Egypt and Sinai Birdwatching Summary
July 31, 2007
I have just returned from my first full tour of Egypt and Sinai, covering just under 5,500 kms in 11 days. It was an exceptional trip, with a total of 112 species recorded, despite average daily temperatures of 49 degrees C. Amongst the many highlights were the following -:
*PINK-BACKED PELICAN: 12 at Abu Simbel on 26th July
Little Bittern: 15 at Abassa Fishponds on 20th July
Glossy Ibis: 5 at Abu Simbel on 26th July
*YELLOW-BILLED STORK: total of 78 at Abu Simbel on 26th July
*Egyptian Goose: 200+ in the Abu Simbel area on 26th July
Garganey: 5 at Hamata Mangroves on 22nd July
Egyptian Black Kite: up to 50 at Abu Simbel on 25th-27th July
*Lappet-faced Vulture (negevensis): at least 14 in Shalatein Border Village on 22nd July
Bonelli’s Eagle: breeding adult inland of Safaga on 26th July (rare resident)
*Sooty Falcon: a total of 4 was seen, including 3 together at Hamata on 22nd July
African Purple Gallinule: only 3 noted
**CRAB PLOVER: despite extensive searching of the Hamata region, only 1-2 birds could be found
*Painted Snipe: just 2 males noted, at Abu Simbel on 26th July
Greater Sandplover: surprisingly common on the southern Red Sea, with upwards of 70 birds seen.
*KITTLITZ’S SAND PLOVER: 28 birds at Wadi El Natrum on 20th July
Curlew Sandpiper: 2 adults at Hamata Mangroves on 22nd July
Wood Sandpiper: 50 in one flock at Hamata on 22nd July
*SOOTY GULL: common south of Marsa Alam
White-eyed Gull: largest concentrations in the Hurghada area, with 200+ at the sewage works there on 21st July
Black-headed Gull: 2 adults at Abu Simbel on 26th July
*GREAT CRESTED TERN: difficult – 2 seen near Porto Sukhna on 21st July, with 4 more at Abu Zineron on 29th July
White-cheeked Tern: at least 600 pairs breeding on offshore island at Hamata on 22nd July
Little Tern: over 80 breeding pairs at Abu Simbel on 26th July
*BRIDLED TERN: at least 40 breeding pairs on offshore island at Hamata on 22nd July
Gull-billed Tern: 3 at Hamata on 22nd July, with 46 at Abu Simbel on 26th
White-winged Black Tern: 130 at Abu Simbel on 26th July
Whiskered Tern: 58 at Abu Simbel on 26th July
**AFRICAN SKIMMER: an unprecedented flock of 69 birds (adults & immatures) at Abu Simbel on 26th July
Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse: small groups frequently noted in desert regions
*NAMAQUA DOVE: pair at Abu Simbel on 27th July
Eurasian Collared Dove: range greatly expanded in Egypt, especially on Red Sea and Sinai coastlines and at Abu Simbel
*AFRICAN COLLARED DOVE: single pairs noted (and photographed) at Wadi Lahami and Abu Ghusan on 23rd July – a very difficult species in Egypt.
European Turtle Dove: pleasantly abundant on Crocodile Island, Luxor, on 25th-26th July
**HUME’S TAWNY OWL: 2 (including one photographed) in South Sinai on 29th July
**SAHARAE EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR: one of the events of the trip – 5 beautiful birds feeding at point blank range and resting on hot sand in full lit area in Abu Simbel on 25th and 26th July
Egyptian Little Green Bee-eater: common in certain areas of the Nile Valley
Egyptian Barn Swallow: abundant at Abassa and Crocodile Island
*AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL: 7 at Abu Simbel on 26th July
Western Rufous Bushchat: 2 at Abu Simbel on 26th July
Eastern Mourning Wheatear: 3 males noted in south Sinai on 28th-29th July
Hooded Wheatear: just 1 female noted in south Sinai on 27th July
Streaked Scrub Warbler: 3 birds in Sinai on 27th-29th July
Eastern Orphean Warbler: 3 early returning adults at St Katharine Monastery on 29th July
Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler: early returning adult in Sinai on 27th July
Nile Valley Sunbird: common on Crocodile Island
Palestine Sunbird: 6 seen in south Sinai
Indian House Crow: remarkably abundant. I click-counted 3,811 birds departing roost in Suez City on 21st July. Spread well south along Red Sea coast, with 82 in Abu Rhedies on 29th July
Tristram’s Grackle: 6+ at St Katherine’s Monastery on 27th-29th July
*STREAKED WEAVER: a total of 27 birds in 2 colonies noted at Abassa on 20th July
Sinai Rosefinch: numerous worn adults and 4+ juveniles at St Katherine’s Monastery on 27th-29th July
An exhaustive and lavishly illustrated trip report will be published later and released on the UK400 Club website
Forthcoming tours this summer and autumn include Madeira, Majorca, Corsica and Spain, whilst trips this winter will include Israel, Kuwait, Italy, France, Mauretania and the Cape Verde Islands. Please email me if you are interested in any of them.
UK400 Club Rare Bird Alerts
Bird Book Report and Paraphanelia Exchange
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