Table 1). The natural vegetation types mapped by Noirfalise (1987) have all
been severely modified by a long history of agriculture. Remnant and modified
forests occur in much of the uplands but most lower ground has been converted to
cereal agriculture or sheep-grazed grassland. Five randomly selected 10 x 10 km were
surveyed within each 100-km square. Hence this was a repeatable 5% sample survey.
Additional data were collected in a non-random way by checking 10-km squares
adjacent to the randomly selected square, if time permitted, and also on journeys
between the random squares.

Three teams using hire cars, undertook the survey between 11 April 1993 and 15 May
1993. Survey teams attempted to visit all the settlements in the 10-km square and
record the number of occupied and unoccupied nests. These data were collected

S. J. Parr, P. Collins, S. Silk, J]. Wilbraham, N. P. Williams & M. Yarar 47

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

whilst counting Lesser Kestrels and a proportion of vacant nests may have been
misclassified. However unoccupied nests often appeared old with no fresh sticks and
were relatively easy to distinguish. Coverage of the random 10-km squares was only
limited by impassable roads during periods of wet weather; only nine squares
contained unvisited areas and only three with areas greater than 20%.

Each of the random 10-km squares was mapped to provide data on habitat areas,
number of human settlements, and abundance of all bird species seen. Nine broad
habitat types were identified:

1 Lowland dry grassland: uncultivated grasslands, heavily grazed by sheep. This often
included a band of uncultivated pasture surrounding towns and villages used for sheep
flocks in winter.

Arable agriculture: often large areas of cereal fields, mainly Wheat Triticum aestivum.

Wet grassland: poorly drained grazed land, associated with streams, rivers and ponds, often
found close to settlements.

4 Mixed agriculture: in upland areas, small fields predominated with shrub/woodland
margins and a mixture of arable and root crops, vineyards and orchards.

5 Upland grassland and scrub: hills and mountains either covered by grazed grasslands
or shrubs.

Woodland: upland forests dominated by managed Pinus spp. and Abies spp.

Marsh: low-lying areas of wetland with vegetation dominated by Phragmites australis and
Juncus spp.

8 Open water: lakes and flooded lowlands, the latter to improve the surrounding grazing land.

9 Built-up areas: towns, villages and industrial areas.

Altitude and topography were also measured in each 10-km square. Data were taken
from the 1:500,000 Tactical Pilotage Charts produced by the US Air Force (1963).
These maps, like the GSGS series, also have the Universal Transverse Mercator grid,
but only show the major towns and highways. An altitude measure was calculated by
taking the mean altitude, given in feet above sea level, of the four corners of the 10-km
square. A topography score (TS) was measured by counting the number of contour
intersections with the 10-km square boundary (0 = flat).

RESULTS

A total of 361 settlements in 154 10-km squares within the 12 selected 100-km squares
were checked for the presence of White Stork nests in central Turkey. In addition,
eight other settlements were checked in four other 100-km squares (Table 2).
Appendix 1 (available on request from the senior author) summarises the habitat and
White Stork breeding data collected for each random 10-km square. Appendix 2
(available on request from the senior author) is an inventory for each settlement
visited for the random 10-km square sample. The mean visit time per settlement was
21 minutes. A total of 231 settlements were checked within the 60 randomly selected
10-km squares, which was a significantly greater number per square than in the non-
randomly selected 10-km squares visited (x° = 25.7, d.f.=11, p < 0.01).

An approximate 100(1-«)% confidence interval for the total population estimate (r)
was calculated using the following equation from Thompson (1992):

r=+t/N(n-1)xr’

48 S.J. Parr, P. Collins, S. Silk, J. Wilbraham, N. P. Williams & M. Yarar

Papers

where ¢ is the upper a/2 point of Student’s t distribution with n-1 degrees of freedom.
This gives a population estimate with 95% confidence intervals of 1,260 + 610
occupied White Stork nests within the 1200 km’ survey area. The distribution of White
Stork nests and occupied nests within 100-km squares was not uniform (Table 2).
Squares VK, WG, WH and XK held the highest numbers of occupied nests
representing 54% of the total population estimate. Squares VJ and VK had the highest
ratio of unoccupied to occupied nests (33% and 83% respectively), suggesting that
recent declines in numbers were most marked in these areas. Drainage of one area of
wet grassland through ditch deepening was recorded in one random 10-km square in
square VK and both the adjacent villages held abandoned White Stork nests that were
last occupied in 1992. Data from all the 10 km squares visited (Table 2) suggested a
similar ranking of importance for the 100 km squares .

The largest number of occupied White Stork nests was 10 in WH84 (Appendix 1). The
mean number of occupied nests per random 10-km square was 1.1 and the mean
number per occupied 10-km square was 3.2. If the area of central Turkish steppe
habitats is estimated at 20,000km* then the extrapolated population estimate is 2,200 +
1,000 occupied nests. The frequency of occupied nests per settlement is shown in
Table 3. Two settlements held five occupied nests, but approximately 75% of occupied
nests were single nests within settlements. Two nests were on telegraph poles outside
of settlements (Appendix 2). Most nests were located on buildings. The largest
colony in central Turkey was 12 occupied nests found in July 1994 in WH33 in the
village of Esmekaya adjacent to a large wetland (S. Parr and M. Naveso pers. obs).

A step-wise multiple logistic regression analysis of habitats on the presence of
occupied White Stork nests found no significant relationships with any habitat or
measures of altitude and topography. Alonso et al. (1991) showed that breeding
White Storks in Spain foraged within 1km of the nest. Hence a similar analysis was
performed on habitats measured within the 1-km square of each settlement and those
in the surrounding 8 1-km squares. Habitats were only measured for the 130
settlements for which complete habitat data was available. 29 (22%) contained
occupied White Stork nests. The results (Table 4 available on request from the senior
author) show a significant positive relationship with wet grassland and a significant
negative relationship with upland grasslands and scrub. These data suggest, taking
into account the close inter-correlation of habitats (Table 5 available on request from
the senior author), that breeding White Storks tend to occur more often in settlements
adjacent to low-lying, flat areas containing wet grassland and marsh.

DISCUSSION |

Extrapolation from the 5% random sample survey of 10-km squares within 12 selected
100-km squares provided an estimate of 1,200 + 610 occupied White Stork nests. By
further extrapolation the central Turkish population can be conservatively estimated
at between 1,200 and 3,200 pairs. A significant correlation between the presence of an
occupied nest and the presence of wet grassland within 1 km of the nest was
demonstrated. This concurs with an analysis of the White Stork population in Spain
(Carrascal et al. 1993) which showed that habitat selection was geographically very
“constant”, and that short to medium sward grasslands holding high prey densities
were important. Hence conservation measures in both Spain and Turkey (and
elsewhere) must be focused on ensuring that wide scale drainage of wetlands and the
use of farming practices that decrease prey biomass are restricted. ‘Wider
countryside’ prescriptions devised by the European Union including Environmentally
Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and Agri-Environment Regulations are probably the best

S. J. Parr, P. Collins, S. Silk, J]. Wilbraham, N. P. Williams & M. Yarar 49

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

means of maintaining widely dispersed but locally important habitats. ESAs have
been successfully established and operated in Spain (de Juana et al. 1993) and provide
a useful model.

The use of remote sensing, especially the Landsat TM images, have proved valuable
for determining Wood Stork Mycteria americana (Hodgson et al. 1988) habitat
requirements. This technique might be useful for mapping wet grasslands and
marshes over large areas. A measure of agricultural intensification might also be
gained from an analysis of local agricultural production statistics collected by the
Turkish Government’s Department of Statistics. Increases in production might be
correlated with habitat improvements, especially the funding of irrigation and
drainage schemes. There will be a need to repeat the survey in at least five years time
in order to measure population changes within the survey area. Repeat surveys
should concentrate on the 20 10-km squares which held recently occupied nests.

Table 1. Natural vegetation of 100-km survey squares summarised from Noirfalise (1987)

100-km square = Percentage cover of natural vegetation
XK Pre-steppe forest 90% Pine forest 10%
XH Steppe 75% Pre-steppe forest 20% Upland grassland 5%
WL Subpontic forest 80% Oak forest 10% Pre-steppe forest 10%
WJ Steppe 80% Pre-steppe forest 20%
WH Steppe 75% Open water 15% Salt steppe 5% Shrub-steppe 5%

WG Steppe 55% Pre-steppe forest 25% Montane scrub 15% Salt steppe 5%

VK Pre-steppe forest 70% Steppe 20% Pine forest 10%

VJ Steppe 80% Pre-steppe forest 20%

VH Steppe 80% Pre-steppe forest 15% Salt steppe 5%

UJ Steppe 50% Pre-steppe forest 45% Pine forest 5%
Pine forest 50% Oak forest 30% Oak-pine forest 20%
Steppe 65% Pre-steppe forest 20% Subpontic forest 15%

Table 2. Summary of White Stork data collected in central Turkey, April-May 1993 and extrapolated population estimate

RANDOM SAMPLE NON-RANDOM SAMPLE
100-km Number of Number of WS nest WS occupied WS occupied Number of Numberof WSnest WS occupied
square squares settlements number nest number nest population squares settiements nest number
visited estimate visited number |

XK5 15 11 180 2 2
XH5 11 2 40
100
20

ine)

Oo wWowoono + oa —
GD ON WH Oana f + =

231

50 S. J. Parr, P. Collins, S. Silk, J. Wilbraham, N. P. Williams & M. Yarar

Papers

Table 3. Frequency of occupied White Stork nests within settlements within 60 random 10-km squares in central Turkey, April - May 1993

Number of occupied nests/settlement

Frequency

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are very grateful to the following who assisted with the fieldwork, provided logistic support and
became good friends: Okan Arihan, Emre Dikici, Omca Gurgtin, Mehmet Gursan, Sihendan Karauz, Cem
Kirac, Kemal Nuraydin, Murat Ozcelik, Uygar Ozesmi, Asli Sezer, Sermin Tan and Ozan Veryeri. Gernant
Magnin, Dr Colin Bibby, Jonathan Eames, Richard Porter and Dr Jean-Pierre Biber provided much help in
the planning of this survey. John Bell provided advice with statistics. Funding from British Petroleum via
the Expedition Awards of BirdLife International and the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society is gratefully
acknowledged. Grants were also gratefully received from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB) and the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME).

REFERENCES

ALONSO, J.C., ALONSO, J.A. AND CARRASCAL, L.M. (1991) Habitat selection by foraging White Storks Ciconia
ciconia. Can. J. Zool., 69: 1957-62.

CARRASCAL, L.M, BAUTISTA, L.M AND LAZARO, E. (1993) Geographical variation in the density of the white
stork Ciconia ciconia in Spain: influence of habitat structure and climate. Biol. Cons. 65: 83-87.

DALLINGA, J.H. AND SCHOENMAKERS, S. (1989) Population changes of the white stork since the 1850s in
relation to food resources. In: WeiBstorch - White Stork: status and conservation proceedings of the first
international stork symposium, Walsrode 14-19 October 1985. (ed.) Rheinwald, G., Ogden, J., and
Schulz, H. ICBP, Walsrode, pp 231-62.

DE JUANA, E., MARTIN-NOVELLA, C., NAVESO, M.A., PAIN, D. AND SEARS, J. (1993). Farming and birds in
Spain: threats and opportunities for conservation. RSPB Conservation Review 7: 67-73.

Gortup, P.D. AND SCHULZ, H. (1991) Conservation management of the white stork: an international need and
opportunity. In: Salathé T. (ed.) Conserving migratory birds. (CBP Tech. Publ. 12, Cambridge, UK.

Hopcson, M.E., JENSEN, J.R., MACKEY, H.E. AND COULTER, M.C. (1988). Monitoring wood stork foraging
habitat using remote sensing and geographical information systems. Photogrammetric Eng. & Rem.
Sensing 54: 1601-7.

KANYAMIBWA, S., BAIRLEIN, F. AND SCHIERER, A. (1993) Comparison of survival rates between populations of
the white stork Ciconia ciconia in central Europe. Ornis Scand. 24: 297-302.

KASPAREK, M. AND KiLic, A. (1989) Brutverbreitung und bestandsentwicklung des wei storches (Ciconia
ciconia) in der Turkei. In: WeiBstorch - White Stork: status and conservation proceedings of the first
international stork symposium, Walsrode 14-19 October 1985. (ed.) Rheinwald, G., Ogden, J., and

Schulz, H. ICBP, Walsrode, pp 231-62.

KUMERLOEVE, H. (1989) Status und verbreitung des wei storches Ciconia ciconia in der Turkei 1958-1987. In:
WeiBstorch - White Stork: status and conservation proceedings of the first international stork
symposium, Walsrode 14-19 October 1985. (ed.) Rheinwald, G., Ogden, J., and Schulz, H. ICBP,
Walsrode, pp 231-62.

NOIRFALISE, A. (ed.) (1987). Map of the Natural Vegetation of the member countries of the European Community
and Council of Europe. Council of Europe, Strasbourg.

TUCKER, G.M. AND HEATH, M.F. (1994) Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife International
(BirdLife Conservation Series no.3), Cambridge, UK.

THOMPSON, S.K. (1992) Sampling. John Wiley & Son, New York.

Stephen J. Parr, Countryside Council for Wales, Plas Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2LQ, U.K.
Paul Collin, Susan Silk and Juliette Wilbraham, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge,
Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, U.K.

Nick P. Williams, Department of the Environment, Wildlife Inspectorate, Room 8/08 Tollgate House,
Houlton Street, Bristol BS2 9DJ, U.K.

