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SANDGROUSE

Volume 20 (2) 1998

ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
THE MIDDLE EAST

ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF THE MIDDLE EAST

OSME

OSME was founded in 1978
as the successor to the
Ornithological Society of
Turkey. Its primary aims are:

# To collect, collate, and
publish data on all aspects
of the birds of the
Middle East.

# To promote an interest
in ornithology and bird
conservation throughout
the Middle East.

@ To develop productive
working relationships
with other governmental
and non-governmental
organisations with an
interest in conservation
and/or natural history
in the region.

MEMBERSHIP

OSME is open to all, and its
membership spans over 40
countries.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

Individual £12
(£15 air mail outside Europe)

Family £15
(£18 air mail) for two, plus £3 for
each additional family member.

Supporting £24

Cover the subscription of a
national birdwatcher in the
region (£27 air mail).

LiFE MEMBERSHIP

Individual £225
(£100 if 60 or over)

Family £300

for 2 members.

Please add £3 if payment is made
in non-sterling currency. For details
of payment by banker's order, and
for any other information on the
Society, write to the Secretary at
the address below.

PUBLICATIONS

OSME publishes a scientific journal, Sandgrouse, containing
papers, news and features on all aspects of Middle Eastern
ornithology. Published twice yearly, it is issued free to
members. Further copies are available for sale from OSME.

IMIEETINGS 2 Eee
An Annual General Meeting is held in London at which guest
speakers provide new perspectives on ornithology in the
region. There are also occasional special meetings, some

taking place outside the UK.

PROJECTS —2 Eee
OSME organises field expeditions to collect data on birds in
little-known parts of the region and in areas where OSME can
assist by teaming up with local groups.

The Conservation & Research Committee grants funds to
valuable field projects and desk studies which further
knowledge and conservation of birds in the region. Grants
have been awarded to over 30 projects since the Conservation
& Research Fund was set up in 1982.

VICE PRESIDENTS:
Prof. Abdulaziz H. Abuzinada,

Sherif Baha El Din,

Shaika Noora Bint,

Isa Bin Sulman AI Khalifa,
B. Behrouzi-Rad,

Dr Saeed Mohamed,
Anis Mouasher

Dr Omar AI-Saghier
Dr Yossi Leshem

Richard Porter

COUNCIL AS AT SEPTEMBER 1998:

C. G. Bradshaw D. Moore
Conservation & Research Publicity
A. Colston (co-opted) A. J. Morris
R. Daniel (co-opted) SEEN)
Librarian O. Roberts
P Davideon Membership
Information Officer H. I. Scott (co-opted)
A {Creve Publications Officer
Chairman F. E. Warr (co-opted)
Dr D. Harvey SHES
Features Editor, Sandgrouse J. Warr (co-opted)
Treasurer

R. P. Martins (co-opted)
Turkey Bird Report

TS TA

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

=e eee

Contents

SANDGROUSE
Volume 20 (2)

Editor
Guy M. Kirwan

Features Editor
Derek Harvey

Assistant Editor
lan J. Andrews

Editorial Committee
Michael Blatr,
Paul Goriup,
Ben Hoare,
Mike Jennings,
Rodney Martins,
Peter L. Meininger
& Dr Stephen Newton

Photographic Editor
Paul Doherty

Design & Production

Harry |. Scott

Identification Consultants
C. G. Bradshaw,
Arnoud B. van den Berg
& Steve Madge

COVER PHOTOGRAPH:

Male Grey Hypocolius
Hypocolius ampelinus, taken
by Dr Mike Hill in Bahrain.

OSME 1s grateful for sponsorship
from Subbuteo Natural History Books
Ltd. towards the cost of printing the
colour photographs inside this issue.

82 OSME News
84 NEWS AND INFORMATION
86 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

FEATURES

87 Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south
-west Jordan FARES KHOURY

94 Kibbutz Lotan—gem of the Arava valley, Israel
JAMES SMITH

102 PROFILE
Adnan Budieri DEREK HARVEY

105 VHOTOSPOr :
Hume’s Tawny Owl Roy E. WRANES

PAPERS AND NOTES

108 Comments on the limits of the Western Palearctic in Iran
and the Arabian Peninsula R. P. MARTINS AND ERIK
HIRSCHFELD

135 The birds of semi-desert areas of central Iraq
KHALID Y. AL-DABBAGH

142. Seawatching at Ras Beirut, Lebanon in spring 1997
SIMON BUSUTTIL AND DAVE FLUMM

143. Migrant raptors at Krak des Chevaliers, Syria M. J. AND
E. A. EVERETT

144 ~~ A February record of Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides
virgo in south Turkey EDWIN W. A. M. VAASEN

145 The first Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea in Yemen
and the Middle East DAvip B. STANTON

146 _ Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus and Black-
crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps breeding in
Kuwait P.J. COWAN AND D. L. NEWMAN

147 ‘The first Semi-collared Flycatcher records Ficedula
semitorquata in Lebanon SIMON BUSUTTIL AND
DAVE FLUMM

148 ~The first Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis in Iraq
MUDHAFAR A. SALIM

150 REVIEWS & RECENT LITERATURE
157 AROUND THE REGION Guy. M. KIRWAN

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

OSME ¢

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3 “Sia,

OSME SUMMER MEETING 1999

Plans for next year’s OSME Summer Meeting
and AGM are already under way. The event
will once again be held at the School of
Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square,
London on 17 July 1999. Full details will be
announced in Sandgrouse 21 part 1.

COMINGS AND GOINGS ON OSME
COUNCIL

It was with sadness and a little heaviness of
heart that three members retired from OSME
Council on completion of their five-year, or
longer, contribution to the increase in strength
and vitality of OSME.

Rosemary Parslow was Membership
Secretary and, together with Adrian Colston,
maintained the membership database, an
extremely important task. OSME is very
grateful for all the assistance that Rosemary
has rendered the Society over many years.
Adrian continues as a co-opted Council
member to allow a smooth passage of the

financial reins to the next Treasurer. Owen.

Roberts has taken over as Membership
Secretary and we welcome him in his new
role.

Gary Allport has provided a very important
connection to BirdLife International, chaired
the Conservation and Research Committee
and provided a link with the wider conser-
vation world. Through his good offices, OSME
has continued to promote ornithological
research in the Middle East through its small
grants scheme. Chris Bradshaw takes over as

~ Chairman of the Conservation and Research

Comittee.

Hilary Welch has been, and continues to be,
strongly associated with OSME and all its
work, and her active participation on Council
will be sorely missed as she relinquishes the
Librarian’s post. This has, at last, allowed her
to clear the spare bedroom! Ray Daniels has
taken over this role and provides more
information about the OSME library below.

Andrew Grieve, OSME Chairman

OSME SUMMER MEETING 1998

A relatively small, but typically, enthusiastic
audience enjoyed OSME’s summer meeting,
held in London at the School of Oriental &
African Studies, on 25 July. The meeting
opened with the now traditional round-up of
conservation news from the region,
summarised by Adnan Budieri, the new head
of BirdLife International’s Middle Eastern
division. Hilary Welch discussed the highs
and lows of travel in Turkey outside the
popular spring and summer periods. The
main business of the meeting, the AGM, was
chaired in his own unique style by Andrew
Grieve. After lunch the Grieve style
continued with a highly entertaining
Chairman’s quiz loosely following the format
of BBC’s Question of Sport. The main talks
continued with Nigel Cleere discussing
recent ringing work in Kuwait, whilst Tim
Loseby completed proceedings with some
excellent slides from just beyond the OSME
region, in Central Asia.

Chris Bradshaw

OSME/SUNBIRD TRIP TO YEMEN

Led by Rod Martins and Dave Fisher, the
joint OSME/Sunbird trip to Yemen which ran
in April 1998 was highly successful,
recording all of the south-west Arabian
endemics, Arabian Bustard Ardeotis arabs and
a host of rare migrants, including two first
country records: Grey-headed Gull Larus
cirrocephalus and Great Spotted Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius. Further details appear in
Around the Region. Another joint tour is
planned for autumn 1999. Full details will be
announced in due course.

OSME News

THE OSME LIBRARY

The OSME Library is 20 years old this year. It
currently has 1940 items: 68 books, 55
booklets, 499 journals, 677 newsletters, 210
Papers, 295 reports, 131 trip reports, five
maps and.videos. These are in nine
languages: Arabic (22), Czech (three), Dutch
(94), English (1568), French (44), German
(124), Hebrew (34), Swedish (five) and
Turkish (46). The high number of journals
and newsletters is due to the fact that
exchange agreements exist with over 40 clubs
and societies. The main disappointment has
to be the low number of books. As OSME’s
policy is to rely on donations, the begging
bowl is out. Some notable omissions are Birds
of the Arabian Gulf Jennings), Birds of southern

Arabia (Robinson & Chapman), Directory of

wetlands in the Middle East (Scott), and Raptors
in Israel: passage and wintering populations
(Yekutiel). In addition, we do not hold The
birds of Israel (Shirihai), the Birdwatching guide
to Ouiar (Oldfield) and Deserts of Israel
(Shirithai & Bahat). The number of recent
additions to the library is only 89 in the last

five years (exchanges apart). The largest

collection of material is, unsurprisingly,
devoted to Turkey (329), but Cyprus (283),

‘Witplives

Return Fares From.....

(Correct at time of going to press) subject to taxes

TURKEY £129 SAUDI £385
ISRAEL £159 UAE £285
EGYPT £179 IRAN £382
YEMAN £370 SYRIA £242
KUWAIT £276 OMAN £340

TEL OI1I17 984 8040

| FAX O1LI17 961 0200

Israel. (180) and. UAE, (175) are also well
represented. At the other end of the spectrum
are Afghanistan (nothing), Iran (four), Qatar
(six), and Djibouti, Morocco and Syria all
with nine. We have only received five trip
reports in the last. five yedrs (Turkey
excepted). More, please.

Ray Daniel, Librarian

Enjoy a year’s fleas for only £12!

| Ooe

promotes the study and conservation of birds
throughout the Middle East
encourages the standardised recording of
bird observations
brings together knowledge of the region’s
birdlife
maintains a conservation and research fund
to support small-scale projects by members
publishes Sandgrouse twice a year, sent to all
members

FLIGHTS
WORLDWIDE
Birding Holidays es

EILAT SPRING MIGRATION
14-21 MARCH 1999 FROM £525 -
LOCAL LEADERS, INCLUDES
BIRDING EXCURSIONS

EASTERN ARABIA
(UAE, OMAN & YEMEN
08-23 FEBRUARY 1999 FROM
£2,299 - LED BY COLIN
RICHARDSON & DAVID ROSAIR

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE +e BANK ROAD - BRISTOL? BSI5 2LX °UK

HTTP://WWW.WILDWINGS.CO.UK TATA

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DISCOUNT FLIGHTS e CAR HIRE e ACCOMMODATION ¢ TRAVEL INSURANCE is
PACKAGE HOLIDAYS « SEA TRAVEL e GROUPS & EXPEDITIONS WORLDWIDEe ~

ee:

<7~* plas NS
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Meg J Dm y LP

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

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The aim of this section 1s to inform readers about
events in the OSME region. It relies on members
and others supplying relevant news and
information If you have anything concerning
birds, conservation or development issues in the
OSME area please send it to News & Information,
OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19
2DL UK

This section is not intended as a definitive report
or write-up of the projects concerned. Many of the
projects are sponsored; such support 1s appreciated
but is not generally given acknowledgement here.

GENERAL

BirdLife International has a new head for its
Middle East division. Adnan Budieri, from
Jordan, has taken over from Richard Porter
and with the creation of a new BirdLife
regional office in Jordan, the Middle East
programme will now be administered from
there. A profile of Adnan appears elsewhere
in this issue.

Bird Re-introductions is the title of a round-
table discussion to be held at the 22nd
International Ornithological Congress,
Durban, South Africa in August 1998. The
intention was to have a free exchange of ideas
and experiences, and to allow participants to
make contact with the IUCNs Re-
introduction Specialist Group (RSG) and
those working on related topics. An abstract
based on the discussions was to be prepared

for participants. Those requiring further .

information should contact Dr Philip Seddon
(IOC RID), NWRC, P.O. Box 1086, Lait
Saudi Arabia. Tel: (966) 2 7455188; Fax: (966) 2
7455176. E-mail: nwrc@compuserve.com.

Bald Ibis We have previously given
information on Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in
the Middle East and Morocco, which has the
only known wild breeding population. The
June 1998 World Birdwatch reports on research
and conservation measures undertaken in
Morocco since 1994. The cause of death of 40
Morroccan birds in nine days in May 1996

INFORMATION

compiled by Simon Albrecht

remains a mystery despite analyses and tests.
Intoxication from an obscure source remains
a possibility and demonstrates how
vulnerable the remaining 200 wild birds are.

In Birecik, lurkey, a small tree flying
breeding population supported by feeding is
taken into captivity in winter. It is thought
that some of these birds may disperse in
autumn and not get taken into captivity. To
test this, birds at Birecik are being ringed.
There are still suggestions of a Bald Ibis
population in Yemen but no recent positive
sightings. Anyone seeing a Bald Ibis in the
Middle East is asked to note whether it is
ringed (but not endanger the bird). Any
sightings or past reports, including circum-
stantial evidence from local people, should be
sent, as previously requested, to: Geott &
Hilary Welch, Minsmere Reserve, Westleton,
Saxmundham, Suffolk IVI7 BBY, U7) ko el:
+44 (0)1728 648298. Fax: +44 (0)1728 648529.
E-mail: welch@easynet.co.uk.

Cooperation on migrating birds
USAID /MERC has commmitted $1,050,000
for Israel, Palestine and Jordan to cooperate
on the issue of migrating birds. The money
has been divided equally between the three
countries. In Israel it has gone to the
International Center for the Study of Bird
Migration at Latrun while in Palestine a new
centre was opened in April 1998 at Talitha
Kumi School in Beit Jalla, west of Bethlehem.
(Source: SPNI News)

BAHRAIN

Socotra Cormorants on Sawad AI Janabiyah |
In Sandgrouse 20: 3, we reported that heavy
rains had devastated the Socotra Cormorant
Phalacrocorax nigrogularis colony in November
1997. Michael Hill returned to the colony a
week later and found the colony replenished
and back to its original size. It is unclear why
the adults returned but many had nested
again. It was predicted that most chicks
would not survive but information is
unavailable. It remains unclear whether the

Simon Albrecht

News and Information

devastation has had long-term effects on the
colony. (Source: Bahrain Nat. Hist. Soc.
Newsletter 1 May 1998)

Bahrain signs Ramsar Convention Bahrain
signed the Ramsar Convention protecting
internationally important wetlands on 27
February 1998. It has submitted two sites to
the Ramsar List of Wetlands. (Source: Ramsar
Newsletter 27 in Oryx 32 (2)).

CYPRUS

Breeding Birds Atlas Visitors to Cyprus
(north and south) from March-—July are
invited to assist the Cyprus Breeding Birds
Atlas, which is based on 5-km squares and
uses methodology similar to European atlas
projects. Those willing to help are asked to
contact David Whaley and Judy Dawes,
Armou, Paphos 8522, Cyprus. Fax: + 356 (0)6
249787. Tel: + 356 (0)6 249788 before they go.

EGYPT

Crocodiles return The Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus was apparently extirpated
-in Egypt in the mid-1800s but with the
construction of the Aswan High Dam in the
1960s there has been speculation that it would
return, colonising from upstream Sudan.
Since the mid-1990s, both stuffed and live
juvenile crocodiles have been on sale in
Luxor. There have also been recent reports of
crocodile attacks, including at least one
fatality, in Lake Nasser. No direct
observations have been made because Lake
Nasser has strict military restrictions but the
regional governor has approached IUCN and
the Crocodile Specialist Group is developing
a management plan. (Source: [UCN/SSC in
Oryx 32 (2)).

New Protected Area Lake Burullus and its
adjacent sandbar, in the Nile Delta east of
Alexandria, has recently been declared a
Protected Area. The lake is one of the
country’s most spectacular Important Bird
Areas (IBA) and is a focal point of the
MedWet GEF project. (Source: BirdLife
International Update 8).

ISRAEL

Stork migration on the internet The use of
satellite transmitters to track Houbara
Bustards Chlamydotis undulata has been
reported previously (Sandgrouse 20: 5). In
Israel transmitters have been attached to
species such as White Stork Ciconia ciconia

Simon Albrecht

and Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus. Movement
of individuals over time can be followed on
the internet. The site is in English and
Hebrew and _ is located at: http:/
/www.birds.org.il. For more information
contact Dr Miri Rosenboim, The Kibbutzim
State Teachers College, 147 Namir Road, Tel
Aviv, Israel. Tel: (+972) 36902324. Fax: (+972)
39330924. E-mail: romi@netvision.net.il.

LEBANON

Aammiq Project Information concerning this
project (also spelt Ammiq) was presented in
Sandgrouse 20: 13-16. The aim of the project is
to create a field studies centre to facilitate
conservation, education and research in the
last remaining significant wetland in
Lebanon. It is hoped the area will be
protected in the near future. For further
information contact: Chris Naylor, The Post
Office, Qabb Elias, The Bekaa, Lebanon. Tel:
03 877387. E-mail: csnaylor@destination.
com.lb or: A Rocha Trust International, 3
Hooper Street, Cambridge CB1 2NZ, U. K.
Tel/Fax: (44) 01387 710286. E-mail:
a_rocha@compuserve.com.

SAUDI ARABIA

The Houbara Bustard captive breeding
programme at Taif, Saudi Arabia has had
another record-breaking year. With the laying
period already completed, 485 eggs have
been laid by 73 macqueenti females compared
with 439 eggs laid by 63 females in 1997. The
first chick hatched on 24 January. 1998 was
the most successful breeding season to date
with more than 240 chicks reared. More than
100 birds will be released into Mahazat as-
Sayd, the largest release since the first re-
introduction in 1991. Successful breeding of
re-introduced birds was first observed in 1995
with one brood and two nests discovered.
This year at least 20 nests were found and 13
chicks seen. Following the successful 1997
season, thé National Wildlife Research Center
is continuing its major release programme.
(Source: Stephane Hemon in litt. 1998)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

UAE bird recorder Colin Richardson has
recently changed his telephone and fax
numbers. The new numbers are as follows.
Tel: +9714 472277; Fax: 9714 472276. You can
also contact him on the following mobile
telephone no.: +97150 6503398. Colin is always
happy to hear from visiting birders and
exchange up-to-date information on birds and

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

sites in UAE. If you are planning a trip to the
country, you can also contact him at: P. O. Box
50394, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

TURKEY

Yelkouan Shearwater survey Ttirk Deniz
Arastirmalan Vakfi (TUDAV) are operating a
research project on Yelkouan Shearwaters
Puffinus yelkouan in the Black Sea, Bosphorus
and Marmara Sea with the approval of the
National Parks and General Management of
Game and Wildlife. It aims to count the species,
discover its breeding sites and investigate its
ecology. TUDAV hope to ring 200 shearwaters.
The rings are marked as follows: TR Ist.
TUDAV P.K. 10 Beyoz followed by a number.
Anyone finding a ring should send full details,
including the number to: TUDAV, P.K. 10,
Beyoz, 81650 Istanbul, Turkey.

YEMEN

Captive Leopards Yemen harbours over half
the total population of Arabian Leopard
Panthera pardus nimir mumbering c. 200
individuals. A remote gorge called Al Wadi-
A c. 120 km north of Sana’a is an important
area for the species and there are moves to
create a protected Leopard area there. Due to
hunting pressures much of the Leopard’s
natural food, especially Dorcas Gazelle
Gazella dorcae, has been depleted. This has
resulted in remaining Leopards turning to
livestock and they are now regarded as a pest
by local people who trap, shoot and, more
recently, sell them into captivity.

Captive animals are kept in an appalling state
in Yemen where they are teased and taunted
by their keepers for the amusement of
onlookers. It is illegal to kill or sell Leopards,
or to use them commercially for public
display without a licence. However few
people know of these laws and they are rarely

enforced. There is apparently some pressure -

to establish a zoo in Yemen. Before this is
done, the conditions of animals currently in
captivity require dramatic improvement, the
laws protecting native wildlife must be
enforced, and game reserves protecting
Leopards and other rare species be
established and operational. (Source:
International Zoo News 45: 22-25).

Bankoualé Palm The Bankoualé Palm
Livistona carinensis is a-rare tree with just 38 in
Somalia and c. 400 in Djibouti. A survey of the
palm’s stronghold in Yemen in March 1998

JREQUESTS for
PN EP ORM ee

found 1357 trees, including three at a new site.
The palms were all healthy but young with no
trees taller than ten metres. Mature trees can
grow to at least 26 metres. The tree is valued
for its long straight trunk which makes it ideal
for roofing timbers, and the survey counted
1936 cut stumps. This explains the even aged
structure of the population in Yemen and
demonstrates heavy local exploitation. A
suggested conservation strategy is being
developed. (Source: Oryx 32 (3)).

Photos required for Sylvia warbler
monograph

The long-awaited monograph, by Hadoram
Shrihai, Gabriel Gargallo, Andreas Helbig,
Alan Harris and David Cottridge, on the
Palearctic Sylvia warblers (including the
Afrotropical genus Parisoma, which the authors
subsume within Sylvia) is nearing completion.
The book will include 80 colour plates. Dave
Cottridge has managed to photograph most of
the species covered by the book during the
project but photographs of various plumages
and races are still required. High quality field
shots of any species are welcomed, and
photographs of the following, either in-the-
hand or field, are especially sought: Sylvia
deserticola, S. mystacea (principally the races
mystacea and turcmenica), S. rueppelli (juvenile),
S. melanothorax (juvenile), S. nana (race deserti),
S. leucomelaena (south Arabian and East African
forms), S. hortensis (nominate race), S. nisoria, S.
curruca (althaea and minula), and all species of
Parisoma. A fee will be paid for each
photograph published and all photographers
will be fully credited in the text. The final
photo selection will be made in late 1998 and
material should be forwarded as soon as
possible to: David Cottridge, 6 Sutherland
Road, Tottenham, London N17 OBN. Tel.:
0181 8081341.

Simon Albrecht

i peice page ts ya A a a EY

_parts of Dana Nature Reserve where Syrian

The climate is Mediterranean semi-arid with

tails Secipaiglicna aes

Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south-west Jordan

Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus
-syriacus in south-west Jordan

PARKES KHOURY

he Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus breeds in montane Lebanon, Syria, north-east

Israel and south-west Jordan, on rocky slopes with scattered trees and shrubs,
and in open woodland (Shirihai 1996, Khoury 1998). Due to its restricted range, and
the fact that it is the only endemic breeding bird species within its range, the
species should receive the highest conservation priority in the region. Data on
population trends and ecology is needed for species and habitat management.
Little has been published on the species’ ecology, although Shirihai (1996) provides
some information on its breeding biology and habitats at Mount Hermon. Syrian
_Serin was only recently proven to breed in Jordan (RSCN 1995). Here, I summarise
habitat selection as defined during research in south-west Jordan which aimed to
identify key factors limiting the species’ distribution and analyse the local bird

community.

STUDY AREA Precipitation varies with altitude and
location, the annual mean ranging from
200-400 mm at least.

The study focused on an area of 200 km’
between Busseira and Shaubak, and included

Serin breed. The area comprises the The vegetation is generally of steppic

fe otains cast of Wadi Araba and the Catacter with .lrano-luranian and

adjacent Sharra Highland plateau—a high Mediterranean elements (Baierle 1993).
altitude (1200-1630 metres) plain with Various dwarf shrub communities cover most

of the landscape, but remnant Pistacia and
Amygdalus trees suggest that many parts were
formerly covered by open steppe woodland.

moderate relief.

cool wet winters and hot dry summers.

SS
\
KC \

an oc —o Av
Plate 1. Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus, adult with juvenile, Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan, June 1996. (F. Khoury)

Fares Khoury 87

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 87-93 1998

Extensive open woodland of evergreen
Quercus calliprinos and Juniperus phoenicea still
cloak some west-facing slopes of the ridge
(Plate 2). Most stands are highly degraded
due to wood cutting and grazing, and the
undergrowth is typically dominated by
annuals and dwarf shrubs. Trees are
generally low, their mean height in most
areas being 3-4 metres. Mediterranean plant
communities exist this far south due to the
higher rainfall at this altitude.

There are few towns and villages in the study
area (Rashadiyah, Gharandal, Busseira,
Qadissiyah, Dana and Mansura). The local
population herds sheep and goats, and
cultivates land around the villages. Nomadic
Bedouin use the area in March—October.

Dry farming, mostly cereal cultivation, is still
practised. Plants such as Picnomon, Cousinia

and Lactuca cover most fallew and non-

irrigated fields after harvesting. Ruderal
vegetation dominates along roads, in
orchards, at camp sites and in villages.

METHODS

Fieldwork was conducted between October
1995-October 1996 and April-May 1997. Bird
counts and habitat variables were recorded
using point counts (Bibby et al. 1992) in the
1995-96 winter and 1996 breeding season
(Table 1). At least 130 counts were made in
each season in habitats from open steppe to

Plate 2. Oak-juniper woodland with remnant pool in Dana Nature Reserve (c. 1220 metres), Jordan, May 1997. (F. Khoury)

woodland. Although points were not
random, they were evenly distributed in the
breeding area and selected for their general
habitat composition, especially tree cover.
Species-habitat relationships were explored
by multiple regression analysis.

