Trip through the Middle East - 2

[eco_howard]

Site Descriptions and Maps - to be found in the post "Trip through the Middle East - maps"

Luxor

Sharm el Sheikh

For the sewage pond, we followed the directions given in Tommy Pedersen’s report (Birding South Sinai December 2000). Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse came at dusk (but still visible), Crowned and Spotted in the morning.

The Mövenpick golf course is NE of Sharm, to the right hand side of the road to the airport (it is not at the Mövenpick hotel downtown).

Shark’s bay is just a bit further along the road to the airport and then down to the coast: a very nice and relaxed place to stay, compared with all the hotels downtown (and anywhere else along the coast).

Nabq Protectorate

The best mangrove patch is about 2 km northeast from the visitor’s center. This is the only place where we saw Striated Heron, and also most waders were there. From the tip of the peninsula between the visitors center and the mangrove patch it is possible to see behind the mangroves (i.e., the seaside of the mangroves). The Striated Herons are well hidden in the mangroves and are probably best seen when flying. A pair of Osprey was nesting on this peninsula (don’t go too close to their nest). The Sooty and White-eyed Gulls like the fisherman’s place just north of the visitor’s center (but were also seen elsewhere). The mangrove patch and the shallow bay south of the visitor’s center are also worth checking, but it is difficult to get a view of the seaside.

Jordan (general)

We bought “The birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan” by Ian J Andrews. “Birds of Jordan” refers to that book.

Wadi Rum

Verreaux Eagle is best seen from the resthouse by scanning the mountain top to the west (the mountain is called Jebel Rum). The mountain top has three parts. “Our” eagle was sitting in a hole some meters below the northernmost of the three parts.

Tristram’s Starling and Sinai Rosefinch can be found near the resthouse or just behind (west) of it.

Scrub Warbler, more Sinai Rosefinches, and House Bunting were found about 3 km north of the resthouse (see “the Birds of Jordan”).

Dana

We stayed at Rummana campsite. This is a very pleasant place and at the same time excellent for birds: Most species, including Eagle Owl were found there or in the close vicinity. It is also a good place to look for migration, and Rock Hyraxes and Nubian Ibexes also occur. For Tristram’s Serin we visited Barra Forest, but they proved to be hard to find and we didn’t manage to get really satisfying views. A walk further down to the valley (which we didn’t do) may produce Sand Partdidge, Little Green Bee-eater, Arabian Babbler, and even Arabian Warbler.

Dead Sea

The mouth of Wadi Mujib was not really worth the visit, although Tristram’s Starling and Fan-tailed Raven were both in the gorge just east of the bridge (easily seen from the bridge). A Blackstart was also in the area, but the delta was used by locals for bathing and there was heavy construction going on.

Palmyra

We went for one day with two local guides (Adib Assaed and Mahmud Abdallah). They can be reached through Gianluca Serra, the coordinator of the project. It’s worth to go with them, and supports the efforts for the last wild Bald Ibises in the Middle East (as well as many other species). They can show you the artificial lake, the bald ibises, and the desert, and they are a very pleasant company.

Deir es Zor Mhmeidah

Nemrut Dagi (near Adiyaman)

Access from Karadut. We found Red-tailed Wheatear, White-throated Robin, Rock Thrush, and Cinereous Bunting at a place with a panel indicating “Nemrut Dagi 6 km”: There is a track forking off to the left, while the road to the summit is going to the right. In the area straight ahead (inbetween the two roads) we found these species. Red-tailed Wheatear and Cinereous Bunting are common, though. Alpine Cough were seen further on along the track, and Horned Lark and Snow Finch at the summit (where there are supposedly also Finch’s Wheathears). The Eastern Rock Nuthatch was at the Roman Bridge at Cendere Köprüsü, indicated from the road between Kahta and Narince (some 9 km off).

Birecik

Just (another) small map for the Owl café"Trip through the Middle East - maps" post)

Göksu Delta

It was possible to drive all the way around lake Akgöl (although it was quite difficult at one or two places). We saw most birds (including Black Francolin) and also the Wolf from the observation tower on the SW side of Akgöl. Otherwise we followed the directions given in Gosney’s “Finding Birds in Turkey”.

