Swinhoe's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monorhis
OMAN Seawatching in late 1997 produced the first to third country records off Mirbat (at least 100 birds from 8-10 November and four on 3 December), and a single off Raysut on 2 December 1997. Another, reported off Ras al Khabba on 2 November 1998, awaits ratification.
Jouanin's Petrel Bulweria fallax
YEMEN 1 was seen by light at Ras Shu'ab, Socotra on 20 November 1997 (Clouet et al. 1998), the first evidence that this species may breed in the archipelago, as has long been postulated. A pelagic out of Mukalla on 31 October 1998 produced c. 70 birds.
Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes
YEMEN A pelagic out of Mukalla on 31 October 1998 produced 12 birds.
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
CYPRUS 314 moved west off Girne on 6 October 1998 and an exceptional 2900 were counted off nine sites centred on Kyrenia on 25 October 1998; large counts for the eastern Mediterranean.
Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
YEMEN A pelagic out of Mukalla on 31 October 1998 produced 2 birds.
Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanites Ieucorhoa
EGYPT 1 off Zaranik on 12 March 1998 was the fourth country record.
Gannet Sula bassana
EGYPT 3 off Zaranik on 12 March 1998.
TURKEY An immature off Tuzla beach, Ceyhan on 12 April 1998.
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
EGYPT A survey of the northern Red Sea islands which covered 45 of the c.66 islands and islets between Hurghada and the southern Gulf of Suez, during 4-8 July 1998, found recently used nests and distinctive juvenile feathers at five sites on two islands.
Bittern Botaurus stellaris
SYRIA/IRAQ 1 at Abu Kamal on the Syria-Iraq border on 7 May 1998 was unusually late.
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
OMAN 1 remained near Sohar from 19 December 1997-12 March 1998.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
OMAN At least four, a species only recently added to the Middle East list, were near Salalah on 29-30 April 1999 and presumed to be breeding.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
TURKEY What was apparently the first dark phase for the country was photographed at Mogan Golu on 3 May 1997 (Boyla & Eken 1998)
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
YEMEN A further influx recently: three were at Taizz sewage lagoons on 27 October and eight juveniles were at nearby Taizz dam marsh on 28 October 1998, whilst two adults were at the now traditional site of Aden the next day.
Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
YEMEN Further records involved two adults at Hodeidah sewage lagoons on 31 March, one there on I October (The Lammergeier 21:12) and up to two adults at Aden marsh on 4-5 April and a single there on 29 October 1998.
African Spoonbill Platalea alba
YEMEN Up to four adult were at Aden on 4-5 April with one still present on 29 October 1998.
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
EGYPT Only nine pairs of were found nesting in 1998, compared to c. 20 pairs in 1983/84, during the Egyptian Red Sea islands survey.
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The fifth record of was of one at Dhaya on 21-26 November 1998.
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
TURKEY 1 was shot at Terkos Golu near Istanbul on 1 January 1997, one of three Turkish records in early 1997.
Mute Swan Cygnus olor
TURKEY A significant immigration of swans occurred in January 1997 with an impressive total of 1000 at the Meric delta on 25 January 1997.
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
TURKEY 1200 at the Meric delta on 25 January 1997.
Bewick's Swans Cygnus columbianus
TURKEY 50 at the Meric delta on 25 January 1997.
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris
TURKEY 35 at Cukurova Delta on 9 February 1997 and 1 at the Goksu Delta on 8 February 1997. Winter records of this species are now rare, but were overshadowed by 121 birds counted at Sultan marshes on 22 September 1997, one of the highest ever counts away from the south coast (Boyla & Eken 1998).
IRAQ Surveys in Jun/July 1997 found a total of 699 birds at seven sites and 56 nests at four of these (Al-Robbae 1998).
SAUDI ARABIA Up to three at Sabkha al Fasl on 28 August-4 September 1998 was only the second record in the Eastern Province.
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
OMAN Three at Khor Salalah, on 30 April 1998 were unusually late.
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala
TURKEY At Burdur Golu in 1997 the maximum was just 846 birds, on 16 November 1998 though at least a nearby lake at Soganl1 Golu held breeding birds. (TWSG News 11: 10).
Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 1 was at Khor Dubai in late November 1998: the species appears to be becoming almost regular in UAE.
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The ninth UAE record was at Ras al Khaimah on 18 November 1998.
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
YEMEN An immature was at Taiz sewage lagoons on 7 October 1998.
Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus
OMAN The third record for the country, an immature at Muscat rubbish dump from 6 November 1997-12 March 1998.
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
OMAN At least three at Muscat rubbish dump from 9-11 November 1997.
Shikra Accipiter badius
OMAN One at Am Hamran on 6 November 1997 was the sixth record (with another at Wadi Hinna on 9 November awaiting ratification).