Murat Yarar, Dogal Hayati Koruma Dernegi, PK18, 808510 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey

S. J. Parr, P. Collins, S. Silk, J]. Wilbraham, N. P. Williams & M. Yarar bil

Sandgrouse 18 (2): 52-57

Observations on the avifauna of the Azraq
wetland, Jordan, June 1995

FARES KHOURY

LAF Gee swaee | In June 1995, Qa’ al Azraq was covered with saline water and held large
a ee e q &
Ree ee | . .
Is Gas a Pe de Buse numbers of waterbirds, especially waders. JES anlarshies of the Azraq ewaad
ee SIE = Se eee Reserve, dry since 1988, were also partially inundated. Several species,
ey eo ») Seca 5 _ dependant on wet habitats were present (some apparently breeding), in this
ao ak aN 5 " <~ area. 50 species were recorded in the wetland reserve, flooded qa’ and silt
/ 4 Bs a dunes. Some appear to have been beneficiaries of man-made developments
x eee ) Cie ae) (settlements, agriculture, ponds) in the area, although others, which breed in
ex ) RA | unprotected areas e.g. White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura, are threatened by
Gans wre \ | agricultural expansion.
ae d \
| oN eer Ne
af Sw
cece ‘ |
) Va
INTRODUCTION

ZRAQO IS THE only permanent, natural wetland in the eastern desert of Jordan,

and one of very few such sites in the Arabian peninsula (Evans 1994). The study
area comprises the spring-fed freshwater marsh and pools (Shishan Marsh/Wetland
Reserve, protected), and Qa’ al Azraq (unprotected): a huge drainage basin which is
seasonally flooded by rain. In wet years, the qa’ is transformed into a huge, shallow
saline lake. The silt dunes covered with Nitraria and Tamarix surrounding the qa’ were
also included in this study. Over the past 30 years, such flooding has occurred on a
moderately frequent basis, but it is rare for the floods to be sufficiently extensive to
delay complete evaporation until the summer, and hence allow waterbirds to breed.
Winter rains in 1990/91 led to a productive breeding season in May-June 1991
(Andrews 1991), but subsequent floods have been short-lived or absent.

In June 1995, large parts of Qa’ al Azraq and the nearby silt dunes were still flooded
due to local and unusually heavy rainfall in November 1994. The water was especially
rich in fish and insect larvae. In contrast to the ga’, years of misuse and over-
exploitation (water pumping) have led to the marsh completely drying out, with the
consequent loss of its rich wetland avifauna (Conder 1981, Andrews 1991). In 1995,
the flood reached a sufficient height to inundate the outer limits of the marsh,
bringing back life to previously parched areas. This was a significant development,
since water had not flowed into the marsh from the springs since c.1988.
Concurrently, the Royal Society for Conservation of Nature and Azraq Oasis Project
are attempting to protect and rehabilitate the marsh, concentrating on the Shishan
pools area (approximately one hectare). Largely sparse and young stands of
Phragmites and Typha, sedge and others (e.g. Juncus, Carex, Scirpus, Tamarix) now cover
an area of over 30% of the Azraq Wetland Reserve (approximately 55 ha).

Although Azraq was the subject of a considerable amount of research in the 1960s
(Mountford 1965, Nelson 1973, Wallace 1983), this important site has not been
adequately monitored during the rapid developments of the last decade. Data are
essential to document the avifauna’s response to fundamental habitat changes caused
by human exploitation, such as water extraction and agricultural expansion. The
observations presented here provide an up-to-date supplement to the only other bird
data available for this period (Andrews 1991, 1995).

O71
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F. Khoury

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SYSTEMATIC LIST

The following 50 species were recorded in and around the Azraq Wetland Reserve on five days
during the 1995 breeding season. Observations were conducted on the following days: 12 May
and 4, 8, 14 and 15 June. In May, many migrants were also recorded, but these are not detailed
here; birds of the surrounding desert are also omitted.

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus One pair in the freshwater marsh throughout the period of
observation in reedbeds and tamarisks surrounding a freshwater pool. Breeding may have been
attempted in 1995, but there has been no definite proof of nesting since 1969 (Nelson 1973).

Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Three second-year birds were at the marsh.

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Two to five pairs until mid-June and then 20 immatures in the
marsh and on silt dunes surrounded by water. There was a small colony in the marshes in the
1960s (Nelson 1973), and breeding may have been attempted in 1995.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta 25 in the marsh and on mud flats at the beginning of the period,
declining to three on 15 June, were probably non-breeders.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Two or three in flooded areas and in the marsh throughout the
observation period, were presumed to be non-breeding birds.

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea A pair probably bred in the sedge marsh and reed beds. Present
throughout the period, with a juvenile later seen in the reeds. This would be the first recorded
instance of breeding since 1969 (Nelson 1973).

White Stork Ciconia ciconia Two apparently summered on the northern edge of the qa’.

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Four on 8 June among flooded tamarisks on the northern edge of
the qa’, were presumed to be a non-breeders.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna One on the northern edge of the flooded qa’ on 8 June. Breeding was
suspected in the 1960s (Wallace 1983), and a family party was seen on the flooded qa’ in 1990
(Andrews 1991).

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Four, probably a female with juveniles, throughout the observation
period in a pool in the centre of the marsh. A male was seen on the flooded qa’ on 14 June.

Shoveler Anas clypeata A male at the southern end of the flooded qa’ on 15 June, was probably a
non-breeding bird.

Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae One flew west on 14 June, pursued by Black-winged Stilts
Himantopus himantopus, Collared Pratincoles Glareola pratincola and a Gull-billed Tern Sterna
nilotica. A very rare migrant to Azraq.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus One, presumably an adult, at a freshwater pool on 4 June, and at
least two calling in the marsh on 15 June. Breeding may have been attempted in 1995, although
the species was not recorded as having bred since the 1960s (Andrews 1995).

Coot Fulica atra Between eight and 15 pairs, each accompanied by four or five young, were on
the flooded qa’. This is apparently the first confirmed breeding record for Azraq, although
nesting was suspected in the 1960s (Wallace 1983). Breeding probably occurred very locally in
flooded, dense vegetation on the edges of the qa’.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 150-300 pairs present in June (a few pairs with
chicks were seen in May) and behaved rather aggressively (flying over in groups and giving
alarm calls) when approached in June, and on one occasion in May mobbing and chasing a

F. Khoury 53

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 100 juveniles were counted in June, scattered or together with
adults in flocks in areas covered by shallow water. The status of the this species at Azraq in 1995 is
similar to that reported in 1991 (Andrews 1991) and depends mainly on the water level in the qa’.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta At least four pairs probably bred on islands on the edges of the ga’ in
June, and many more may have bred earlier in the year. Flocks of up to 60, including juveniles,
were present at the qa’. Breeding was last recorded at Azraq in 1991 (Andrews 1991). At Burqu’,
in eastern Jordan, a small breeding population was discovered in spring 1995 (R. F. Porter in litt.).

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola 15-30 pairs on the western and southern fringes of the qa’
throughout the period. A colony of c. 10 pairs presumably attempted to breed on the western
edge of the qa’ close to the marsh, whilst other pairs were scattered throughout the area. A colony
of 200+ pairs was recorded in 1969 (Nelson 1973), but only 10 pairs in 1991 (Andrews 1991).

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius At least one territorial pair was present on a dry open area
in the marsh throughout the period. A few pairs have bred at Azraq since 1991 (Andrews 1995).

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus The most common wader other than Black-winged Stilt in
June 1995. Between 100 to 300 pairs breeding on islands and the edges of the qa’. Its status is
apparently similar to that reported in 1960s (Nelson 1973, Wallace 1983) and 1991(Andrews 1991).

Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultit Twelve, including juveniles, on mud flats in the
southern part of the ga’. Two at the northern end of the qa’. This is the first evidence of
breeding at Azraq since the 1960s (Wallace 1983).

Spur-winged Plover Chettusia spinosus Four pairs in the marsh and the vegetated edges of the
qa’ acted as if nesting (being alert and noisy on approach): one pair with a chick was seen on the
northern edge of the qa’. Eight pairs were at Azraq in 1963, but numbers are now reduced
(Andrews 1995).

White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura At least three pairs were present from May to at least mid-
June in the well-vegetated, flooded silt dunes south of Azraq. They were alert and flew, whilst
alarm-calling, upon approach. One pair was accompanied by a single fledged young, which
had dark brown, mottled upperparts, on 15 June. It must have bred at Azraq, since the nearest
regular breeding sites are 600 km away in Iraq and Turkey. It has been suspected for many
years that small numbers of White-tailed Plover bred at Azraq (e.g. Wallace 1983). This record
provides the first proof.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia Three feeding on the northern edge of the qa’ on 8 June were late
migrants.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Two, probably non-breeding summer visitors, were in the
flooded silt dunes south of Azraq throughout the period.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 45 non-breeders remained throughout the period at Azraq
North.

Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica Up to 20 adults throughout the period, some sitting on silt
islands in the qa’, but no eggs or young birds seen. 110 adults appeared, over and around the
flooded qa’, on 8 June. Breeding may have occurred, as it did in 1991 (Andrews 1991).

Common Tern Sterna hirundo 12 over the northern part of the flooded qa’ on 8 June. Non -
breeders have been recorded at Azraq as late as the end of June (Andrews 1995).

Little Tern Sterna albifrons Between four and ten, hunting over the flooded areas and pools
throughout the period. One pair nested on an island in the flooded ga’ south of Azraq. Although
the species bred at Azraq in 1991 (Andrews 1991) this is the first nest to be discovered in Jordan.

54 F. Khoury 7

Papers

White-winged Black Tern Chilidonias leucopterus A total of 180, including juveniles, on 8 June in
large flocks over the qa’. Small groups of 5-20 in all parts of the flooded qa’ in June, and a few
may have bred this year at Azraq due to suitable conditions.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Recorded throughout the area. Although breeding was not
proven, the species is presumably a resident breeder at Azraq, although it was not present in
the 1960s.

Palm Dove Streptopelia senegalensis A few around the Shishan pools and inhabited areas with
trees. This species was not present in the 1960s.

Namaqua Dove Oenas capensis One pair throughout the period, and according to a local worker
had been present since April. They frequented a dry area, with a few reeds and tamarisks, in the
marsh. A male was twice seen north of the marsh. These are the first summer records in Jordan.
The species possibly breeds at Azraq, the most northerly site known.

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Recorded twice at the pools of the marsh, and once at the fish
ponds, south of Azraq. These are the first summer records at the locality, where it was regarded
solely as an autumn/winter visitor (Nelson 1973).

Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti One of the pale morph in silt dunes between the eastern edge of
the qa’ and a stony basalt area further east.

Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla One in the cultivated area east of the qa’. There have
been few breeding season records at Azraq since the 1960s, although nesting may still occur. It
is regular in autumn at this locality. In Jordan, the species is largely confined to the western
highlands during the breeding season, although singing birds were recorded near Burqu on 17
April 1995 (R. F. Porter /BirdLife International in litt.).

Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens 300-600 pairs were estimated in the area. This
species was heard singing everywhere around the qa’ and in dry parts of the marsh.

Crested Lark Galerida cristata A very common resident, recorded throughout the area, especially
common in the marsh and rural areas around the qa’.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia Small numbers over the marsh throughout the period. 16 on a wire
at the fish ponds on 15 June, where it may have bred.

Swallow Hirundo rustica A few in the village (Azraq South) and around the fish ponds were
probably non-breeding birds.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 10-20 pairs were estimated. The black-headed subspecies feldegg
occurred locally in the marsh and flooded silt dunes until at least mid-June. Males were singing
and behaving territorially. The species bred in 1991 (Andrews 1991).

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Up to ten in the marsh throughout the period, with most in an
area of sparse reeds on muddy ground, together with Yellow Wagtails. The presence of this
species as late as mid-June suggests breeding, some distance from the nearest known breeding
sites in Turkey. This record follows a pair at Khirba as Samra sewage works on 7 June 1990
(Andrews 1995). There was also a June record in Syria in 1994 (Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 33:42)

Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes Common in the marsh, silt dunes and vegetated
areas around the qa’. Perhaps 50 pairs bred. Adults carrying food to nests in Tamarix and
Nitraria bushes, and fledged juveniles were observed. Apparently more abundant than in the
1960s, when Wallace (1983) reported up to 14 territorial males at Shishan.

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti Up to 20, mostly juveniles, on the edge of the qa’ and on

OT
O71

F. Khoury

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

dunes covered by Nitraria. In Jordan the species frequents well vegetated sand or silt dunes, e.g.
Wadi Araba and Azraq, as well as sparsely vegetated, flat and stony deserts, e.g. the basalt
desert, north-east of Azraq.

Graceful Warbler Prinia gracilis Two to five pairs in the marsh.

Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta More common in the marsh than the last species, occurring
principally in the drier parts and the silt dunes.

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus 15-40 pairs. At least 15 males were singing throughout the
marsh, even in small areas of reed. One fledgling on 15 June, in a dense reedbed on the edge of
a pool. Andrews (1995) noted that the species now breeds in much reduced numbers: in the
1960s the population may have numbered 400 pairs.

Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida Three males singing between the marsh and the edge of
the qa’ in a flooded Tamarix-sedge complex on 14 and 15 June. This species has not been proven
to breed at Azraq.

Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Three records in open bushy areas, in and around the marsh.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Common in inhabited and cultivated areas, as well as in the marsh.

Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta Recorded in the marsh and on the eastern edge of the qa’,
where a group of six were feeding on the ground and two were drinking in fields flooded by
farmers. This species is probably a recent addition to the area’s avifauna, due to increasing
agriculture (Andrews 1995).

DISCUSSION

As a result of the flooding of the ga’, which remained wet until at least mid-June in
1995, several species dependant on shallow, brackish water were common and/or
bred on the qa’ edges and islands. These included opportunists such as Black-winged
Stilt, Greater Sand Plover and Little Tern.

Species dependant on open freshwater, reedbeds, dense Tamarix complexes and other
tall, dense vegetation have decreased in number and diversity since the 1960s, as a
result of habitat loss, caused by water extraction from the marsh springs during the
1970s and 1980s. Up to 28 species formerly bred or possibly bred in the wet parts of
the marsh (Nelson 1973, Wallace 1983). In 1995, a maximum of 13 possibly bred or
bred, in small numbers, in the marsh. These included Little Bittern, Purple Heron,
Moorhen, Citrine Wagtail and Reed Warbler. On the positive side some species have
been attracted by the increasing cultivation and development of man-made pools,
including some which are not known to breed, e.g. Sand Martin, or are rare in Jordan,
e.g. Pied Kingfisher, but may nest at the fish ponds which were established in the
1980s. Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris, of which one pair bred at the ponds
in 1990 (Andrews 1991), is another recent addition to the avifauna.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus may still occur in winter, but a breeding population has
not been re-established, whilst Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla possibly still breeds (a
possible record of a pair on 8 June), but no evidence of this was obtained in 1995.

Non-aquatic species recorded in the marsh also occur in dry areas around Azraq.
Several species which are expanding their range were absent in the 1960s e.g.
Collared, Palm and Namaqua Doves and Desert Finch. The rapid development,
especially of agriculture, around the wetland continues to indirectly threaten

56 F. Khoury

Papers

important and unprotected areas for rare breeding species in Jordan, e.g. Coot, White-
tailed Plover and Little Tern. Others e.g. Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides have

already been lost.

