Trip Report for Egypt
El Gouna
8 to 14 November 2003
This report is based on a one week holiday to El Gouna, near Hurghada on the Red Sea, principally to go scuba diving around the Hurghada Archipelago. The observations are based on :-
· An hour or so most mornings around the golf course
· A daily boat trip to the offshore islands and reefs
· On the last day a more exhaustive exploration around the golf course, the tidal creek by the marina, the oasis to the west of the main road, the fish farm and the industrial area
Generally the tidal creek and the golf course appeared to be the best habitats. The Oasis produced the only Rock Martin and Desert Lark of the trip but is probably better during migration periods. The only Morning Wheatear was found at the back of the Ready Mix Plant so anywhere is worth a look.
Systematic List
Brown Booby
1 on 9th, 2 on 11th, 1 on 12th – all offshore
Cormorant
4 on 12th, 11 on 14th
Cattle Egret
10 on 14th
Reef Egret
1 or 2 most days
Grey Heron
2 on 12th, 5 on 14th
Pintail
20 in flight on 14th
Osprey
1 or 2 most days but 6 on Umm Gamar Island on 11th
Kestrel
1 or 2 most days
Ringed Plover
7 on 10th, 11 on 14th
Kentish Plover
7 on 10th, 15 on 14th
Grey Plover
1 on 10th, 5 on 14th
Spur Winged Lapwing
1 on 14th
Dunlin
1 on 14th
Redshank
1 on 10th, 3 on 14th
Greenshank
2 on 14th
Curlew
3 to 13 every day
Slender-billed Gull
4 on 10th, 1 on 11th, 1 on 12th, 9 on 13th, 84 on 14th
White-eyed Gull 1 on 9th, 1 on 11th, 13 on 12th, 43 on 13th
Caspian Tern
3 to 12 every day
Greater Crested Tern
2 on 9th, 2 on 11th – all offshore
White-cheeked Tern
25 on 12th, 10/100 most days probably this species – all offshore
Laughing Dove
Common in resort
Kingfisher
1 on 12th, 1 on 14th
Pied Kingfisher
1 on 11th, 2 on 14th
Desert Lark
2 on 14th behind Oasis
Sand Martin
4 on 12th
Rock Martin
1 on 14th at Oasis
Red-throated Pipit
1 to 4 most days
White Wagtail
Common
Bluethroat
1 or 2 most days
Desert Wheatear
1 on 10th, 1 on 11th
Mourning Wheatear
1 on 14th at Ready Mix Plant
Stonechat
2 on 9th, 1 on 12th
Sardinian Warbler
Fairly common
Chiffchaff
Common
Hooded Crow
2 to 5 most days
Brown-necked Raven
1 on 12th