Uzuncaburc

Species List

(E = Egypt, J = Jordan, S = Syria, T = Turkey)
Little Grebe E, S, T
Great Crested Grebe T
Black-necked Grebe S
White Pelican T
Great Cormorant E, T
Pygmy Cormorant T
Gray Heron E, J, S, T
Purple Heron E, S, T
Great Egret S, T
Western Reef Heron E
Little Egret E, J, S, T
Squacco Heron E, S, T
Cattle Egret E, J, S, T
Striated Heron E
Night Heron E, T
Little Bittern E, S, T
Great Bittern T
White Stork J, T
Waldrapp S, (T)
Glossy Ibis E, T
Spoonbill T
Greater Flamingo T
Ruddy Shelduck T
Wigeon S, T
Gadwall S
Teal S, T
Mallard E, S, T
Pintail E, S, T
Garganey S, T
Shoveler E, S, T
Marbled Teal S, T
Pochard S
Ferruginous Duck S
Tufted Duck S
White-headed Duck S
Osprey E, S
Black-shouldered Kite E
Black Kite E, J
Egyptian Vulture J, S, T
Eurasian Griffon J, S
Short-toed Eagle J
Marsh Harrier E, J, S, T
Hen Harrier T
Pallid Harrier J, T
Montagu's Harrier S
Sparrowhawk J, S, T
Common (Steppe) Buzzard E, J, S, T
Long-legged Buzzard J, S, T
Steppe Eagle J, S
Verreaux's Eagle J
Booted Eagle T
Lesser Kestrel J, T
Kestrel E, J, S, T
Red-footed Falcon T
Hobby T
Barbary Falcon J
Peregrine Falcon T
Chukar J, T
See-see Partridge T
Black Francolin T
Quail E, T
Crane E, T
Water Rail S
Corn Crake S
Baillon's Crake T
Spotted Crake T
Purple Galinule E, T
Moorhen E, S, T
Coot S, T
Oystercatcher E, T
Black-winged Stilt E, J, S, T
Avocet J, S
Stone Curlew J, T
Senegal Thick-knee E
Collared Pratincole S, T
Lapwing T
Spur-winged Plover E, S, T
White-tailed Lapwing S ,
Grey Plover E, T
Ringed Plover E, J, T
Little Ringed Plover E, J, S
Kentish Plover E, J, T
Greater Sandplover E
Common Snipe E, S, T
Black-tailed Godwit S, T
Bar-tailed Godwit E
Whimbrel E
Curlew E
Spotted Redshank S, T
Common Redshank E, S, T
Marsh Sandpiper J, S
Greenshank E, S, T
Green Sandpiper E, J, S, T
Wood Sandpiper E, S, T
Common Sandpiper E, S, T
Turnstone E
Little Stint E, J, S, T
Dunlin E, J, T
Ruff E, J, S, T
White-eyed Gull E
Sooty Gull E
Lesser Black-backed Gull E, T
Siberian Gull E
Caspian Gull E, T
Armenian Gull E, S
Black-headed Gull E, J, S, T
Slender-billed Gull E, T
Little Gull T
Gull-billed Tern E, S
Caspian Tern E
Lesser Crested Tern E
Sandwich Tern E, S
Common Tern E, T
Little Tern E, T
Whiskered Tern T
White-winged Tern S, T
Black Tern T
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse T
Spotted Sandgrouse E
Crowned Sandgrouse E
Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse E
Rock Dove E, J, S, T
Wood Pigeon S
Turtle Dove E, T
Collared Dove E, J, S, T
Laughing Dove E, J, T
Namaqua Dove E
Cuckoo J, T
Bruce's Scops Owl T
Scops Owl J, T
Eagle Owl J
Little Owl S, T
Eurasian Nightjar T
Alpine Swift T
Common Swift E, J, S, T
Pallid Swift S, J
Kingfisher E, T
White-throated Kingfisher T
Pied Kingfisher E, S
Green Bee-eater E