Both Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus and Moustached Warbler A.
melanopogon were seen and heard in May 1995 in the last mature reedbeds adjoining
the Shishan pools. In June, the pools were artificially enlarged and the reedbeds
destroyed. Given adequate protection of the marsh and its freshwater sources, these
species as well as other former breeders could perhaps re-establish breeding
populations in the future.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank Dr. A. Hatough and Dr. G. Fariz for their help and support, and I. J. Andrews, Dr. R. van
den Elzen and K. R. Harder for commenting upon the text.

REFERENCES

ANDREWS, I. J. (1991) Is Azraq still an oasis? Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 27: 13-19.

ANDREWS, I. J. (1995) The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Andrews, Musselburgh.

CONDER, P. J. (1981) Water extraction at Azraq. Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 6: 8.

MOUNTFORD, G. (1965) Portrait of a Desert. Collins, London.

NELSON, J. B. (1973) Azraq: Desert Oasis. Allen Lane, London.

WALLACE, D. I. M. (1983) The breeding birds of the Azraq Oasis and its desert surround, Jordan, in the mid-
1960s. Sandgrouse 5: 1-18.

Fares Khoury, Department of Ornithology, Zoological Research Institute and Museum Koenig (ZFMK),
Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany.

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Sandgrouse 18 (2): 58-60

A short breeding bird survey of Kulu Goli,
Central Anatolia, Turkey in May 1995

SUHENDAN KARAUZ KIRAC AND CEM KIRAC

Seven islands in Kulu Golii were surveyed for breeding waterbirds in May
1995. Compared to the results of previous surveys and casual observations,
breeding populations of most species had remained stable or declined, but
significant increases were noted for Slender-billed Gull Larus genei and Gull-
billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica.

INTRODUCTION

ULU GOLU IS a typical Central Anatolian steppe lake. It was selected as one of 78

Important Bird Areas (IBA) by Ertan et al. (1989) and remains an important
waterbird breeding site. On the basis of a brief survey in May 1995 a significant
increase in the numbers of breeding Slender-billed Gull Larus genei and Gull-billed
Terns Gelochelidon nilotica has occurred while most other species have remained stable
or declined.

DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA

Kulu Golu (39° 05’ N 33° 09’E) is 110 km south of Ankara and surrounded by dry semi-
steppe and agriculture except on the southern and western shores where there are
small stands of Phragmites reed. It is fed by Kulu River which rises to the west and
springs at its northern and southern margins (EFT 1993). Water level varies according
to seasonal rains. Maximum depth of the lake is two metres and its area is 800 ha.
(Ertan et al. 1989). The altitude of the lake is 930 metres. It was declared a First Degree
Natural Site in July 1992 by the Turkish Ministry of Culture.

There are four small islands in the east and three islands in the northern part of the
lake: sand island I, sand island II, Buytk island and Topak island on the eastern shore
and Yassi, Arka and Esentepe islands on the northern shore. Sand island I and II are
the authors names alone but the other island names are in widespread local use.

The islands are all between 50 and 300 metres across their longest axis. Most have
sandy or stony perimeters and several are partly vegetated. On Topak island this is 1.5
metres high. Arka and Esentepe islands are rarely utilised by breeding birds as they
are connected to the shore by sandbanks, enabling humans and cattle to reach them.

METHODS

The area was visited twice during the breeding season. On 7 May 1995 waders, gulls and terns
were observed incubating on two of the islands, thus a more thorough breeding census of these
was attempted on 19 May.

All nests were counted during the incubation period. Sand island II, Topak island and Yassi
island were counted from the mainland, using telescopes. The numbers of nests which were
deemed ‘apparently occupied’ were assessed during visits to sand island I and Buytik island
which were reached on foot and using an inflatable boat respectively.

58 S. K. Kirac & C. Kirac

Papers

PREVIOUS ORNITHOLOGICAL STUDIES
At least 184 species have been recorded at Kulu Golti of which 21 have bred (Kasparek 1987).

Breeding bird totals found by Kasparek (1987), Ertan et al. (1989) and G. Magnin and M. Yarar

(pers. comm.) on 10 June 1994 are compared in Table 1.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In May 1995 breeding waterbirds were almost wholly confined to the small islands at the
eastern and northern shores of the lake where they were free of predation. The complete results
of our survey are presented in Table 1 alongside all other available data from the site. It should
be noted that data presented in Kasparek (1987) are a summary of the observations of many
observers, most of whom visited the area on an incidental basis, whilst that in Magnin and
Yarar (1994) and the present study are the result of more organised surveys.

Table 1. Numbers of breeding waterbirds at Kulu Golu, Central Anatolia, Turkey in May1994 with comparative numbers from previous surveys.

Kasparek IBA Magnin& Presentstudy Sand Sand Buyuk Topak Yassi Arka
ce (1987) (1989) Yarar (1994) (total) pee lee ll
"Black-necked Grebe 100-150 220
| Greylag Goose A , 2 2pr+ broods
Ruddy Shelduck 50 50
‘Common Shelduck 10-15
Mallard o : : 2 pr (6 eggs) pr (14 eggs)
“White-headed Duck 30 22 +16 9 3
Oystercatcher 10 1072 3 (inc 1 on mainland) 2
-Black-winged Stilt 80-100 60 8 :
Myocet = 150-200 200-400 280.5 «143 720
Collared Pratincole | ae
_ Kentish Plover = 10-20
Greater Sand Plover 5 4.(mainland)
Lapwing 50
Mediterranean Gull —-<30 389 92 (3 colonies)
—Black-headed Gull 50 : 45
- Slender-billed Gull 100% 325 (3 colonies)
Gull-billed Tern 200 95. | 251

é ; . ; ee eens RE st £ ree eer
Plate 1. Slender-billed Gull Larus genei colony on Buyuk island, Plate 2. Mixéd colony of Slender-billed L. genei and Mediterranean
Kulu Golu. (Cem Kirac) Gulls L. melanocephalus on Buiyik island, Kulu Gdlu. (Cem Kira¢)

_ Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus Three colonies totalling 92 pairs were found on

Buytk island: 50 pairs with Black-headed Gulls L. ridibundus; 27 pairs and 15 pairs with
Slender-billed Gulls. 87 pairs were incubating on Topak island and one pair was on Yass1
island. Goutner & Isenmann (1993) reported just 50 pairs in 1987 whilst G. Magnin and M.
Yarar (pers. comm.) estimated 400 pairs in 1994.

Slender-billed Gull Larus genei On Biiytik island, 3 separate colonies were identified: the first
of 140 pairs was monospecific while the second was of 140 pairs and the third consisted of 45
pairs with Mediterranean Gulls. The 1995 breeding numbers are considerably higher than

Saks Kinde Gie skirac 59

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

previous counts (see Table 1). The Central Anatolian lakes, especially Seyfe Golu and Kulu
Golti, are important breeding centres for this species in the Mediterranean basin (Isenmann &
Goutner 1993).

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Both 1994 and 1995 estimates of breeding numbers were
considerably higher than previous studies but the 1994 figure was a rough estimate (G. Mle
& M. Yarar pers. comm.).

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica A total of 475 pairs was found. Highest numbers were on
Buyuk island which had 251 pairs, where nests were scattered throughout the short vegetation
on the sand surrounding the island, or in the centre of the island. The number of Gull-billed
Terns in 1995 was more than double previous estimates. The species is subject to a widespread
decline in Europe and is considered Endangered (Tucker & Heath 1994), a trend mirrored in
Turkey (Biber 1993).

Although Kulu Golu has been
designated a First Degree Natural
Site, it receives no effective
protection. The principal threats
are from over- and illegal hunting,
together with the discharge of
sewage effluent from the town into
Kulu River (EFT 1993).

This study confirms the importance
of Kulu Golu for breeding
waterbirds in Central Anatolia and
further monitoring should be
undertaken, especially for White-
headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala,
gulls and terns. Strict conservation
regulations should also be applied ee a ae,
by the appropriate government _ Plate 3. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica colony on Buyiik island, Kulu Gol.
department. (Cem Kirag)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Murat Yarar and Gernant Magnin for providing their unpublished data from 1994 and their
assistance with previous information, Okan Anhan for providing an inflatable boat and other equipment
and Ece Soydam for his help in the field. Special thanks to Dr Sancar Baris, Dr Stephen Newton and Guy
Kirwan for helping with the preparation of the final manuscript.

REFERENCES

BIBER, J. (1993) Status and distribution of the Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica) in the Western Palearctic. Proc.
2nd. Medit. Seabirds Symp., Calvia.

ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION OF TURKEY (EFT) (1993) Wetlands of Turkey Environment Foundation of
Turkey, Ankara.

ERTAN, A., KILIC, A. AND KASPAREK, M. (1989) Tiirkiye’nin Onemli Kus Alanlar. DHKD & ICBP, Istanbul.

GOUTNER, V. AND ISENMAN, P. (1993) Breeding status of the Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) in the
Mediterranean basin. Proc. 2nd Medit. Seabird Symp., Calvia.

ISENMANN, P. AND GOUTNER, V. (1993) Breeding status of the Slender-billed Gull (Larus genet) in the
Mediterranean basin. Proc. 2nd Medit. Seabird Symp., Calvia.

KASPAREK. M. (1987) The birds of Kulu Golii. Birds of Turkey 5. Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg.

TUCKER, G. M. AND HEATH, M. F. (1994) Birds in Europe: their conservation status. (BirdLife Conservation Series
No. 3). BirdLife International, Cambridge

Stihendan Karauz Kirac & Cem Kirac, P. K. 245 Yenisehir, 06443 Ankara, Turkey

60 S.K: Kirae G& Gakinie

Notes

Did Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos
formerly breed in Jordan?

M. I. EVANS AND SULTAN AL-MASHAQBAH

HE LAPPET-FACED VULTURE Torgos tracheliotos is a vagrant in Jordan with just one

documented record: one near Azraq in April 1963 (Wallace 1984) and some unpublished
sightings in recent years in Wadi Araba (Sutari 1996). These are considered to be wanderers from
the tiny remnant Israeli population (just two birds are known in the wild, Shirihai 1996) which
until 1989 bred on the west side of Wadi Araba. It is plausible that the species formerly bred on
the Jordanian side of Wadi Araba, as habitat and human pressures were presumably similar in
both countries until recently. Here we record anecdotal evidence to support this supposition.

Whilst surveying Dana Nature Reserve for birds in April 1995, we interviewed Abu Mohamed,
a local man in his early fifties. He had lived here all his life, working as a shepherd and was
knowledgeable and interested in wildlife. After discussing the nearby colony of Griffon
Vultures Gyps fulvus we asked if he knew of any tree-nesting vultures. It transpired he had
observed this once, when about 12 years old, i.e. between 1953-1955. Whilst in Wadi al
Khrayjiyah (30° 34’N 35° 24’E), a flat, sandy area on the outwash plain of Wadi an Nummalah
bordering Wadi Araba, about seven km south of the recently established village of Quraygqira
and outside Dana Nature Reserve, he noticed a smell akin to rotting meat, coming from a huge
mass of twigs, possibly a nest, atop a nine metre Acacia raddiana (‘seyal’) tree. He scaled the tree
to establish if there were eggs but could not climb into the nest and was forced to construct a
hole upwards through it. By sticking his head through the hole he could see a small, naked
raptor chick. The nest was thick and flat topped with a very shallow cup (where the nestling
lay), constructed of twigs with some rags and other “rubbish” and was large enough for two
boys of his size to have sat on top of it. Both adults then appeared, swooping at him with
outstretched talons and he claimed to have been cut by one of them. He saw that they were
huge vultures (“nisr”) with naked heads, notably hooked bills and large talons, the size of a
man’s fist. Terrified, he descended and ran away.

According to Abu Mohamed, eight years later (in 1961-1963) the largest acacias in Wadi al
Khrayjiyah (including the nest tree) were chopped down by itinerant charcoal-burners from At
Tafila. He never saw or heard of any more such nests. The Twisted Acacia A. raddiana tends to
have a single trunk and be taller than the only other acacia common in Wadi Araba, the multi-
stemmed Umbrella Acacia A. tortilis. It is possible that A. raddiana was targeted by the charcoal-
burners. The outwash plain of Wadi an Nummulah still supports one of the most impressive
stands of Acacia tortilis in Jordanian Wadi Araba, despite there being many more people, mostly
semi-nomadic pastoralists, than in the 1950s.

There is little doubt that Abu Mohamed found a Lappet-faced Vulture nest. Golden Eagle Aquila
chrysaetos is the only other large breeding raptor in Wadi Araba which wouid build such a nest
but the description precludes this identification. Tree-nesting by Golden Eagles has not been
recorded in Wadi Araba and apparently only occurs in areas devoid of suitable cliffs (e.g. the
fringes of Rub al Khali desert, Saudi Arabia) which are plentiful in this part of Jordan.

REFERENCES

SHIRIHAL, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London

SUTARI, A. (1996) The birds of Jordan. RSCN, Amman, Jordan (in Arabic).

WALLACE, D. I. M. (1984) Selected bird observations from Lebanon, Syria and Jordan in the springs of 1963
and 1966. Sandgrouse 6: 24-27.

M. I. Evans and Sultan Al-Mashaqbah, Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, P.O. Box 6354,
Amman 11183, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
(Correspondence to MIE at: Montrose, Llanddeiniol, Llanrhystud, Dyfed SY23 SAN, U.K.)

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Long-eared Owl Asio otus breeding in |
north-west Syria |

GUY R. MANNERS AND JURGEN DIEKMANN

NE DAY IN spring 1995, Osama Denny brought an owlet to the International Center for

Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) research farm at Tel Hadya, south of
Aleppo, Syria. The bird had been found at Dana village, near Bab Al Hawa west of Aleppo on
the Syrian-Turkish border. ICARDA operates a policy of encouraging raptors and owls as
biological control agents for pest rodents on the farm, hence the reason for bringing the owl to
Tel Hadya.

GRM, who was familiar with the habitat in the region of its capture, assumed the owlet would
be an Eagle Owl Bubo bubo but subsequent perusal of photographs taken at ICARDA proved it
to be a Long-eared Owl Asio otus, the diagnostic orange eyes and facial markings being clearly
visible.

The owlet was kept in a
cardboard box at the farm
buildings for a couple of days,
before being placed in a rocky
crevice above a quarry wall
on the farm. It was fed on raw
beef which it took readily, but
about a week after its arrival it
died of unknown causes.