Vegetation communities and habitat variables
were recorded within 50 metres of nesting
sites (Table 1), so as to accurately describe the
breeding habitat. Plant species were
identified using Zohary & Feinbrunn-Dothan
(1966-1986). Areas known or expected to be
used by Syrian Serin were visited 4—5 times
per week, each visit commencing soon after
dawn and lasting 4-8 hours. The use of
habitat structures, mainly trees, during the
breeding season and winter was analysed by
noting the first observation of a certain
behaviour (e.g. males singing on juniper or
oak) during each session.

The X’-Test was used to compare
observations with expected frequencies
derived from the abundance/ frequency of the
different tree species.

STATUS AND POPULATION SIZE

Syrian Serin was found breeding only in Al
Barra, a wooded area of c.15 km’ above Wadi
Dana, at 1000-1350 metres, the only known
breeding area in Jordan. The population size
in 1996 was estimated at 600-650 pairs. This
population is considered resident as birds

Fares Khoury

Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south-west Jordan

Table 1. Habitat variables at nesting sites of Serinus syriacus in Al Barra, Dana Nature Reserve. The variables were recorded to a
range of 50 m from the nests (n=37).

Habitat variable
Altitude [m a.s.1.]
Slope [']
Shrub cover [%]
Diversity of shrub layer [no. of species]
Mean height of shrub layer [cm]
Ground cover [%]
Bare ground [%]
Rock cover [%]
Stone cover [%]
Tree cover [%]
Diversity of trees [no. of species]
Proportion of Juniperus [%]
- Proportion of Quercus [%]
Artemisia cover [%]

Plate 3. Fallow and wheat fields near Qadessiyya (c. 1500 metres
shrubs (e.g. Crataegus) and dwarf shrubs. (F. Khoury)

were present throughout the research period.
Movements are, however, likely in years
when food, especially Artemisia seeds, is
insufficient due to climatic variations (Khoury
1998).

BREEDING HABITATS

The species bred at high density in open oak-
juniper woodland, but less frequently in
juniper-dominated woodland (relative
densities 60 and eight pairs/km’*) and
avoided pure oak.-stands ~and- pine
plantations. According to multiple regression
analysis, the species’ breeding season

Minimum Maximum
1100.0 1330.0
0.0 40.0

5.0 30.0
1.0 10.0
40.0 100.0
10.0 35.0
3.0 35,0
10.0 65.0
0.0 40.0
35.0 60.0
2.0 3.0
32.0 98.0
0.0 67.0
00 | 25.0

), Jordan, late April 1997. Fields are often lined with remnant trees,

abundance correlated positively with tree
cover. A preference for the densest patches in
extensive open woodland is evident (mean
tree cover at nesting sites was c.45%, Table 1).
In contrast, breeding birds avoided sparsely
wooded areas (<30% tree cover, Table 1) and
highly degraded dry stony slopes where the
undergrowth was dominated by dwarf
shrubs, e.g. Artemisia sieberi.

At least one third of the trees or high shrubs
at nesting sites were junipers (Table 1). Nests
were built in either oak or juniper, but J.
phoenicea over three metres high were often

Fares Khoury

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Plate _ Juniper Juniperus phoenicea, Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan, April 1997. (F. Khoury)

preferred by males as song perches (Fig. 1;
significant when compared with oak trees Q.
calliprinos; p<0.01; X*-Test). Singing males
used the highest defoliated branches of
mature junipers, which are generally higher
than the bushy oak trees (Juniperus: max. 9.5
metres, mean 3.5 metres, Ouercus: max. 6.5
metres, mean 3 metres).

Breeding density is also related to the
presence of remnant pools (Plate 2) and open
feeding sites with a high density of annual
vegetation which contains the most important
fo0d resources, especially in the carly
breeding season (March—May). Ground cover
including annuals was always present near
nest sites, and covered a mean of 21% of the
ground surface (Table 1). Grazing is permitted
here only in winter, thus short-living annuals
can develop after the rainy season;
overgrazing is, however, causing soil erosion

120

_ expected frequency

100 EA observation

Juniperus

Quercus

Figure 1. Breeding season habitat use by Syrian Serin Serinus
syriacus in Dana Nature Reserve. Males prefer Juniperus

phoenicea trees as song perches (**- p<0.01).

Fares Khoury

.
;
}

Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south-west Jordan

and general habitat destruction (Plate 5). In
surrounding areas annual vegetation is
sparser due to year-round grazing. Shrub
cover (including dwarf shrubs) is lower at
breeding sites (mean 15.5%) than in
surrounding areas where dwarf shrubs cover
over 30% of. the surface area (except
cultivated fields).

The mosaic of vegetation types in one nesting
area (c. 100 x110 metres) represents the
typical vegetation pattern of a breeding site,
including essential habitat structures (e.g.
trees for nesting and song perches) and food
resources. However, the serins used larger
areas while breeding and often flew over 200
metres from their nests in search of
productive feeding sites and pools. The
undergrowth in the shade of the oak and
juniper trees consists of thermophilic species
of the Ceratonio-Rhamnion association. Some
annuals are found in this community,
including foodplants of Syrian Serin, e.g.
Evopiila, Uhlaspi, Holosteum. Steppic
vegetation which dominates surrounding

See

a Nature Reserve, Jord

Plate 5. Active erosion in Dan

Fares Khoury

areas is often prevalent between trees. The
plot includes a section with annual and
ruderal vegetation (3b in Fig. 2) consisting of
Schismus arabicus*, Crepis aspera, Matricaria
gurea , seneciO wernalis Erodinm sp",
Hirschfeldia incana* and others (those marked
with an asterisk are foodplants of Syrian
Serin in the breeding season).

HABITATS AT OTHER SEASONS

Following breeding, the species generally
moved to higher ground in the vicinity of
Rashadiyya and Qadessiyya (1300-1600
metres) and Dana orchards (c.1000 metres).
The following habitats were used for
foraging: waste places, gardens and orchards
with ruderal vegetation containing the
foodplants Hirschfeldia, Sysimbrium, Reseda,
Polygonum and Phalaris, wheat and fallow
fields (Plate 3) .with segetal : plant
communities including the foodplants
Triticum, Cardaria, Raphanus and Lactuca, and
dwarf shrub communities including the
foodplants Piptatherum, Melica, Tanacetum,
Nepeta and Noaea.

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Figure 2. Vegetation complex at a breeding locality of Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in
Dana Nature Reserve (c. 1150 metres). The plot (c. 100 x 110 metres) demonstrates the
structural pattern and cover of plant communities including fragmentary associations. 1.
Mediterranean-type, evergreen open woodland (Junipero-Quercion). Stands very open or
in dense patches of high shrubs or trees (Quercus calliprinos and Juniperus phoenicea),
up to six metres high. 2. Rocky ground (calcareous sandstone) with crevices containing:
2a Varthemitea montanae (e.g. Centaurea damascena); 2b Mediterranean semi
steppe/batha (Ballotetalia, Sarcopoterietalia, e.g. Ononis natrix, Sarcopoterium spinosum)
and perennial grass species among the thorny bushes e.g. Piptatherum milaceum.
Lavandula dentata is locally found in rock crevices. 3. Sandy terraces and depressions
between rocky sections: 3a short grass areas of Poa bulbosa, Carex pachystilis, Bromus
sp. associated with Astragalus spinosus, Onobrychis weststeinii and others. 3b Annual
and ruderal vegetation largely consisting of short annuals. 4. Dwarf shrub formations
dominated by Fumana thymifolia, Cistus creticus. 5. Dwarf shrub formations dominated
by Noaea mucronata and Astragalus bethlehemiticus or Artemisia sieberi associated with
Helianthemum vesicarium, Astragalus sanctus, Stipa barbata.

:
J

D2 Fares Khoury

Habitat selection by Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus in south-west Jordan

In January 1996 the serins had moved lower
and were found in flocks of up to 200 birds in
Wadi Dana (300=800 metres) and the
Mansura/Wadi Bustan area (800-1100
metres) mainly in Artemisia steppe with few
trees. Certain habitat structures also proved
essential in the selection of feeding habitats,
as demonstrated by observations of foraging
birds. Tall trees, boulders or walls are always
present in feeding habitats and were used by
birds on arrival at the site or as cover when
sensing danger. In winter the species
preferred scattered indigenous trees e.g.
Pistacia and Juniperus, whose vegetation was
dominated by the dwarf shrub Artemisia
sieberi. Most foraging Syrian Serins in winter
in open steppe habitat were around single
trees or tree stands (Fig. 3).

Among all trees and shrubs (>2m), Pistacia
atlantica trees were used most frequently: the
use of other species, including Juniperus,
corresponded to their abundance (p<0.01; X*-
Test). Pistacia trees are the largest in the area
(up to ten metres high) and provide an

. overview of the site. Birds using these trees

can locate other foraging individuals,
foodplants and predators, especially
Sparrowhawk Accipter nisus, which are
common here in winter.

In the non-breeding season, Syrian Serins
principally used open habitats for feeding
from Gharandal south to Mansura, but
returned daily to wooded areas, especially in
Dana Nature Reserve, to roost. They always
roosted in relatively tall trees (>four metres),
in the evergreen oak Q. calliprinos, and in
summer also in Pistacia atlantica.

CONSERVATION

Especially in summer and autumn, Syrian
Serin selects secondary habitats including
cultivated areas for feeding, e.g. waste places,
orchards, wheat and fallow fields. Thus it can
adapt to or benefit from human activities,
provided these are non-intensive and
traditional. Intensive agriculture and urbani-
sation are, however, expected to expand in
the area as a result of development and
human population increases. Unless carefully
planed and limited, these will fragment and
destroy habitats important for Syrian Serin
and other bird species.

1200

Sum of observed foraging Serins |

1000

800

600

400

200

<50m <100m <200m >200m
Distance from next tree/tree stand

Figure 3. Relation between the number of foraging Syrian Serin
Serinus syriacus in open steppe habitats in winter and the
distance to next tree or tree stand.

The insular nature of the Al Barra breeding
habitat has been exaggerated by human
influences and now covers an area of only 15
km’. In the Dana Nature Reserve, this small
area is currently subject to high grazing
pressure. Wood cutting, overgrazing and
other activities are degrading this unique
woodland habitat, as well as preventing
natural succession and regeneration.
Although avoided by Syrian Serin and most
other bird species, the only protected and
ungrazed areas are those planted with Pinus
halepensis. These plantations have low
biodiversity compared to natural woodland
in south-west Jordan (Khoury 1998).

REFERENCES

BAIERLE, H. U. (1993) Vegetation und Flora im
stidwestlichen Jordanien. J. Cramer, Berlin &
Stuttgart. Published Ph.D. thesis.

Bipsy, C. J., BURGESS, N. D. AND HILL, D. A. (1992)
Bird census techniques. Academic Press, London.

ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE
(RSCN) (1995) Dana Nature Reserve, phase II
bird survey, March-May 1995. Unpubl. report,
RSCN, Amman.

KuHoury, F. (1998) Habitatwahl und Nahrungsokologie
des Zederngirlitzes Serinus syriacus in Jordanien.
Ph.D. thesis, University of Bonn.

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

ZOHARY, M. AND FEINBRUNN-DOTHAN, N. (1966-1986)
Flora Palaestina. Vols. 1-4. Israel Academy of
Sciences and Humanities.

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

Fares Khoury

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 94-101 1998

| Kibbutz Lotan—gem of the Arava valley,
Israel |

JAMES SMITH

BE has an international reputation amongst birders. However, the town is
developing fast, encroaching on habitats once rich in migrant and resident
birds, and visitors should consider the potential of otherwise unwatched
migrations and rarities just 40 minutes north of Eilat town. Kibbutz Lotan nestles in
_a beautiful desert enviroment: the red sandstone hues of the Edom mountains in
Jordan to the east and the limestone escarpments of the Negev plateau to the west
provide a spectacular reminder that Lotan lies in the heart of the Arava valley. This
introduction to birding in the area is designed to encourage others to come and
‘discover’ Lotan.

Plate 1. Arava Valley with Kibbutz Lotan and, in the background, the Edom mountains in Jordan, April 1996. (B. R. Hughes)

94 James Smith :

Kibbutz Lotan—gem of theArava Valley, Israel

Plate 2. Acacia woodland at Nahal Quetura, January 1998. The acacia holds wintering Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei, Long-eared Owl

Asio otus, Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomalaena, Cyprus Warbler S. melanothorax and Sardinian Warbler S. melanocephala. (James Smith)

SPRING RAPTOR MIGRATION

~The mountains, cliffs, date plantations and
fields around Lotan all provide important
roosting places for migrating raptors. The
flight direction, height and volume of passage
depends on the species involved and can vary
dramatically with weather changes. Perhaps
most interesting, on days when few raptors
pass through the Eilat mountains, 100s or
1000s of raptors may be visible at Lotan.
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis is the first
migrant raptor of the spring, appearing in
small flocks from around 10 February. Adults
_make up the bulk of the passage until late
March when immatures become more
obvious. This is the only eagle to migrate in
reasonable numbers over the southern Arava:
there have been counts of over 200 in early
March. Imperial Eagle A. heliaca may number
up to four in a day. Lesser Spotted Eagle A.
pomarina is extremely scarce.

Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo rufinus passage
can be very impressive. During east winds
streams of birds overfly Lotan into Jordan.
Late afternoon passages are often the most
exciting. After the quiet hours of midday
when passage may be too high to observe
from the Arava, 1000s may pour through, low
along the cliffs of the Negev plateau. Counts
of 2000-10,000 birds are regular. On 4 April
1996 I made a conservative estimate of 35,000
birds passing across a front of less than three

km in just three hours. To the south I could
see great swirls of raptors looking for
roosting sites in the mountains on the western
side of the Arava, perhaps numbering a
further 5000 birds.

Levant Sparrowhawks Accipter brevipes often
take the observer completely by surprise
when they put in their first appearances in
mid-April, sweeping low over the Kibbutz
fields in dense flocks. Flocks of 2500 are not
unusual between 16-30 April, but Lotan has
yet to match some of the massive flocks (up to
25,000) recorded at Eilat. This species favours
wind-breaks between the fields for roosting.
Breathtaking . views. and excellent
photographic opportunities are possible.

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus is the last of
the common migrant raptors to appear,
although singles occur from 23 March. In late
April they often mix with Levant
Sparrowhawks and other raptors, but
subsequently huge flocks dominate the skies
almost daily until about 20 May. Big days can
occur on light northerly winds, windless
days, or east-south east winds. On 17 May
1995 c. 27,000 passed over Lotan in three
hours with much of the passage drifting east
towards the Edom mountains. Large numbers
of raptors are often visible from Lotan well
into Jordan and more almost certainly pass
unrecorded.

James Smith

95.

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

JORDAN

Hr yy Vi VV EEE

* @)y
‘7
LUN

>
=

/
4
M7
ay
Vy

oo emo ee ee ee =a

ayo
RUN ! VIVEVV NANO,

JORDAN

. Map References
A Recommended migration watch points 1 Kibbutz Lotan
1a Residential area

SDD Sand Dunes and Desert 4 1b Car Park
1¢ Swimming Pool
SD Stony Desert 1d Eastern Organic Garden
je Dairy Barn
AW Acacia Wadi 1f Main Gate
1g Lotan Bird Reserve
= = m /srael/Jordan border 2 Kibbutz Lotan Date Palm plantations
3 Kibbutz Lotan fields
wii Cliffs 4 Kibbutz Neot Smadar Citrus groves
5a Kibbutz Neots Smadar Date palms
— Paved road 5b Kibbutz Neots Smadar fields
6 Exposed area of Roman Road
ummm Single lane paved road 7a Upper Nahal Quetura, National Nature Reserve
7b Lower Nahal Quetura, National Nature Reserve

Dirt Track 8 Nahal Grofit

96 James Smith

, :

One of the most exciting aspects of Lotan is
the constant movement of passerines along
the Arava valley in spring. Fresh migrants
appear almost daily from c. 15 February until
late May. It can be problematic choosing
between observing visual raptor and
songbird migration, and concentrating on
passerines in the trees and bushes.

From mid-March to mid-May there is always
a good sprinkling of Hoopoe Upupa epops,

-Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Nightingale Luscinia

megarhynchos, Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe
hispanica, Masked Lanius nubicus and
Woodchat Shrikes L. senator, and Eastern
Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli orientalis.
However, the bulk of migration consists of up
to 1500 each of Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia
curruca and Blackcap S. atricapilla, and up to
500 Olivacious Warbler Hippolais pallida. East
Mediterranean specialities include Cyprus
Sylvia melanothorax, Ruppell’s S. rueppelli and
Orphean Warblers S. hortensis, and Semi-
collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata in
March or early April. Upcher’s Hippolais
languida and Olive-tree Warblers H. olivetorum
appear in early May, when Lesser Grey
Shrikes Lanius minor destined for eastern
Europe also pass through. The acacias by the
main gate are particularly good for the last
three species.

Kibbutz Lotan—gem of theArava Valley, Israel

Plate 3. Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus, Kibbutz Lotan, Israel, April 1996. (B. R. Hughes)
~ PASSERINES

Other notable migrants found in spring
include a River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis in
late April 1995, whilst Savi’s L. lusciniodes and
Great Reed Warblers Acrocephalus arundt-
naceus are regular in the residential area.
Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus has been found
in the car park in March and Black-headed
Bunting Emberiza melanocephala is regular in
May when they drink from dripping
irrigation pipes.

VISIBLE MIGRATION

Apart from the superb raptor passage, the
northward migration of other species
(especially passerines) can be surprisingly
obvious. Light to moderate northerly winds
usually provide the best days, with passage of
some species. often continuing all day,
especially bee-eaters Merops spp. and
hirundines. It is the migration of White
Ciconia ciconia and Black Storks C. nigra that
really fires the imagination. Observing White
Stork passage over the southern Arava
requires strong to gale force westerly winds
as most migration over southern Israel occurs
through the western Negev. However, Lotan
does occasionally witness passages of up to
25,000 White Storks in mid- or late March.
Black Stork more consistently appears in late
February-late May, and flocks of 100-600 are
reasonably regular.

James Smith

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Flocks of Garganey Anas querquedula, Pintail
A. acuta and Shoveler A. clypeata occasionally
move north over the Kibbutz, but wildfowl
are poorly represented at Lotan as no open
standing water exists in the area. V-
formations of passing Cranes Grus grus (up to
120 per day) are regular in late autumn and
less frequent in early spring, and there is one
record of Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius

cursor; a flock of 11 moving north-west on 6
March 1995.

From mid-February, Common Swifts Apus
apus cruise steadily north along the Arava
numbering up to 1500 per day by early
March. Pallid A. pallidus (up to 250) and
Alpine Swifts A. melba (up to 150) may appear

amongst them and all three species will pause -

for a few hours if a sudden rain storm
stimulates a hatch of flying termites. Little
Swift A. affinis is very rare in the first two
weeks of March. European Bee-eater Merops
apiaster is one of the most abundant migrants
through Lotan, their stunning colours and
rich fluid calls being one of the most welcome
signals that spring migration is in full swing.
Any day in late March—mid-May can produce
more than 1200 passing in flocks of up to 120
birds. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater M. superciliosus
is very scarce in comparison, but especially
regular in late April to mid-May and October.

Plate 4. White Storks Ciconia ciconia, resting in kibbutz fields near Lotan during desert storm, March 1997. (Doug Friend) }

Short-toed Lark Calandrella cinerea appears
from c. 10 February; visual passage is most
evident in March with up to 1500 daily.
Lesser Short-toed C. rufescens, Calandra
Melanocorypha calandra and Bimaculated
Larks M. bimaculata are scarce at this time.
Hirundine passage can be immense in early
May, with counts suggesting a minimum of
25,000 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica and
18,000 Sand Martin Riparia riparia passed
through during 1-6 May 1996. Red-rumped
Swallow Hirundo daurica usually peaks in late
March. House Delichon urbica and Crag
Martins Ptyonoprogne rupestris occur in much
smaller numbers. The adult males of several
races of flava wagtail are often present
alongside each other, although Motacilla f.
feldegg is the most common in March and M. f.
beema very common in April. Equally
impressive are the numbers that pass without
stopping, peaking at c. 1000 per day in late
March. Parties of Tawny Anthus campestris
and Red-throated Pipits A. cervinus are often
involved in these passages. Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola is rare but annual; the
compost heaps just west of the dining room
are the best piace to see one.

Mysterious and unpredictable, small parties

of Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia brachydactyla
would go undetected were it not for their soft

James Smith

bee-eater_like calls. Late February to early
April is the peak time but ground views are
rare. Cretzschmar’s Bunting Emberiza caesi
peak in mid-March with day counts of up to
180. This precedes the peak of up to 300
Ortolan Bunting E. hortulana per day, by
about three weeks.

VAGRANTS FROM THE EAST

Lotan has great potential for attracting rare
amd scarce migrants, late - autumn
(October-November) being the most
productive period. Small Skylark Alauda
gulgula, Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe
cypriaca, Pied Stonechat Saxicola caprata
(fourth record in Israel), Yellow-browed
Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus, Hume’s
Yellow-browed Warbler P. humei and Dusky
Warbler P. fuscatus (second record in Israel)
were recorded in 1996 and 1997. Yellow-
browed Warbler overwintered in both these
years. Spring has produced fewer rarities but
an adult male Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis
ptilorhynchus on 14 May 1995 was accepted as
the second record in Israel. Black Bush Robin
Cerotrichas podobe and Rose-coloured Starling
Sturnus roseus have lingered for several days
during mid- to late April. Winter has recently
produced two Striated Scops Owls Otus brucei

Plate 5. Male Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia, Kibbutz Lotan

, Israel, April 1996. (B. R. Hughes

Kibbutz Lotan—gem of theArava Valley, Israel

in remote acacia wadis near Lotan. Up to
three individuals winter near Eilat, but
elsewhere in Israel they remain extremely
rare (but probably overlooked) winter and
passage visitors.

asec

Plate 6. Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei, Nahal Quetura, Arava
Valley, Israel, January 1998. (James Smith)

)

James Smith

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

WINTER

BREEDING BIRDS

Imperial, Steppe and Short-toed Eagles
Circaetus gallicus all occur around Lotan in
winter. Other raptors include 2-3 each of Hen
Harrier’ Cireus” cyaneus, Nerlin Falco
columbarius and Barbary Falcon. F.
pelegrinoides. A Long-eared Owl Asio otus
roost in Nahal Quetura usually holds 3-4
birds, which seem particularly adept at
catching roosting Laughing Doves Streptopelia
senegalensis.

Common wintering passerines around the
Kibbutz include Water Anthus spinoletta (up
to 60) and Red-throated Pipits, Bluethroat
Luscinia svecica, Desert Wheatear Oenanthe
deserti, Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis
and as many as 300 Desert Finch Rhodopechys
obsoleta. Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens
is often present by the compost bins while
Spectacled Sylvia conspicillata and Cyprus
Warblers (up to six) prefer acacia wadis and
are rarely observed in the Kibbutz. Sinai
Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus occur in the
Quetura mountains but can be difficult to see.
Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena can also
be found in Nahal Quetura and has been
observed displaying in March.

Plate 7. Long-eared Owl Asio otus, Nahal Quetura, Arava Valley, Israel, January 1998. (James Smith)

Despite being an artificial oasis in a desert
enviroment, Lotan boasts healthy
populations of typical desert species. Barbary
Falcon breeds on Mount Quetura and
regularly gives breathtaking hunting
demonstrations in late afternoon. Sand
Partridge Ammoperdix heyi is quite common
in the mountains and Chukar Alectoris chukar
is present near the date palm plantations.
Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus is present
but virtually nocturnal with no conclusive
proof of breeding. However, an adult with
young has been seen in the Quetura
mountains. Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus
spinosus recently colonised Lotan and can
occur near the dairy barn year-round.
Distraction displays have been noted but
eggs and young have yet to be located. Little
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis is one of the
most obvious residents, with at least 30 pairs.
African Rock Martin Pytonoprogne fuligula,
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus
xanthopygos, Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe
monacha, White-crowned Black Wheatear O.
leucopyga, Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta,
Arabian Babbler Turdoides squamiceps,
Palestine Sunbird Nectarinia osea and

100

James Smith

Kibbutz Lotan—gem of theArava Valley, Israel

Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus are
each represented by three or more pairs in the
immediate area of the Kibbutz.

VISITING

Lotan is located east of Quetura junction
between Routes 90 and 40, and just north of
km 63 post from Eilat. Regular bus services to
and from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv pass Lotan
daily and Ovda international airport is just 20
minutes by car.

A variety of guided and self-guided birding
programmes are offered and full details are
available from the address below. Self-guided
day visitors are welcome and should report to
the educational tourism office ( Tel: +972-7-

James Smith

Plate 8. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis, Kibbutz Lotan, Israel, April 1996. (B. R. Hughes)

6350935; fax: +972-7-6356827, e-mail:
edt_lot@hotmail.com). Half-day tours of
Lotan’s nature trails are available by advance
arrangement, and medium distance hikes
through the Quetura mountains can also be
made. Details of ecological programmes such
as practical ecology, alternative building
methods, and applications for ecological
volunteers are available from Mike Kaplin
(fax: +972-7-6356827; e-mail: gwenik@
hotmail.com).