European Bee-eater J, S, T
Hoopoe E, J, T
Wryneck J, S
Syrian Woodpecker T
Bar-tailed Desert Lark S
Desert Lark E, J, S,
Hoopoe Lark S
Calandra Lark T
Bimaculated Lark T
Greater Short-toed Lark E, J, S, T
Lesser Short-toed Lark J, S, T
Crested Lark E, J, S, T
Wood Lark J, T
Sky Lark T
Horned Lark T
Temminck's Lark J, S
Crag Martin J, T
Rock Martin E, J
Sand Martin E, J, S, T
Barn Swallow E, J, S, T
Red-rumped Swallow E, J, S, T
House Martin J, S, T
Richard's Pipit E, T
Tawny Pipit E, J, T
Tree Pipit E, J, S, T
Meadow Pipit E, J
Red-throated Pipit J, S, T
Water Pipit E, T
White Wagtail E, J, S, T
Citrine Wagtail T
Yellow Wagtail E, S, T
Gray Wagtail J, S, T
Wren T
Common Bulbul E
Yellow-vented Bulbul J, T
White-cheeked Bulbul J, S
Thrush Nightingale T
Common Nightingale S, T
Bluethroat E, J, S,
White-throated Robin T
Black Redstart T
Common Redstart J, S, T
Whinchat S, T
European Stonechat J
White-crowned Wheatear E, J
Northern Wheatear E, J, S, T
Mourning Wheatear J, S
Black-eared Wheatear E, J, S, T
Red-tailed Wheatear T
Desert Wheatear E, J
Isabelline Wheatear E, J, T
Blackstart J
Rock Thrush T
Blue Rock Thrush E, J, T
Blackbird E, J, S, T
Song Thrush S
Zitting Cisticola E, T
Scrub Warbler J
Graceful Prinia E, J, S, T
Cetti's Warbler S, T
Grasshopper Warbler T
Savi's Warbler E, S
Moustached Warbler T
Sedge Warbler S
Reed Warbler E, J, S, Z
Great Reed Warbler S, T
Clamorous Reed Warbler E
Olivaceous Warbler E, J, S, T
Blackcap E, J
Greater Whitethroat T
Lesser Whitethroat E, J, S, T
Eastern Orphean Warbler J, S, T
Rueppell's Warbler T
Sardinian Warbler J, S, T
Menetries's Warbler S, T
Spectacled Warbler J
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler E
Wood Warbler T
Willow Warbler S, T
Chiffchaff E, J, S, T
Collared Flycatcher T
Semicollared Flycatcher J, T
Spotted Flycatcher T
Sombre Tit T
Great Tit J, S, T
Blue Tit T
Krueper's Nuthatch T
Rock Nuthatch T
Eastern Rock Nuthatch T
Penduline Tit T
Iraq Babbler S
Bearded Reedling T
Nile Valley Sunbird E
Palestine Sunbird J
Golden Oriole T
Red-backed Shrike T
Southern Gray Shrike J
Lesser Gray Shrike T
Masked Shrike E, J, T
Woodchat Shrike E, J, S, T
Jay T
Magpie S, T
Chough J
Alpine Chough T
Jackdaw T
House Crow E
Rook T
Brown-necked Raven E, J, S,
Fan-tailed Raven J
Common Raven J, T
Hooded Crow E, S, T
Starling T
Tristram's Starling J
House Sparrow E, J, S, T
Spanish Sparrow E, J, S, T
Dead Sea Sparrow S, T
Tree Sparrow T
Rock Petronia J, T
Snowfinch T
Chaffinch T
Sinai Rosefinch J
Greenfinch J, S, T
Siskin J
Goldfinch E, J, S, T
Linnet J, S, T
Serin S, T
Syrian Serin J
Trumpeter Finch E, J, S,
Desert Finch S
Red Avadavat E
Corn Bunting S, T
Reed Bunting T
Rock Bunting T
Cinereous Bunting T
Ortolan Bunting J
Cretzschmar's Bunting J, S, T
House Bunting J
Black-headed Bunting T