Neither Cramp (1985) nor
Baumegart et al. (1995) list
Long-eared Owl as a Syrian
breeding bird. The breeding
range map in Hollom et al.
(1988), which includes
northern Syria, is probably in
error. Given its range in
Turkey, where the species is a
locally common breeder in
parts of South-east Anatolia
adjacent to Syria e.g. at
Birecik, this first confirmed
breeding record in Syria is [Re Le
relatively unsurprising. Plate 1. Long-eared Owl Asio otus chick, Syria 1995

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Liz Bailey and Willie Erskine for reviewing the manuscript, and Guy Kirwan for supplying
information on the Turkish breeding situation and for final editing prior to publication.

REFERENCES

BAUMGART, W. KASPAREK, M. AND STEPHAN, B. (1995) Die Végel Syriens: eine Ubersicht. Kasparek Verlag,
Heidelberg. |

CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1985) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 4. Oxford University Press.

HOt.om, P. A. D., PoRTER, R. F., CHRISTENSEN, S. AND WILLIS, I. (1988) Birds of the Middle East and North Africa.
T. & A. D. Poyser, Calton.

Guy R. Manners and Jiirgen Diekmann, ICARDA, P. O. Box 5466 Aleppo, Syria.

Notes

The first Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
in Egypt and the Western Palearctic

ASHLEIGH ROSIER

N 30 MARCH 1995, during a two week birding trip to Egypt with several colleagues, |

visited Wadi Hagul, between Cairo and Suez. The wind was north-westerly, force two to
three with bright sunshine and clear skies. On arrival the rest of the party headed east whilst |
proceeded in the opposite direction.

I noticed two swallows flying low towards me at approximately 100 yards range, one of which
was immediately registered as being unusual. It was flying in the manner of a swallow but
appeared to have a square ended tail. The birds then deviated from their direct flight and
started feeding. It was obvious that one was a Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica but the second bird
had electric blue upperparts, much brighter and paler than the more familiar congener. Being
unsure if it was a swallow or martin I continued watching it for about two minutes as it
approached still feeding. Striking white underparts and a black and white underwing pattern
were noted. Attempting to attract the attention of my colleagues, who had now returned to the
vehicles, I watched the bird to within ten metres. In addition to the principal features already
noted I was able to add the rusty-tan crown and the extremely long and fine tail streamers.
Something was familiar about this strange bird although it was obviously a species I had not
seen previously. Thoughts of Wire-tailed Swallow H. smithii came to mind and fruitlessly |
again tried to attract the rest of the group but I was too far away and downwind of the cars. At
this point the two birds started to fly away from me and I observed them until they had almost
disappeared. I returned as swiftly as possible, only to see two cars pull away before I could
arrive. Upon reaching the remaining car I hurriedly relayed a description of the mystery bird to
John Randall who confirmed my suspicions (having observed the species on several trips to
Gambia). We therefore set off in pursuit of our colleagues. Despite catching them up after six
kilometres, it was decided not to attempt to relocate the bird due to a puncture which required
repair and the fact I had watched the bird until it was almost lost to sight.

General appearance. Barn Swallow-like with brighter upperparts and striking underwing
pattern (see Figure 1). Slightly smaller than the accompanying Barn Swallow, being also
marginally slimmer and sometimes appearing longer-bodied. At close quarters the long thin tail
streamers, white tail spots (when fanned) and rusty-tan crown were obvious.

Upperparts. In bright sunlight appeared electric blue, much brighter and paler than the
blackish-blue of the nearby Barn Swallow.

Underparts. White underwing coverts with contrasting black primaries and secondaries. Rest of
underparts white.

Flight. Not unlike Barn Swallow, perhaps slightly more fluttering but usually fast and direct
and never higher than 30 feet from the ground. Fanned tail occasionally when banking.

Figure 1. Field sketches of Wire-tailed Swallow
Hirundo smithii (Ashleigh Rosier)

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Wire-tailed Swallow is widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to
Somalia and south to northern Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, and lowlands in southern
Asia from Tadzhikistan east to Thailand, Laos and Vietnam (Sibley & Monroe 1990). This is the
first record for the Western Palearctic. One was reported at Al Ghar, United Arab Emirates on
20 February 1996 (Birding World 9 (2): 51) but there no other records in the Middle East.

REFERENCES

SIBLEY, C. G. AND MONROE, B. L. JNR (1990) Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University
Press.

Ashleigh Rosier, The Flat, Raleigh Hall, Fore Street, Topsham, Exeter, Devon EX3 OHU, ULK.

The first Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris
in Jordan

M. I. EVANS

T DUSK ON 26 February 1995 I was birdwatching from the asphalt road at the base of the

white chalk cliff above the terraced orchards at Dana village (30° 41’N 35° 37’E), at c. 1,300
metres in the Sharra Highlands of southern Jordan. The site was particularly sheltered. There
was a Slight breeze and conditions were cloudless and cold with only weak sunlight from the
setting sun. I noticed two birds progressing (by hopping or shuffling) quite rapidly up the
exposed, tilted rock strata of the cliff. They were approximately 10 metres south of the main
spring at the base of the cliff and I was able watch them unobscured at 20 metres range with 10
x 40 binoculars for 20-30 seconds before they flew out of sight. Throughout I concentrated on
one of the birds, although the two kept within one metre of each other, behaving as if paired
and preparing to roost.

Plumage A notably large, dark-looking accentor with thin bill and dark eye. Overall plumage
coloration dark grey with thick, well-defined, rich rufous streaking on the puffed-out flanks
being the most obvious feature. Pink-orange legs.

Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris is the only large accentor with rufous flank streaking found in
the Middle East. As they were viewed from below and their flanks were puffed out, I did not
positively note the streaked mantle and characteristic wing pattern. However, I had previously
seen the species in Pakistan in 1991 and was thus confident of the identification. The next
morning I found a Dunnock P. modularis, the only possible confusion species (with which I am
familiar), among the large bramble thickets of the lower Dana orchards - itself a notable record,
being the southernmost sighting in Jordan by more than 100 km of this scarce winter visitor.

This is the first documented record of Alpine Accentor in Jordan. Andrews (1995) predicted its
occurrence, it being a scarce but regular winter visitor in very small numbers to three localities
in northern Israel (Shirihai 1996). Snowfall in Jordan during winter 1994/95 was significantly
above average and in the Dana area resulted in over a month’s snow-cover in some places in
December and January, although there was no snow nearby at the time of this observation. It is
unsurprising that the first record should be so far south, as the Sharra Highlands is the largest
block of montane habitat in Jordan and is regularly snow-covered in winter.

REFERENCES

ANDREWS, I. J. (1995) The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Andrews, Musselburgh.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.

M. I. Evans, Montrose, Llanddeiniol, Llanrhystud, Dyfed SY23 5AN, U.K.

Notes

Winter status and distribution of Alpine

Accentor Prunella collaris in Turkey

ROLF & SABINE UHLIG, GUY M. KIRWAN AND Y. SANCAR BARIS

O RACES OF Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris breed in Turkey: subalpina in the Taurus
mountains, between 2400 and 3500 metres, and nominate montana in the east from 2400 to
4200 metres at least (Roselaar 1995). Kumerloeve (1961) mentions records in the Taurus at 1400-
1600 metres and isolated populations (of which the subspecific identity is unclear) occur on
Uludag, Bursa province above 1900 metres (Jetz 1995) and at an unknown altitude in the Ilgaz
Daglan, Kastamonu/Bolu provinces (Schweiger 1965). Occurrence on Boz Dag, Izmir province
requires confirmation.

In winter the species descends from most Western Palearctic breeding areas: in Iberia and the
Balkans it commonly occurs in lowland rocky habitats and even around buildings away from
montane areas (Cramp 1988). Due to an extreme lack of winter birdwatching activity, other than
at wetlands, there are very few records of Alpine Accentors in Turkey between November and
March and its movements at this season, if any, remain virtually unknown. Kasparek (1992) knew
of no winter records and the OST Bird Reports list a single November occurrence: one at
Bazargan (locality untraced), East Anatolia (OST 1975). Several were in the Kackar mountains,
north-east Turkey on 1 November 1994 (B. Gunes per G. Magnin).

Two winter records from southern Turkey are both recent: three at Alahan monastery, south of
Sertavul Gecidi, Icel province at 1889 metres on 1 December 1995 (N. Shelton per H. Welch) and
one at Oymapinar reservoir, north of Manavgat, Antalya province at 200 metres on 6 January
1995 consorting with Rock Nuthatches Sitta neumayer (R & SU). Interestingly, YSB who has spent
considerable time in eastern Turkey during winter (whilst on military service) has no records of
Alpine Accentor and N. Shelton (per H. Welch) was unable to find the species at the snowline on
Demirkazik, Nigde province on 14 February 1996.

It is unclear how frequently Alpine Accentors descend to the coastal foothills of the Taurus in
winter. Its status in eastern Turkey at this season is wholly unknown. Some may emigrate. Since
the 1980s small numbers have been discovered at three localities in northern Israel (Shirihai 1996)
and there are single records from Jordan, in February 1995 (Evans 1996) and Syria, in November
1983 (Baumgart et al. 1995). There are also winter records from Iraq (Hollom et al. 1988).

REFERENCES

BAUMGART, W., KasPAREK, M. AND STEPHAN, B. (1995) Die Vogel Syriens: eine Ubersicht. Kasparek Verlag,
Heidelberg.

CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1988) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 5. Oxford University Press.

EVANS, M. I. (1996) The first Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris in Jordan. Sandgrouse 18 (2): 64.

HOoL.oo, P. A. D., PORTER, R. F., CHRISTENSEN, S. AND WILLIS, I. (1988) Birds of the Middle East and North
Africa. T. & A. D. Poyser, Calton.

JetTz, W. (1995) The birds of Uludag. Birds of Turkey 11, Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg.

KasparkK, M. (1992) Die Vogel der Tiirkei: eine Ubersicht. Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg.

KUMERLOEVE, H. (1961) Zur Kenntnis der Avifauna Kleinasiens. Bonn. Zool. Beitr., Sonderheft.

ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF TURKEY (OST) (1975) Bird Report 1970-1973. OST, Sandy.

ROSELAAR, C. S. (1995) Songbirds of Turkey. An atlas of biodiversity of Turkish passerine birds. Ger Meesters
Boekprodukties, Haarlem & Pica Press, Mountfield.

SCHWEIGER, H. (1965) Ornithologische Beobachtungen in Anatolien wahrend der Jahre 1959-1965. Istanbul
Fen. Fak. Mecm. Ser. B, 30: 177-189.

SHIRIHAIL, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.

Rolf and Sabine Uhlig, Sodener Str. 26, D-14197 Berlin, Germany.
Guy M. Kirwan, 6 Connaught Road, Norwich NR2 3BP, U.K.
Y. Sancar Baris, clo 19 Mayis Universitesi, Patalojt Abd., 55050 Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey.

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Records of Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata
in north-eastern Turkey wie

VOLKER DIERSCHKE, FRANK STUHMER AND THORSTEN STUHMER

HE TOWN OF Rize on the Black Sea coast of eastern Turkey, presents excellent opportu-

nities to study migrating passerines. During autumn migration, newly arrived migrants
may be encountered anywhere along the coast. In August 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1993 we found
not only good numbers of buntings, warblers and wheatears, but also scarcer species, e.g. up to
ten Citrine Wagtails Motacilla citreola, four Barred Warblers Sylvia nisoria, seven Rose-coloured
Starlings Sturnus roseus, 20 Kingfishers Alcedo atthis and 20 Ortolan Buntings Emberiza hortulana.
During each visit (lasting one to three days) we also found Booted Warblers Hippolais caligata as
follows: one or two on 20 August 1988 (VD), two or three on 15 August 1990 (FS), one on 29
August 1991 (TS) and one on 5 August 1993 (FS, TS, R. Muheim).

As structure, colouration and behaviour were similar in all birds, we give a short composite
description based upon all birds. All exhibited light brown upperparts and whitish underparts,
lacking any greenish or yellowish tones. The striking head pattern included dark lores and a
pale supercilium, most pronounced before and above the eye, contrasting with the warmish
brown ear-coverts and crown and whitish throat. The mantle, most wing coverts and tail were
uniform brown, while the tertials and greater coverts were narrowly fringed off white. The
latter formed a diffuse, but obvious sickle-shaped wing panel. The outer webs of the outermost
tail feathers were whitish. The tail was square-ended, but the innermost pair of tail feathers
appeared slightly shorter. All birds showed little primary projection, giving rise to a clumsy
appearance compared to nearby Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus, which were approxi-
mately the same size. The legs appeared flesh to greyish-brown in colouration, depending on
light conditions. The toes were apparently slightly darker than the tarsus. Calls were only heard
in 1990: a harsh “check”.

Piate 1. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata, Rize, 20 August Plate 2. Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata, Rize, 5 August 1993.
1988. (Volker Dierschke) (Frank Stiihmer)

Booted Warblers were often conspicious, being encountered at the edge of small bushes and on
boulders, often exhibiting flycatcher-like behaviour. Approach to within five metres was
possible and permitted photography in 1988, 1991 and 1993. Based on more detailed
descriptions than presented here, the 1988 and 1990 records were submitted to and accepted by
the German Rarities Commitee.

Despite the proximity to the breeding and wintering ranges (west to the Caspian Sea and west
to the Arabian Gulf region respectively, Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer 1991) there are just four

Notes

other records of the species in Turkey. The only previous record was at Ardesen on 9
September 1976 (Beaman 1986) with more recent spring records being of singletons at Birecik
on 24 May 1992 (Anon 1992), Mersin on 25-26 April 1993 (P. Collin in Kirwan 1994), and Ercek
Golu on 20 May 1993 (Kirwan 1994). The fact that the species was recorded during all our short
visits to Rize suggests regular migration of small numbers through eastern Turkey.

REFERENCES

ANON. (1992) Western Palearctic News. Birding World 5 (7): 250-252.

BEAMAN, M. (1986) Turkey bird report 1976-81. Sandgrouse 8: 1-41.

GLUTZ VON BLOTZHEIM, U. N., AND BAUER K. M. (1991) Handbuch der Vogel Mitteleuropas. Vol. 12. Aula-Verlag,
Wiesbaden.

KirwAN, G. (1994) A record of Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata from Turkey. Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 33: 7-9.

Volker Dierschke, Vogelwarte Hiddensee, 18565 Kloster, Germany.
Frank Sttihmer, Hauptstr. 35, 21394 Heiligenthal, Germany.
Thorsten Stiihmer, WSA-Tonnenhof, 27498 Helgoland, Germany.