James Smith, Kibbutz Lotan, Doar Na Chevel
Eilot 88855, Israel.

101

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

102

Adnan Budieri has recently been appointed
Head of BirdLife International’s Middle East
Division. Ornithology and wildlife conservation
awareness have expanded enormously in the
Middle East over the last ten years, and as
education programmes, scientific studies,
research projects and legislative measures by
governments steadily increase, it is appropriate
that BirdLife has employed an Arab scientist to
manage and. coordimate the ~ many
developments—current and projected—being
undertaken throughout the region.

Adnan—a Jordanian—was born in Jerusalem
and studied hydrobiology and ecology in
Moldova. Latterly his interests have extended to
wildlife conservation, biodiversity studies and
sustainable development policies. He has held a
variety of posts within the Royal Society for the
Conservation of Nature, in Jordan, is Jordan’s
representative on CITES, and is a National
Coordinator for the IWRB. Recently, there has
scarcely been a major Middle East wildlife
conservation initiative with which he has not
been associated. He brings to his new post a
wealth of experience, both of the problems
associated with bird conservation in the Middle
Bast, and ways to achieve conservation
objectives.

Adnan sees his new tole as forgime a
relationship between the partners, designates,
and all related organisations and donors, to
conserve birds and their habitats. In the short
term, he aims to establish a functional BirdLife
office in the region; publish an Arabic version of
the Middle East IBA book; update that book and
publish at least two country IBAs in Arabic;
raise awareness of the IBA book’s importance in
the region; establish practical operational
Strategies for bird conservation and
management; develop strong relations with
international and regional conservation organi-
sations; and create IBA management strategies
in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen.
Longer term, Adnan seeks to extend the
network of partners and designates to all
countries in the region, and to oversee as many
IBAs as possible become legally protected areas.

Whilst recognising that the Middle Eastern
economy has become oil-dependent, changing
moral attitudes towards the use of natural
resources, with highway construction,
agricultural expansion, housing development
and water extraction schemes all disturbing the
ecological balance, Adnan is hopeful for the
future.

Derek Harvey

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The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd

Photo Spot

| Poe few birders have had the
opportunity to study a Hume’s Tawny
Owl Strix butleri outside of Israel. The species’
distribution is poorly understood. Most
records are from Israel, Jordan and western
Arabia, with fewer observations from Egypt
and Oman, and one old record from Pakistan.
Occurrence in Syria is unconfirmed.

On a visit to Yemen in spring 1998, I found
four Hume’s Tawny Owls along a steep rocky
cliff at c. 3000 metres at Kawkaban, just north
of Sana’a. The species appears to be restricted
to this habitat. It breeds in warm arid places
with rocky mountains, wadis and steep slopes.

In the north of its range, it is liable to be
confused with pale Tawny Owls Strix aluco,
and observers should note the lack of broad
breast streaks on adultss (juveniles not studied
in the field). The eye colour is also different:
dark in Tawny, orange-yellowish in Hume’s.

Hume’s Tawny Owl is a very pale owl, almost
the same size as a Tawny Owl. The sexes are
similar. The facial disc is pale buff or dirty
white with near-white half-spectacles meeting
above the bill. The crown and nape are golden-
buff, with dark brown-black feather tips giving
a strongly mottled appearance. The collar on
the lower hindneck is pale golden-buff and

distinct. The upperparts are cream-buff, with
indistinct bars and spots on the mantle, and
brown with pale cream spots on the scapulars.
The upperwing possesses a pattern akin to
Tawny, but paler with a buff ground colour
and obvious brown spots on the coverts. The
underwing is buff-white with dark barring on
the tips of the primary-coverts and all flight
feathers. The tail is buff, barred dark brown.
The underparts are largely buff-white, with
faint grey-buff bars and streaks on the flanks.
The unmarked vent appears a little paler. The
plumage should be fresh in a first adult in
August-September, still relatively fresh in a
January adult, but slightly worn by March. As
the Hume’s Tawny Owls in Yemen were only
observed by torchlight it was impossible to
establish if there were any observable
differences from other birds in other areas. I
know that a bird from Wadi Kelt, near the
Dead Sea in Israel, had markedly greyer
upperparts than a Jerusalem bird.

As Hume’s Tawny Owl is strictly nocturnal it
is more often heard than seen. Only one of the
birds found in Yemen was seen perched, by
torchlight roosting on a cliff edge, but song
and calls were regularly heard. Some calls do
not appear to have been previously described
in the literature. The Hume’s reacted sponta-
neously to an imitation of a Tawny Owl. The
song of Hume’s is like a Tawny, but without
the latter’s vibrating character. The territorial
call is a: “Whoo, hoo-hoo, who-who”, easily
distinguished from tawny Owl.
Similtaneously, from a different individual, I
heard a “kuwitt” call, repeated several times
whilst the male was singing. This was
reminiscent of a female Tawny Owl. Could it
have been a female Hume’s calling? Both birds
were then observed flying between two cliffs
and started to duet again. Whilst imitating the
territorial song of Hume’s Tawny Owl, the
same male came right over my head uttering a
deep “squeeek”, like rubbing a balloon.

When roosting on a rock or cliff edge Hume’s
Tawny Owl appears to leans slightly forward.
The flight is like Tawny. Hume’s Tawny Owl
has rather long, broad wings with rounded
wing-tips. At night, leaving the roost, they
move along their cliff face with only a few
wingflaps and then glide silently into the dark.

Roy E. Wranes, P. O. Box 766, N-4601
Kristiansand, Norway.

Roy E. Wrénes

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998 The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd

’ Plate 1. Kawkaban, Yemen, 30 October
1989. (Magnus Ullman)

Plate 2. Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri, Israel. (Yossi Eshbol)

106 Roy E. Wrdnes

| The inclusion of colour in this Photospot has been subsidised by Subbuteo Natural History Books Ltd Photo Spot

Plate 3. Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri,
En Gedi, Israel, October 1986. (Pau/
Z ee Doherty)

OEE NEI

Plate 4. Dead Sea area, Israel, March 1987. (Pau! Doherty)

Roy E. Wrdnes 107

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 108-134 1998

Comments on the limits of the Western
Palearctic in Iran and the Arabian Peninsula

R. P. MARTINS AND ERTK HIRSGHEELD

Birds of the Western Palearctic adopts arbitrary limits to the geographical area
treated at its south-west fringe. There is scope to consider the most zoogeo-
graphically representative definition of the limits of a western subregion of
the Palearctic. An attempt is made to justify revised and more comprehen-
sively reviewed limits based (in Arabia) upon a significantly improved
understanding of breeding bird distributions. A proposal is made that Arabia,
excluding two small areas where Afrotropical influence is dominant, and part
of Iran be henceforth included in the geographical area formally treated as a
western subdivision of the Palearctic. Novel limits to western influence
within the breeding landird avifauna of Iran are proposed.

INTRODUCTION

UBDIVISION OF THE PALEARCTIC into Western and Eastern generates helpful

interpretation when examining bird breeding distributions and considering zoogeo-
graphical patterns within this avifaunal realm. The term Western Palearctic, stimulated
by the publication of Birds of the Western Palearctic (BWP), is widely established among
ornithologists and birders. The problems of defining such a subdivision are
acknowledged in the introduction to BWP (Cramp & Simmons 1977) where it is
conceded that delimitation, especially at the southern/south-eastern peripheries, was
largely arbitrary. The eastern limit adopted is the western frontier of Iran (which has
changed slightly since publication) and the southern border within Arabia is the
southern frontier of Kuwait, extending west across northern Saudi Arabia.

Since this problem was addressed by the editors of BWP, understanding of the distri-
bution and status of the Arabian avifauna, almost all of which was excluded from the
area treated, has substantially advanced. The information now available, collected by
a growing number of experienced observers, some resident for extended periods,
permits reconsideration of the boundaries of the Western Palearctic, as currently
applied, in relevant areas of Arabia and Iran. These areas are mainly (Arabia) or
totally (Iran) excluded from the area of Eurasia treated as Western Palearctic by BWP.
As this position becomes widely accepted and remains unquestioned, it appears likely
that the declared limitations of the definition of the Western Palearctic used in BWP,
will remain ignored.

Here, we review the variety of treatments adopted by past authors confronted by this
problem, with particular reference to the Arabian peninsula. We also provide supple-
mentary information concerning those areas where Afrotropical elements are
dominant within the breeding avifauna (and which are therefore clearly not Palearctic)
in south-west Arabia. We discuss statistics concerning zoogeographical affinities of
species which are constituents of the breeding avifauna within certain
countries /regions in Arabia. We feel that the limits of the area conventionally treated
as Western Palearctic merit reassessment and hope to stimulate discussion so that
consensus may arise.

Our views concerning the Arabian Peninsula have developed through examining the
literature; field experience in Bahrain, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and

108 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Papers

Oman; and extensive discussion with other observers familiar with the region. We
lack field experience in Iran, but have substantial relevant experience in adjacent
Pakistan and Turkey. The eastern limit of the area treated as Western Palearctic in
BWP, apparently reflecting mere administrative convenience, coincides with the
western frontier of Iran—a boundary lacking any zoogeographical relevance. As the
avifauna of the Zagros mountain range further east shows strong Western Palearctic
influence, we feel it justifiable to examine this question in [ran using the limited
information available.

Any attempt to define the limits of a natural avifaunal realm—or subdivisons and
provinces thereof—in a geographically explicit way is clearly an artificial exercise,
seeking to define man-made categories within a natural continuum. BWP discusses
this dilemma as follows: “If the boundaries of the Palearctic region elude any logically
unquestionable demarcation, the determination of the eastern limits of the western
part is clearly arbitrary”. This assertion has failed to quell interest in the issue. We
consider the term Western Palearctic, even given conceptual shortcomings, carries a
degree of meaningfulness which warrants more careful consideration.

TREATMENT IN THE LITERATURE

Here we document the approach taken by successive authors when discussing the
nature and affinities of the Arabian breeding landbird avifauna and the classification
of Arabia with regard to global avifaunal realms. In this section, the term “Ethiopian”
is synonymous with “Afrotropical”, following Benson et al. (1979), wherein it is
argued that this is a more appropriate and less ambiguous term.

Hartert (1903-23) included north Arabia and Iran in the Palearctic but excluded south
Arabia due to the localised dominance of tropical forms. It may be questioned
whether bird distributions were sufficiently known within the region at that time for a
properly informed judgment to be made.

Meinertzhagen, an authority on the Palearctic region, acknowledged the dominance of
Palearctic elements within Arabia. In Birds of Arabia (1954), he writes: “...1 regard it
[Arabia] as a transition zone between the Palearctic and Ethiopian regions, predomi-
nantly Palearctic at the specific level, with a small Oriental admixture and also a small
bird element peculiar to itself at the specific level” (i.e. endemic). Further “There is...a
large African element in Yemen but an equal number of purely Palearctic species,
which confirms the transition zone idea”. He concludes “on the whole...I prefer to treat
Arabia as part of the Palearctic region; the alternative is an awkward transitional zone
between three major zoogeographical regions”. However, in Campbell & Lack (1985)
where the essay on the Palearctic (originally written by Meinertzhagen) is repeated,
following revision by K. H. Voous, it is stated “at present mountainous south-west
Arabia is included by most biogeographers in the Afrotropical region”. Much of this
area received no extensive attention from field ornithologists until the early 1980s.
Through contributions, including Cornwallis & Porter (1982), Jennings (1981, 1995),
Phillips (1982) and Stagg (1985), data gathered by the OSME expeditions to North
Yemen in autumn 1985 and South Yemen in spring 1993 and resultant reviews of bird
status and distribution in Yemen (Brooks et al. 1987, Martins et al. 1996, Porter et al.
1996b), it is now possible to define the limits of Afrotropical influence more precisely
(Martins & Hirschfeld 1994). This subject is discussed in a following section.

Vaurie (1959) included all of Arabia in the Palearctic whilst excluding local breeders of
Afrotropical affinity in an undefined area of the southern peninsula from his

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld 109

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Plates 1 & 2. Extensively vegetated coastal slopes in south coastal Arabia: Mahrah province, Yemen, late April 1993. (RA. P. Martins)

Plate 3. Open forest on limestone karst, Mahrah province, Plate 4. Deep wadi, Mahrah province, Yemen, late April 1993.
Yemen, late April 1993. (R. P. Martins) (R. P. Martins)

110 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Papers

Hy
LM
his

Ta
ii} HH) Hi ie i

a ee Ln ie
| OME tas i de
Hy i HT i H Hf i

Hi Hy

hihi

ite
’

Plate 6. Vegetation eradication around nomadic tribal settlemen

Plate 5. Limestone scarp with limited small caves caused by
solution weathering, Mahrah province, Yemen, late April 1993.
(R. P. Martins)

Plates 8. Densely wooded coastal hills, Dhofar, Oman. (Erik
Hirschfeld)

Piates 7. Densely wooded coastal hills, Dhofar, Oman. (Erik
Hirschfeld) late March 1993 (G. M. Kirwan)

old 111

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschf

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

treatment of its avifauna. Voous (1960) “...avoids suggesting the existence of a
Palaearctic faunal region but instead indicates a Palaearctic fauna, or else a distri-
bution range covering parts of the Palaearctic region”. Consequently, Voous (1973)
included the entire Arabian Peninsula and Iran in the Holarctic region acknowledging
that this meant “the happy incorporation of a small number of species of an Ethiopian
and Oriental origin respectively”. Udvardy (1975)—in a study of all plants and
animals—classified all of Arabia as Palearctic.

Lees-Smith (1986) analysed the composition of the south-west Arabian avifauna,
concluding that Afrotropical taxa dominate within a coastal strip 50-100 km in width.
This area is mapped as extending parallel to the Gulf of Aden coast east but not for a
known distance, illustrating the lack of information from central south coastal Arabia
at that time. A smaller number of Afrotropical taxa also occur on the seaward slopes
of the Dhofar region of south coastal Oman (Gallagher & Woodcock 1980) extending
west into the Mahrah (province) of Yemen for c. 50 km (Martins 1996, Porter et al.
1996a). It may be speculated that Afrotropical/Paleotropical influence in south-west
and southern Arabia was, in more pluvial climatic phases, associated with the coastal
periphery in general rather than the isolated enclaves found today. However, as
Ripley (1954) has noted, the presence of several genera with species common to both
areas, but with morphologically distinct subspecies in each, demonstrates that the
central south coast of Yemen has presented an enduring barrier to faunal interchange.
The area of Afrotropical dominance defined by Lees-Smith lies west of that suggested
by Chapin (see Ripley 1954). This includes part of the Rub’ Al-Khali (hyper-arid
central Arabia) where the breeding avifauna is overwhelmingly Palearctic. As Lees-
Smith remarks, Chapin’s line merely indicates the northern and eastern limits of the
breeding distributions of a small minority of the Afrotropical species in Arabia.

Hollom et al. (1988) stated the aim of treating the southern part of the Western
Palearctic. The entire Arabian Peninsula is included and, while acknowledging the
existence of Afrotropical and Oriental elements, especially in southern Arabia, the
authors consider it “difficult to draw a...comprehensive line further north than
Arabia’s southern coast-line”. Iran is also treated. The inclusion of these areas
apparently results from a need to make new information accessible rather than any
attempt to examine zoogeographical issues.

METHODS OF ANALYSING THE AVIFAUNA

Here, in an attempt to examine this question in a (inevitably fairly crude) systematic
way, distributions of Arabian breeding species and their associated zoogeographical
affinities are categorised according to the headings below. Categories used are largely
those adopted by Lees-Smith (1986) with the following changes: species with Old
World and/or Holarctic distributions have been merged with other widespread
(Cosmopolitan) species. These are too extensively distributed to contribute
meaningfully to this discussion and are labelled Pan-continental. No distinction has
been made between species considered by Lees-Smith “Afrotropical—Eurasian” and
“Eurasian—A frotropical” for the same reason. These have been categorised as Pan-
continental. Species categorised by Lees-Smith, which have been reclassified are
discussed below (see Appendix 1). Iranian breeding species are categorised as eastern,
western or widespread within the Palearctic (see Appendix 2).

ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL CATEGORIES USED AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

The categories adopted and associated comments below refer only to known breeding
distributions. Each distributional category is indicated by letters in bold.

AA R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Papers

1. Pan-continental (PC)
This category is used for species in the three categories below. These are widespread
and therefore cannot contribute any information relevant to this investigation.

Cosmopolitan
Distributed extensively through a minimum of three continents.

Old World

Widely distributed within Africa and Eurasia (and in some cases beyond through
south-east Asia to Australia) including species classified “Afrotropical—Eurasian”
and “Eurasian—Afrotropical” by Lees-Smith (1986).

Holarctic
Distributed extensively through northern Eurasia and northern North America
(circumpolar).

2. Saharo-Sindian (SS)

Distributed within the Saharo-Sindian zone as discussed by Hareson (19827 1986), ie:
from arid north-west Africa and Macaronesia (the temperate Atlantic islands) east to
north-west India. The ranges of a few species extend north-east beyond montane
south Central Asia to Mongolia and western China or through the arid lowlands
fringing the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

3. Afrotropical (A)
_ Distributed primarily within sub-Saharan Africa and the south and south-west
margins of the Arabian Peninsula.

4. Oriental (O)

Distributed primarily within the Indian subcontinent and/or Indochina south of the
arid trans-Himalayan zone (thus including the Sino-Himalayan avifauna) variously
west and—in a few cases—through southern Baluchistan, the northern Gulf coastlands
to the flood plains of Iraq, occasionally west to southern Turkey.

5. Paleotropical (PT)

Distributed south of the Himalaya within Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with or
without isolated breeding populations in the Middle East. The use of the term Middle
East here refers to an area extending from lowland areas adjacent to Red Sea coasts in
the west and south, north to. the Black Sea coast of Turkey and east to Baluchistan,
south of lowland arid Central Asia.

6. Palearctic (P)

Distributed within the Palearctic: the middle and high latitude temperate zone of
Eurasia north of the Himalaya, tropical China and the Sahara, including species
primarily distributed through relict wetlands of the Sarmatic Sea. While Saharo-
Sindian species breeding within this region are treated separately, species within the
Palearctic category differ in their significance to this analysis. They may be
subdivided as follows:

Wide-ranging
Extensively distributed throughout most of the Palearctic, with distributions showing
neither a western nor eastern bias. Not meaningful for analysis of west/east influence.

Eastern Palearctic
A distribution showing an easterly bias: significant for this analysis.

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld 113

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Western Palearctic
A distribution showing a westerly bias: significant for this analysis.

7. Middle Eastern and/or Central Asian (MC)

Distributed primarily within one or both of these regions where Central Asia is
defined for the purpose of this paper, as the arid and semi-arid mainly lowland region
of steppe and desert east from the Caspian Sea to Lake Balkash and Ozero Zayan,
bordered to the south by the Elburz, Hindu Kush, Pamirs and Tien Shan and, in the
east, by the Altai. Species with this distribution pattern may be considered part of an
expansively defined Western Palearctic avifauna, but form a group with distributions
which are more similar to each other than those shown by the fundamentally western
or eastern elements. Species endemic to Central Asia are included in this category.

In the analysis of the different areas, we have looked mainly at the number of species
within each zoogeographical category detailed above. The percentage of the Palearctic
breeding avifauna represented by the total number of species in each category is
calculated (such figures have been approximated to the nearest whole number). Two
differing methods are adopted for this analysis:

Method 1

We consider an area classifiable as Palearctic where Palearctic species are more
numerous than Afrotropical and Oriental species considered together. Subdivisions
within the Palearctic avifauna of Iran are also examined, with the aim of identifying
the interface along which areas showing substantial western and eastern influence are
contiguous.

Method 2

In the second analysis we have considered Middle East and/or Central Asian and
Saharo-Sindian elements combined to be Palearctic, since they do not usually breed in
Oriental or Afrotropical areas. In contrast, Paleotropical, Afrotropical, Oriental and
Indian Ocean species are clearly not Palearctic. Pan-continental elements are excluded
from this analysis.

Attention has been restricted to the breeding avifauna. (Inclusion of the substantial
number of Palearctic migrant species passing through the region would not be
relevant.) We have included breeding seabirds for completeness, although their distri-
butions are unrelated to the zoogeographical phenomena examined here. Most are
globally widespread and do not affect the discussion significantly.

Introduced species are excluded from the analysis because they are not natural
elements of the breeding avifauna examined.

THE GEOGRAPHICAL EXTENT OF WESTERN PALEARCTIC TAXA IN IRAN

While we lack field experience in Iran, we have attempted to understand Iranian
breeding bird distributions by examining maps compiled by D. A. Scott (Scott et al.
1975). The text of this publication is in Farsi and we have been unable to make use of
it. Given the historical scarcity of observers in Iran it is perhaps inevitable that such
maps are based upon limited data. The maps in BWP and Hollom et al. (1988) are
based on unpublished information from D. A. Scott and are more recent but the
differences between.these and Scott et al. (1975) are slight and would not appear to
suggest significantly different conclusions. Species which appear likely to breed
(indicated by question marks on maps) are included. Twelve taxa, not now believed to
breed in Iran (D. A. Scott pers. comm.) are excluded.

114 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Papers

Types of distribution pattern apparent from maps

Fifty-one species have breeding distributions restricted to wooded or forested altitudes
in the Elburz and/or the (more isolated) montane areas of Azerbaijan. Distributions in
the Elburz typically extend east well beyond the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea,
usually to the vicinity of Bojnurd and occasionally as far as the environs of Mashad. The
breeding avifauna within this area is almost entirely (see analysis section below)
Western Palearctic and includes such typically western forms as the migratory western
race of Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina, Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos
medius and Woodlark Lullula arborea. The easternmost ranges of such species extend over
1500 km beyond the area treated in BWP at this latitude. While ranges of species
showing western bias in their Eurasian breeding distributions often extend east of the
Elburz range at higher latitudes, this region is the terminus of many ranges of such
species south of the lowland steppe zone east of the Caucasus, from which they are
absent. The avifauna of the forests of northern Iran is thus most correctly interpreted as
an outlier of what might be labelled a ‘middle European’ avifauna. It extends disconti-
nously, south-east through montane temperate forest zones in the Balkans east through
the Turkish Black Sea coastlands and the Caucasus to the temperate Elburz. At c. 56°E (c.
100 km west of Bojnurd) the deciduous forests of the north slope of the Elburz range end
abruptly, marking a precise limit to the distribution of many woodland passerines (e.g.
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus and Treecreeper Certhia familiaris) in northern Iran. East of here,
forested areas are juniper-dominated, with some deciduous scrub (D. A. Scott in litt.).

_ When distributions of western and eastern counterparts are examined, several closely

related taxa demonstrate a gap between respective ranges or a zone of marginal
overlap (Haffer 1977). Eastern forms extend west through Afghanistan terminating in
upland north-east Iran while western forms do not extend further east than the
Elburz. Examples of pairs of taxa or discrete populations demonstrating this include
Pied Oenanthe pleschanka and Black-eared Wheatears O. hispanica, the green- and grey-
mantled populations of Great Tit Parus major, the black-headed and grey-headed races
of Goldfinch (Carduelis c. carduelis and C. c. paropanisi) and Red-headed Emberiza
bruniceps and Black-headed Buntings E. melanocephala. As Haffer (1977) has shown,
this region constitutes a zoogeographical divide representing a locally meaningful
division between western and eastern influence within the Palearctic avifauna.

The breeding distributions of 72 additional species extend both through the Elburz
and also to a variable extent south-east through the Zagros range, where western
elements are overwhelmingly dominant (see Paludan 1938). The avifauna of the
Zagros thus constitutes a different aspect of western influence, again showing
similarities with the ‘middle European’ avifauna.

These two patterns reoccur and are demonstrated by numerous distributions, either
individually or combined, to variable degrees. Maps 1 and 2 illustrate this point.
Taken together, these two patterns suggest southern and eastern limits to the
dominance of western elements in the Iranian Palearctic avifauna.

Thirteen species have breeding ranges extending no further west than the eastern
third of Iran, demonstrating that the hyper-arid lowland central deserts of the Dasht-
e-Kavir and the Dasht-e-Lut constitute a barrier to range expansion. Examples of
exclusively eastern species whose distributions terminate east of these physiographic
regions include Small Skylark Alauda gulgula (Map 3) and Pied Stonechat Saxicola
caprata (Map 4) while Pleske’s Ground Jay Podoces pleskei (clearly eastern in origin) is
endemic to the area (Map 5). The breeding avifauna of this region is primarily Saharo-
Sindian with eastern and western elements occurring at its margins.

RK. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld 115

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Map 1. Breeding range of Black
Woodpecker Dryocopus martius in Iran.

Map 2. Breeding range of Woodlark
Lullula arborea in Iran

Map 3. Breeding range of Small Skylark
Alauda gulgula in \ran.

Map 4. Breeding range of Pied Stonechat
Saxicola caprata in |ran.

Map 5. Breeding range of Pleske’s Ground
Jay Podoces pleske/ in Iran.

Map 6. Breeding range of Spotted Little
Owl Athene brama in Iran.

Map 7. Breeding range of Great Stone
Plover Esacus recurvirostris in |ran.

