MINDY AND SHERIF BAHA EL DIN
ON 2 April 1993, along with three colleagues, we were birdwatching at the sewage ponds at 10th of Ramadan City, 55 km north-east of Cairo. In addition to the usual resident species, a variety of migrants was present. A lone pratincole was spotted hawking insects above the settling pools. It was initially idenitified as a Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni based on the apparently uniform dark underwing; the absence of a white trailing edge to the secondaries; and the lac k of contrast on the upperwing. Since Black-winged Pratincole was a new species for all but one of our group, it was studied in flight for over ten minutes.The bird landed on an islet and was observed through a telescope for 10-15 minutes at approximately 80 metres distance. Closer views revealed that the bird had a distinct orangish wash on the breast and upper belly, unusual for Black-winged Pratincole. The initial identification was obviously erroneous as the bird then stretched its wings, exhibiting chestnut on the underwings in the process. Whilst Black-winged Pratincole was now discounted, the bird was atypical of Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola, a species with which we were all very familiar.
The pratincole took flight and was watched as it circled the ponds feeding on insects. Against the overcast sky the dark chestnut-red on the underwings was only visible with difficulty. We came to the conclusion that the bird must be an aberrant Collared Pratincole, although there was some dissatisfaction with this identification.
The birds' true identity was only resolved a fortnight later, when the paper by Burns (1993) brought to our attention the 1981 record of Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum in Britain. After examining the photographs and description therein and comparing it with our own notes, we decided that the bird on 2 April had also been an Oriental Pratincole. Other literature was then consulted, particularly Hayman et al. (1986) and Lewington et al. (1991). All the major identification criter ia mentioned in these publications matched those of the bird we had seen, especially the fact that it resembled both Collared and Black-winged Pratincoles. The only feature of Oriental Pratincole which we failed to note was the shorter, less deeply forked tail.
General appearance and structure. No plumage wear evident. Similar in size and structure to
both Collared and Black-winged Pratincoles, but slightly smaller than the former. The apparently smaller
size could have been due to the shorter tail, although this was not specifically noted by us.
Head. Black line from gape forming necklace around cream-coloured throat patch. On close inspection through telescope the necklace appeared broken as if formed by small streaks, similar to the description given in Burns (1993).
Upperparts. Dark olive-brown (distinctly darker than in Collared Pratincole). Rump and base of tail white. Flight feathers slightly darker than wing coverts and mantle, but not easy to discern (lack of contrast on upperwing similar to Black-winged Pratincole). Complete absence of white trailing edge to secondaries. Primaries and secondaries black. Due to the lack of contrast between the black outer wing and chestnut inner wing, the underwing in flight often appeared uniformly dark (similar to Black-w
inged Pratincole).
Underparts. White undertail coverts and belly. Distinct orange wash to lower breast and upper belly. Underwing coverts and axillaries dark chestnut-red (the chestnut area on the underwings appeared more restricted and darker than on Collared Pratincole).
Bare parts. Bill black with red gape. Neither eye or leg colour were noted.
This is the first record in Egypt and the third in the Western Palearctic. There were two other Oriental Pratincoles in the Western Palearctic in spring 1993: the first Cyprus record was found on 23 April (Rowlands 1994) and the third record for Britain was present in Norfolk from 14 May into August (Rogers et al. 1994). These additional sightings lend support to the Egyptian record and indicate a notable dispersion of the species outside its normal range in this period.
Oriental Pratincole breeds in southern and eastern Asia from Pakistan to north-east China. The northern populations are migratory, wintering south to Australia (Lewington et al. 1991). Long distance vagrancy has been recorded and it has appeared in a number of areas outside its usual range, including Alaska (Hayman et al. 1986). Prior to 1993 there had been just two records in the Western Palearctic, both in Britain: in June-October 1991 and June-October 1988 (Brit. Birds 82:505-563). T here is a previous record of Oriental Pratincole in the Middle East, from the United Arab Emirates, on 23-27 November 1992 (Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 30:46). Prior to 1981 the westernmost records came from the Seychelles and Mauritius (Burns 1993).
Mindy and Sherif Baha el Din, 4 Ismail El Mazni St., Apt. 8, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt.
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