Additional information on breeding biology
of Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes

PETER CASTEGL

WP (Cramp 1988) states that the nesting site of Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes is a

thick bush or low tree, often close to the trunk and that the mean height above ground is
2.12 metres (1.7-2.5 metres). The main laying period in North Africa, Iberia and Greece is given
as the second half of May and early June. Incubation lasts 13 days, commencing upon the
clutch’s completion.

During the breeding seasons in 1992 and 1993 I spent several weeks in Turkey. A total of three
weeks were spent in the Goksu Delta, Southern Coastlands. Inland of the delta a number of
nests were found in conventional sites in low bushes. Additionally six occupied and 20
abandoned or old nests were discovered in the coastal sand dunes on the west side of the delta
near the town of Tasucu. This area has been used by locals as a refuse tip and piles of rubble,
household refuse and tin cans are scattered over the dunes. Despite the availability of suitable
bushes for nesting, the birds nest in oil drums, under tin cans and in the cavities of discarded
breeze blocks. Two occupied nests were sited at the bottom of upright cans without lids; the
cans were approximately 30 cm high with a diameter of 25 cm. The nests filled the base area
with the cup closest to one edge. In common with other nests located in the area, the nest cup
was always sited at the furthest point from the entrance of the relevant container.

The breeding season in the Goksu Delta is exactly as described in BWP above with eggs being
laid at daily intervals and the incubation period (at the only nest studied) lasting 14 days. Upon
leaving the nest the young swiftly disperse over a wide area. Fledged young which had just left
the nest and were being fed by their parents remained at least 20 metres from each other.

Subsequently, on 18 May 1994 in southern Morocco, I found a nest containing a single newly
hatched chick (no eggs were present) at five metres in a tree. Not only was this nest
exceptionally high it was also significantly earlier than might be expected from the laying dates

quoted in BWP.

REFERENCES
CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1988) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 5. Oxford University Press.

Peter Castell, Fairlawn, 679 Chester Rd, Great Sutton, South Wirral L66 2LN, U.K.

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Description of the nestlings of Olive-tree
Warbler Hippolais olivetorum

PETER CAS TEE

WP (Cramp 1992) does not include a description of the nestlings of Olive-tree Warbler

Hippolais olivetorum. A nest of this species was found near Silifke, Southern Coastlands,
Turkey in mid-June 1992. The young were naked upon hatching with skin, legs and feet all
flesh-pink. The mouth was yellow with two black spots at the base of the tongue and the gape
flanges were pale yellow. The eyes were still not open five or six days after the young had
hatched.

REFERENCES
CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1992) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 6. Oxford University Press

Peter Castell, Fairlawn, 679 Chester Rd, Great Sutton, South Wirral L66 2LN, U.K.

Additional information on Ménétries’s
Warbler Sylvia mystacea breeding biology in
south-eastern Turkey

PETER CASTEEE

HE VARIOUS HABITATS mentioned in BWP (Cramp 1992) for Ménétries’s Warbler Sylvia

mystacea include tamarisks on the banks of the River Euphrates, South-east Antolia, Turkey
as well as scrub along river banks, palm groves and gardens. The nest site is situated in low
scrub or grassy vegetation from near ground level to about 90 cm, with the mean height being
29 cm. The usual clutch contains four or five eggs and the nestling is described as having a
lemon-yellow mouth with no tongue spots.

In May and June 1993 together with four colleagues, I spent a total of nine days (over the
course of two visits) in the Birecik area on the River Euphrates. Ten occupied nests of
Ménétries’s Warbler were found: six were in brambles and four were in phragmites or other
waterside vegetation not mentioned in Cramp (1992). Most nests were low (between 30-60 cm
above the ground) but two (in bramble) were at approximately 230 cm and 130 cm. Clutch size
was four in eight of the nests and five eggs in another with the final nest containing just a
single egg although this site was not revisited subsequently. Nine of these were discovered on
18-19 May at which time eight contained eggs and the other newly hatched young. These have
two indistinct marks on the tongue, which become more noticeable with age. The fledglings
leave the nest after approximately 11-12 days.

REFERENCES
CRAMP, S. (ed.) (1992) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 6. Oxford University Press.

Peter Castell, Fairlawn, 679 Chester Rd, Great Sutton, South Wirral L66 2LN, U.K.

Notes

The first Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos
in Jordan

B..C. MINSHULL

HILST DRIVING ALONG the King’s Highway (south-west Jordan) on 14 December 1995,

Gillian Isherwood and I paused 15 km north of Wadi Musa to obtain better views of a
male Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii. In the same stony, cultivated field we disturbed
various birds including Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs, Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra and three
other buntings which called like flushed Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella and showed red-
brown rumps in flight. They alighted in an isolated bush and I observed them through a
telescope over the next 10 minutes at a range of less than 100 metres. One clearly exhibited the
distinctive head pattern of a male Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos; the others were female or
first-winter Pine Buntings.

The following description is based on my clear recollection of the sighting.

Size and structure. Typical bunting appearance and approximately the same size as the
accompanying Chaffinches, but slightly more bulky and longer-tailed.

Plumage of male. Striking head pattern: steely white crown with dark streaking, brown-red
mask and bib with faint narrow white-grey flecks, darker eyestripe and ear coverts surrounding
white-grey cheek patch. Grey nape and neck, giving collared effect. Upperparts typical pattern
of buntings with dark red-brown centres and pale fringes to the mantle, scapulars and coverts
and similarly coloured flight feathers. Rump red-brown, as in Yellowhammer. Underparts
whitish with slightly diffuse but comparatively heavy dark red-brown flank streaking. This bird
was considered to be a first-winter male.

Plumage of female/first-winter birds. Relatively nondescript, their plumage being typical of
female-type buntings. The overall appearance was of a much subdued version of the male. Both
had almost purplish, red-brown rumps and flank streaking, and the faintest impression of the
male’s head pattern. No trace of yellow was evident in either bird’s plumage (see Shirihai et al. 1995).
Bare parts. Bills steely grey, eyes dark.

Call. As the birds flew, they gave a soft, slightly rippling “tsuk”, strongly reminiscent of the call
given by Yellowhammers in similar circumstances.

The site is at 1400-1500 metres in the Sharra Highlands of south-west Jordan, one of the highest
hill ranges in the region. The species is regularly recorded in similar habitats in three areas of
neighbouring Israel: Mount Hermon (1300-1700 metres), near Zefat (900 metres) and in the
Jerusalem Hills (600-750 metres) (Shirihai 1996). This is the first published record of Pine
Bunting in Jordan, although it was recently predicted as a possible winter visitor (Andrews
1995) and listed by Shirihai (1996) for Jordan without details.

REFERENCES

ANDREWS, I. J. (1995) The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Andrews, Musselburgh.
SHIRIHAI, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
SHIRIHAI, H., CHRISTIE, D. A. AND HARRIS, A. (1995) Field identification of Pine Bunting. Brit. Birds 88: 621-626.

B.C. Minshull, 15/4 Echline Rigg, Bridgeview, South Queensferry, West Lothian EH30 9XN, U.K.

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

A new specimen record of Rustic Bunting
Emberiza rustica from Turkey

GUY M. KIRWAN

N 13-14 FEBRUARY 1996 Kerem Boyla and I completed an inventory of the remaining

bird specimens in the Robert’s College, Bebek (Istanbul) collection. We were surprised to
discover an immature, possibly male, Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica, as neither Kasparek
(1990) or Mathey-Dupraz (1920-24) list any specimens as being held there. Byers et al. (1995)
consider sexing of immature birds problematic. The skin is poorly mounted and badly
damaged but clearly identifiable. Despite this the specimen was mislabelled as Pine Bunting E.
leucocephalos; it is unclear how and when this mistake originated. A male and female Pine
Bunting, fully described by Kasparek (1986) are housed in the collection. As with the vast
majority of skins (246 of 248) retained at the college the original label is unavailable. Its
provenance is therefore unclear, although it was presumably taken within the environs of
Istanbul in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.

Kumerloeve (1961) erroneously omitted the species from the Turkish list. It was admitted by
Kasparek (1990, 1992) on the basis of two untraced specimens obtained by T. Robson between
1861 and 1871 in the Istanbul area as well as an immature male collected by Schrader at Mersin,
Icel province on 12 December (between 1882 and 1884). Robson sent an immature female taken
at Buytikdere on 24 October 1871 to Dresser (1871) who reidentified the skin as a Rustic
Bunting and another, unattributable to year, was apparently shot to the north of the city on 14
February (Kasparek 1990). Kumerloeve (1975) mentions a Rustic Bunting collected by I. C.
Parrot (1905) at Pirgos (locality perhaps present day Yuvacik, Canakkale province, 40° 05’ N 25°
45’E but probably Kemerburgaz, Istanbul province, 41° 09’N 28° 54’E) in north-western Turkey
on 24 February 1904.

Neither Schrader or Parrot’s specimens were donated to the Robert’s College collection, whilst
Robson furnished Dresser and several other leading European ornithologists with skins, in
addition to maintaining his own collection. It seems unlikely that the less well documented of
his two specimens is that discovered by KB and myself. This new specimen therefore brings the
number of records in Turkey to five.

It is surprising that there are no modern records from Turkey. In Israel it is a rare but regular
autumn migrant (annual maximum nine at Eilat in 1980) with single winter and spring records
(Shirihai 1996). There are single records in Syria in October 1974 (Baumgart et al. 1995) and
Kuwait in May 1953 (F. E. Warr unpubl.), one or two in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in
December 1981-January 1982, five in the United Arab Emirates, all since 1985 (Richardson &
Aspinall 1996) and three on Masirah Island, Oman between 1974 and 1979 (OBRC 1994). Scott
(unpubl.) treated it as a rare and irregular (less than annual) passage migrant through Iran.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to Derek Scott and Effie Warr for providing me with their unpublished data and assistance
with references, Ruth Bimson for her patience, Kerem Boyla for assistance in cataloguing the collection and
Gernant Magnin and Murat Yarar for organising our visit to the Robert’s College.

REFERENCES

BAUMGART, W., KASPAREK, M. AND STEPHAN, B. (1995) Die Vogel Syriens: eine Ubersicht. Kasparek Verlag,
Heidelberg.

Byers, C., OLSSON, U. AND CURSON, J. (1995) Buntings and Sparrows. A guide to the buntings and North American
sparrows. Pica Press, Mountfield.

DRESSER, H. E. (1871) A history of the birds of Europe. Vol. 4. London.

KASPAREK, M. (1986) On records of the Pine Bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos, in Turkey from the last century.
Zool. Middle East 1: 56-59.

Notes

KASPAREK, M. (1990) Zum Vorkommen einiger in der Turkei seltener Vogelarten. Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 41: 181-202.
KASPAREK, M. (1992) Die Végel der Tiirket: eine Ubersicht. Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg.

-KUMERLOEVE, H. (1961) Zur Kenntnis der Avifauna Kleinasiens. Bonn. Zool. Beitr., Sonderheft.

KUMERLOEVE, H. (1975) The history of ornithology in Turkey. Orn. Soc. Turkey Bird Report 1970-73. 3: 289-319,
OST, Sandy.

MATHEY-DUPRAZ, A. (1920-24) Notes ornithologiques de la région du Bosphore. Orn. Beob. 17 (1920): 25-29,
108-110;:18 (1921): 25-27, 38-41, 55-58, 101-104, 137-139, 157-158, 183-187; 19 (1922): 22-25, 41-43, 58-61,
116-119, 156-159; 20 (1923): 9-12, 24-27, 118-120, 135-137, 155-158; 21 (1924): 21-24, 43, 56-58, 103-105, 118-
120, 189-191; 22 (1924): 6-8, 43-44.

OMAN BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE (OBRC) (eds.) (1994) Oman bird list. The official list of the birds of the Sultanate
of Oman. 4th edition. OBRC, Muscat.

PARROT, I. (1905) Kritische Ubersicht der palaearktischen Emberizden. Orn. J. 16: 1-48.

RICHARDSON, C. AND ASPINALL, S. (1996) A checklist of the birds of the United Arab Emirates. Hobby
Publications, Dubai.

SHIRIHAI, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.

Guy M. Kirwan, 6 Connaught Road, Norwich NR2 3BP, U.K.

Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala
breeding behaviour in Turkey

PETER CASTELL

WP (Cramp & Perrins 1994) does not provide a description of Black-headed Bunting

Emberiza melanocephala nestlings but offers the following information on the incubation
period: usually 14 days (14-16 days in Israel and ten days recorded in Cyprus) and commencing
once the final or penultimate egg has been laid. The fledging period is stated as 13-16 days
(Israel) but ten days in Bulgaria and there is a record of young leaving a nest (possibly
disturbed by the observer) after eight or nine days. There appears to have been no significant
study of the species’ mating system and there are conflicting reports as to the role of the male in
the care of the young from observations in Croatia and Bulgaria: fed and cared for by the female
only, by both parents throughout, and there is also mention of a male which cared for his
offspring only after they had left the nest (see Cramp & Perrins 1994).

In Turkey I have found two nests of the species, one approximately 20 km north of Pozanti,
Southern Coastlands in May 1992 and another five km north of Tarsus, Southern Coastlands in
May 1993. The first contained two eggs on 27 May 1992 and four on my next visit on 8 June.
Both adults were feeding their fledglings on 18 June. One was caught; it showed scarcely any
trace of down. If incubation commenced on 29 May and lasted for 14 days, then the eggs would
have hatched on 12 June meaning that the chicks would have fledged within six days. However
it seems more likely that the fledgling was approximately 9-10 days old, meaning that
incubation lasted only 10-11 days. A second nest containing four eggs was discovered on 27
May 1993, these were still present four days later. On 10 June the nest was empty, the chicks
had now fledged and both adults were alarming in the immediate vicinity of the nest.

Newly hatched Black-headed Buntings have flesh-coloured skin with pale grey down; the
mouth is pink (deepening to red with age) with two paler spots at the base of the tongue and
another at its tip. The gape flanges are yellow. A fledgling of this species, age unknown but
unable to fly, had a pale brown crown, unstreaked breast, white underparts and pink legs and
feet.

REFERENCES

CRAMP, S. AND PERRINS, C. M. (eds.) (1994) The birds of the Western Palearctic Vol. 9. Oxford University Press.

Peter Castell, Fairlawn, 679 Chester Rd, Great Sutton, South Wirral L66 2LN, U.K.