Map 8. Breeding range of Indian Roller
Coracias benghalensis in |ran.

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A fourth group of species, principally of Oriental or Paleotropical origin, including
three Sindian elements, have distributions demonstrating eastern bias. The Sindian
(eastern) species—Sykes’s Nightjar Caprimulgus mahrattensis, Sind Pied Woodpecker
Dendrocopos assimilis and Sind Jungle Sparrow Passer pyrrhonotus—are restricted to the
south-east of the country in Baluchistan and are at the margins of their ranges. Sind
Jungle Sparrow seems likely to have been a breeder in the past (D. A. Scott pers.
comm.) but is now perhaps a rare and irregular visitor (Grimmett 1987). It is included
because this area has apparently not been visited by ornithologists since Zarudny
(1911). Sindian species are scarce in Iran (D. I. M. Wallace pers. comm.), but it is clear
that eastern influence in the south-east is a recognisable phenomenon, discernable
north to the Elburz.

Species with southern or south-eastern distributions comprising widespread Oriental
taxa at the margins of their ranges in Iran, e.g. Grey Francolin Francolinus pondericanus,
or Paleotropical in distribution, e.g. Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis, extend
from Iranian Baluchistan west between the Zagros watershed and the northern Gulf
coast for varying distances. Ranges of 11 (excluding Sindian) species terminate on the
northern Gulf coast east of, or at approximately, 300 km west of the Straits of Hormuz
e.g. Spotted Little Owl Athene brama (Map 6) and Great Stone Plover Esacus recurvi-
rostris (Map 7). Others extend further west, either to the head of the Gulf, e.g. Indian
Roller Coracias benghalensis (Map 8), or further north-west, e.g. Yellow-throated
Sparrow Petronia xanthicollis or around and beyond the head of the Gulf and along its
- south coast, e.g. White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys (although introductions
have perhaps played a role in this case). Generally, species extending this far west
appear merely to reflect the consequences of post-Pleistocene expansion as well as a
tolerance of, or affinity for, habitats created or adapted by human activities. Species of
Oriental origin or Paleotropical distribution which occur throughout southern Iran
are, we suggest, insufficient in number for any part of western Iran not to be
considered Palearctic. In contrast, Oriental influence is significant east of the Straits of
Hormuz.

Based on the patterns of bird distributions in Iran detailed above we have divided the
country into the four regions mapped in Map 10 and calculated the proportional
occurrence of relevant elements among the breeding species of these regions.

Mountainous north and west

Two hundred and seven breeding species occur in this region, the largest number
among the four subdivisions of Iran adopted here. Analysis by method 1 reveals an
overwhelming dominance of Palearctic elements—71%—followed by 19% Pan-
continental elements. Figures derived through Method 2 are 79% Palearctic elements
and 2% non-Palearctic elements.

Percentage occurrence of breeding species within relevant zoogeographical categories in the mountainous north and west
PC MC Pq. P. O SS lO
19%: 6% 1% Tors tN e 2% 0%

SS+MC+P O0+IO+PT
79% 2%

Makran coast region

The Makran coast region supports 96 breeding species. Method 1 demonstrates that
the largest single category excluding Pan-continental species (30%) is Oriental (20%),
closely followed by Palearctic (16%). If method 2 is employed Saharo-Sindian, Middle

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld 117

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Eastern/ Central Asian and Palearctic species together comprise 38% of the avifauna
while Oriental, Indian Ocean and Paleotropical species comprise 32%. Among 16
Palearctic species, nine are wide-ranging, five western and two are eastern.

Percentage occurrence of breeding species within relevant zoogeographical categories in the Makran coast region
PC MC PT P O Shs) lO
30% 4% 12% 16% 20% 18% 0%

SS+MC+P O+10+PT
38% 32%

Gulf coast region

The Gulf coast region supports 94 breeding species. The largest single relevant
category excluding Pan-continental species (32%) is Palearctic, comprising 19%.
Oriental influence is diminished to 15% while there is no Afrotropical influence. If
method 2 is employed the three Palearctic categories comprise 43% of the avifauna
and the three non-Palearctic categories 25%. Among the 19 Palearctic species 13 are
wide-ranging, five western and one eastern.

Percentage occurrence of breeding species within relevant zoogeographical categories in the Gulf coast region
PC MC PI P O SS lO
32% 8% 8% I= eb G6 276

SS+MC+P O+lO+PT
43% 29%

East region

The (non-mountainous) east region supports 164 breeding species. Here Palearctic
species dominate, constituting 33%, while Oriental influence is demonstrated in only
9% of the avifauna. Among the 58 Palearctic species 35 are wide-ranging, 18 western
and five eastern. Method 2 generates 55% for Palearctic and 20% for non-Palearctic.

Percentage occurrence of breeding species within relevant zoogeographical categories in the East region
PC MC Fale P O SS lO
Os WN NG SEG. SH 11% 0%

SS+MC+P O+IO+PT
55% 20%

Oriental influence increases from north to south in east Iran being most strongly
expressed within the region labelled Makran coast.

THE ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS OF IRAN

The Makran coast region can thus be considered transitional, supporting both Oriental
(eastern) and true Palearctic elements in approximately equal proportions. Palearctic
elements dominate along the Gulf coast, which is best assigned to a western subregion.
In the eastern region Palearctic species are the largest category. Among these, western
elements outnumber eastern species threefold. The western limits of three eastern
Palearctic species are located within the region. These, together with the Oriental and
Palaeotropical species (here an extension of the south Asian part of their global ranges),
suggest that a weakly defined eastern influence can be recognised within the breeding
avifauna east from Iran’s central arid core at commensurate latitudes.

118 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

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ANALYSIS OF BREEDING BIRDS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF ARABIA BY COUNTRY

Although zoogeographical and political subdivisions of Arabia are clearly unrelated,
we have seen no alternative to the use of bird distributional information in national
checklists or reviews as political subdivisions are typically the basis through which
such information is presented.

We have reassigned one south-western breeding species which was, in our opinion,
incorrectly categorised by Lees-Smith (1986)—Yemen Parisoma (Yemen Warbler)
Parisoma buryi. We suggest that observation of Yemen Parisoma in life strongly
suggests that it is best assigned to Parisoma (not Sylvia). Close similarities exist—in
field characters and behaviour—between this and other Parisoma species. This genus
is largely Afrotropical in distribution and apparent origin (Brooks 1987). It is difficult
to see what evidence supports its treatment within Sylvia as in Lees-Smith (1986) or as
an “intermediate link”—most closely to Arabian Warbler Sylvia leucomelaena as has
been suggested (Shirihai 1988)—between Parisoma and Sylvia. The ‘systematic position
of Arabian Woodpecker Dendrocopos dorae is incompletely understood. We follow
Winkler ef al. (1995) in treating the species within Picoides which would imply
Palearctic origin. However, the species’ relationship to Afrotropical Campethera
requires examination.

The systematic position, relationships and zoogeographical affinities of Golden-winged
Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus—a highly distinctive monotypic genus—are
~ unclear (Martins 1987). Lees-Smith (1986) considered it Palearctic in origin. Rather than
create an ‘indeterminate’ category for this species, this approach has been followed.

Four south-west Arabian breeding species omitted by Lees-Smith (1986): Goliath
Heron Ardea goliath, Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus, Spur-winged Piover
Hoplopterus spinosus and Zebra Waxbill Amandava subflava are included here, as are
breeding seabirds.

Bahrain

Of the 32 species breeding in Bahrain, the majority—47%—are Pan-continental; 28%
are Saharo-Sindian, 6% are Palearctic, 3% are Oriental species and there is no
Afrotropical influence. Method 2 generates 34% of species showing Palearctic
affinities and 19% with non-Palearctic affinities. Two Palearctic breeders, Turtle Dove
Streptopelia turtur and Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida are essentially western.

Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in Bahrain
PC MC PT. P A O SS lO
47% 0% 9% 6% 0% 3% 28% 7%

SS+MC+P O+10+PT+A
34% 19%

Oatar
Qatar has a breeding avifauna similar to that of neighbouring Bahrain. We have not
undertaken an analysis for Qatar as sufficient information is not available.

The United Arab Emirates

Seventy species are regular breeders in the United Arab Emirates (Richardson 1990).
The largest proportion of species—30%—are Pan-continental while 19% are Saharo-
Sindian. There are 6% Oriental species, 2% Afrotropical and 12% Palearctic. Method 2
generates a total of 39% of the breeding avifauna exhibiting Palearctic affinities while

RK. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld 119

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

26% show non-Palearctic affinities according to the categorisation we have adopted.
Of the eignt Palearctic breeders four can be considered wide-ranging and four
western.

Two breeding species, Grey Francolin and Chukar Alectoris chukar seem most likely to
have been introduced into the UAE (and Oman) by man, and have been deleted from
the analysis. The status of Grey Francolin might merit re-examination as it is possible
that Arabian populations represent relicts from a period when the Arabian Gulf was
less extensively inundated by marine waters.

Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in the United Arab Emirates
PC MC Pale P O A SS lO
30% 8% 1996" Wi2vou ~ 676 2% 19% 4%

SS+MC+P O+IO+PT+A
39% 31%

Oman

Oman may be subdivided into Dhofar and elsewhere within the country. Monsoon
rainfall strongly influences Dhofar, sustaining drought-deciduous vegetation (as
occurs, for the same reason, on the lower western slopes of montane south-west
Arabia) supporting a substantial proportion of Afrotropical species. In strong contrast,
most of Oman has a climate and vegetation more typical of Arabia.

Seventy-six species have been treated as breeding outside Dhofar, the largest
proportion (37%) being Pan-continental. There are 5% Oriental, 3% Afrotropical and
8% Palearctic species. Method 2 generates 367% of species showing Palearctic affinities
and 26% non-Palearctic. Of the six Palearctic species two are western and four wide-
ranging. Grey Francolin and Chukar have been excluded for the same reasons as
recorded under the treatment of the United Arab Emirates.

Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in primarily arid Oman
PC MC PT R A O SS iO END
37% 3% 138% 8% 3% 5% 25% 5% 1%

SS+MC+P O+IO+PT+A
36% 26%

The avifaunal composition differs greatly in Dhofar. Of 73 breeding species 30% are
Pan-continental, 26% Afrotropical, 26% Saharo-Sindian and 3% Palearctic. Method 2
generates 32% in Palearctic categories and 33% in non-Palearctic. Only two widely
distributed Palearctic species are present, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius and
Little Owl Athene noctua.

Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in Dhofar, Oman
PC MC PT P A O S}s) lO END
30% 3% 6% 3% 26% 0% 26% 1% 5%

SS+MC+P O+IO+PT+A
32% 33%

Yemen

One hundred and thirty-three species breed in Yemen where the two most strongly
represented categories are Afrotropical (37%) and Pan-continental (27%). Palearctic
species constitute only 3% and no Oriental species are present. Employing method 2

120 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

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generates 17% of species with Palearctic affinities and 46% showing non-Palearctic
affinities. The four Palearctic breeders are all considered wide-ranging.

Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in Yemen
PC MC Pi P. A O SS lO END
27% 2% 7% 3% 37% 0% 12% 2% 10%

SS+MC+P O+lIO+PT+A
17% 46%

South-west Saudi Arabia

One hundred and twenty-four species breed in south-west Saudi Arabia. Afrotropical
elements are strongly represented at 34% followed by 26% Pan-continental. Method 2
generates 19% Palearctic and 44% non-Palearctic species.

Percentage influence of different avifaunal elements in south-west Saudi Arabia
PC MC PT. P A O AE Ss lO END
26% 1% 7% 3% 34% 0% 2% 15% >, 3% 9%

SS+MC+P O+1O+PT+A
19% 44%

In central and eastern Saudi Arabia the locally breeding landbird avifauna is
overwhelmingly Saharo-Sindian.

THE POSITION OF THE LIMITS OF AFROTROPICAL DOMINANCE IN
SOUTH-WEST ARABIA

The presence of substantial Afrotropical influence in Dhofar and montane south-west
Arabia has prevented consensus among authors seeking to describe the zoogeography
of Arabia in general. Inadequate understanding of bird distributions in much of
southern Arabia has sustained the idea that such an admixture of species of differing
affinity exists that the area is best treated as a transition zone. An alternative view,
apparently determined by the location of the easternmost limits of a small number of
the most widespread Afrotropical species, has driven the frontier of a recognised
Afrotropical zone in Arabia east to the fringe of its arid core. Neither treatment
properly reflects patterns of bird distribution, which are now more adequately
understood. Lees-Smith (1986) highlighted the difficulty of judging whether
Afrotropical influence is best seen as a continuum—from montane south-western
Arabia through the coastal fringe to eastern Dhofar—or whether some alternative
view would be more appropriate. A limited number of Afrotropical species do occur
locally through southern Yemen, but the composition of the breeding landbird
avifauna does not suggest strong continental influence. By contrast, such influence is
readily apparent in the field on the seaward slopes of Dhofar and west from the
western ramparts of the Yemen highlands.

Therefore we suggest that Afrotropical influence is dominant in two disjunct ecological
islands sustained by monsoon rainfall—Dhofar (Oman)/the eastern Mahrah (Yemen)
and montane south-west Arabia—surrounded by radically different (oceanic or arid)
environments. The extremely small proportion of the Arabian Peninsula these areas
comprise—less than 5%—is striking. Below, we discuss them in more detail.

Dhofar
A division between Palearctic and Afrotropical avifaunas in Dhofar is readily
apparent in the field, reflecting the topography of the region. North of the narrow (up

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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

to 20 km in width) coastal plains, a range of mountains rises to 2000 metres. Seaward
slopes receive substantial precipitation during the monsoon (May-September:
Gallagher & Woodcock 1980), mainly through the influence of regular and persistent
fog, and are heavily vegetated. Climax drought-deciduous woodland occurs on slopes
with tropical evergreen riparian vegetation along wadis. Permanent or regular
seasonal surface water, often originating from springs, may be locally common. At
higher altitudes woodland is replaced by grassland which diminishes toward stone
and gravel desert with decreasing altitude toward deserts further north. Directly
north of Salalah, the interface between monsoon-influenced and arid areas is located c.
35 km from the coast. Further east it coincides more closely with the coast. Summer
temperatures may vary across this interface by up to 20°C within a few hundred
meters (pers. obs.). The desert and northern slopes of this range support typical (arid)
Saharo-Sindian zone species such as Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi, sandgrouse
Pterocles spp., Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti and Brown-necked Raven Corvus
ruficollis, whilst the grassland and scrub along the summits of the mountain range
supports substantial populations of Singing Bush Lark Mirafra cantillans, South
Arabian Wheatear Oenanthe lugens and African Rock Bunting Emberiza tahapisi. The
forests on the seaward slopes support typical Afrotropical species such as Spotted
Eagle Owl Bubo africanus, sunbirds Nectarinia spp., African Paradise Flycatcher
Terpsiphone viridis and White-breasted White-eye Zosterops abyssinica. The border
between the dry Palearctic and coastal Afrotropical zones lies along the summits of
this coastal range. At least seven Saharo-Sindian and one Cosmopolitan species occur
only on the northern dry slopes and/or the desert plateau beyond. If these species are
excluded from an analysis of the southern slopes and the coastal plain, the view that
this part of Dhofar is best considered predominantly Afrotropical is strengthened.

Two species occurring both in desert areas and the wetter montane
habitats--Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis and Blackstart Cercomela
melanura—show strong morphological differentiation betwen zones, being represented
by different subspecies in each. Laughing Doves in the mountains and coastal plains
are of the Afrotropical subspecies senegalensis while those in the more arid zone north
of the watershed are Oriental cambayensis (Gallagher & Woodcock 1980, Bundy 1986).
Bundy (1986) has already drawn attention to the differences in habitat occupied by
Afrotropical erlangeri and nominate (Arabian) melanura subspecies of Blackstart in
Dhofar. These examples demonstrate that differences within bird populations and
plant communities in south-coastal Arabia have been stable and enduring: when
examining avifaunal relationships within this area there is more to consider than
simply the natural variation between the bird communities of different habitats.

Montane south-west Arabia

Western Yemen

In western Yemen (roughly speaking, the western part of the erstwhile political state
of North Yemen), the Afrotropical component is dominant within the breeding
landbird avifauna throughout the heavily dissected western scarps, extending more
weakly across the central plateau and, to a much diminished degree, beyond through
the eastern flanks of the highlands. Afrotropical influence is too weakly expressed
along the eastern fringe of this montane bloc to justify the frequent presentation of all
south-western Arabia as wholly Afrotropical. Equally, treating such an extensive area
as ‘transitional’, another approach adopted by past authors, fails to adequately reflect
local differences in bird distributions. If a transition zone has to be defined, then this
would be best restricted to the highland plateau only. Thus, the poorly demarcated

122 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

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eastern and more clearly evident western fringes of the central plateau denote restric-
tively and expansively defined limits to Saharo-Sindian/western Palearctic influence
(Martins & Hirschfeld 1994).

South-west Saudi Arabia

The position of the limits of Afrotropical influence in south-west Saudi Arabia is not
completely clear (S. Newton in litt.) and there is interesting (if unsurprising) evidence
that relationships between the distributions of related species occupying similar
niches may be remarkably fluid. P. Symens & S. Newton (in litt.) offer examples from
the environs of Taif: Spotted Eagle Owl was recorded breeding in virtually every
suitable wadi around the National Wildlife Research Center during 1986-89 but has
since been replaced by Eagle Owl Bubo bubo at the same sites and Spotted Eagle Owl
has not been recorded since 1991. Since 1988, particularly following heavy rainfall in
1992, several Afrotropical breeders including African Collared Dove Streptopelia
roseogrisea, Black Bush Robin Cercotrichas podobe and African Silverbill Lonchura cantans
have increased substantially in numbers. By contrast, others such as Grey-headed
Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala and Hamerkop Scopus umbretta appear subject to
severe pressure here at the northernmost limits of their ranges due to anthropo-
morphic factors associated with settlement of nomadic people in permanently
watered wadis.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that the variety of opinions presented in the literature demonstrate that
the categorisation of Arabia and Iran with respect to the most meaningful definition of
the ‘limits’ of the Western Palearctic awaits proper resolution. As attempts to
delineate zoogeographical realms (or provinces therein, where subdivisions are even
more difficult to define) are typically problematic we see no compelling reason why
past uncertainty should be maintained. The time has come for reconsideration of
where the ‘best-fit’ border, or border zone, might be positioned. It should also be
noted that all authorities cited except BWP, consider Arabia mainly Palearctic.
Considering the geographical position of Arabia at the ‘crossroads’ of three
continents, the Palearctic elements dominating within the breeding avifauna of the
region and the lack of true eastern Palearctic elements, it is seems natural to assign it
to the Western Palearctic.

We conclude that the most defendable boundary between western and eastern
Palearctic influence within the Iranian breeding avifauna is as depicted in Map 10.
This passes from the northern Gulf coast just west of the Straits of Hormuz through a
(more lowland) gap between the south-westernmost flanks of the Zagros and the
uplands of the Makran coast/Iranian Baluchistan, north-west along the eastern flank
of the Zagros turning east along the southern flank of the Elburz at the lowest altitude
at which temperate taxa dominate, as far as the Kuh-e Hazar Masjed and thence west
along the lower northern flanks of the Elburz (west of Ashkabad in Turkmenistan) to
the Caspian. West and north Iran is Palearctic, with lowland eastern areas being
perhaps most properly viewed as a transitional zone. Interestingly, several Palearctic
species with eastern affinities have their westernmost limits in the eastern part of the
country. Map 4 shows the distribution of Pied Stonechat, which illustrates this well.
However, species with western affinities still dominate within this area.

We readily acknowledge that in reality no absolutely clear boundary may be defined
in Iran and that ranges of taxa either side of the divide may sometimes extend a short
distance beyond it. Also, certain distribution patterns indicate that it might be equally

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld 123

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

meaningful to treat the Makran coast as a transition zone. However, we suggest that
this boundary offers a helpful tool toward a better understanding of the avian
zoogeography of this region of the southern Palearctic and that it should be adopted
as the real eastern limits of the Western Palearctic.

We choose not to seek a clear boundary north of the Elburz. While a meaningful
divide may be recognised in Iran, at higher latitudes sufficient overlap exists in the
distributions of western and eastern (i.e. including widely distributed Eurasian
species which clearly do not show any western bias in their distribution) taxa to
render an attempt at clarification without extensive field experience perhaps too
adventurous. As latitude increases north of the Elburz, especially within the more arid
zones of central Eurasia, the ranges of most species show such a wide longitudinal
spread that labels such as west and east, when applied to the avifauna in general, lack
meaning. A clear periphery of western influence not only, to requote BWP, eludes
“any logically unquestionable definition” but would apparently need to be wholly

TURKMENISTAN

Gulf Coast

PERSIAN
GULF

Areas 2000—4000 metres
above sea level SEA OF OMAN

Map 9. The limits of the Western Palearctic in Iran and the zoogeographical regions of the country used in this paper.

124 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

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Saudi — |
Arabia

P : A
$ aN — ———_
~ 1) > ~~. Dhofar (Oman)/

Mahrah Province (Yemen)
N Republic of Afrotropical enclave
<s Yemen

S south-west Arabian ARABIAN
Afrotropical enclave SEA

Map 10. Arabia: the limits of Afrotropical dominance within the breeding avifauna in Dhofar (Yemen/Oman) and south-west Arabia.

contrived. Further north, the situation changes. If a zone of Palearctic Eurasia were to
be defined as western using the position of the easternmost limits of expansively
distributed Western Palearctic species as the primary criterion for its identification,
then, as Harrison (1982) recognised, the frontiers of the Western Palearctic might
extend east to Lake Baikal or at least to the Yenisei river. Equally, if the same criterion
were to be applied to eastern species, the area where a substantial proportion of taxa
show a primarily eastern bias could be extended well west of Baikal and even west of
the Yenisei. The vague definition of an extensive zone of overlap is (as would be
expected in a continental area with extensive tracts of similar habitat types lacking
strongly significant physical barriers) would seem the best achievable result.
However, if the eastern limits of extensively distributed western elements is
considered as a sole criterion to force the delimitation of a boundary, then this might
run from just west of the Yenisei, then along the western edge of the highlands of the
Altai, Pamirs and the Tibetan upland, skirting the western end of the high Himalaya.

The avian zoogeography of the Arabian peninsula is less easy to simplify than the
situation in Iran and any statistical analysis less powerful because the relatively low
number of breeders make quantitative comparisons less meaningful. The
overwhelming majority of Arabia has a minimal number of predominantly Saharo-
Sindian breeding species with an almost total absence of fundamentally eastern
elements. While recognising the validity of a Saharo-Sindian avifauna, we follow
BWP and treat the Palearctic as embracing it, primarily because the majority of
Saharo-Sindian taxa are apparently derived from Palearctic or common ancestral
stock. Given this treatment and the scarcity of eastern elements, we view most of
Arabia as Western Palearctic.

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Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

The situation changes around the coastal fringes of south-west, south and eastern
Arabia. Here, adjacent avifaunal realms naturally exert some influence upon the
breeding avifauna and relict enclaves of Afrotropical dominance persist in montane
regions, surrounded by radically different marine or arid conditions, in vegetation
types sustained by the influence of a monsoon climate. These areas, with limits as
discussed, cannot be treated as Western Palearctic. They represent an extremely small
proportion (c. 5%) of the area of Arabia. In the east a small number of Oriental, i.e.
eastern, forms breed along a primarily lowland coastal fringe. In limited areas of the
east Arabian coastal fringe therefore, the avifauna might best be regarded as transi-
tional. This fact does little to diminish the argument that the overwhelming majority
of the Arabian peninsula is most defendably classified as Western Palearctic.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Numerous individuals have assisted, through discussion, in the development of the thoughts presented
here and we thank them all: Mike Blair, Duncan Brooks, Ian Brown, Jens Eriksen, Mike Evans, Alec Forbes-
Watson, Mike Gallagher, the late Gunter Groh, Colin Harrison, C. D. R. Heard, Peter Hellyer, P. A. D.
Hollom, Mike Jennings, Guy Kirwan, D. T. Lees-Smith, Rob Morris, Saeed A. Muhammad, Bob Nation,
Stephen Newton, Tom Nightingale, R. F. Porter, Colin Richardson, Tom Roberts, Derek Scott, Bill Simpson,
Tadeusz Stawarczyk, Peter Symens, Magnus Ullman, D. I. M. Wallace and Pierre Yésou.

REFERENCES

BENSON, C. W., CLANCEY, P. A., Fry, C. H., NEWMAN, K., PRIGOGINE, A. AND SNOw, D. W. (1979) Afrotropical
region: a substitute name for Sclater’s Ethiopian region. [bis 121: 518.

Brooks, D. J. (1987) The Yemen Warbler in North Yemen. Sandgrouse 9: 90-93.

Brooks, D. J., EVANS, M. I., MARTINS, R. P. AND PorTER, R. F. (1987) The status of birds in North Yemen and
the records of the OSME expedition in autumn 1985. Sandgrouse 9: 4-66.

BuNDy, G. (1986) Blackstarts in southern Oman. Sandgrouse 7:43-46.

CAMPBELL, B. AND LACK, E. (eds.) (1985) A dictionary of birds. T. & A. D. Poyser, Calton.