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
KUWAIT One was found dead at Tulha on 19 October 1998 (Birding World 11: 420), the third record.
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES One was reported at the Emirates golf course from mid-September until at least mid-October 1998, the first record.
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
YEMEN 2 were at Taizz sewage lagoons on 28 October; 1998 the species has only recently been recorded in Yemen.
Black Kite Milvus migrans
YEMEN One was seen on Hadibu plain on 15 November 1997 now added to the list of birds recorded on Socotra (Clouet et al. 1998).
Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae
YEMEN A total of seven seen on Hadibu plain on 14 and 16 November 1997, another new species for Socotra (Clouet et al. 1998).
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor
YEMEN A juvenile was near Al Qutay on 23 October 1998.
Harlequin Quail Coturnix delegorguei
YEMEN Up to 15 were heard calling in the Al Qutay and As Sukhna area on 24 October 1998.
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
YEMEN Two heard at Wadi Turbah on 6 April 1998 appear to be a minor range extension.
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
OMAN One was at Khor Rouri, southern Oman on 20 April 1998.
Common Crane Grus grus
OMAN One was at Mugsayl on 29 November 1997.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The eighth record of White-breasted Waterhen was at the Emirates golf course on 21-23 November 1998.
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo
OMAN One was at Muscat sewage farm on 22 October 1997.
Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata
CYPRUS The third record, a first-year, was at Spiros Pool, Larnaca on 24 November 1998 (Birding World 11: 9).
Great Stone Plover Esacus recurvirostris
OMAN The sixth and seventh records were reported in autumn 1998: singles at Daghmar on 2 November and north of Schnass on 5 November.
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor
TURKEY One at Tuzla Golu, Cukurova delta on 24 May 1997 was an unusual record for this well-watched Turkish site (Szekely 1998).
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
YEMEN At Aden marsh, during 4-5 April 1998, there was a single bird present.
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
YEMEN Single at Aden marsh on 4-5 April 1998.
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
YEMEN 50 at Aden marsh on 4-5 April 1998.
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
YEMEN 45 at Aden marsh on 4-5 April 1998.
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni
YEMEN The fifth record involved at least one near Al Qutay on 25 October 1998.
White-tailed Plover Chettusia leucura
YEMEN Five at Aden marsh on 29 October 1998.
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
SAUDI ARABIA Breeding has not been recorded in Saudi Arabia, but one was seen injury-feigning at Fanateer Island, Jubail in early June 1998.
Caspian Plover Charadrius. asiaticus
OMAN There was a record count of 48 near Sohar on 4 September 1997
TURKEY The eighth record was of one at Kulu Golu on 29 July 1998; the most recent record was of two at Bulanik in early 1991 (Kirwan & Martins 1994).
Dotterel Charadrius morinellus
TURKEY Three or four were at Kulu Golu on 25 September 1997; virtually all Turkish records of this species are from the Central Plateau (Boyla & Eken 1998).
Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus spinosus
OMAN The 5th-7th records involved two at Sohar on 2 November 1997 and singles at Sohar on 19 December 1997-31 January and Barka on 8 February.
Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterus indicus
TURKEY The species continues to be seen at its only regular Western Palearctic site, Cizre in south-east Turkey.
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
YEMEN One was at Hatta Lake on 6 November and an adult was near Al Qutay on 25 October 1998.
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
ISRAEL The first Israeli and second Middle Eastern record of a juvenile, was
reported at Ma'agan Mikhael on 29 September 1998.
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
ISRAEL A juvenile was at Bet Shean Valley fishponds on 17 and 29 September 1998, the fifth country record.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES More exciting was the first report in Arabia since 1986 of two at Hatta lake on 27-28 October 1998.
Great Snipe Gallinago media
EGYPT One was at Lake Qarun on 8 March, the species is a scarce spring migrant through the country.
Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura
ISRAEL The second country record was well-watched at Kfar Ruppin on 19-22 November 1998, and ringed on the final date.
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
OMAN One at Am Razat on 1 December 1997 was the first record in Oman.
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
OMAN The complete dates for the third for Oman and the Middle East were 7 November-19 December 1997 (see Sandgrouse 20: 78). Another, or the same, was (re) discovered at Sohar Sun Farms on 6 November 1998.
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
OMAN Possibly the first for the Middle East (see Porter et al. 1996) was at Barr Al Hikman on 23 October 1997.
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
OMAN The third country record was at East Khor, Salalah on 18 September 1997
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria
ISRAEL One was at Kfar Ruppin from early November to early December 1998 at least.
Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii
EGYPT One was at Zaranik on 12 March 1998. There are few spring records in Egypt.