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

VE EyePature

Harrap,S. & Quinn,D. (1995) Tits,
Nuthatches & Treecreepers. A. & C. Black
(Helm), London (U.K.), pp. 464, 36 colour
7 plates, 227.99.

This volume forms the latest addition to the
highly respected Helm Identification Guide
series. The scope of these titles continues to
increase and improve, this volume has 12%
more pages than the familiar Shorebirds but
covers only 50% of the number of species (110
in all). As well as identification and plumage
descriptions, the text has detailed information
on sexing /ageing characteristics, voice, distri-
bution and movements, habitat, population,
habits, breeding biology, geographical
variation and taxonomic relationships. These
accounts reflect the evolutionary character-
istics of this group of non-migratory
passerines, many of which have vast ranges
leading to a large amount of subspecific
variation and a certain amount of taxonomic
confusion. This problem is demonstrated by
the recognition of 57 species of true tits by
Harrap, compared to anything between 32
and 53 species in other recent works (this
work contains more species than Sibley &
Monroe!). The justification for acceptance of
specific status for some controversial species
is well presented, both in the introductory
chapters and the individual species accounts,
although in some cases the arguments appear
to be somewhat contradictory. A relevant
example for the OSME region being the
acceptance of Caspian Tit Parus hyrcanus as a
full species, which is described as “on
balance... fully justified” when the arguments

presented for and against do not appear to-

provide full justification for a decision to be
made on present knowledge. Of additional
interest to students of Middle Eastern
ornithology is the recognition of three species
of Penduline Tit Remiz spp. occurring in Iran.

The book is exceptionally well researched,
with a 14 page bibliography listing over 1200
references and relevant texts referenced in or

at the end of each species account. This
reflects the numerous studies which have
been undertaken on some members of the
group, for example. 700, papers: were
published about Great Tits Parus major during
1979 - 93 which has led to a 14 page account
of the species. |

The plates continue David Quinn’s high
standards, with the acrobatic qualities of
many species captured well. Subspecific, sex
and age related plumage variation are well
represented, with Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta
europaea receiving a whole plate and Great Tit
a plate and a half. Distribution maps
continue the established pattern of colour
maps opposite the plates, with an important
new innovation incorporating country, state
and provincial boundaries where necessary.
Accompanied by the extremely detailed
distribution accounts these fulfil the author’s
stated intention of allowing the observer to
identify the importance of observations
within any region.

Potential areas for research are identified in
the text, with requirements for further studies
of Eastern Sitta tephronota and Western Rock
Nuthatches S.neumayer all in areas of overlap
in Turkey and Iran, and the possibility of the
occurrence of Kruper’s Nuthatch S. krtieperi in
Syria, Lebanon and Iraq in areas of outlying
Turkish Pine Pinus brutia of particular
importance to OSME members.

Don’t let the incorrect caption for the Blue Tit
Parus caeruleus on the front put you off, as this
is an excellent book. It presents a mine of
valuable information and certainly represents —
reasonable value for money in comparison to
some other recent titles.

Adam Rowlands

Reviews & Recent Literature

Jetz, W. (1995) The birds of Uludag. Birds
Of Turkey 11. Max Kasparek Verlag,
Heidelberg, pp 44, DM 7.

Accessible within a couple of hours from
Istanbul, the Uludag massif has long been
popular with birders visiting Turkey. This
booklet summarises the area’s ornithology
mom tne 190 days of data analysed.
Introductory sections cover general
geocraphy, history, - ornithological
importance, altitudinal zonation of vegetation
and bird fauna, human activity and nature
conservation, non-avian fauna, birdwatching
activity and hints for birdwatchers. The
systematic list provides a detailed statement
of current ornithological knowledge,
although gaps are readily apparent. Anyone
contemplating a visit will find much useful
information contained within its pages.

Chris Bradshaw

Jonsson, L. (1996) Birds of Europe with
North Africa and the Middle East. A. & C.
Black (Helm), London (UK), pp 559, 2500
colour illustrations, 500 distribution
maps, £15.99.

_ This paperback edition of a now standard
work will doubtless encourage its even wider
ownership and in-the-field use. Few
accolades have escaped Lars Jonsson’s work
in this splendid guide but it is disappointing
that the opportunity was not taken with this
new publication to update a few more of the
@ider plates. Nevertheless, still highly
recommened for use in the Near East.

Guy M. Kirwan

Roselaar, C.S. (1995) Taxonomy,
morphology, and distribution of the
songbirds of Turkey: an atlas of biodiversity
|oP Lurkish passerine birds. GMB,
-Haarlem/NL & Pica Press, Mountfield /
UK, pp 240, 149 distribution maps,
£24.00.

The title of this remarkable book is a bit
confusing and suggests treatment of the
Turkish passerines. Of course, the main part
of the book covers the true songbirds, but
only the 156 breeding passerines are treated.

On the other hand the 167 breeding non-
passerines are listed in an appendix, and
information on neighbouring countries has
been included too. Non-passerines don’t
receive full treatment because 1. geographical
variation occurs in only 16% of the species
(93-70 for the passerines); 2. only few
specimens are available; 3. much published
information is out-of-date. Nevertheless, the
subspecies in Turkey and their respective
ranges are listed, but peculiarities are the
(random) treatment of former and possible
breeders, and the occurence of Haematopus
ostralegus longipes (not ostralegus) and Tringa
totanus britannica (not totanus).

Nine introductory chapters describe the
methods used for collecting and presenting
the information. Data have been collected
during the last 20 years, with the Leiden and
Amsterdam collections completely measured.
As a result, three new subspecies have been
described from specimens collected in 1863
(Leiden), 1876 (Tring) and 1934 (Bonn).
Furthermore, subjects like speciation,
zoogeography and endemism are included,
but are unfortunately very brief and
superficial, e.g. the influence of natural
barriers (in Turkey) on geographical variation
and development of clines has largely been
omitted. Four general maps show habitats,
Turkish ‘sub-regions’, density of published
breeding sites, and relative height, but a
detailed map showing all localities mentioned
in the text or a gazetteer are missing. The
author mainly follows Voous’ list (1977),
although differences (passerines: six, non-
passerines: four) are not mentioned or
explained.

The 145 species maps show breeding records
by two kinds of red dots of c. 20 km across,
plotted from published and collected
material, representing ‘possible’ and
‘probable/certain’ breeding records, but a
third symbol to distinguish ‘probable’ and
‘certain’ records could have been useful.
Based on a period of 100 years or more, they
show great resemblance to Hollom et al.
(1988) and BWP, and differences generally
point to errors in the latter two (e.g. Lesser
Grey Shrike Lanius minor & Raven Corvus
corax).

Each account gives scientific and English
names, and for all but seven the Turkish
name (based on a 1989 Turkish publication),

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

like Cif Caf (for Chiffchaff, with lorenzii
considered specifically distinct) and Bulbul
(for Nightingale!). Main information is
divided into four headings: 1. ‘Habitat’ with
brief notes on the species’ requirements; 2.
‘Distribution’ summarizing information on
population, status and movements; 3.
‘Geographical variation’; and 4. ‘References’.

For polytypic species the third (and most
important) headine is divided into:
‘Subspecies described or recorded in the
region’ and ‘Subspecies recognized in
Turkey’. The first lists all subspecies (valid or
not) described from Turkey and surrounding
countries, and gives details on author, year,
type, locality, distinguishing morphological
characters and measurements. Unfortunately,
details on biological characters and
differences in songs and calls are not
included. It also leans heavily on Hartert’s
somewhat outdated Die Vogel der paldark-
tischen Fauna (1903-1938), but this has been
made up for in the second part, presenting
the authors opinion on the aforementioned
treatment with extensive discussions on the
validity, differences, measurements and
distribution in Turkey, resulting in the
(sometimes provisional) lines on the maps to
indicate subspecific boundaries and ranges of
overlap or (supposed) intergradation.

A new Western Palearctic breeding species is
presented by treating the Turkish Lesser
Short-toed Lark population as a part of the
Calandrella cheleensis-complex (contra Mild in
Beaman Palearctic Birds, 1994).

The bibliography (covering +400 items
ranging from 1877 to 1994, mainly since
+1960) is presented in a rather cumbersome
way, with abbreviated entries pointing to two
separate bibliographies in the introductory
chapters (chronological and country-wise)
and to the species accounts, but no page
numbers are included. Main sources I missed
are Hue & Etchécopar, Les oiseaux du Proche et

du Moyen Orient (1970), Sibley & Monroe,

Howard & Moore, Wolters’ Vogelarten der
Erde, and Peters’ checklist (of which all
passerine volumes have been published since
Vaurie’s treatment).

The Turkish and scientific/English indices
only cover the passerines, thus not being
usable as a complete list for the country, and
subspecific names have not been included.

/4.

Errors are few, but the page numbering in
‘contents’ is incorrect, Melanocorypha rufescens
rufescens (p. 26) should of course be
Melanocorypha bimaculata rufescens, and Thick-
billed Lark has been omitted from the indices.
Therefore the only serious criticisms concern
the brief introduction, the lack of a
gazetteer/map & glossary, and the poor
bibliography & indices. Nevertheless, both as
the completion of a major task as well as a
starting point for further study and conser-
vation this book is a must for every serious
palearctic ornithologist (amateur or profes-
sionals alike) at the friendly price of only
£0.10/ page.

Oscar van Rootselaar

Shirihai, H. (1996) The birds of Israel.
Academic Press, London & New York,
692pp, £65.

Books with the title [he Birds of... ide a
multitude of sins. They may be site guides,
field guides, basic bird books or detailed
country avifauna. None of these notions fully
prepares the reader for Hadoram Shirihai’s
monumental The birds of Israel. It is a huge
work of great detail and scholarship, heavier
than most volumes of BWP and sure to
appear as excess baggage of well-prepared
travellers to Israel. I hope the binding proves
more robust than it seems.

Israel is a rich country, with a sophisticated
system of protected areas and a strong
interest in birds and nature conservation. It
has varied habitats, from wetlands to deserts
and mountains and, of course, is a famous
land bridge for migrating birds. The country
is very well watched, both by native
birdwatchers and by huge numbers of
tourists. So the task facing Shirihai was much
larger than would be expected from the size
of the country alone. Indeed, just looking
through the references shows how
extensively the author searched for his data.
Just as telling is the number of times Shirihai
himself is listed as an author or observer. He
has undoubtedly put his field experience to
excellent effect.

The book starts with a historical and general
overview of ornithology in Israel, including,
of course references to birds in The Bible. It
would be a brave author who rejected records

Reviews & Recent Literature

in that book! The bulk of The birds of Israel -
and I do mean bulk - is the species accounts.

‘They are organised under the headings of

subspecies in Israel; status, habitat & general
occurrence; distribution, numbers & annual
cycle; as well as a paragraph on the world
mange. [he accounts dre accurate, well-
researched and authoritative. With so many
records being from foreign visitors (and
trippers are notorious for not submitting
Records for scrutiny -by local: records

_committees), it is a wonder that they are so

comprehensive.

Although the text is condensed, it is not sO

truncated as to be unreadable. The language
is quirky in some of the more narrative
sections, such as the introductions (having
both ‘general’ and ‘relevant’ introductions
may raise a wry smile), but this never inhibits
understanding. The species accounts are well
organised, with a sensible hierarchy of
consistent headings.

I found some of the figures and illustrations a.

little disappointing. There is just the one scale
of map, different versions of which show
major towns, habitats, rainfall. and
topography. Larger versions showing greater
detail would have been clearer, especially for
habitats. I was also expecting rather more
Alan Harris artwork, and had high hopes of
seeing some of his excellent colour paintings
other than on the cover. Most of the line
drawings used are to his usual high standards
— and I wish others would also paint their
passerines as the delicate creatures many are -
but they are a little dwarfed by the text.
Curiously, his cover illustrations, the only
ones in colour, are a little weak.

The. colour photographs, by contrast, offer a
mouth-watering selection of some of Israel’s
finest birds. Some will be familiar to birders
in the UK because they have been published
before, but others are certainly new. Only
some of the pictures of birds in the hand leave

- something to be desired.

Unusually for a book of this kind, a great deal
of care has been taken with the habitat shots.
Most are far more evocative of the landscape
than might be expected in such a volume, but
they lose none of their scientific value for
looking attractive.

This book could not contain everything a
reader may wish to know about the birds of
Israel. For example, it does not deal with
identification of the races of speciés
mentioned, even though much of that
information has been out of print for some
years. Nor is it quite so useful as might be
first thought for a casual visiting birder who
just wants sites for particular birds. A site
guide and the excellent new edition of
Heinzel, Fitter and Parslow’s Birds of Britain
and Europe with North Africa and the Middle
East will still be enough for many people. This
is the book by which all other country
avifaunas will be judged, not just those within
the OSME region. I can imagine other authors
kicking themselves for not finishing their
typescripts before Hadoram Shirihai raised
the stakes so high. The author, publisher and
team of collaborators should be congratulated
on such a magnificent volume.

Mark Boyd

ALSO RECEIVED

Zoology in the Middle East. Volume 13 is
now available from OSME Sales. Within its
117 pages are several items of interest to
OSME members. Ornithological papers
include descriptions of the first Red-fronted
Serin and Hawfinch in Arabia, winter records
from southern Sinai, the ecology and
behaviour of Arabian Woodpecker and a
breeding record of Imperial Eagle in Turkey.
It is typically well produced, the front cover
being enlivened by a photograph of the
enigmatic: Monk Seal, and for -DM27
represents value for money.

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

compiled by

Pete Davidson and 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, including all those from Cyprus and Oman
have been authenticated and these are indicated.

All dates refer to 1996 unless otherwise stated.

Records and photographs for Sandgrouse 19 (1)
should be sent, by January 15, to Around the Region,
OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire

SG19 2DL, U.K.

aye He
cy

a
“~~
~\

——
=-_—
-—
a

oN ele

son

Bee-eaters
Merops apiaster
by D. Powell

A diver sp. Gavia sp. at Paphos on 14
May was unusual, there are no
previous records of any divers off
Cyprus, although all three species
recorded in the Middle East have been
found on the Mediterranean coast of
Turkey. Two immature Gannets Sula
bassana off Yumurtalik, Cukurova on
10 January (only the third winter
record in Turkey) and four immatures
off the Goksu Delta on 25 March were
only about 20-21st records.