CORNWALLIS, L. AND PORTER, R. F. (1982) Spring observations of the birds of North Yemen. Sandgrouse 4: 1-36.

CRAMP, S. AND SIMMONS, K. E. L. (eds.) (1977) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press.

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

GRIMMETT, R. (1987) Little-known Oriental bird. The Sind Sparrow. Oriental Bird Club Bull. 5: 23-24.

GOODMAN, S. M. AND SABRY, H. (1984) A specimen of Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri from Egypt. Bull. Brit.
Orn. Club 104: 79-84.

HAFFER, J. (1977) Secondary contact zones of birds in northern Iran. Bonn. Zool. Mon. 10. Bonn.

HARRISON, C. J. O. (1982) An atlas of birds of the Western Palearctic. Collins, London.

HARRISON, C. J. O (1986) The Saharo-Sindian arid zone. Sandgrouse 7: 64-69.

HARTERT, E. (1903-1923) Die Vogel der Palaarktischen fauna. Vols. 1-3. Friedlander, Berlin.

Ho Lio, 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.

JENNINGS, M. C. (1981) Breeding birds in central Arabia. Sandgrouse 1: 71-81.

JENNINGS, M. C. (1995) An interim atlas of the breeding birds of Arabia. National Commission for Wildlife
Conservation and Development, Riyadh.

Legs-SmITH, D. T. (1986) Composition and origins of the south-west Arabian avifauna: a preliminary
analysis. Sandgrouse 7: 71-92.

MARTINS, R. P. (1987) The Golden-winged Grosbeak in North Yemen. Sandgrouse 9: 106-110.

ManrtTINS, R. P. (1996) Some aspects of southern Yemen: an introduction for field ornithologists and
conservationists. Sandgrouse 17: 15-21.

MARTINS, R. P., BRADSHAW, C. G., BROWN, A., KIRWAN, G. M. AND PorTER, R. F. (1996) The status of
passerines in southern Yemen and the records of the OSME survey in spring 1993. Sandgrouse 17: 54-72.

MARrTINS, R. P. AND HIRSCHFELD, E. (1994) Where are the limits of the Western Palearctic? Bull. Brit. Orn. Club
114: 207-208.

MEINERTZHAGEN, R. (1954) Birds of Arabia. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh & London.

PALUDAN, K. (1938) Zur Ornis des Zagrossgebietes, W.-Iran. J. Orn. 86: 562-638.

Puitiips, N. R. (1982) Observations on the birds of North Yemen in 1979. Sandgrouse 4: 37-59.

Porter, R. F., MARTINS, R. P. AND STONE, F. (1996a) The Ornithological Society of the Middle East’s survey of
southern Yemen and Socotra, March—May 1993: an introduction. Sandgrouse 17: 5-14.

PorTER, R. F., MARTINS, R. P., SHAW, K. D. AND SORENSEN, U. G. (1996b) The status of non-passerines in
southern Yemen and the records of the OSME survey in spring 1993. Sandgrouse 17: 22-53.

126 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Papers

oa MANE BL

I ~ RICHARDSON, C. (1990) The birds of the United Arab Emirates. Hobby Publications, Dubai & Warrington.
; RipLey, S. D. (1954) Comments on the biogeography of Arabia with particular reference to birds.

E J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 52: 241-248.

2 ROBERTS, T. J. (1991) The birds of Pakistan. Vol. 1. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

: SCOTT, D. A., HAMADANI, H. M. AND MIRHOSSEYNI, A. A. (1975) Birds of Iran. Department of the Environment
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B SHIRIHAI, H. (1988) A new subspecies of Arabian Warbler (Sylvia leucomelaena) from Israel.

Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 108: 75-76.

|- ; STAGG, A. (1985) Birds of SW Saudi Arabia. An annotated checklist. Stagg, Riyadh.

: Upvarpy, M. D. F. (1975) International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources (IUCN)
F Occas. Papers 18.

|= Voous, K. H. (1960) Atlas of European birds. Nelson, Edinburgh.

E Voous, K. H. (1973) List of recent Holarctic bird species. Non-passerines. Ibis 115: 612-638.

a VAURIE, C. (1959) The birds of the Palearctic fauna. Vol. 1. Passeriformes. H. F. & G. Witherby, London.

= WINKLER, H.,-Curistigz, D. A. AND Nurney, D. (1995) Woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks of the world.

E Pica Press, Robertsbridge.

: ZARUDNY, N. (1911) Verzeichnis der Vo6gel Persiens. J. Orn. 59: 13-241.

| R. P. Martins, 6 Connaught Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 3BP, U. K.
Erik Hirschfeld, Sodra Forstadsgatan 62, SE-211 43 Malmo, Sweden.

a nn

Plate 10. Immature Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis senegalensis, Khawr Rouri, Dhofar, Oman, 19 November 1994. (M. Ullman)

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld i

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Appendix 1. Complete list of breeding species in Arabia and Iran assessed in this paper, and their affinities.

Little Grebe

Great Crested Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Persian Shearwater
Red-billed Tropicbird
Masked Booby
Brown Booby
Cormorant

Socotra Cormorant
White Pelican
Dalmatian Pelican
Pink-backed Pelican
Bittern

Little Bittern

Night Heron
Striated Heron
Squacco Heron
Indian Pond Heron
Cattle Egret
Western Reef Heron
Little Egret

Great White Egret
Grey Heron

Purple Heron
Goliath Heron
Hamerkop

Black Stork

Abdim’s Stork

White Stork

Glossy Ibis

Sacred Ibis
Spoonbill

Greater Flamingo
Greylag Goose
Ruddy Shelduck
Shelduck

Gadwall

Teal

Mallard

Garganey

Marbled Teal
Red-crested Pochard
Pochard
Ferruginous Duck
Tufted Duck
White-headed Duck
Honey Buzzard
Black-winged Kite
Black Kite
White-tailed Eagle
Lammergeier
Egyptian Vulture

Indian White-backed Vulture

Griffon Vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
Black Vulture
Short-toed Eagle

Tachybaptus ruficollis
Podiceps cristatus
Podiceps grisegena
Podiceps nigricollis

Puffinus (Iherminieri) persicus

Phaethon aethereus
Sula dactylatra

Sula leucogaster
Phalacrocorax carbo
Phalacrocorax nigrogularis
Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pelecanus crispus
Pelecanus rufescens
Botaurus stellaris
Ixobrychus minutus
Nycticorax nycticorax
Butorides striatus
Ardeola ralloides
Ardeola grayll
Bubulcus ibis

Egretta gularis

Egretta garzetta
Egretta alba

Ardea cinerea

Ardea purpurea
Ardea goliath

Scopus umbretta
Ciconia nigra

Ciconia abdimii
Ciconia ciconia
Plegadis falcinellus
Threskiornis aethiopicus
Platalea leucorodia
Phoenicopterus ruber
Anser anser

Tadorna ferruginea
Tadorna tadorna
Anas strepera

Anas crecca

Anas platyrhynchos
Anas querquedula
Marmaronetta angustirostris
Netta rufina

Aythya ferina

Aythya nyroca

Aythya fuligula
Oxyura lecucocephala
Pernis apivorus
Elanus caeruleus
Milvus migrans
Haliaeetus albicilla
Gypaetus barbatus
Neophron percnopterus
Gyps bengalensis
Gyps fulvus

Torgos tracheliotos
Aegypius monachus
Circaetus gallicus

128

UU UU UU UD

Bateleur

Marsh Harrier

Pallid Harrier
Montagu’s Harrier
Dark Chanting Goshawk
Gabar Goshawk
Goshawk
Sparrowhawk

Shikra

Levant Sparrowhawk
White-eyed Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Greater Spotted Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Imperial Eagle
Golden Eagle
Verraux’s Eagle
Booted Eagle
Bonellis Eagle
Osprey

Lesser Kestrel
Kestrel

Hobby

Sooty Falcon

Lanner Falcon

Saker Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Barbary Falcon
Caucasian Black Grouse
Caspian Snowcock
Chukar

Philby’s Partridge
Arabian Partridge
See-see Partridge
Sand Partridge

Black Francolin

Grey Francolin

Grey Partridge

Quail

Harlequin Quail
Pheasant

Helmeted Guineafowl
Little Button Quail
Water Rail

Spotted Crake
Baillon’s Crake
Corncrake

Moorhen

Purple Gallinule

Coot

Little Bustard
Houbara Bustard
Arabian Bustard
Great Bustard
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Oystercatcher

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Terathopius ecaudatus
Circus aeruginosus
Circus macrourus
Circus pygargus
Melierax metabates
Micronisus gabar
Accipiter gentilis
Accipiter nisus
Accipiter badius
Accipiter brevipes
Butastur teesa

Buteo buteo

Buteo rufinus

Aquila pomarina
Aquila clanga

Aquila rapax

Aquila heliaca

Aquila chrysaetos
Aquila verrauxii
Hieraaetus pennatus
Hieraaetus fasciatus
Pandion haliaetus
Falco naumanni
Falco tinnunculus
Falco subbuteo

Falco concolor

Falco biarmicus
Falco cherrug

Falco peregrinus
Falco pelegrinoides
Tetrao mlokosiewiczi
Tetraogallus caspius
Alectoris chukar
Alectoris philbyi
Alectoris melanocephala
Ammoperdix griseogularis

_ Ammoperdix heyi

Francolinus francolinus
Francolinus pondicerianus
Perdix perdix
Coturnix coturnix
Coturnix delegorguel
Phasanius colchicus
Numida meleagris

Turnix sylvatica

Rallus aquaticus
Porzana porzana
Porzana pusilla

Crex crex

Gallinula chloropus
Porphyrio porphyrio
Fulica atra

Tetrax tetrax
Chlamydotis undulata
Ardeotis arabs

Otis tarda
Hrophasaydnius chirurgus
Haematopus ostralegus

Black-winged Stilt
Avocet

Crab Plover

Stone Curlew
Spotted Thick-knee
Great Stone Plover
Cream-coloured Courser
Collared Pratincole
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Spur-winged Plover
Red-wattled Plover
White-tailed Plover
Lapwing

Redshank

Common Sandpiper
Sooty Gull
White-eyed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Armenian Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern

Swift Tern

Lesser Crested Tern
Sandwich Tern
Roseate Tern
Common Tern
White-cheeked Tern
Bridled Tern

Sooty Tern

Little Tern
Saunders’s Little Tern
Whiskered Tern
Common Noddy
Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse
Crowned Sandgrouse
Spotted Sandgrouse

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Rock Dove

Stock Dove

Eastern Stock Dove
Woodpigeon

Olive Pigeon

African Collared Dove
Collared Dove
Red-eyed Dove

Turtle Dove

Dusky Turtle Dove
Laughing Dove
Namaqua Dove
Bruce’s Green Pigeon
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Didric Cuckoo

Klaas’s Cuckoo
Common Cuckoo

Himantopus himantopus
Recurvirostra avosetta
Dromas ardeola
Burhinus oedicnemus
Burhinus capensis
Esacus recurvirostris
Cursorius cursor
Glareola pratincola
Charadrius dubius
Charadrius alexandrinus
Charadrius leschenaultii
Hoplopterus spinosus
Hoplopterus indicus
Chettusia leucura
Vanellus vanellus
Tringa totanus

Actitis hypoleucos
Larus hemprichii

Larus leucophthalmus
Larus ridibundus

Larus gene

Larus armenicus
Gelochelidon nilotica
Sterna caspia

Sterna bergii

Sterna bengalensis
Sterna sandvicensis
Sterna dougallii

Sterna hirundo

Sterna repressa

Sterna anaethetus
Sterna fuscata

Sterna albifrons

Sterna saundersi
Chlidonias hybridus
Anous stolidus
Pterocles lichtesteinii
Ptercoles coronatus
Pterocles senegallus
Pterocles exustus
Pterocles orientalis
Pterocles alchata
Columba livia

Columba oenas
Columba eversmanni
Columba palumbus
Columba arquatrix
Streptopelia roseogrisea
Streptopelia decaocto
Streptopelia semitorquata
Streptopelia turtur
Streptopelia lugens
Streptopelia senegalensis
Oena capensis

Treron waalia

Clamator glandarius
Chrysococcyx caprius
Chrysococcyx klaas
Cuculus canorus

White-browed Coucal
Barn Owl

Striated Scops Owl
European Scops Owl
African Scops Owl
Eagle Owl

Spotted Eagle Owl
Brown Fish Owl

Little Owl

Spotted Little Owl
Tawny Owl

Hume’s Tawny Owl
Long-eared Owl

Plain Nightjar

Nubian Nightjar

Sykes’s Nightjar
European Nightjar
Egyptian Nightjar
Mountain Nightjar
Common Swift

Pallid Swift

Alpine Swift

Little Swift

Palm Swift
White-breasted Kingfisher
Grey-headed Kingfisher
White-collared Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
White-throated Bee-eater
Little Green Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
European Roller
Abyssinian Roller

Indian Roller

Hoopoe

African Grey Hornbill
Green Woodpecker
Black Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Syrian Woodpecker
Sind Pied Woodpecker

Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Arabian Woodpecker
Singing Bush Lark
Black-crowned Finch Lark
Dunn's Lark

Bar-tailed Desert Lark
Desert Lark

Hoopoe Lark

Thick-billed Lark
Calandra Lark
Bimaculated Lark
Red-capped Lark
Short-toed Lark

Hume’s Short-toed Lark
Lesser Short-toed Lark

Centropus superciliosus
Tyto alba

Otus brucei

Otus scops

Otus senegalensis

Bubo bubo

Bubo africanus

Ketupa ceylonensis
Athene noctua

Athene brama

Strix aluco

Strix butleri

Asio otus

Caprimulgus !nornatus
Caprimulgus nubicus
Caprimulgus mahrattensis
Caprimulgus europaeus
Caprimulgus aegyptius
Caprimulgus poliocephalus
Apus apus

Apus pallidus

Apus melba

Apus affinis

Cypsiurus parvus
Halcyon smyrnensis
Halcyon leucocephala
Halcyon chloris

Alcedo atthis

Ceryle rudis

Merops albicollis
Merops orientalis
Merops persicus
Merops apiaster
Coracias garrulus
Coracias abyssinicus
Coracias benghalensis
Upupa epops

Tockus nasutus

Picus viridis

Dryocopus martius
Dendrocopus major
Dendrocopus syriacus
Dendrocopus assimilis
Dendrocopus medius
Dendrocopus minor
Dendrocopos dorae
Mirafra cantillans
Eremopterix nigriceps
Eremalauda dunni
Ammomanes cincturus
Ammomanes deserti
Alaemon alaudipes
Ramphocoris clotbey
Melanocorypha calandra
Melanocorypha bimaculata
Calandrella cinerea
Calandrella brachydactyla
Calanarella acutirostris
Calandrella rufescens

10 UO... sO. 0). >

END

nn VU
nn OD

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

2 S ae

Plate 11. Black Bush Robin Cercotrichas podobe, Wadi al-Khubt, Yemen, 24 March 1993. (

ss ai

Plate 12. Spotted Eagle Ow! Bubo africanus, Al Madafin, Yemen, 15 November 1992. (Magnus Ullman

130 R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Plate 14. Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus, Socotra, April 1993. (G. M. Kirwan)

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Indian Sand Lark
Crested Lark
Woodlark
Skylark

Small Skylark
Shore Lark

Temminck’s Horned Lark

Sand Martin

African Rock Martin
Crag Martin

Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
House Martin
Richard's Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Long-billed Pipit
Tree Pipit

Water Pipit

Yellow Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

White Wagtail
White-cheeked Bulbul
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Grey Hypocolius
Dipper

Wren

Dunnock

Radde’s Accentor
Arabian Accentor
Alpine Accentor
Rufous Bush Robin
Black Bush Robin
Robin

Nightingale
White-throated Robin
Black Redstart
Common Redstart
Blackstart

Whinchat

Stonechat

Pied Stonechat
isabelline Wheatear

Red-breasted Wheatear

Northern Wheatear
Pied Wheatear
Black-eared Wheatear
Desert Wheatear
Finsch’s Wheatear
Red-tailed Wheatear

Eastern Pied Wheatear

Mourning Wheatear

South Arabian Wheatear

Hooded Wheatear
Hume’s Wheatear

Calandrella raytal
Galerida cristata
Lullula arborea

Alauda arvensis
Alauda gulgula
Eremophila alpestris
Eremophila bilopha
Riparia riparia
Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Ptyonoprogne rupestris
Hirundo rustica
Hirundo daurica
Delichon urbica

Anthus richardi

Anthus campestris
Anthus similis

Anthus trivialis

Anthus spinoletta
Motacilla flava
Motacilla citreola
Motacilla cinerea
Motacilla alba
Pycnonotus leucogenys
Pycnonotus xanthopygos
Hypocolius ampelinus
Cinclus cinclus
Troglodytes troglodytes
Prunella modularis
Prunella ocularis
Prunella fagani
Prunella collaris
Cercotrichas galactotes
Cercotrichas podobe
Erithacus rubecula
Luscinia megarhynchos
lrania gutturalis
Phoenicurus ochruros
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Cercomela melanura
Saxicola rubetra
Saxicola torquata
Saxicola caprata
Oenanthe isabellina
Oenanthe bottae
Oenanthe oenanthe
Oenanthe pleschanka
Oenanthe hispanica
Oenanthe deserti
Oenanthe finschii
Oenanthe xanthoprymna
Oenanthe picata
Oenanthe lugens
Oenanthe lugentoides
Oenanthe monacha
Oenanthe alboniger

White-crowned Blk. Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga

Little Rock Thrush
Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush

ley

Monticola rufocinerea
Monticola saxatilis
Monticola solitarius

Yemen Thrush

Ring Ouzel

Blackbird

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Cetti's Warbler

Yemen Warbler
Fan-tailed Cisticola
Graceful Prinia

Scrub Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
Savi’s Warbler
Moustached Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Paddyfield Warbler
Blyth’s Reed Warbler
Marsh Warbler
European Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
Basra Reed Warbler
Olivaceous Warbler
Booted Warbler
Upcher’s Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Ménétries’ Warbler
Desert Warbler

Arabian Warbler
Orphean Warbler

Barred Warbler

Lesser Whitethroat
Hume's Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat

Blackcap

Brown Woodland Warbler
Greenish Warbler

Plain Leaf Warbler
Mountain Chiffchaff
Chiffchaff

Goldcrest

Spotted Flycatcher
Gambaga Flycatcher
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Semi-collared Flycatcher
African Paradise Flycatcher
Bearded Tit

lraq Babbler

Common Babbler
Arabian Babbler
Long-tailed Tit

Sombre Tit

Coal Tit

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Turkestan Tit

Nuthatch

Eastern Rock Nuthatch
Western Rock Nuthatch
Wallcreeper

Turdus menachensis
Turdus torquatus
Turdus merula

Turdus philomelos
Turdus viscivorus
Cettia cetti

Parisoma buryi
Cisticola juncidis
Prinia gracilis
Scotocerca inquieta
Locustella naevia
Locustella luscinioides
Acrocephalus melanopogon

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Acrocephalus agricola
Acrocephalus dumetorum
Acrocephalus palustris
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Acrocephalus stentoreus
Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Acrocephalus griseldis
Hippolais pallida
Hippolais caligata
Hippolais languida
Hippolais icterina

Sylvia mystacea

Sylvia nana

Sylvia leucomelaena
Sylvia hortensis

Sylvia nisoria

Sylvia curruca

Sylvia (curruca) althaea
Sylvia communis

Sylvia atricapilla
Phylloscopus umbrovirens
Phylloscopus trochiloides
Phylloscopus neglectus

- Phylloscopus sindianus

Phylloscopus collybita
Regulus regulus
Muscicapa striata
Muscicapa gamabagae
Ficedula parva
Ficedula semitorquata
Terpsiphone viridis
Panurus biarmicus
Turdoides altirostris
Turdoides caudatus
Turdoides squamiceps
Aegithalos caudatus
Parus lugubris

Parus ater

Parus caeruleus
Parus major

Parus bokharensis
Sitta europaea

Sitta tephronota

Sitta neumayer
Tichodroma muraria

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Treecreeper
Penduline Tit

Nile Valley Sunbird
Purple Sunbird
Shining Sunbird
Palestine Sunbird
White-breasted White-eye
Golden Oriole
Black-headed Bush Shrike
lsabelline Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
Bay-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Great Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Masked Shrike

Jay

Magpie

Pleske’s Ground Jay
Alpine Chough
Chough

Jackdaw

Rook

Carrion Crow
Brown-necked Raven
Raven

Fan-tailed Raven
Tristram’s Grackle
Amethyst Starling
Starling
Rose-coloured Starling
Common Mynah
House Sparrow
Spanish Sparrow

Sind Jungle Sparrow
Dead Sea Sparrow
Tree Sparrow

Arabian Golden Sparrow
Pale Rock Sparrow
Yellow-throated Sparrow
Bush Petronia

Rock Sparrow

Snow Finch

Ruppell’s Weaver
Arabian Waxbill

Zebra Waxbill

Indian Silverbill

African Silverbill
Chaffinch

Red-fronted Serin
Arabian Serin

Yemen Serin
Golden-winged Grosbeak
Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Siskin

Linnet

Yemen Linnet

Twite

Certhia familiaris

Remiz pendulinus
Anthreptes metallicus
Nectarinia asiatica
Nectarinia habessinica
Nectarinia osea
Zosterops abyssinica
Oriolus oriolus

Tchagra senegala
Lanius isabellinus
Lanius collurio

Lanius vittatus

Lanius minor

Lanius excubitor

Lanius senator

Lanius nubicus

Garrulus glandarius

Pica pica

Podoces pleskei
Pyrrhocorax graculus
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Corvus monedula
Corvus frugilegus
Corvus corone

Corvus ruficollis

Corvus corax

Corvus rhipidurus
Onychognathus tristramil
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Sturnus vulgaris
Sturnus roseus
Acridotheres tristis
Passer domesticus
Passer hispaniolensis
Passer pyrrhonotus
Passer moabiticus
Passer montanus
Passer euchlorus
Carpospiza brachydactyla

~ Petronia xanthocollis

Petronia dentata
Petronia petronia
Montifringilla nivalis
Ploceus galbula
Estrilda rufibarba
Amandava subflava
Eudice malabarica
Eudice cantans
Fringilla coelebs
Serinus pusillus
Serinus rothschildi
Serinus menachensis
Rhynchostrutus socotranus
Carduelis chloris
Carduelis carduelis
Carduelis spinus
Carduelis cannabina
Carduelis yemenensis
Carduelis flavirostris

END

Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguinea Ss

Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta MC
Mongolian Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes mongolicus P
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus SS
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus P
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula P
White-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas carnipes Gy
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes P
White-capped Bunting Emberiza stewarti P
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia P
House Bunting Emberiza striolata $s
African Rock Bunting Emberiza tahapisi A
Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea MC
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana E
Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani MC

Emberiza schoeniclus P
Emberiza bruniceps F
Emberiza melanocphala af
Miliaria calandra P

Reed Bunting
Red-headed Bunting
Black-heaed Bunting
Corn Bunting

Omitted species are
Pygmy Cormorant

No evidence of breeding.
Red Kite

No evidence of breeding.
Red-headed Merlin Falco chicquera

Apparently historical records only. No evidence of breeding.

Phalacrocorax pygmaeus

Milvus milvus

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
No evidence of breeding.
Hume’s Tawny Owl Strix butleri

One specimen from the Makran coast in Pakistan (Roberts 1991)
is extralimital to the known range elsewhere. Discussion of
possible occurrence in lran (Goodman & Sabry 1984) indicates
that there is no incontrovertible evidence of occurrence and that
the provenance of the only apparent record is mysterious,
concluding that “it seems possible...that this species has never
been recorded in Iran’.

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula kramen

Although there are records from 14 widely separated localities in
lran, virtually all are from city parks and gardens in urban areas
and there is no indication that the species occurs as anything
other than an introduced exotic (D. A. Scott in /itt.).

Wryneck
No evidence of breeding.

Jynx torquilla

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica

No evidence of breeding.

Gildenstadt’s Redstart
No evidence of breeding.

Desert Lesser Whitethroat = Sylvia (curruca) minula

Apparently does not breed in Iran. C. D. R. Heard (in /itt.) did not
record the species during three months of extensive travel there

in spring 1977 and D. A. Scott (in /itt.) does not consider this form
to breed in Iran.