Little Gull Larus minutus
JORDAN A juvenile in the Gulf of Aqaba on 24 October 1998 was the sixth country record.
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
TURKEY Singles at Goksu delta on 11 February 1997 and Hirfanli Baraji on 14 May 1997, with four at Tuzla Golu on 22 April 1997 (Boyla & Eken 1998)
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
TURKEY One in Izmir bay on 11 January 1997 (Boyla & Eken 1998). Another was seen in Istanbul on 26 September 1998.
Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii
EGYPT Additional results from the July 1998 survey of the Egyptian Red Sea islands included the discovery of 97 pairs of on 13 islands, an increase on c. 50 pairs in 1983/84.
White-eyed Gull Larus. leucopthalmus
EGYPT 2,151 pairs on 12 Egyptian Red Sea islands in July 1998 and a total population estimate of c. 3000 pairs (50% increase on 1983/84 and representing c. 30% of the world population).
Swift Tern Sterna bergii
EGYPT 150 pairs of with eggs, young or about to lay, at four Egyptian Red Sea island colonies in July 1998, the largest holding 125 pairs
Little Tern Sterna albifons
EGYPT Three pairs nest scraping and displaying amongst a mixed tern colony on a small sandy northern Red Sea islet in July 1998, the first breeding evidence in this part of Egypt.
YEMEN The first reports of Little Tern for Yemen were: one at Al Fazzah on 1 April with one at Qutay ponds and two at Hodeidah harbour on 1 October 1998. (The Lammergeier 21: 13).
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
UAE One at Ramtha lagoons on 19 July, the fifth country record, and this was swiftly followed by the sixth record, one at Khor Kalba on 24 July 1998.
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse Plerocles lichtensteinii
YEMEN A pair at Wadi Al Wagr on 2 April constitute a minor range extension.
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata
TURKEY A flock of 130 at Van on 30 July 1998 was the first record in east Anatolia and a range extension of C. 200 km.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES One near Khor Dubai on 30 October 1998 was only the second record in UAE.
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
SYRIA One at Abu Kamal, Syria on 7 May 1998 was a late migrant and the first May record in the country.
Rufous Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
OMAN Three were reported in late 1997: singles at Sohar on 4 November, Wadi Darbit on 6 November and Salalah on 9 November.
ISRAEL There was a report of an immature, of the race meena, at Kfar Ruppin on 19 November 1998.
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
CYPRUS One at Paphos on 16 April 1998 has already been accepted as the first record in Cyprus (Birding World 11: 381)
JORDAN A male at Aqaba sewage farm on 23 October 1998, there are very few autumn records from Jordan.
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
YEMEN Eight were reported in autumn 1998: six calling near Mansuriah on 1 October and two near Bait al Faqih the next day (The Lammergeier 21:13).
Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria
TURKEY The first record in Turkey-presumably an escape-was with eight Ring-necked Parakeet P. krameri at Ankara zoo on 20 February 1998 (Boyla et al. 1998).
Nubian Nightjar nubicus
OMAN One at Am Hamran on 15 April 1998 was the seventh Omani record.
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius
KUWAIT One north of Qaisat on 19 October and two dead at the same locality on 13 November 1998 were the fourth and fifth country records (Birding World 11: 420).
Alpine Swift Apus melba
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The 16th record in UAE involved two birds north of Ras al Khaimah on 17 September 1998.
Little Swift Apus affinis
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES One was over Ramtha on 31 October 1998.
White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The fifth country record was at Ras al Khaimah on 22-23 October 1998.
SAUDI ARABIA One at Qatif on 13 February 1998 was approximately the seventh record for the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus
TURKEY A report from Akseki on 5 August 1998 the first from this locality for a number of years and still one of the few records from the Taurus mountains.
Dunn's Lark Eremalauda dunni
YEMEN More records were of two south of Al Abr and another at Gebelayn, both localities in the Empty Quarter, on 3 November 1998.
Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata
OMAN The flock of over 100 was still present at Sohar until 24 April 1998 (see Sandgrouse 20: 79).
YEMEN The third record was of one near Al Abr on 3 November 1998.
Small Skylark Alauda gulgula
ISRAEL There were 14 at Kfar Ruppin from mid-October into November, one in the Hula Valley on 18 November, and two north of Eilat on 22 October - mid November 1998 at least.
OMAN The second in Oman was at Sohar on 1 January 1998 and may have involved one of the two birds involved in the first record, also at Sohar, on 31 October-1 November 1997 (Sandgrouse 20: 79), whilst at least three were reported in the same area on 5-7 November 1998.
Streak-throated Swallow Hirundo fluvicola
OMAN An immature at Muscat sewage farm on 11 and 25 November was perhaps the most remarkable record of autumn 1997 being the first country and Middle East record. The species occurs from north-east Afghanistan to central lndia, and usually descends to lower elevations in the winter.
Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewski
ISRAEL Given the recent spate of reports from eastern Arabia, it is perhaps surprising that there has been only one previous record in Israel; a second was reported near Kfar Ruppin on 24-25 September 1998.
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
KUWAIT The fourth country record, at Jahra Farms on 29 October 1998.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Up to three in Abu Dhabi on 13-14 November 1998.
Eversmann's Redstart Phoenicurus erythronotus
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES One was at the Emirates golf course on 22-25 November 1998.
Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca
TURKEY One at Koycegiz Golu on 16 April 1997 was probably the westernmost ever record in Turkey (Boyla & Eken 1998).
Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka
TURKEY Two at Yesilce on 25 July may have been indicative of local breeding.
Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus
OMAN The third in Arabia and second Omani record, at Dauka on 13 November 1998, awaits ratification.
Black-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis
KUWAIT One at Jahra Farms on 20 November 1998 (Birding World 11: 420).
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES One, possibly two, in Safa Park on 19-20 November.
Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon
SAUDI ARABIA Discovered at three potential breeding sites in 1998 (Jubail, Khafrah Marsh and Sabkha al Fasl).
Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
SAUDI ARABIA Found nesting at Khafrah Marsh in 1998, only the second breeding population in Eastern Province.
Menetries's Warbler Sylvia mystacea
CYPRUS A male at Paphos on 2 May has been accepted as the first record in Cyprus (Birding World 11: 381).
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
YEMEN One at Hodeidah on 1 October (The Lammergeier 21: 14).
Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus
TURKEY At Uludag, one or two on 18 July 1998 are the westernmost record in Turkey and may indicate an expansion of its breeding range.
Yellow-browed Warblers P. inornatus
ISRAEL One at Kibbutz Lotan on 30 October 1998.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES One in Abu Dhabi on 13 November 1998.
Mountain Chiffchaff Phylloscopus sindianus lorenzi
ISRAEL The second Israel record was at Quetura sewage farm on 31 October.
Red-breasted Flycatchers Ficedula parva
JORDAN Singles were at Petra on 15 October and Rahmeh on 25 October; the species is a rare migrant through Jordan.
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus
QATAR A male at Salwa pools, south of Doha on 16 March 1997 was the first record in Qatar.
Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor pallidirostris
CYPRUS An individual of this form/species was reported at Larnaca sewage works, Cyprus on 20-23 November 1998, the first island record if confirmed (Birding World 11: 419).
ISRAEL Two were reported in the Negev during 12-13 October, a first-winter was at Zohar Pools, Dead Sea on 23 October and others were reported at km 33 north of Eilat and Kfar Ruppin in late November 1998.
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
TURKEY Following recent breeding records in Ankara, there was two, subsequently six at Sirapinar, Istanbul from 22 June-I July 1997 (Boyla & Eken 1998).
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
OMAN A single at Al Baleed Farm on 13 November 1998 was an unusual record for Palearctic Oman
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Two at Al Wathba on 7 November 1998 was the second record in UAE.
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus
KUWAIT Up to 23 at Jahra Pool on 6 November was the second record in Kuwait (Birding World 11: 420).
Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia brachydactyla
YEMEN A flock of 60 was in the desert near Al Urj on 24 October 1998, the fourth record in Yemen.
Yemen Serin Serinus menachensis
OMAN One of the most remarkable records of the period under review was the discovery of at least nine at Tawi Atair, in south Oman. Birds were recorded on 30 October-11 November 1997 and photographed on 29-30 April 1998 when nests were found. Up to 12 were in the same area on 9 November 1998. This constitutes the first record in Oman and an extra-ordinary range extension from extreme south-west Saudi Arabia and the former North Yemen. There are two pre-1950 records from the former South Yemen, both Meinertzhagen specimens (Martins et al. 1996), which must, therefore, be subject to doubt.
Mongolian Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes mongolicus
TURKEY Up to seven were at Dogubayazit in eastern Turkey on 31 July 1998.
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githaginezrs
TURKEY Two were at Dogubayazit on 31 July 1998.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
ISRAEL A major influx was reported when over 300 present in Jerusalem in November and more than 40 ringed at Beer Sheva with small numbers reaching the Eilat area.
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus
JORDAN Two at Safawi Camp on 25 September 1998 (with a third bird on 27 September), the first country record.
Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps
JORDAN A male at Safawi Camp on 24 September 1998, the first country record.
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia
CYPRUS Three were reported at Kyrenia harbour on 10 November 1998, the seventh record (and first since 1974) if confirmed (Birding World 11: 419).
Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica
ISRAEL One was photographed at Eilat sewage pools on 8 November 1998.
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