‘There was an exceptional count of
1450 Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax
pygmeus in the Meric Delta, Turkey on
22 February. A whole series of
significant records comes from Aden
Marshes, Yemen in late March-early
April, the highlights being one to
three adult Black-headed Herons
Ardea melanocephala between 26
March-3 April (two to four previous
records, most in the early 1980s), with
two still present on 26-28 April, and
an adult Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca
on 30 March-26 April (The Lammergeier
1 (3): 3). The latter was the first
Yemeni and second Middle Eastern
record; the previous occurrence being
near Eilat, Israel in October 1982
(Shirihai 1996). Also at the same
locality were four displaying adult
Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus on
26 March-3 April, up to three adult
African Spoonbills Platalea alba (the
first documented record) and c. 9160

wae?

Plate 1. African Spoonbills Platalea alba
(R. F. Porter)

Lesser Flamingos Phoenicopterus minor
(the highest ever numbers in Yemen)
on the same dates. One, then five
African Spoonbills were present in
late April (The Lammergeier 1 (3): 3).
Additional records of Lesser Flamingo
were of c. 1200 at Hodeidah lagoons
and 180 at Taizz lagoons, unprece-
dented numbers in former North
Yemen and 50 (of the 300 in late
October 1995) were still at Salalah
khawrs, Oman in May. The first

Pete Davidson and Guy M. Kirwan

CW shebruary-22

Around the Region

Plate 1. Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca (R. F. Porter)

record of Squacco Heron Ardeola
ralloides on Socotra was four at Hadibu

marsh in late March.

Wintering waterfowl in northern
Israel during early January included
eight Lesser White-fronted Geese
Anser erythropus in the Hula Valley
and four Bewick’s Swans Cygnus
columbianus in the Jezreel Valley. A

flock of 214 Whooper Swans Cygnus

cygnus in the Merig Delta on 22
February was not only the largest ever
in Turkey but exceeded all previous
total winter counts; the international
waterfowl census performed the
previous month produced 209 at four

sites, along with 17 Bewick’s Swans

C. bewickii at Egirdir Golt on 26
January, the ninth record in Turkey

-(DHKD 1996). A Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea at Al Ghar Lake,

UAE on 22 January was the 15th

record whilst three were near Taizz on
March = (The
Lammergeier 1 (1): 1). There are fewer
than ten previous records in Yemen,
most from the Aden area. Two flocks,

totalling c. 80 Red-breasted Geese

Branta ruficollis were at

- Buytikcekmece, west of Istanbul on 11

February, the largest ever flock in
Turkey, along with two Goosanders
Mergus merganser, also a significant
record. At Jabbul salt lake, Syria there
were at least eight Marbled Teals
Marmaronetta angustirostris and a
drake White-headed Duck Oxyura
leucocephala on 6 October 1995 but
even more significant was a drake

-Red-breasted Merganser Mergus

‘Pete Davidson and Guy M. Kirwan

serrator at the same locality on 3
February. Baumgart et al. (1995) list
just one previous record, in February
1977. A total of 1300 White-headed
Ducks were counted at Turkish

wetlands in January, including just

1037 at Burdur Golti (DHKD 1996 —
although earlier in the month 1273 had
been counted, TWSG News), the lowest
winter total for many years, concern
for the future of. this species.'is
mounting (Green & Hunter 1996).

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus
passage in Israel peaked on 5 May
when 41,000 passed Mt. Yoash.
Further records of Crested Honey
Buzzard P. ptilorhynchus included up
to two in UAE: at Zabeel from 16
January-5 March (the only previous
record was identified in hindsight; one
photographed over Hamraniyah fields

‘in December 1992), and in Egypt an

adult male reported at Bir El Ambagi,
near Quseir on 9 May (Birding World 9
(5): 178), which would be the first
record if accepted. In Israel a single
Black Vulture Aegypius monachus was
overwintering at En Gedi with three
more in the Golan/Hula area; the
species remains very rare in winter
(Shirihai 1996). In Saudi Arabia three
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos trach-
eliotus nests were at Mahazat as Sayd
on 4 January, when up to 30 birds
were roosting at the same locality. A
juvenile Bateleur Teratopius ecaudatus
at Eilat in the latter half of March was
the sixth record in Israel, and the first
since 1989. All of the previous records
were in the period 1982-89 (Shirihai

1996). A Northern Goshawk Accipter
gentilis at Qarn Nazwa, UAE in late
January was the third record whilst an
immature male at Jahra Gardens,
Kuwait on 15 February appears to be
the first county record (Birding World 9
(3): 92). A male Levant Sparrowhawk
A. brevipes (fewer than five previous
records) remained in the same place
from 5 January-23 February at least.
Another first for UAE, if accepted,
involved two Shikras A. badius near
Dubai on 27-28 June. Three Spotted
Eagles Aquila clanga at Wadi Dana and
one in the Shaubak area of Jordan on
7-8 February are the fifth and sixth
country records and very early
assuming they were migrants. The
eighth record of Lesser Spotted Eagle
A. pomarina in UAE was at Khor Dubai
on 1 March; all records have been
since 1990 (Richardson & Aspinall
1996), whilst the fifth Golden Eagle A.
chrysaetos was near Ruwais on 12 May.

In UAE there were two Little Crakes
Porzana parva at Ruwais on 9 March,
followed by singles at the Emirates
Golf Course on 17 March and near
Ruwais on 8 May; the 15th-17th
records (all have been since 1990,
Richardson & Aspinall 1996). In
Turkey counts of at least 42 Little
Crakes at Kozanli Saz Golu on 19
April, 39 at Gavur Golti on 22-24 April
with 1-4 at three other localities this
spring were exceptional. The third
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio
on Cyprus was east of Evretou on 24
November 1995. A single Demoiselle
Crane Anthropoides virgo at Balikdami
on 17 April was unusual; passage
records from central and western
Turkey are rare. However, totals of
7728 and 653 Demoiselle Cranes over
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 21-22 March
were more significant. The 17 Little
Bustards Tetrax tetrax previously
reported in the Bet She’an Valley of
northern Israel in December 1995
(Sandgrouse 18 (1): 77) increased to 23
in January.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta bred for
the first time in UAE, where ‘20
including four juveniles were at Al
Ghar on 22 June. Two Stone Curlews
Burhinus oedicnemus at the mouth of
Wadi al Mujib, Jordan on 5 January
constituted the first winter record. The
second Arabian and first Omani
breeding record of Collared
Partincole Glareola pratincola was at
Sun Farms, Sohar in May, when six-
eight pairs were found along with a
nest containing two eggs, a tiny chick,
a half-grown chick and a fledgling. A

Fd.

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

Black-winged Pratincole’ G.
nordmanni reported near Ruwais in
early May would be only the third
record for UAE if accepted. Two,
perhaps nine, Black-winged
Pratincoles by the Euphrates in Syria
on 7 October 1995 were only the
second record (the first was in July
1963, Baumgart et al. 1995), whilst two
at Mekkah, Saudi Arabia on 22 March
were also an unusual record. Further
unsubstaniated reports of Lesser Sand
Plover Charadrius mongolus in Cyprus
involved a single at Paphos on 4-5
January and a non-breeding adult at
Larnaca salt lake on 24 February
(Birding World 9 (2): 51). Another
record, recently published in Alauda
(Thauront 1995) is poorly
documented. There is a previous
February record of White-tailed
Plover Chettusia leucura in Syria
(Macfarlane 1978) but nonetheless one
at Jabbul salt lake on 3 February was
distinctly unseasonal. Two White-
tailed Plovers, which were perhaps
breeding, at Sultan Marshes on 9 July
are the first published Turkish record
since 1992. Flocks of 62 and 109 Red
Knot Calidris canutus in the Izmir area,
Turkey on 18-19 January and 17
February along with at least six at
Deveciusagi on 10 January provided
further evidence that this species
overwinters in small numbers in
southern and western coastal areas of
the country (Kirwan in press). Also in
Turkey, the first Middle Eastern
record of White-rumped Sandpiper
C. fuscicollis was at the Goksu Delta on
17 May. There are records of three
other species of Nearctic wader in
Turkey: American Golden Plover
Pluvialis dominica, Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularia and Wilson’s
Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor; the two
former have also been observed at the
Goksu. In Israel there was a Grey
Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius at Eilat
on 29 March-5 April; only c. 23rd
record ever and fifth in spring
(Shirihai 1996).

There are fewer than 20 Turkish
records of Pomarine Skua Stercorarius
pomarinus, thus at least three off Kulak
beach, south of Tarsus on 22 March
was significant. The largest ever
concentration in Egypt of the globally
threatened White-eyed Gull Larus
leucopthalmus involved 6500 adults at
Hurghada rubbish dump on 7 May. If
accepted a Mediterranean Gull L.
melanocephalus reported at Ramtha tip
on 22 January will be the first record
for UAE. Among a spate of extreme
rarities in UAE this spring came the

first national record of Little Gull L.
minutus, at Khor Kalba on 15-28
March, with a second reported at Sila
in May, and the sixth Common Guil
L. canus, a first winter, at Rams dump
on 27 March. A first winter Common
Gull at Rawal Lake, Islamabad on 22
and 24 January was a vagrant in
Pakistan. Roberts (1992) lists seven
records by 1992. An immature Little
Gull at Jabbul salt lake on 6 October
appears to be the first Syrian record
since 1980 and one of only six since
the 1940s (Baumgart et al. 1995). In
Turkey an adult Great Black-backed
Gull L. marinus, where the species is
very rare, was at Uskiidar on the
Asian shore of the Bosphorus on 13
February, while the sixth record in
Cyprus was at Larnaca salt lake on 10
March. A first winter Kittiwake Rissa
tridactyla was at Karabiga, west of
Bandirma on 21 February; the ninth
record in Turkey. A five day cruise in
the northern Red Sea between 13-18
July produced a number of interesting
records. White-cheeked Tern Sterna
repressa was numerous between
Shadwan and Tawila islands with a
colony of 1150 pairs found on a small
island off Tawila, whilst nearby two
first-summer Arctic Terns S. paradisea
were photgraphed among a large
flock of other terns; apparently the
first Egyptian record. A colony of 150
pairs of Bridled Terns S. anaethetus
was located on Tawila island with an
additional 20 pairs nesting on one of
its smaller satellites.

Up to three Alexandrine Parakeets
Psittacula eupatria were present in
Dhahran in early June (and may have
been present there for a year); the first
record for Saudi Arabia, although
populations are now known in
Bahrain and UAE (Jennings 1995).
There were two separate reports of
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator
glandarius chicks being fed by Hooded
Crows Corvus corone cornix at Aswan
on 28 and 29 March; the first breeding
record since 1970. In Yemen two
males and a female Klaas’s Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx klaas were at Wadi
Namash, south of Taizz on 3-4 April
with another two males at Al Mahwit
on 8 April. There are only about five
previous records. Other interesting
Afrotropical cuckoos in Yemen
involved single Jacobin Cuckoos
Clamator jacobinus near Jebel Bura (The
Lammergeier 1 (2): 1) in early spring
(exact date unavailable) and at the
base of Jebel an Nabi Shu’ayb on 1
June (The Lammergeier 1 (4): 9) and two
singing Didric Cuckoos Chirysococcyx

caprius at Al Mahwit on 17-18 May;
the latter was the c. 8th record. A
Jacobin Cuckoo was at Al Ansab
lagoons, Oman on 11 January. In
addition to the now regular overwin-
tering Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei
at Eilat, Israel, another was discovered
at Yotvata on 7 January. The fifth
record of Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix
butler: in Oman involved one calling
west of Mughsayl on 6 November
1995. Two Nubian Nightjars
Caprimulgus nubicus 50 km south of En
Gedi on at least 21 January was a
significant record; the Israeli
population has declined to near
extinction since the mid-1980s
(Shirihai 1996). Two Palm Swifts
Cypsiurus parvus or C. balasiensis at Al
Ain on 20 February would be yet
another first for UAE (and the Gulf
States), if accepted. A flock of 15
Common Swifts Apus apus in Wadi
Dana, Jordan on 1 February was a
very early record, which was followed
closely by 12 Alpine Swifts A. melba
at the same locality on 7 February. The
12th UAE record of the latter species
was at Qarn Nazwa on 12 March,
where it was acccompanying the 11th
Little Swift A. affinis to be found in
the Emirates. Another of the latter
species was at Ras al Khaimah, UAE
on 8 June.

In UAE a Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda
dunni was claimed at Umm al Quwain
on 27 March; there have been several
recent records in neighbouring Qatar
(Nation et al. in press). Numbers of
Small Skylarks Alauda gulgula in the
Arava Valley, Israel during January
peaked at five with nine in the Bet
She’an Valley on 18 February. Two
Shore Larks Eremophila alpestris at
Cape Andreas on 9 March were the
second record in Cyprus. In UAE a
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
reported at Al Ghar on 20 February
was yet another national first and the
second in the Middle East; following
one in Wadi Hagul, Egypt in March
1995 (Rosier 1996), whilst a Crag
Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris at Qarn
Nazwa on 30 March was also a scarce
record. Additional to December 1995
reports from the north of the country
(Sandgrouse 18 (1): 79) were ten Buff-
bellied Pipits Anthus rubescens at Eilat
during February and March and 2-8 in
the Bet Shean valley in January and
February. Four Olive-backed Pipits
Anthus hodgsoni present in Jahra
Gardens during January (Birding
World 9 (2): 51) were only the second
Kuwaiti record; the first having
recently come to light through video

Pete Davidson and Guy M. Kirwan

evidence, and a flock of up to 15 in
southern Islamabad from 29 January-8
March appears to be the first Pakistani
record (Roberts 1992). A Forest
Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus in
Mushrif Park, Dubai on 5 March was
the eighth ever and first spring record
in the UAE; it follows the seventh, also
in Dubai, in October 1995 (Sandgrouse
18 (1): 79). Six African Pied Wagtails
Motacilla aguimp were at the usual
locality of Abu Simbel on 18 March
and single Citrine Wagtails M. citreola

were at Nuweiba on 30 March and

Sharm el Sheikh sewage farm on 6
May. The species is scarce on passage
through Egypt.