Pheonicurus erythrogaster

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

133

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Appendix 2. Subclassification of Palearctic species used in this paper

WIDESPREAD
Dalmatian Pelican
Greylag Goose
Ruddy Shelduck
Shelduck

Garganey
Red-crested Pochard
Pochard

Tufted Duck
White-tailed Eagle
Griffon Vulture
Black Vulture

Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Greater Spotted Eagle
Lesser Kestrel
Hobby

Saker Falcon
Chukar

Grey Partridge
Pheasant

Water Rail

Great Bustard
Oystercatcher

Little Ringed Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Lapwing

Redshank

Common Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Common Cuckoo
Little Owl

Tawny Owl
European Nightjar
Common Swift
Wryneck

Black Woodpecker

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Short-toed Lark
Lesser Short-toed Lark
Skylark

Crag Martin

House Martin
Tawny Pipit

Tree Pipit

Yellow Wagtail
Grey Wagtail

White Wagtail
Dipper

Alpine Accentor
Bluethroat

Black Redstart
Isabelline Wheatear
Pied Wheatear
Rock Thrush

Blue Rock Thrush

134

Blackbird
Paddyfield Warbler
Blyth’s Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Booted Warbler
Barred Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
Greenish Warbler
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Bearded Tit
Long-tailed Tit

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Nuthatch
Wallcreeper
Treecreeper
Penduline Tit

Jay

Alpine Chough
Chough

Rook

Carrion Crow

Tree Sparrow

Rock Sparrow
Snow Finch
Goldfinch

Siskin

Twite

Common Rosefinch
Bullfinch

Hawfinch

Rock Bunting

Reed Bunting

WESTERN

White Stork

Marbled Teal
Ferruginous Duck
White-headed Duck
Honey Buzzard

Red Kite

Short-toed Eagle
Montagu’s Harrier
Levant Sparrowhawk
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Imperial Eagle
Caucasian Black Grouse
Spotted Crake
Corncrake

Little Bustard
Slender-billed Gull
White-winged Black Tern
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon

Turtle Dove

European Scops Owl
European Roller

Green Woodpecker

Syrian Woodpecker

Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Calandra Lark

Woodlark

Water Pipit

~ Dunnock

Robin

Nightingale

Redstart

Whinchat —
Black-eared Wheatear
Ring Ouzel

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Cetti’s Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
Savi’s Warbler
Moustached Warbler
Sedge Warbler

Marsh Warbler
European Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
Olivaceous Warbler
Icterine Warbler
Orphean Warbler
Whitethroat

Blackcap

Spotted Flycatcher
Sombre Tit

Blue Tit

Rock Nuthatch
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Jackdaw

Starling

Spanish Sparrow
Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Linnet

Ortolan Bunting
Black-headed Bunting
Corn Bunting

EASTERN

Sind Pied Woodpecker
Hume’s Short-toed Lark
Citrine Wagtail
Glldenstadt’s Redstart
Pied Wheatear

Eastern Pied Wheatear
Isabelline Shrike
Mongolian Trumpeter Finch
White-winged Grosbeak
White-capped Bunting
Red-headed Bunting

R. P. Martins and Erik Hirschfeld

Papers

The birds of semi-desert areas of central Iraq

KHALID Y. AL-DABBAGH

Fieldwork was conducted at three sites, since recognised as Important Bird
Areas (IBAs), in central Iraq during February 1988 to October 1989. A total of
172 species was recorded including four globally threatened species: Pygmy
Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Marbled Teal Marmaronetta
angustirostris, Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni and Houbara Bustard
Chlamydotis undulata, and at least ten restricted-range and regionally
threatened species in the Middle East.

INTRODUCTION

VER 400 SPECIES OF BIRD were recorded in Iraq by Allouse (1960-63). Since

then, many of the country’s habitats have been damaged and fragmented but
little work has been performed on the effects of this on birds. Some work was done in
the southern marshes during the 1960s and 1970s (George & Savage 1970, George &
Vielliard 1970). The most recent work was that of Scott & Carp (1982), who were
considering birds wintering from south-east Asia.

This paper reports a study on birds in two habitats in central Iraq: riverine forest and
semi-desert. Most of the original riverine poplar forests have been replaced by fruit
orchards; the semi-desert areas have been exploited for underground water, grazing
and agriculture. The paper aims to update information on the avifauna of central Iraq;
to report on wetland birds outside the southern marshes; and to evaluate the effects of
habitat change.

STUDY SITES

Three sites were chosen, all within the area (34°-35" N 43°-44° E) which is part of the
lower Jazzira desert (Gest 1966) that stretches from the foothills of Hemrin in the east,
to the River Euphrates in the west. It includes the major towns of Baiji, Tikrit and
Samarra.

Site 1: Al-Mahzam

This site is 120 km north of Baghdad. It is bounded by lake Tharthar to the west, the
Baghdad—Mosul road between Samarra and Baiji to the east, the Baiji-Haditha road to
the north, and part of lake Tharthar to the south. The site covers c. 4000 km’ including
part of the lake. Its centre is located at approximately 42° 22’ E, 34° 30’ N. This area is a
typical uniform-surfaced semi-arid calcareous desert pavement. Most of the south and
centre are covered by desert pavement (small sandy stones); the north is mainly
sandy. Overlooking the lake in the west are small hills covered in larger stones. A few
wadis run across the whole area, descending towards the lake, and there is extensive
groundwater.

The natural vegetation consists of sparsely scattered scrub and bushes with thicker
patches of scrub around some of the wadis. The main species are Halaxylon
salicornicum, Achillea frangrantissima, Artimisia herba-alba, and Ranterium epaposum. In
spring, most of the area becomes covered with a thin layer of grasses and annual
plants, which grow flower and die within one month. A distinctive feature of the
vegetation is the presence of small scattered individuals of Zizyphus sp., sometimes in
groups of 3-5.

Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh 135

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 135-141 1998

The climate is hot and dry for most of the year. Mean annual rainfall is c. 150 mm,
most falling during December—February. Average annual temperature is c. 20°C,
ranging from 5°C in January to 45°C in July-August.

Between 150 and 200 farmers lease land from the government. Each has drilled a well
for irrigation. Most of the farms are on the main Baghdad—Mosul road but there is a 20
km wide strip of land near the lake that is unsuitable for agriculture. The farms have
brought soil- and habitat destruction and introduced exotic species.

Site 2: Abu-Dalaf

This site is centred on c. 34°15’ N. 44° 00’ E, 10 km north of Samara and east of the
River Tigris. The site is bounded by the Samara—Al-Dor road to the west, Al-Dor—Doz
to the north and Lake Shari to the east. It covers c. 1200 km’ plus 80 km’ of Lake Shari,
a highly saline shallow lake which varies in size depending on floodwater from the
Hemrin hills and Al-Authaim River. The soil, natural vegetation. and climate is similar

Tigris
River

136 Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh

Papers

to Site 1 but has more bushes and a thicker cover of grasses and annuals during
spring, especially near the lake, when sheep graze the area.

Site 3: Lake Samarra and the Tigris valley

This site comprises a five km strip of land either side of the River Tigris between
Samarra and the town of Baiji. The area includes several habitats. Immediately behind
the Samarra dam is a large, well-established lake with thick reedbeds and an area of
old stone quarries, covered by a rich growth of poplar and tamarisk trees. The rest of
the river valley comprises orchards, open agricultural fields, open shallow water
pools with marsh vegetation and small remnants of the original Ahrash Forest
(mainly poplar Populus euphratica) particularly on small islands within the river. In
some areas, the river bank forms high cliffs overlooking the river valley. The general
climate is similar to that of the other two sites.

METHODS

The study consisted of at least one visit a month in February 1988—October 1989. Each
area was covered by driving a slow-moving vehicle systematically through the entire
site and recording the numbers and species of birds seen. In addition, mist-nets were
used among the trees of Site 3, and evidence of breeding (nests or young) was noted.
During the winter, waterbirds were recorded from a boat travelling along the River
Tigris from Baiji downstream to Samarra.

RESULTS

A total of 172 species was recorded: 103 at Site 1; 79 at Site 2; and 146 at Site 3 (see
Appendix 1). The maximum number recorded in a day at each site and evidence of
breeding is recorded. The distribution of birds from the three sites according to their
status is shown in Table 1. Site 3 had the highest number in all categories. In general
residents were more common, but a substantial number were winter visitors, partic-
ularly ducks and waders.

Table 1. Bird status at the three study sites.

sites 7 Residents Winter visitors Summer visitors Passage migrants Total
site 1 36 32 . 15 20 103
site 2 31 24 13 14 79
site 3 AQ nt 40 28 36 146
DISCUSSION

The three sites contained a large range of bird species, despite the original habitats not
being pristine. At all three sites, as well as aquatic or semi-arid species, there were still
a substantial number of birds usually associated with agricultural land. It seems,
therefore, that human influence and the destruction of the original habitats have
caused a noticeable change to the avifauna. It was clear that in areas not covered by
this study semi-arid species were more common where original habitats remained.

Scott & Carp (1982) included all three sites in their list of important wetlands in Iraq.
They considered Samarra Barrage and Tharthar Lake as wetlands with large concen-
trations of waterfowl and possible international importance and quoted maximum
counts of 5,800 and 3,000 waterfowl at Samarra and Tharthar. The estimates from this
study exceed 30,000 and 20,000 for Samarra and Tharthar despite the present study
covering only a small part of Tharthar. It is apparent that these two sites are of
international importance for wintering waterfowl in the Middle East. All three sites
qualify as Important Bird Areas (IBAs): they hold more than 20,000 waterfowl and Site

Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh 137

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

3 more than 1% of non-breeding populations in the Middle East of several aquatic
birds (Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides, Little Egret
Egretta garzetta, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Purple Heron A. purpurea, Marsh Harrier
Circus aeruginosus, Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus
himantopus, Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexan-
drinus, Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterus indicus, White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura,
Gull-billed Gelochelidon nilotica, Little Sterna albifrons and White-winged Black Terns
Chlidonias leucopterus).

Both sites 1 and 3 hold globally threatened bird species. At site 1, the most important
of these is Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata. Two breeding pairs were located at
an inaccessable area in the north. The other species were Pygmy Cormorant
Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris and Lesser Kestrel
Falco naumanni. At site 3, the latter three species were more common and suspected to
breed. Other globally threatened species e.g. Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus,
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and Slender-billed Curlew Numentus tenuirostris,
which were reported to occur in in the past (Allouse 1960) were not seen during this
study.

The three sites also support at least 10 restricted-range and regionally threatened
species in the Middle East. Most important of these are those that occur and breed in
significant numbers: See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis, Grey Hypocolius
Hypocolius ampelinus, lrag Babbler Turdordes altirostris and Dead, Sea Sparrow Passer
moabiticus.

The study strongly suggests that the sites should receive conservation designation,
probably in the form of National Parks. In site 1, the eastern shores of Tharthar Lake
with a 20 km strip of the semi-desert area along the shore would be the most suitable
part for conservation and is also important for Desert Monitor Varanus gresius, a
globally threatened lizard present in relatively significant numbers. At site 3, the
reedbeds behind the Samarra Barrage and up to 25 km north of the dam would make
an excellent conservation site for most threatened species. At Site 2, the whole of Shari
Lake could be considered as another conservation site; it attracts fewer birds than the
other two sites but its shores are probably more important for geese and waders.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to extend my thanks to colleagues who helped me during the fieldwork: Dr Anmar Sabri,
Jameel H Jiad, Dr Imad Al-Mukhtar, Dr Abdul-Latif M Jaward, Sabah Al-Samarii and Khalid A Rasheed.
Financial support and research facilities were made available by the former Biological Research Centre,
Baghdad. Mark Boyd made many improvements to the original manuscript.

REFERENCES

ALLOUSE, B. (1960-1963) The birds of Iraq. 3 vols [in Arabic]. Ar-Rabita press, Baghdad, Iraq.

GEORGE, P. V. AND SAVAGE, C. D. (1970) Status of the main waterfowl resorts in Iraq. In: Isakov, Y. A. (ed.)
Proc. Inter. Regional Meeting on Conservation of Wildfowl Resources, Leningrad 1986. Moscow.

GEORGE, P. V. AND VIELLIARD, J. (1970) Mid-winter observations on birds of central and south Iraq.
Bull. Irag Nat. His. Mus. 4 : 61-85.

GEsT, E. (1966) The flora of Iraq. Vol 1. Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Iraq.

ScoTT, D. A. AND Carp, E. (1982) A midwinter survey of wetlands in Mesopotamia, Iraq: 1979
Sandgrouse, 4 : 60-76.

Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh, Birds of Australia, 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Victoria 3123,
Australia.

138 Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh

Papers

Appendix 1. Systematic list of birds recorded within the three study sites.
RA: Relative abundance, a measure of the number of visits in which a species is seen (A, very abundant (80—100% of site visits); B,
abundant (60-80%); C, common (40-60%); D, frequent (20-40%); E, occasional (5-20%); F, rare, (< 5%). Numbers are the highest daily

count. Status: W = winter visitor, S = summer visitor, R = resident, and P = passage migrant.

Species

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Black-necked Grebe P. nigricollis

Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus

White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
Bittern Botaurus stellaris

Little Bittern /xobrychus minutus
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Great White Egret E. alba

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron A. purpurea

White Stork Ciconia ciconia

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons

| Greylag Goose A. anser

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
Wigeon Anas penelope

Gadwall A. strepera

Teal A. crecca

Mallard A. platyrhynchos

Pintail A. acuta

Garganey A. querquedula
Shoveler A. clypeata

Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris
Pochard Aythya ferina
Ferruginous Duck A. nyroca
Tufted Duck A. fuligula

Black Kite Milvus migrans
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Hen Harrier C. cyaneus

Pallid Harrier C. macrourus
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Levant Sparrowhawk A. brevipes
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Long-legged Buzzard B. rufinus
Steppe Eagle Aguila nipalensis
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Kestrel F. tinnunculus

Merlin F. columbarius

Saker Falcon F. cherrug
Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus
Barbary Falcon F. pelegrinoides

See-see Partridge Ammoperaix griseogularis

Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus
Quail Coturnix coturnix

Moorhen Gailinula chloropus

Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio
Coot Fulica atra

Sites/RA

C100
E20,
B10000
E20

E2
B10000
E10
C400
E10

Z
D6

E10
E10
E20
C200

E2
C200

C200
E2.

A10
B20
A15000

SU DDD UD Up UD oD Ue oo Se USE SE SESE TW SESE SESS SESS SESS SEO ODP SET OHM TIO SE DSS

Breeding status

20 pairs, Site 3

Prob. breeding, Site 3

20 pairs, Site 3
Prob. breeding, Site 3

Prob. breeding, Site 3

Prob. breeding

Prob. breeding, Site 3

?
? Hemrin Hills

Many, Site 3
20 pairs, Site 2
Many, Site 3
Many, Site 3

? Site 3

Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh

139

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus
Caspian Plover C. asiaticus

Dotterel C. morinellus

Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterus indicus
Spur-winged Plover H. spinosus
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria
White-tailed Plover C. leucura

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Little Stint Calidris minuta

Temminck’s Stint C. temminckii

Dunlin C. alpina

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Curlew WN. arquata

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Redshank 7. totanus

Marsh Sandpiper 17. stagnatilis
Greenshank 7. nebularia

Green Sandpiper 7. ochropus
Black-headed Gull Larus ridubundus
Slender-billed Gull L. genei

Lesser black-backed Gull L. fuscus
Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinnans
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Little Tern S. albifrons

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
White-winged Black Tern C. leucopterus
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata
Rock Dove Columba livia

Woodpigeon C. palumbus

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Turtle Dove S. turtur

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

Barn Owl Tyto alba

European Scops Owl Otus scops

Eagle Owl Bubo bubo

Little Owl Athena noctua

European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
Common Swift Apus apus

White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
European Bee-eater M. apiaster

European Roller Coracias garrulus

Hoopoe Upupa epops

Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes

Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti

Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra
Bimaculated Lark M. bimaculata

Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla

E10
B2000
A50

VDVVVDDGAYPNANAWNADWDIAIVNOANNATDA ND DV

oy (Op) 20) 30) nj as} ey @e) py Ce) (SS 5 te) Se) Sel es ae) ae) 0) Gs es so) Se 30) ea) a0) ae) Op) 30) 3) SS aa) 0

Many, Site 3
? Site 2

20 Site 1: 6, Site 2
30+, Site 3
20,Site 1; 5, Site 2

20 pairs, all sites

10, Site 2: 50, Site 3

4 Site 2

- ?Site 3

? Site 3

Many, Site 2
Many, all sites
Many, Site 3
Many, all sites
Many, all sites
Egg in Great Grey
Shrike nest

Pair, Site 1

? all sites
? all sites
50 pairs, Site 3

50 pairs, Site 3
10 pairs, Site 3

? Site 3

? Site 1

140

Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh

Papers

Lesser Short-toed Lark C. rufescens
Crested Lark Galerida cristata

Skylark A/auda arvensis

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

House Martin Delichon urbica

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Water Pipit A. spinoletta

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

Grey Wagtail M. cinerea

White Wagtail M. alba

White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys
Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus
Dunnock Prunella modularis

Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes
Robin Erithacus rubecula

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
Bluethroat L. svecica

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Common Redsiart P. phoenicurus
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra

Stonechai S. torquata

Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina
Northern Wheatear O. oenanthe
Finsch’s Wheatear O. finschii

| Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius

Blackbird Turdus merula
Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis

E10

European Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scripaceus -

Great Reed Warbler A. arundinaceus
Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca
Desert Lesser Whitethroat S. (curruca) minula’
Whitethroat S. communis

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Willow Warbler P trochilus

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
lraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris
Common Babbler T. caudatus
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Lesser Grey Shrike L. minor

Great Grey Shrike L. excubitor
Woodchat Shrike L. senator

Magpie Pica pica

Jackdaw Corvus monedula

Rook C. frugilegus

Hooded Crow C. corone cornix
Raven C. corax

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Dead Sea Sparrow P. moabiticus
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
Goldfinch C. carduelis

Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta

Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala_ -

Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra

B400
A50
B200

E6
E10
E10

E20
ASO
C10
E20
C100
E20
E2
C6
C40
E10
B50
A200

B10
C10

C20

B20

UVC NS UU DD UWS DS UU EONS USS mS OD

? sites 1 and 2
Many, all sites

Many, Site 3

Many, Site 3
50 nests, Site 3

? Sites 1 and 2

Many, all sites

Many, Site 3

60, Site 1; 20, Site 2

Many, Site 3

? Site 3

Many, all sites
Many, Site 3

Many, Site

Khalid Y. Al-Dabbagh

141

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Seawatching at Ras Beirut, Lebanon
in spring 1997
SIMON BUSUTTIL AND DAVE FLUMM

ETWEEN 8-11 APRIL 1997, DF spent some time seawatching from the roof of a 30 metre-

high apartment block on the seafront at Ras Beirut (west Beirut), Lebanon. On 8 April, he
was joined by SB. Observations were made with a 30 x 80 Optolyth telescope and 10 x 40 Zeiss
binoculars. The principal species recorded are summarised in Table 1.

Table 1. Species recorded at Ras Beirut 8-11 April 1997.
8 April 9 April 10 April 11 April

0800-— 1440- 0730- 1430- 0830-_ 0800-
0830 1800 0950 1530 1030 0900

Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 1000 1000 950 400: 1000 160
Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan 3 100 18 20 30 7.
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1
Gannet Sula bassana 1 2 8)
Garganey Anas querquedula 15 5100 60
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus 2 1 1 | |
Arctic Skua S. parasiticus 4
Pomarine/Arctic Skua 1 1 2
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 2
Little Gull L. minutus 1
Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 10 4 6 3
Slender billed Gull L. gene/ 14
Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus 500 800 400 300 50
Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinnans 5 5 40 30 - 5
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandwichensis 11 5 3 |
Common Tern S. hirundo 600 500 194 40
Black Tern Chlidonias niger 1

The commonest species was Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea with 1000 or more seen on
three dates. The large numbers may have occurred as a result of unseasonally strong westerly
winds prior to 8 April which were particularly marked south of Beirut. The sea was very rough
throughout this period although the windspeed subsided between 8-10 April and had dropped
even further by 11 April (when numbers of birds offshore declined). However, the shearwaters
were clearly congregating around large schools of tuna so their appearance off Beirut in such
numbers may have been attributable to these—which moved further out to sea on 11 April and
were perhaps followed by the seabirds.

All the Mediterranean Shearwaters P. yelkouan seen well were of the nominate form; no P. y.
mauretanicus were seen despite being searched for. A European Storm-petrel on 10 April was
the second record in Lebanon although it breeds in the western Mediterranean (Cramp &
Simmons 1977). Gannet Sula bassana is recorded as accidental in Lebanon (Cramp & Simmons
1977) but with three recorded in one morning must, in fact, be commoner. Only one was adult.
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus was seen on all dates except 11 April: all those seen well
were considered to be first- or second-summer birds. On 10 April, three adult light phase and
one adult dark phase Arctic Skua S. parasiticus were seen. Three or four other skuas were too far
away to be identified.

Six gull Larus species were seen including a flock of 14 adult Slender-billed Gull Larus genet on
the sea just off the promenade for 1.5 hours on 10 April. All Lesser Black-backed Gulls L. fuscus
appeared to be the nominate race, except a single on 9 April which was paler and may have
been heuglini. Virtually all these birds were adult but no Yellow-legged Gulls L. cachinnans over
three years-old were seen.

142

Notes

A remarkable passage of Garganey Anas querquedula took place on 10 April when over 5000
passed in two hours heading north in flocks of 40-300. The wind was west-north-west Force
five, the sky completely overcast, cold and with a little drizzle. Most birds were moving 1-2 km
west of the seawatch station though a few flocks were closer and moving in a more north-
easterly direction.

Macfarlane (1978) also recorded Gannet, Pomarine and Arctic Skuas off Ras Beirut between
1974-1977 but his sightings of other seabirds, e.g. Cory’s Shearwater and Common Tern Sterna
hirundo give the impression that these species are uncommon in Lebanese waters. Given
modern optical equipment, this is clearly not the case.

REFERENCES

CRAMP, S. AND SIMMONS, K. E. L. (1977) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol.1. Oxford University Press.
MACFARLANE, A. M. (1978) Field notes on the birds of Lebanon and Syria 1974-1977. Army Bird-Watching Soc.
Per. Publ. No. 3.

Simon Busuttil, Dungeness RSPB Reserve, Boulderwall Farm, Dungeness Road, Lydd, Kent, TN29
ORIN MULK.

Dave Flumm, Hayle and Marazion RSPB Reserve, The Manor Office, Marazion, Cornwall, TR17 OEF,
EL aK:

Migrant raptors at Krak des Chevaliers, Syria

M.J: AND E. A. EVERETT

ELL WORTH A VISIT in its own right, the magnficent Crusader castle of Krak des

Chevaliers, close to the Lebanese border c. 35 km west of Homs, appears to have great
potential as a raptor migration watchpoint. Its wide-topped outer wall and high inner ward
command a fine view in all directions and offer numerous comfortable vantage points from
which passing birds can be seen low overhead (sometimes at eye- level) and from which
counting is relatively straightforward.

The castle rock forms a distinct spur from which, at least in some wind conditions, spring
migrants moving north from the Lebanon mountains pass over the valley towards the southern
end of the next high ground, Jabal al Nusariyah. A visit on 13 October 1994, when a few Steppe
Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus and Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus were moving, indicated that the
reverse route is used in autumn.

On the hot, almost windless morning of 10 April 1998, a substantial north to north-easterly
movement was witnessed: passing birds were counted from 0910-1135 hrs when, frustratingly,
it was clear that the movement was still in full swing. The following totals are minima: White
Stork Ciconia ciconia 155; Black Kite Milvus migrans three; Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus two;
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus one; Sparrowhawk five; Steppe Buzzard 221; Lesser Spotted
Eagle Aquila pomarina 63; Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus four; and Saker Falcon Falco cherrug
one.

Jabal al Nusariyah appears to offer an obvious route for large soaring raptors moving through
Syria: casual observations in the area on 11-12 April 1998, included small numbers of migrating

White Stork, Steppe Buzzard and Lesser Spotted Eagle.

M. J. and E. A. Everett, 7 Burlington Way, Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon, Cambs PE18 9BS, U. K.

143

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

A February record of Demoiselle Crane
Anthropoides virgo in south Turkey

EDWIN W. A. M. VAASEN

N 9 FEBRUARY 1997, during a four-day visit to the Géksu delta, south Turkey, I observed

a group of 53 Common Grus grus and two, possibly five, Demoiselle Cranes Anthropoides
virgo in farmland on the west side of the Goksu river, c. six km south of Sékiin village. The flock
was observed from c. 70 metres, through a 20-60x telescope, and I compiled a full description of
the Demoiselle Cranes (lodged in the Turkey Bird Report files) during the short observation
period before the birds took flight.

This appears to be the northernmost winter record of Demoiselle Crane in the Western
Palearctic. The species is a very rare breeding summer visitor to eastern Turkey, with records
between late March-—September (Kasparek 1992). Most, if not all of the western populations,
including that in Turkey, winter in north-east and north-central Africa, where numbers peak in
October—February. Spring passage through Saudi Arabia peaks in late March and over Cyprus
in late March—mid-April (BWP Concise). In Israel there are records during 1 March-15
December, but the species has never overwintered (Shirihai 1996), although there are two
winter (late December and January) records in Egypt, including one from Sinai (Goodman &
Meininger 1989). In Arabia, there is a January record in Kuwait (Meinertzhagen 1954), two
December records in both UAE and Yemen (Richardson & Aspinall 1996, Brooks ef al. 1987) and
the species is a scarce and irregular winter visitor, in September—April in southern Oman
(OBRC 1994).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Guy Kirwan for providing information and references on the status of the species in
the Middle East.

REFERENCES

BROOKS, D. J., EVANS, M. I., MARTINS, R. P. AND PORTER, R. F. (1987) The status of birds in North Yemen and
the records of the OSME expedition in autumn 1985. Sandgrouse 9: 4-66.

GOODMAN, S. M. AND MEININGER, P. L. (eds.) (1989) The birds of Egypt. Oxford University Press.