In UAE wintering Grey Hypocolius
Hypocolius ampelinus numbers peaked
at an exceptional 80 at the regular site
of Al Ain on 12-14 January with 32
remaining at Al Wathba throughout
March and at least 25 at Al Shati in
late March. Following a report in
Jordan last autumn of a Stonechat
Saxicola torquata of one of the eastern
races maura or stejnegeri (see
Sandgrouse 18 (1): 79), a male of the
race variegata was at Azrag on 7 April.
Recent DNA research indicates that
S.t. maura, the so-called ‘Siberian’ or
(better named) ‘Eastern Stonechat’,
may warrant specific status (see Wittmann
et al. 1996. J. Zoo. Syst. Evol. Research
33: 116-122). A male Pied Stonechat S.
caprata was at the Emirates Golf
Course on 22-23 March, the second
record for UAE (and fourth in Arabia),
following one at the same locality in
May 1994 (Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull.
33: 44). Five Redwings Turdus iliacus
at Dana, Jordan on 12 January was the
third country record. Israel’s first Red-
flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus was
at Zefat for ‘most of) January.
Elsewhere in the Middle East there are
records from Lebanon-(one) and
Cyprus (two). A Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros of one of the
orange-bellied subspecies — the phoeni-
curoides group - at the mouth of Wadi
al Mujib on 3 January was the first
winter record in Jordan, whilst there
was a flurry of interesting wheatear

reports from the same country. A male

Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka
was Claimed at Shaumari on 7 April;
potentially the first record (see Dutch
Birding 18 (2): 96, Andrews 1995), a
pair of Hooded Wheatears Oenanthe
monacha on the Lissan peninsula was a
new Jordanian locality for the species
and three White-crowned Black
Wheatears O. leucopygia in Wadi
Selma on 1 January were the first
confirmation of its long-suspected

Around the Region

presence in the eastern Basalt Desert.
The fifth and sixth records of Hooded
Wheatear on Cyprus involved one at
Xeros Potamos ford on 16 April and a
male at Mazotos on 12 May. A White-
crowned Black Wheatear at Sila on 20
February was the third record in UAE,
the most recent was in February 1994
(Richardson & Aspinall 1996) and the
second record in Turkey was at
Yumurtalik, Cukurova on 9 March.
Previously unknown in winter from
the southern Jordanian highlands,
Finsch’s Wheatear O. finschii was
found to be common _ between
Busseria and Shaubak between late
November 1995 and late February. A
total of 37 Yemen Thrushes Turdus
menachensis recorded at five sites in
late March and early April, all in the
former North Yemen, was unusual, as
was a single at Wadi al Murwani,
Saudi Arabia on 24 April. The latter
locality is just 200 metres above sea
level. The second and third records in
Cyprus of Dusky Thrush T. naumanni,
at Cape Greco on 25 April 1993 and
Akhna Dam on 28 December 1994,
have been accepted but not previously
mentioned in these reports.

The following counts of Rufous-
vented Prinia Prinia burnesti along the
Indus floodplain: five at Chashma
Barrage on 19 February, 10 at Dhup
Shumali on 18 February and at least 16
at three sites just south-east of Dera
Ismail Khan on 17-18 February
confirm its continued presence in this
little watched region of North West
Frontier Province, Pakistan. Egypt
recorded its first Basra Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus griseldis, a single claimed
in mangroves 46 km south of Safaga
on 8 May (see Birding World 9 (5): 178).
The third record of Cyprus Warbler
Sylvia melanothorax in Jordan involved
a male at the entrance to Wadi al
Mujib on 7 January with at least two
in the same place on 30 January.
Nearby the fourth record of
Ménétries’ Warbler S. mystacea in
Jordan was at Qasr Amra on 6 April;
the third was at the same locality on 7
April 1995 (Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull.
35: 71), whiist a male Cyprus Warbler
north of Zafarana on 8 April (Dutch
Birding 18 (3): 143) was about the
seventh record in Egypt. On Cyprus
the first confirmed breeding records of
Sardinian Warbler S. melanocephala
were in 1992 and 1993 (Brit. Birds 89
(1): 41), and it appears to be already
expanding its range. A Hume’s
Yellow-browed Warbler Piiylloscopus
inornatus humei was in Jahra Gardens,
Kuwait on 12 January and 23 February

(probably the first record of this (sub)
species, although there are apparently
recent (and historical) records of
Yellow-browed Warblers (see Wright
1995);

A relatively small northerly range
extension of Jerdon’s Babbler
Chrysomma altirostre in Pakistan was
made, with five at Chashma Barrage
on 19 February and a total of 19-24 at
two sites just sout-east of Dera Ismail
Khan on 17 February. There have been
very few records of this species along
the northern section of the Indus
floodplain since its discovery there in
1932. A possible Bearded Tit Panurus
biarmicus was at Jabbul salt lake on 11
May 1995; there are no certain records
from Syria (Baumgart et al. 1995). In
south-west Saudi Arabia a pair of
Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra
senegala at Jabal Sharda on 28 April is
thought to represent the northernmost
record of this species in Arabia. An
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus at
Wadi Kid near Nabaq was followed
by a male at Quseir on 9 May; the
third and fourth Egyptian records
since 1984 (cf. Orn. Soc. Middle East
Bull. 35: 68) but a probable female at
Tel Hadya on 8 May 1995 was the first
in Syria. The third and. fourth
Isabelline Shrikes in Cyprus have
recently been accepted: a first winter
at Akhna Dam on 8-9 February 1994
and a male at Paphos on 5 May 1995,
which predate a female at Paphos on 6
May 1995 (Sandgrouse 18 (1): 79),
which becomes the fifth. Another
Raven Corvus corax in Jordan was seen
in the Karak area on 30 January; the
first since the 1960s remained in the
Shaubak area until at least mid-
February (see Sandgrouse 18 (1): 80).

The fourth Tree Sparrow Passer
montanus in Egypt was at Zaranik on
28 April-1 May (Birding World 9 (5);
178). More spectacular were the 1200
Pale Rock Sparrows Carpospiza braclhiy-
dacytla which passed Qarn Nazwa,
UAE on 12 March; in Kuwait one was
in potential breeding habitat at Subiah
in March. In addition 12 at Sun Farms,
Sohar, Oman on 23 May were very
late spring migrants. A Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustes at Wadi
Dana, Jordan on 20 February was the
first in the southern half of the country
whilst the first national record of Red-
fronted Serin Serinus pusillus involved
a male with Syrian Serins S. syriacus
in the Shaubak area on 21 February.
The first records in Arabia of both
Hawfinch (which remained at Jubail
al-Sinaiyah industrial park until 18

Pete Davidson and Guy M. Kirwan

Sandgrouse 18 (2)

March 1995, see Sandgrouse 18 (1): 80)
and Red-fronted Serin have recently
been documented (Meadows 1996,
Symens 1996, see also Orn. Soc. Middle
East Bull. 35: 73). At Rafah, north Sinai
at least 12 pairs of Serin S. serinus,
some with young, were found on 30
April, the second Egyptian breeding
locality. The 12th record of Trumpeter
Finch Bucanetes githagineus in Turkey
involved a singing male above Isikli
on 14 June with two, probably
additional, singing males nearby the
following day. This is the first record
since 1993 (Kirwan 1995). Despite the
political situation in eastern Turkey
Mongolian Trumpeter Finch B.
mongolicus continues to be seen at the
usual site by Dogubayazit; the most
recent sighting, of 20-42 birds (the
largest ever numbers), many in pairs,
being in early June (Hadoram Shirihai
per Steve Gantlett). Up to two Golden-

winged Grosbeaks Rhynchostruthus
socotanus at Al Hara, 80 km south of
Taif on 26-27 April is thought to be the
northernmost locality for this species.
The largest flock of Rock Buntings
Emberiza cia to be recorded in Jordan,
where it is a scarce winter visitor,
totalled at least 48 birds in Wadi
Hamra on 21 January and
Yellowhammer E. citrinella was found
wintering further south in Jordan than
previously known; a flock of up to 30
were in the Alqadissiah, Jabal Sarab
and Dana Nature Reserve area until

late February. There were also c 20 of

the latter species along with five Reed
Buntings E. schoeniclus at Tel Hadya,
Syria on 14 December 1995 where
both are only occasional. A male Pine
Bunting E. leucocephala at Cape
Andreas on 8-9 March was the fourth
Cypriot record. In UAE there was a
Cinereous Bunting E. cineracea at

REFERENCES

Jazeerah on 28 March, the 17th record
(and 15th in spring, with most in late
March and early April) whilst one at
Asprokremnos Dam, Cyprus on 18
April 1994 has been accepted as the c.
16th island record.

Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus
socotanus by S. M. Andrews

ANDREWS, I. J. (1995) The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Andrews, Musselburgh.
BAUMGART, W., KASPAREK, M. AND STEPHAN, B. (1995) Die Végel Syriens: eine Ubersicht. Kasparek Verlag,

Heidelberg.

DHKD (1996) International waterfowl census Turkey 1996. DHKD Bird & Wetland Section Report 9, Istanbul.

GREEN, A. J. AND HUNTER, J. (1996) The declining White-headed Duck: a call for information. Threatened
Waterfowl Specialist Group News 9: 19-21.

KIRWAN, G. (1995) Recent records of rare birds in Turkey. Zool. in Middle East 11: 37-46.

KIRWAN, G. M. (in press) The status of the Red Knot, Calidris canutus, in the Middle East. Zool. in

Middle East 13.

JENNINGS, M. C. (1995) An interim atlas of the breeding birds of Arabia. NCWCD, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
MACFARLANE, A. M. (1978) Field notes on the birds of Syria. Army Bird-watching Soc. Per. Publ. 3: 47-94.
MEADOWS, B. S. (1996) First record of Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes in Arabian Peninsula. Zool. in

Middle East 12: 21-23.

NATION, B., NATION, H. AND Hooper, A. (in press) Birds new to Qatar. Sandgrouse.
RICHARDSON, C. AND ASPINALL, S. (1996) A checklist of the birds of the United Arab Emirates. Hobby

Publications, Dubai.

Roserts, T. J. (1992) The birds of Pakistan. Vols. 1 & 2. Oxford University Press, Karachi.
ROsIER, A. (1996) The first Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithi in Egypt and the Western Palearctic.

Sandgrouse 18 (2): 63-64.

SHIRIHAL, H. (1996) The birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
SYMENS, P. (1996) First record of Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus in Arabian Peninsula. Zool. in

Middle East 12: 29-31.

THAURONT, M. (1995) Gravelot Mongol Charadrius mongolus du groupe atrifrons a Chypre et statut de
l’espéce dans l’ouest palearctique. Alauda 63 (4): 307-11.
WRIGHT, B. K. (1995) The status of warblers in Kuwait. Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 34: 1-7.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following have assisted in the preparation of this review: lan J. Andrews/Naturetrek, John K. Bannon,
Arnoud B. van den Berg (Dutch Birding), Sean Browne, David Counsell, John and Jackie Day, Paul Doherty
(Bird Images), Given Eken, Jens Eriksen, Mike Evans, D. A. Ewbank, Paul Ganney, Steve Gantlett (Birding
World), Tony van Gastel, Andrew Harrop, Derek Harvey, Fares Khoury, Dr Graham Lobley, Gernant
Magnin, Guy Manners, Rodney Martins, Dominic Mitchell (Birdwatch), E. Ozer, Richard D. Palmer, Richard
Porter, Adrian Royle, Jean E. Sadler, Dr Omar Al-Saghier, Jean Sadler (COS (1957), Hadoram Shirihai, Peter
Stewart, M. H. Thurston, Geoff and Hilary Welch, Robert S. R. Williams and Murat Yarar.

Pete Davidson, 24 Christchurch Road, Norwich NR2 2AE, U.K.
Guy M. Kirwan, 6 Connaught Road, Norwich NR2 3BP, ULK.

80 Pete Davidson and Guy M. Kirwan

SANDGROUSE

GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORS

The Editorial Committee of Sandgrouse will consider for publication
original papers which contribute to the body of knowledge on the birds of
the Middle East: their distribution, breeding biology, behaviour, identifi-
cation, conservation, etc. The Middle East for this purpose includes Turkey,
Cyprus, and Libya in the west to Afghanistan and the Palearctic fringe of
Pakistan in the east, the southern shores of the Black and Caspian Seas in
the north, and the Arabian peninsula and the Palearctic limits in Sudan and
Ethiopia in the south.

Submissions are considered on the understanding that the work has not
been previously published and is not being offered for publication
elsewhere.

Papers should be in English, but non-English-speaking authors who are
unable to obtain translations of their work may apply to the Editor for help.
Submissions should be typed on A4 paper , double-spaced, unjustified
(ragged right), with two wide margins, and on one side of the paper only;
two copies are required (or only one if a disk is supplied as well; see
below). Authors should consult the current issue of Sandgrouse and follow
conventions for layout, headings, tables, captions, references, abbrevi-
ations, etc. Full-length papers must include a factual summary not
exceeding five per cent of the length of the text. Scientific names and
sequence of bird species should follow Porter, R. F. et al. (1996) Handbook of
the birds of the Middle East.

Figures should be drawn without lettering in black ink on good-quality
white or translucent paper. The original artwork must be supplied, plus
one copy with rough lettering in place; the text of lettering should also be
supplied on a separate sheet of paper (and on disk if possible; see below).
In preparing figures authors should have regard to the page size and
format of Sandgrouse. Figures will ideally be drawn about 50 per cent
larger than final size; if they are much larger than this care should be taken
to avoid use of fine detail that will be lost in reduction. Areas of fine
Letraset tint should be avoided and uniform half tones (e.g. pencil shading)
are not usually acceptable.

Photographs are welcomed: colour (preferably transparencies) or
black and white.

It will be highly advantageous if authors prepare text on word processor.
Final typesetting is done directly from disk. A disk (as well as typescript)
should be supplied with the first submission. Disks should be 3 inch, DD or
HD; if you are using an Apple Mac it is essential that you format the disk,
and save the file, in PC format. Ideally, provide your file in WordPerfect
(preferably) or Word format (even if your word processor is not one of
these it may be able to produce files in one of these formats); if this is not
possible, then as a simple ASCII text file, i.e. without word processor
formatting codes. Please state the name and version number of your word
processing program. In laying out tables on disk, data columns should be
separated by hard space, not tab commands (i.e. use your space bar, not
your tab key). For text, hyphenation should be turned off. In case of any
doubt or difficulty, please contact the Editor.

Authors will receive galley proofs to check for typographical errors.
Changes of substance cannot be made at proof stage under any circum-
stances. On publication, authors will be sent two copies of the appropriate
issue of Sandgrouse. Any artwork, photographs, and disks will be returned
as soon as possible after publication. Submissions should be sent to:
Sandgrouse Editor, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL, UK.

LLL EE IL LS SE ET TE EY EI EF SE TI aT BP A ID I EE I I ESS SSS

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