KasParEK, M. (1992) Die Vogel der Tiirkei: eine Ulbersicht. Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg.

MEINERTZHAGEN, R. (1954) The birds of Arabia. Oliver & Boyd, London & Edinburgh.

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

RICHARDSON, C. AND ASPINALL, S. (1996) A checklist of the birds of the United Arab Emirates. Emirates Bird
Records Committee, Dubai.

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

SNow, D. W. AND PERRINS, C. M. (1998) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise edition. Vol. 1. Oxford
University Press.

Edwin W..A. M. Vaasen, Gimat-2 Koop. 66. Ada, 679 Sokak, Blok 4/10, Cayyolu, Ankara, Turkey.

144

Notes

The first Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
in Yemen and the Middle East

DAVID B. STANTON

N 18 DECEMBER 1997, I approached the Hodeidah sewage ponds to count waterfowl. My

attention was drawn to a preening dove which I soon identified as a Speckled Pigeon
Columba guinea, a species with which I have had considerable experience in southern Africa. I
observed the bird from a range of 50 metres for 20 minutes through a 20 x telescope, and
photographed it with a 400 mm lens, until it settled down and slept. When I returned to the
ponds four hours later the bird could not be relocated.

ee Giese

ba guinea (in centre on ground) Hodeidah sewage ponds, Yemen, 18 Decembe

Plate 1. Speckled Pigeon Colum r 1997. (David B. Stanton)

Description. A pigeon appreciably larger than a Rock Dove Columba livia with a large patch of
bare red skin around the eye. Purplish wash on throat. Head and breast warm blue-grey
while the mantle and wings were deep purplish red. The wings were liberally peppered with
white spots forming three lines on the greater upperwing-coverts with more diffuse speckling
on the lesser upperwing-coverts. Tail not seen. Yellow-orange feet and legs. Greyish cere.
This is apparently the first Yemen and Middle Eastern record of this species which is
widespread and common in Africa including neighbouring Eritrea (van Perlo 1995, Urban et al.
1986). There is evidence that the species is becoming commoner in nearby Djibouti (G. & H.

Welch in litt. to G. M. Kirwan 1998) and it is spreading its range in Somalia (Ash & Miskell 1983,
Clarke 1986).

REFERENCES

ASH, J. S. AND MISKELL, J. E. (1983) Birds of Somalia: their habitat, status and distribution. Scopus Special
Suppl. No. 1.

CLARKE, G. (1986) Notes on the Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea in NW Somalia. Scopus 10: 45-47.

VAN PERLO, B. (1995) Collins illustrated checklist. Birds of eastern Africa. HarperCollins, London.

URBAN, E. K., Fry, C. H. AND KEITH, S. (1986) The birds of Africa. Vol. 2. Academic Press, London.

David B. Stanton, Sana’a International School, P. O. Box 2002, Sana’a, Republic of Yemen.

145

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus
and Black-crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix
nigriceps breeding in Kuwait

P.J. COWAN AND D. L. NEWMAN

AR-TAILED DESERT LARK Ammomanes cincturus is a resident breeder in the Eastern

Province of Saudi Arabia (Bundy et al. 1989, Jennings 1995). Breeding apparently occurs in
three areas of Iraq (north-central), but not in west and south-west Iran (Cramp 1988, Porter et al.
1996). In Kuwait, it is scarce and irregular in occurrence (Bundy & Warr 1980), occurring in
some years in very small numbers (C. W. T. Pilcher pers. comm.).

On 5 April 1996, we observed a Bar-tailed Desert Lark in mainland north-east Kuwait.
Subsequently, we recorded the species there in May and October 1996 (we were absent from
Kuwait in mid-June—mid-September) and in January, April-June, September, October and
December 1997 (absent from Kuwait again, July-mid-September). The records involved small
numbers, with a maximum of c. five on 10 January 1997. Additionally, two breeding
occurrences were documented in mainland north-east Kuwait.

On 10 May 1996, at c. 29°45’N 47°55’E we watched an adult Bar-tailed Desert Lark foraging and
occasionally feeding two juveniles. This is the first record of the species breeding in Kuwait and
has been accepted by the Kuwait Ornithological Rarities Committee (KORC). Further confir-
mation of breeding was obtained on 24 April 1997 at c. 29°35’N 47°50’E where PJC found an
adult Bar-tailed Desert Lark with a nest containing four nestlings. Future observations will
indicate whether this species is becoming established in Kuwait.

In the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Black-crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps is a
breeding summer visitor north of c. 25"N but resident further south (Bundy et al. 1989, Jennings
1995). In Iraq, there are apparently 1-2 breeding sites in the south with none around the
northern Gulf in Iran (Cramp 1988, Porter et al. 1996).

Haynes (1979) stated that Black-crowned Finch Lark is a common breeding summer visitor to
Kuwait, being very common on post-breeding dispersal. Bundy & Warr (1980) noted the species
as scarce and local in Kuwait from October—March. Subsequently there have been relatively
few records and no evidence of breeding (C. W. T. Pilcher pers. comm. ).

On 22 February 1996, we watched a male Black-crowned Finch Lark in mainland north-east
Kuwait. The species was recorded by us there in April, May, November—December 1996 and in
February—May and December 1997. These records involved small numbers, with a maximum of
c. eight on 13 December 1996. Additionally, breeding was recorded twice in mainland north-
east Kuwait.

On 31 May 1996, we watched a foraging male Black-crowned Finch Lark feeding an adjacent
juvenile almost continually for c. 15 minutes at c. 29°45’N 47°55’E. This record has been
accepted by KORC. Further confirmation of breeding by this species was obtained on 20 April
1997, when we observed a pair with a nest containing two nestlings in the same vicinity as the
previous year’s breeding record.

All of our records reported in this note are of birds seen in ABBA square NB36 (Jennings 1995),
with a single exception. On 12 December 1997 we saw a Bar-tailed Desert Lark c. 20 km east of
Salmi, in western Kuwait (MB35).

Notes

REFERENCES

BUNDY, G., CONNOR, R. J. AND HARRISON, C. J. O. (1989) Birds of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Witherby,
London.

BuNby, G. AND WaRrR, E. (1980) A check-list of the birds of the Arabian Gulf states. Sandgrouse 1: 4-49.

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

HAYNES, P. R. (1979) Notes on the status and distribution of the birds of Kuwait. Ahmadi Nat. Hist. Newsl.
20: 1-34.

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

PORTER, R. F., CHRISTENSEN, S. AND SCHIERMACKER-HANSEN, P. (1996) Field guide to the birds of the Middle East.
T. & A. D. Poyser, London.

P. J. Cowan, Department of Zoology, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait. Present
address: Gleann Cottage, Glenlomond, Kinross KY13 7HF, Scotland.

D. L. Newman, Department of Radiologic Sciences, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 31470, Sulaibikat
90805, Kuwait.

The first Semi-collared Flycatcher records
Ficedula semitorquata in Lebanon

SIMON BUSUTTIL AND DAVE FLUMM

N 7 APRIL 1997, during wet cloudy weather, while watching migrants at Haouch Ammiq,

a group of farm buildings on the south-west edge of Ammiq swamp (33'46’N 35°46’E), SB
noticed a male Ficedula flycatcher in an apple tree c. 50 metres away. We had previously
observed several Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis during our stay in Lebanon and I was
checking all such black-and-white flycatchers carefully.

From the bird’s neck, it was immediately apparent it was not a Collared Flycatcher, as only a
half-collar was visible. Approaching to c. 30 metres and with the bird frequently changing
position as it flycatched, SB noted several other features convincing him that it was a Semi-
collared Flycatcher F. semitorquata. These included white wingbars at the base of the primaries
and—above the main white wing patch—on the inner median coverts, producing a large ‘three-
part’ white wing pattern, white outertail feathers, a dark rump and a small white forehead
patch, much smaller and less rounded than that of the five nearby male Collared Flycatchers.
The restricted amount of white on the neck and smaller forehead patch gave the bird a very
different appearance, especially in flight when the dark rump and obvious white outertail
feathers were apparent. After several minutes, SB returned to his accommodation and checked
the field features of the black-and-white Ficedula flycatchers in Jonsson (1992), which confirmed
the identification. SB returned to the orchard but fast-deteriorating weather conditions
precluded further good views of the bird.

Following SB’s return to Britain, DF remained in Beirut. On 9 April, he found a male Semi-
collared Flycatcher in the grounds of the American University of Beirut (field notes supplied). A
male Pied F. ypoleuca, ten male Collared and three unidentified female Ficedula flycatchers
were also present. Another male Semi-collared Flycatcher was seen by DF on Beirut promenade
on 11 April.

Cramp & Perrins (1993) describe Semi-collared Flycatcher as quite common in spring in Israel
and rare in Syria and Jordan, where it perhaps only occurs in spring. In Turkey, it is not
uncommon on spring passage, from late March until at least late April, especially in the south
and west of the country. Given its apparent status as a regular spring migrant through this part
of the Middle East, it is unsurprising that it should be recorded in Lebanon.

147

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

vee re hon ouuly thn ® “ol load

lua >
du Ce fied Sa yt aftostids

gi
a

Hal why =P / f
nop Olah om g cling Gals eas
pf uisble Nai eo oa
De btlund — wy ine ca Ole aire Ko. pep
ee
hous witike ofty. Texf feat (perk s 1\ ysl LE oe

of rest wk Ae hrf Uttlie $M Clase

and Hed Repcahle

REFERENCES

CRAMP, S. AND PERRINS, C. M. (1993) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 8. Oxford University Press.
JONSSON, L. (1992) Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. A. & C. Black, London.

Simon Busuttil, Dungeness RSPB Reserve, Boulderwall Farm, Dungeness Road, Lydd, Kent, TN29
ORIN AUK

Dave Flumm, Hayle and Marazion RSPB Reserve, The Manor Office, Marazion, Cornwall, TR17 OEF,
OL IS.

The first Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis
in Iraq
MUDHAFAR A. SALIM

N 3 OCTOBER 1997, during fieldwork in the Abu al-Khaseeb area, 14 km south-east of

Basrah in southern Iraq, I discovered an apparent pair of Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis
in an area of dense orchards. Two days later a local hunter brought me a juvenile specimen of the
same species which had been trapped in the same area (see Plate 1). The specimen could be
separated from Bank Mynah A. ginginianus on the basis of the following features: yellow bill,
bright yellow bare skin below and behind the eye, large white patch on the base of the primaries,
white tail corners and undertail-coverts, and dark grey-brown overall body plumage colour.
Local hunters reported that the species appeared to be established and breeding in the area.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Common Mynah is a localised breeding resident in parts of
Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (Porter et al. 1996), It
has also recently been discovered breeding in Ankara, Turkey (Bilgin 1996). Most, if not all, of
these populations are considered to relate to escapes from captivity.

SL OE ae a a ek UE ee

Notes

Mudhafar A.

October 1997

Khaseeb

taken at Abu al

Imen

dotheres tristis spec

Juveni

Plate 1

lim)

(

south Iraq,

le Common Mynah Ac

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149

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 150_ 156 1998

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a ~

iG Recent Etterature

Ash, J. S. & Miskell, J. E. (1998) Birds of
Somalia. Pica Press, Mountfield, U. K. pp
336, 5 colour plates and 654 distribution
maps, £40.

This is really much more than an annotated
list of the birds of Somalia, it is in fact, the
sum total of our ornithological knowledge of
a small, little-known and extremely neglected
but important country on the horn of Africa.
Written (largely on the results of their own
efforts and expeditions) by two of the
continent’s leading ornithologists, it is only
the third published work dealing with the
entire avifauna of the country (and one of the
previous two was by the same authors). It is a
worthy successor to the almost unattainable
Birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden
by Archer & Godman published over 60 years
ago.

The introductory chapters deal (very
readably) in some depth with vegetation and
soils, history of ornithology in the country,
geology, climate, bird and wildlife conser-
vation, bird migration and breeding seasons,
and provide a welcome background and
illumination into this largely closed country. I
was particularly intrigued by the chapter on
the ornithological history of Somalia, an
impressive piece of work (and a worthy
subject for a separate book) in its own right.
Bearing in mind that the indefatigable British
are usually regarded as the pioneers of the
dark continent, it was truly enlightening to
hear that we were not the only colonialists to
look seriously at the wildlife.

The meat of the book is the 650 species distri-
bution maps which are based mainly on the
work of the authors or the fortunate few
others who have also spent time in Somalia.
Comparing these with some of the maps in
the volumes of The birds of Africa (BoA), which
reflected our previous limited knowledge of
the country, I was pleasantly surprised to find
that for no less than 45 species in volume 1
alone there were major differences in the

distribution. In BoA the ranges were mainly
either too extensive (and presumably a result
of guesswork) or too restricted. For four
species (Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax, Martial
Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus, Kestrel Falco
finnunculus and Eleonora’s Falcon F. eleonorae)
there were serious discrepancies in the ranges
shown and for eight species there was no
reference at all to occurrences im Somalia.
Clearly anyone either wanting to know the
definitive information on ranges in, or
planning to visit, the country (once the
political climate improves) will now have a
more detailed baseline.

In such an impressive work it is superfluous
and somewhat pedantic to find fault but if
asked what (if any) flaws there are, I would
say that since this is such a large step forward
in our knowledge of the avifauna I would
have appreciated enormously a chapter
devoted to the identification of some of the
difficult species groups of the region, partic-
ularly the multitude of similar-looking larks,
all of which are admirably illustrated by
Martin Woodcock. Secondly, and this is
perhaps more of a niggle than anything else,
the title. [his is, after all, an atlas of the birds
of Somalia, so why not call it that?

In summary, a massive and splendid contri-
bution to African ornithology for which the
authors and publishers should be congrat-
ulated.

Peter Clement

Baker, K. (1997) Warblers of Europe, Asia
and North Africa. A. & C. Black, London.
pp 400, 48 colour plates, 145 colour distri-
bution maps, many line-drawings, £32.

Warblers have long attracted the attention of
field ornithologists, indeed Ticehurst’s (1938)
review of the genus Phylloscopus and
Williamson’s 1960s ringers guides remain
importtant works for precen da
fieldworkers. More recently, the work of

Reviews & Recent Literature

Martens and Alstr6m & Olsson and their co-
workers has highlighted our incomplete
knowledge of Asian Phylloscopus and other
genera, demonstrating, as Kevin Baker notes
in his introduction, that much remains to be
discovered about the Sylviinae. This new
work is specifically aimed at those who wish
to identify warblers, be it in the field or hand,
and thus it contains relatively little
information on unrelated subjects, e.g. life-
history. This is perhaps the most important
take-home message in an unusually concise
introduction, which, unlike recent guides in
the similar Pica Press series, contains no
general biological background reading. Given
that it is questionable how many such
introductions are read by their purchasers,
this may be no significant detriment.

I am sure that readers of this review will be
familiar with the layout of previous works in
this series: Warblers follows the well-
established pattern. Typically the book’s first

section is occupied by the plates with facing-

page notes and colour-coded distribution
maps. Both are somewhat disappointing.
Baker has spent the last ten years researching
and illustrating this volume and, as such, it is
a personal tour-de-force. Unfortunately the
plates, whilst not unattractive are largely not
of the quality demanded by modern-day
birders. Whilst all are ‘jizzy’ and it is pleasing
to see an artist make more effort with
backgrounds than most illustrators of this
Series, the shapes of many are
incongruous--Yemen Warbler Parisoma

[Sylvia] buryi, for instance, is almost unrecog-

nisable—and plumage detail is often very
basic. Some of the best illustrations appear to
be direct copies of photographs; compare, for
example, the adult winter Two-barred
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trocholoides
plumbeitarsus with Dave Cottridge’s
transparency of the Isles of Scilly bird in 1987
(Twitching 1: 336). For those species treated by
BWP and / or Parmenter & Byers (1991),
continued use of the illustrations in those
volumes appears necessary. Readers whose
interest is centred further east must wait for
the forthcoming field guides to the Indian
subcontinent and south-east Asia, both of
which, I hope, will deliver finer illustrations
than those found here. Afrotropical Sylviinae,
beyond the ambit of Baker’s work, are already
covered in the most recent volume of Birds of
Africa.

Furthermore, in this first section, the wholly
inadequate distribution maps cannot escape
comment. Although the author points out
that these are not designed to more than
broadly indicate a species’ range, I noticed a
number of omissions (repeated in the species
accounts) which should not have gone
uncorrected. On the plus side, the ranges of
many east Asian species are mapped for the
first time in this volume. However, the larger-
scale maps of the Pica Press series, although
not colour-coded, are much easier to use and
significantly more useful. To add insult to
injury, several maps have the country
boundaries reproduced so pale that, at
normal reading distance, they appear as
nothing more than area/s of colour within a
box. Although an errata sheet has been issued
by the publishers, the whole issue of the maps
requires significant attention in future
volumes of the series.

The text describes, in great detail, the identifi-
cation of 145 species. Quite without rationale,
African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus,
which breeds in mangroves on the Red Sea
coasts of Saudi Arabia, Yemen and perhaps
Egypt, as well as south through Africa, is
omitted by Baker. This decision, if indeed it
was one, is left unexplained and acquires
greater significance given the proposal by
Leisler et al. (1997) to promote A. b. avicennae,
the subspecies involved, to specific status-
under the name Mangrove Reed Warbler-a
proposition which has already accrued
support (Sangster 1997). Baker states that he
has not made any judgement over species or
subspecies status for any taxa, following
Peters et al. (1934-1987) with species order
and some additions being taken from Beaman
(1994). Given that Baker has examined all the
relevant specimens in one of the largest skin
collections in the world, one might be
tempted to suggest that his own analysis may
have yielded some new insights into the
validity of certain taxa (even though he has
relied solely on the British Museum
collection), but not even this! Baker rightly
includes two species of Phylloscopus—Emei
Leaf Warbler P. emeiensis and Hainan Leaf
Warbler P. hainanus—described in 1993 and
1995 but then inexplicably fails to follow the
elevation of chloronotus to species status,
distinct from P. proregulus (Alstr6m & Olsson
1990, Sibley & Monroe 1993) and does not
specifically note that specific status for
kansuensis, from the same grouping, has also

151

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

been proposed (Alstr6m et al. 1997), in line
with the “further studies” which Baker states
are needed for this form.

Recent informative discussions of Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita (Helbig et al. 1996) and
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca taxonomy
(Martens & Steil 1997) have also gone
unnoticed. Perhaps they appeared beyond the
author’s cut-off point for the inclusion of
fresh data, but as no such date is provided, it
is impossible to be sure of this. Additionally,
Baker struggles with the taxonomic position
of Yemen Warbler; in this’ case
understandably. Of late, mt-DNA studies
based on tiny datasets have suggested that, in
contrast to the evidence of most field
observers, this species belongs to the genus
Sylvia rather than Parisoma.

A common complaint with this work must be
the incomplete study of the literature: Baker
not only fails to note the existence of literature
which updates and clarifies the information
he presents but even appears guilty of the
more heinous crime of not reading some of
that which he cites. For instance, he fails to
note the occurrence of Paddyfield Warbler
Acrocephalus agricola in Bulgaria and
Turkey—references to the latter, of which
there are approximately ten, have apparently
all been missed, whilst a work discussing in
some detail the Bulgarian population is listed
in the references. To give the author his due,
distribution is not a key priority (e.g. I located
no mention of vagrancy, even for those east
Asian species which regularly occur in north-
west Europe in autumn) but to omit regular,
albeit outlying, breeding or wintering areas is
not defendable. Surely distribution is used as
a major clue by many ornithologists when
identifying birds in the field. In the same vein,
Baker states that some published material
may have been overlooked. Certainly so, but
for major works dealing with the status and
- distribution—e.g. Shirihai (1996)—and even
taxonomy—Roselaar (1995)—to have gone
unused is quite frankly incomprehensible.
Use of the former and other key works would
have corrected a suite of errors and omissions
in the distribution section of Cyprus Warbler
Sylvia melanothorax, whilst reference to
Roselaar would have solved many other
incorrect or only partially correct statements
for some species occurring in Turkey.

Finally, among more regularly occurring

CE EEE__SEOE_O_OveB e

gripes, confusing statements appear with
relative frequency. One example—
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia—will
gave a flavour of this problem. Under
‘Geographical variation’, the subspecies
occurring in Afghanistan is given as straminea.
However, in the species introduction, it is
listed as a summer migrant “probably [to]
northern Afghanistan” and, under
‘Distribution’ straminea is listed as “possibly
[occurring in] northern Afghanistan”.
Reference to Paludan (1959) would have
provided additional confirmation that
straminea does occur in the country, and
consultation with observers with field
experience there, could have clarified its
status.

I found the presentation of the reference
section for each species, in chronological
order, personally irritating. A small, but not
insignificant, number of typographical and
other errors e.s. reference dates Deine
incorrectly cited, further add to the litany of
faults.

Having found much to take issue with in this
volume, it must be stated that for readers
solely concerned with field identification this
book has much to recommend it. As a
compendium of information for this task it is
currently without equal and most Palearctic
birders will want to own it for that reason.
The plumage texts for Western Palearctic
species are largely good, but one wonders
how qualified Baker is to write on many of
the Asian taxa. I am convinced that individual
works, currently in preparation and written
by real experts, e.g. Shrihai & Cottridge’s
work on the genus Sylvia, will far supercede
this volume. Steve Howell, in reviewing one
of the recent similar guides from Pica Press
(Cotinga 6: 42-43) drew attention to falling
standards in ornithological publishing. This
work also bears these hallmarks: it is not
without its uses, but the birding public has
not been best served by its production.

Guy M. Kirwan

del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J.
(eds.) (1997) Handbook of the birds of the
world Vol. 4, Sandgrouse to Cuckoos.
Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. pp 6729270
colour plates, numerous €olod:
photographs and distribution maps,
£110.

Reviews & Recent Literature

The latest volume in this series covers
sandgrouse, pigeons and doves, cockatoos
and parrots, turacos, and cuckoos; a mix of
families that should arouse interest in Middle
Eastern birders. For many, sandgrouse are the
archetypal desert birds, and have been the
flagship for our society’s endeavours since its
inception and the vehicle through which we
communicate our ornithological discoveries
to the wider world (this journal). I continue to
be impressed with the general family
accounts in this series: they are scholarly, well
referenced, up-to-date, easy to read and
beautifully illustrated. The 20 pages on
sandgrouse alone nearly make the volume
worth purchasing! The species accounts
certainly give a satisfactory summary of
available information on the six species that
occur in the OSME region—I will not quibble
with the maps as I feel there is much still to be
learned of the status and distribution of

sandgrouse in the Middle East.

How does the section on pigeons and doves
bear up to scrutiny? This family may be a
good one to evaluate the accuracy of accounts
and maps as several members are showing
range expansions, e.g. Eurasian Streptopelia
decaocto and African Collared Doves S.
roseogrisea and Namaqua Dove Oena capensis.
It looks as though the mapped ranges have
been gleaned from the Interim Atlas (Jennings
1995) and are thus fairly representative given
the space and size limitations. Unfortunately,
there is no mention of the small population of
the African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix in
Arabia—perhaps it would be unfair to expect
a tiny spot of colour on the map, though some
mention of this important range extension
outside Africa should have appeared in the
text. Bruce’s Green Pigeon Treron waalia is
cited as a resident in south-west Arabia. This
may be true in the extreme south, but further
north there is certainly some trans-Red Sea
passage during the spring and it may also be
an altitudinal migrant. Also, the mapped
range of the Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia
lugens indicates it is present only in southern
Yemen, when in fact its range does extend
well into the Saudi Asir Mountains. It is cited
as being sedentary, though in Arabia I would
suggest it has a fairly pronounced altitudinal
migration.

Leap-frogging over cockatoos, parrots and
turacos (with 100s of stunning illustrations) to

the next family of Middle Eastern interest, the
cuckoos. Accounts and maps for the Jacobin
Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus, Great Spotted
Cuckoo C. glandarius, Didric Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx caprius, Common Koel
Eudynamys scolopacea and White-browed
Coucal Centropus superciliosus are all
satisfactory, but at the same time they show
how poor is our knowledge of this group in
our region. Klaas’s Cuckoo’s Chrysococcyx
klaas Arabian range is not shown on the map
but the text sections on distribution,
movements and status and conservation all
give slightly different versions of an uncertain
status, when in reality it is probably a scarce
migrant visitor.

Despite being able to pick up a few errors or
oversights, I urge all serious ornithologists to
purchase this series personally or use your
influence to get it stocked in any libraries you
use. I cannot praise it highly enough.

Stephen Newton

Mearns, B. & Mearns, R. (1998) The bird
collectors. Academic Press, London. pp
472, many black-and-white shotopiaple
£34.95.

Barbara and Richard Mearns are amongst the
leading authorities on the history of
ornithology. Their previous books
documented, on both sides of the Atlantic, the
lives of almost 200 early ornithologists whose
legend had been secured through numerous
patronymic bird names, but whose living
character and actual achievements had often
fallen from view. The Mearns’ self-appointed
task was to rescue these fascinating figures
from obscurity. Now they have examined
another huge area of ornithology’s past in this
exhaustively researched and highly enjoyable
(if rather pricey) book on the life and exciting
times of European and American bird
collectors mainly in the last two centuries.

It is a measure of the huge shifts in
birdwatching culture that the authors should
feel it necessary to provide a lengthy justifi-
cation—amounting to an apologia—for the
methods and mindset of collectors. Not least
of this book’s merits is that it makes clear the
massive debt owed by the modern environ-
mental community to these remarkable
characters. To give just one example, the U. S.

153

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

ornithologist, Professor Foster Beal collected
birds almost exclusively to examine their
stomach contents. His slaughter of 40,000
birds seems both appalling and frivolous
until one appreciates that his research formed
the basis of a book (which ran through 50
editions!) educating farmers on the economic
contribution made by birds through their
consumption of weed seeds and agricultural
pests. In short, Beal’s work was a foundation
stone for U. S. conservation legislation.

The Mearns take us to the very origins of bird
collecting as a social and scientific activity,
then provide a comprehensive survey of the
collectors, treating them mainly according to
their different social castes and professions.
But they also preface this main portion of the
book with a fascinating insight into the
mechanics and materials of bird killing and
preparation. It seems anomalous in a book
that emphasises the critical importance of
detailed labels for bird skins that they
themselves should cite their sources so
sparingly. Too often they accumulate in
meticulous fashion the facts to support their
arguments, but only give a reference where a
quotation has been used. By clearing away
many of the markers that determined their
own trail they have made it more difficult for
anyone to follow in their wake.

My other criticism centres on the
arrangement of the text. Occasionally they
cluster together under a single heading a
disparate bag of subjects, which occasionally
makes the book seem rather fragmented. It is
as if the synoptic model they established in
their previous two books was almost
irresistible for them in this one. However I
should stress that these are minor gripes in
the context of their greater achievement. The
Mearns have trawled and ably synthesised a
vast body of literature and their final product
is very well written and displays a wonderful
eye for the telling detail and humorous
anecdote. They should be congratulated for
opening up to us all this largely neglected
seam in our ornithological past and for
mining it to such profit.

Mark Cocker
Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long,

A. J. & Wege, D. C. (1998) Endemic Bird
Areas of the world. Priorities for biodiversity

conservation. BirdLife International
(BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7),
Cambridge, U. K. pp 846, many black-
and-white photographs and maps, £37.

BirdLife International’s IBA concept has been
widely accepted and utilised as an important
conservation tool around the world. The
production of books and databases by region
or continent is well advanced and in some
areas second editions or national
compendiums have been produced. BirdLife
have maintained its position at the forefront
of the global biodiversity awareness
campaign by producing this amazing new
directory of Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs).

The book largely (70%) comprises succinct
descriptions of 218 Endemic Bird Areas and
138 Secondary areas (those with only a single
restricted-range species). Each account is
usually two pages and includes a small
tabulated basic facts file, a larger table which
summarises status and habitat of restricted-
range species, and three accompanying text
sections on “General Characteristics .
“Restricted-range Species” and “Threats and
Conservation”. It is well worth going through
the introductory chapters and regional
overviews which clearly describe how EBAs
are identified, defined and prioritised for
conservation action.

Within the core OSME region, there are four
EBAs: Socotra, south-west Arabian
mountains (Saudi Arabia, - Yemen),
Mesopotamian Marshes (Iraq) and Cyprus,
with the Levantine Mountains identified as a
secondary area on the basis of the Syrian
Serin Serinus syriacus. Other EBAs and
secondary areas in the Caucasus and in
African countries on the south shore of the
Red Sea may be of interest to Sandgrouse
readers.

How useful are these accounts to those
interested in Middle Eastern ornithology?
Interesting yes but, as can be imagined, rather
too brief to give anything but the flavour of
the area in question. To me, some of the
accounts focus too much on why various
endemic species have been omitted from the
definition of the EBA, e.g. Arabian Partridge
Alectoris melanocephala, Arabian Woodpecker
Dendrocopos dorae, South Arabian Wheatear
Oenanthe lugentoides, Arabian Golden
Sparrow Passer euchlorus, Arabian Warbler

ie ee EES Sea iy PRP et ee en aS

Reviews & Recent Literature

Sylvia leucomelaena, Arabian Serin Serinus
rothschildi and Golden-winged Grosbeak
Rhynchostruthus socotranus from the south-
west Arabian mountains (perhaps the criteria
were too strict?), or the possibility of Bald Ibis
Geronticus eremita nesting in the area, rather
than giving more detail on birds and habitats
that have been included. More annoying are
the factual errors that should have been
picked up prior to publication: “Estrilda
rufibarba.... has not been recorded in the Asir
Mountains”, yet they plainly cite a paper
which describes the waxbill as a resident
breeder in the said mountains! I hope this is
an exception and that there are not too many
more silly errors in the 846 pages.

Overall, I doubt many with a particular
interest in the birds in the Middle East or arid
areas in general will buy this book. However,
for those birders keen on travel, it is an
incredible guide to the key hotspots for avian
and other wildlife biodiversity, especially in

Africa, Australasia and the Neotropics. Go

visit them, appreciate their riches and
contribute something in the campaign to
conserve them.

Stephen Newton

The warblers of Britain and Europe by
Paul Doherty. A Bird Images video guide
narrated by Bill Oddie. VHS video. Two
hours and 28 minutes. 60 species. £16.95
(7 p&p £2 U.K. & Europe, £5 world).
Available from Bird Images, 28 Carousel
Walk, Sherburn-in-Elmet, North
Yorkshire L525 6LP, U.K.

This, one of Paul Doherty’s latest video guide
offerings, reflects the significant strides being
made by bird photographers using this
media. Virtually all of the species included
are captured on near- or IV quality cuts.
Having accompanied Paul on two filming
trips to Turkey in recent springs I know just
how much each few seconds of suitable film
costs in time and effort. Only Caspian Reed
Warbler Acrocephalus (scirpaceus) fuscus and
Syke’s Booted Warbler Hippolais (caligata)
rama (indicating Paul’s response to the most
recent taxonomic developments) are solely
represented by stills. All regular European
breeding species are included, as are many
Asian vagrants filmed in China (of those on
the British list only Thick-billed Warbler

Acrocephalus aedon is not featured) and other
extralimitals, e.g. Clamorous Reed Warbler A.
stentoreus, Tristram’s Warbler Sylvia deserticola
and Cyprus Warbler S. melanothorax. For
sexually dimorphic species, both male and
female plumages are covered, as are juveniles
where possible, and, in addition, distinctive
taxa e.g. icterops Whitethroat Sylvia communis
are also featured. The narrative describes the
breeding range, status in Britain (where
relevant), plumage features, identification
tips and voice. Handy comparisons are made
using stills to explain certain plumage
minutiae e.g. tertial spacing in some Hippolais.
Middle Eastern birders will enjoy instructive
footage of e.g. Blyth’s Reed Acrocephalus
dumetorum, Paddyfield A. agricola, Upcher’s
Hippolais languida, Olive-tree H. olivetorum,
Ménetries’s Sylvia mystacea, Arabian 5.
leucomelaena, Desert S. nana, Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita brevirostris, Mountain
Chiffchaff P. sindianus and Green Warblers P.
nitidus. Indeed, the addition of just a few
additional species would make it a complete
euide to Western Palearctic warblers, and I’m
sure many observers would welcome the
chance to study e.g. Basra Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus griseldis in moving close-up. This
is a first-rate guide worthy of scrutiny by
both beginner and expert. Don’t discard your
field guides, BWP and shelf-full of journals
just yet, but this is highly recommended.

Guy M. Kirwan

ALSO RECEIVED

Gancz, A. (ed.) (1997) The Torgos. 27.
Society for the Protection of Nature in
Israel, Tel-Aviv.

The winter 1997 issue of The Torgos is largely
devoted to a Hebrew translation of the
introduction and Israeli chapter of Important
Bird Areas in the Middle East (Evans 1994).
Additional articles, in English, highlight
specific sites and studies: the status of Lesser
Kestrel Falco naumanni in the Jeruslaem and
Ramot-Menashe areas, and a summary of
significant results from bird ringing studies at
Mt. Hermon between 1979-1997.

Hagemeijer, W. J. M. & Blair, M. J.
(1997) The EBCC atlas of European breeding
birds. 1. & A. D, Poyser, London. pp 903,
many line-drawings and distribution
maps, £55.

155

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

This truly monumental publication, compiled
and produced through the efforts of a legion
of amateur fieldworkers, deserves to be on
the shelves of all those interested in the status
and distribution, breeding and conservation
prospects of European or Western Palearctic
birds. Four-hundred and ninety-five species
receive detailed treatment; a further 17 (not
62 as claimed on the inside of the dust jacket)
very localized species are dealt with in
summary. Introductory chapters and indices
are presented in 14 languages, and species
accounts are also available in languages other
than English on request from relevant
national organisations which participated in
the EBCC project. This authoritative and
thoroughly excellent work will serve as a
benchmark for many years to come, although

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not insignificant opportunities for those a
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literature, which is further evidenced here. Flyers & Insert: Please call for details

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156

Around the Region

—_ —_—

AOUNG the
I CO10T7.

compiled by
Guy M. Kirwan

Records in Around the Region are published for interest
only; their inclusion does not imply acceptance by the
records committee of the relevant country. Some
records have been authenticated, including all

those from Cyprus, and these are usually

indicated. All records refer to 1998

unless otherwise stated.

Records and photographs for Sandgrouse 21 (1)
should be sent, by December 15, to

Around the Region, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, U.K.

Bee-eaters
Merops apiaster
by D. Powell

In Lebanon, the third record of
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates
pelagicus was one off Tyre ruins on 29
January; all have been in the last few
years. Following counts in January
(Sandgrouse 20: 76), up to 120 Leach’s
Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorrhoa
were off Jaffa, Israel on 10 February.
The first Lesser Frigatebird Fregata
ariel in Israel and the Western
Palearctic, at Eilat on 1 December 1997
(Sandgrouse 20: 76) has recently been
accepted (Brit. Birds 91: 242). There are
few records of Masked Booby Sula
dactylatra from the mainland Yemeni
coast but one was seen near Dhubab
on 20 March and a total of four off Bab
el Mandeb on 22-25 March. A Brown
Booby S. leucogaster off Dibba on 9
February will be the fourth record in
UAE if accepted.

We rarely receive reports from Iran,
thus a number of records made
during a Birdquest trip to the country
this spring are of interest, including at
least ten Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
nests in mangroves at Hara in late
April: this species was not previously
known to nest along the Gulf coast. In
Israel, an immature Yellow-billed
Stork Mycteria ibis flew over Eilat on
20 April. In Turkey, two Lesser
White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
were at Goksu delta on 26 December.
The first Southern Pochard Netta
erythrophthalma to be recorded in
Israel, the Middle East and Western
Palearctic was photographed at km 20
north of Eilat from 22 April-8 May
(Birding World 11: 179).

Just outside the OSME region, a
Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis
ptilorhyncus was seen migrating north
along the Ugam Valley, in the Tien
Shan mountains, Uzbekistan on 9
May, is nevertheless of interest.
Further records of this species in the
UAE involved one at Eastern Lagoon,
Abu Dhabi on 26 February, the bird at
Mushrif Park remained until 8 April
and was joined by a second bird from
12 March-8 April, and two were near
Sharjah airport on 17 April, bringing
the total number of country records to
six. At least four Black-winged Kite
Elanus caeruleus c. 25 km east of
Mindab in late April was the first
record in Iran, and one at Hamraniyah
on 11-12 March was the eighth record
in UAE. A female Shikra Accipiter
badius at Zabeel was c. 4th record in
UAE. The most extraordinary raptor
record of the period, if confirmed,
involved a Swainson’s Hawk Buteo
swainsont photographed at Sede

7 -o

157

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 157-160 1998

Boquer in the central Negev, Israel on
27 March (Birdwatch 71: 64). There is
one previous record in the Western
Palearctic, in Norway in May 1986 and
a record still pending from Israel in
March 1989. Single adult Golden
Eagles Aquila chrysaetos north and east
of Thamud on 13 and 17 February
1997 were the first records in eastern
Yemen (Jennings 1997). An unseasonal
Lesser Spotted Eagle A. pomarina at
Zabeel, UAE on 15 June was the ninth
country record. The third Tawny
Eagle A. rapax in Israel was at Urim,
near Eilat:on 21 December 1997. A
sub-adult Sooty Falcon Falco concolor
at Marib on 23 April was the fourth
record in Yemen.

Two Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax at
Goksu delta, south Turkey on 25
December was interesting, but more
significant was the discovery of at
least 11 birds, including displaying
males, at two sites in the Konya basin
in mid-June, the first concrete
evidence of breeding in the country
for many years. Several localities
holding Great Bustard Otis tarda were
located during the same survey; this
species is now very rare in Turkey
(Eken & Magnin in prep.). Nikolaus &
Ash (1997) report possible breeding by
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana in
Saudi Arabia, south of Riyadh in April
1996. A Corncrake Crex crex was
heard calling at Esmekaya sazligi in
early June; there is one previous
confirmed instance of breeding in
Turkey (Green 1997). In UAE, the
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis
phoenicurus at Emirates golf course
remained until 24 March (see
Sandgrouse 20: 77) and the eighth
country record of Common Crane
Grus grus involved three at Al Ain on
23 February—8 March. A Spotted
Thick-knee Burhinus capensis was seen
at the Jol, east of Thamud on 17
February 1997, the first record in
eastern Yemen (Jennings 1997).
Potentially the second Israeli record, a
Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius
mongolus was apparently
photographed at km 20 north of Eilat
on 14-16 April. Spring wader rarities
in UAE included: two Black-winged
Pratincole Glareola nordmanni at Al
Wathba on 29 April (sixth record); a
Sociable Plover Chettusia gregaria at
Umm al Quwain on 12 February (11th
record); a Knot Calidris canutus at the
same place on 14-23 February (fourth
record); and a Long-toed Stint C.
subminuta in Abu Dhabi on 21-22 May
(13th record). The Red-wattled Plover
Hoplopterus indicus at Dhahran refuse

158

tip, Saudi Arabia remained until 18
February. Remarkable records from
the early spring migration through
Israel included the Western
Palearctic’s first accepted record of
Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala in
the Hula valley from 28 February—4
March (Brit. Birds 91: 246).

Among rarities at Eilat, there was a
claim of a South Polar Skua Catharacta
maccormicki on 25 April (Birdwatch 72:
56), the second Israeli record if

accepted. The first Cypriot record of.

Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus
involved two subadults at Akrotiri
Bay on 19 July 1994 (Brit. Birds 91: 247)
and a Long-tailed Skua S. longicaudus
reported at Hamraniyah on 10 April
would be the third record in UAE if
accepted. On, 8-9 March) 7 a
Mediterranean Gull Larus
melanocephalus was on Sir Bani Yas
island, the fourth record in UAE.
Additional interesting gull records
from the same country were: the 4-6th
records of Little Gull L. minutus, at
Umm al Quwain on 4-5 March,
Emirates golf course on 11-21 April
and Al Ghar lake on 30 April; the sixth
Common Gull L. canus at Kalba on 31
March-17 April; and a first-summer
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, the first
country record, at Fujeirah on 9 April
and then at Kalba from 17 April. A
first- or second-summer Grey-headed
Gull L. cirrocephalus was well watched
and photographed at Hodeidah
sewage ponds on 16 April, the first
record in Yemen. In July 1997, a pair of
Slender-billed Gull L. genei were
behaving in a manner strongly
suggestive of breeding near Jubail,
Saudi Arabia. There are no breeding
records of this species in Arabia. A
Great Black-backed Gull L. marinus

was reported at Shifdan, Tel Aviv on
24-27 February. The fifth record of
Black Tern Chlidonias niger in UAE

was one at Ramtha lagoons on 19 July.

Jennings (1997) reports the first
records in eastern Yemen of Spotted
Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus: two
flocks north-east of Marib on 10
February 1997 and two other flocks of
birds, thought to be this species seen
subsequently in the survey. A
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus at
Dubai Creek Park, UAE on 16-19
March will be the fourth country
record if accepted. During the
OSME/ Sunbird tour to north Yemen, a
series of interesting cuckoo records
was made: three Jacobin Cuckoo
Clamator jacobinus were at Al Midman
on 17 April, with singles at Al
Qanawais on 19 April and Hajjah on
19-20 April; a first-year Great Spotted
Cuckoo C. glandarius at Al Midman on
17 April was apparently the first
country record; and a Klaas’s Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx klaas was heard calling
south of Numadn on 27 April.
Elsewhere in Yemen, the first record of
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo in the east of the
country was one calling near
Minwakh on 11 February 1997
(Jennings 1997) and a pair of Hume’s
Tawny Owl Strix butleri was seen near
Kawkaban on 7-9 April. At least three
Hume’s Tawny Owls were near
Hurghada, Egypt on 19 April, a new
locality for the species (Birding World
11: 216; Birdwatch 74: 61). The fifth
record of Tengmalm’s Owl Aegolius
funereus in Turkey was heard calling
throughout the night at Guizelier in the
Yuiluk Dagi, Taurus mountains on 15
May (Eken & Magnin in prep.). Three
Alpine Swift Apus melba over the
Emirates golf course on 14 April will

Plate 1. Arabian Woodpecker Dendrocopos dorae, near Hajjah, Yemen, 20 April 1998.

(Peter Los)

Guy M. Kirwan

be the 14th record in UAE if accepted.
In eastern Saudi, the White-breasted
Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis was at
~ Dhahran until 13 February, whilst a
Hoopoe Upupa epops seen food-
carrying and entering a presumed
nest-site in the same area on 15-16
April appears to be the first evidence
of breeding in this part of the country.
Records of scarce passage migrants
from Yemen included four European
Roller Coracias garrulus in the Dhubab
area on 20-21 March and a Wryneck
Jynx torquilla in Wadi Hajr on 14
March.

The second Bimaculated Lark
Melanocorypha bimaculata in Yemen,
reported from: Bab el Mandeb on 25
March is accompanied by a
description: the first was in November
1985 (Brooks et al. 1987). In early 1997,
Jennings (1997) recorded a total of 22
Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda dunni in four
squares in-eastern Yemen, and found
78 Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes
cincturus at eight localities on 15-19
February, the first records in the east
of the country. Recently published
records of singing Skylark Alauda
arvensis in Qatar involve birds at two
sites in June 1986 (The Phoenix 14: 2).
Following ‘hot-on-the-heels’ of the
second record (see Sandgrouse 20: 79),
the third Wire-tailed Swallow
Hirundo smithi in UAE was at Al Ain
camel track on 7 February-2 April.
There are few previous records of
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi in
Yemen, but a series of records,
totalling 14 birds at three localities,
was made during the OSME/ Sunbird
tour this spring. Three Blyth’s Pipit A.
godlewskii overwintered at Al Wathba,
UAE until 12 April, whilst the two
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
‘already reported (Sandgrouse 20: 79)
remained in Abu Dhabi from 7
- November 1997-4 April and 12
December 1997—February 1998, with
another at Mushref gardens, Abu
Dhabi on 13 February, bringing the
total number of occurrences in UAE to
12 (see Birdwatch 73: 19).

The sixth Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius
ampelinus in Israel was well-watched
and photographed at km 20 north of
Eilat from December 1997-12 April
(see Birding World 11: 137); one was
also reported at Kibbutz Samar from
late January into February. A Thrush
Nightingale Luscinia luscinia east of Al
Qutay on 16 April was an interesting
record, there are very few spring
records in Yemen. The sixth record of
White-crowned Black Wheatear

Guy M. Kirwan

March 1998. (Arie Ouwerkerk)

Oenanthe leucopyga in UAE was on Das
island on 8-13 April. The first record
in eastern Yemen of Red-tailed
Wheatear O. xanthoprymna was north-
west of Sanau on 19 February 1997
(Jennings 1997). The first record of
Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanni in
UAE involved one at Safa Park on
12-24 March, although it may have
been present since November 1997
(see Birdwatch 73: 19)..In Turkey,
several Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naevia were singing at
Esmekaya sazligi in early June: there is
just one previous breeding record in
Turkey in late May 1965 (Kumerloeve
1967). Up to four Basra Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus griseldis were apparently
breeding at Al Hair, south of Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia on 14 April-5 May 1996
(Nikolaus & Ash 1997). The species
has recently started to colonise
Kuwait, presumably in response to the
continuing drainage of its breeding
habitat in southern Iraq. This record
may also indicate fresh colonisation,
although the possibility that the
species had _ previously — been
overlooked cannot be eliminated. In
Israel, the eighth record was one at km
20 north of Eilat on 24 March-10 April
(see Plate 2). The tenth record of
Moustached Warbler A. melanopogon
in UAE was of one at Dhayah or’ 13
February. Very few records of Olive-
tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum are
available from Yemen; one was east of
Al Quaty on 16 April. In June 1996,
Booted Warbler H. caligata was
proven to breed south of Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia, a considerable range
extension from UAE, and in Turkey,
there was one south of Beysehir Golii
on 25 May, the westernmost record in
the country (Eken & Magnin in prep.).
Single Ménétries’s Warblers Sylvia
mystacea were at the rarity hotspot of

Plate 2. Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis, km 20 north of Eilat, Israel, 27

Around the Region

km 20 north of Eilat on 12 and 16
April. On Das Island, UAE there was
an Icterine Warbler H. icterina on
24-25 April, the eighth country record,
a Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus. on 19
February—7 April (second record) and
a Hume’s Yellow-browed Warbler P.
humei on 30 April. At Yotvata in south
Israel there was a Hume’s Yellow-
browed Warbler on 23-29 March and
two were apparently at Eilat on 24
March. A Green Warbler P. nitidus
was in Abu Dhabi on 11-13 May, the
fourth record in UAE if accepted. A
Yellow-browed Warbler at
Mansourieh on 29 September 1997 is
apparently the first record in Lebanon,
and probably one of the earliest
autumn records in the Middle East.

There are no previous confirmed
records of Bearded Tit Panurus
biarmicus in Syria; thus 2-3 birds at
Sed Wadi Abiad, 20 km north of
Palmyra on 22 May are the first. In
Turkey, an Isabelline Shrike Lanius
isabellinus, of the race phoenicuroides,
was trapped and photographed at
Kizilirmak Delta on 3 May. The
seventh Bay-backed Shrike L. vittatus
in UAE was at Dibba on 11 March. In
Iran, House Crow Corvus splendens
was found to be common aroud
Bushire and at a fishing village 70 km
further south-east along the coast: in
the 1970s this species was known, in
the country, only from the island of
Khark, north-west of Bushire. The
third Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus
roseus to be found in Yemen was at
Marib on 23 April. Arthur Stagg has
drawn my attention to the fact that
recent records of Bank Mynah
Acridotheres gingianus in Saudi Arabia
and published here (Sandgrouse 19:
159; 20: 80) are not the first, and details

159

Sandgrouse 20 (2): 1998

of its occurrence, since at least 1987, in
the Riyadh region have been
published (Stagg 1991). The first
Common Myrnah A. tristis to be found
in Egypt was located at Ain Sukhna
on 20-29 April when it died of
gunshot wounds (Birding World 11:

216). In the 1970s, Indian Silverbill
Lonchura malabarica was not known to
occur west of Minab, but in late April
it was found 45 km east of Bandar
Lengeh and in the Bandar Abbas and
Minab areas of Iran, suggesting that
the species is expanding its range. The

fourth record of Goldfinch Carduelis
carduelis in UAE was of one on the
migrant trap of Das island on 26-27

- April, which also recently hosted the

third record (Sandgrouse 20: 80).

REFERENCES

BROOKS, D. J., EVANS, M. I, MARTINS, R. P. AND Porter, R. F. (1987) The status of birds in north Yemen and
the records of the OSME expedition in autumn 1985. Sandgrouse 9: 4-66.

EKEN, G. AND MAGNIN, G. (in prep.) A preliminary biodiversity atlas of the Konya basin, central Turkey. Dogal
Hayati Koruma Dernegi, Istanbul.

GrEEN, I. A. (1997) Corncrake Crex crex breeding in north-east Turkey. Shade 19: 145-146.

JENNINGS, M. C. (1997) ABBA survey 20: eastern Yemen, February 1997. The Phoenix 14: 3-5.

KUMERLOEVE, H. (1967) Neue Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Avifauna von Nordost- und Ost-Kleinasien.
Istanbul Fen. Fak. Mecm., Ser. B32: /9_ 213.

NIKOLAUS, G. AND ASH, J. S. (1997) Riyadh river, Saudi Arabia; notes on breeding nde The Phoenix
14: 18-19.

STAGG, A. (1991) Birds of the Riyadh region. Second edition. National Commission for Wildlife Conservation
and Development, Riyadh.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following have assisted in the compilation of this review: Sancar Baris, Arnoud van den Berg (Dutch
Birding), John Chitham, Brian Clasper, Dave Fisher (Sunbird), Steve Gantlett (Birding World), Mike Jennings,
Graham R. Lobley, Guy Manners, Rod Martins (Sunbird), Tom Quittenden, Colin Richardson (Emirates Bird
Records Committee), Omar Al-Saghier, Bob Scott, Derek Scott (Birdquest), Arthur Stagg, Geoff & ie
Welch and Roy Wranes.

Guy M. Kirwan, 55 West End Street, Norwich NR2 4DP, U. K.

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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) Field guide
to 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
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Authors will receive galley proofs to check for typographical errors.
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as soon as possible after publication. Submissions should be sent to:
Sandgrouse Editor, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL, UK.

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