MEBirdNet · Middle East Bird Net

[MEBirdNet] The 4th International Buturlin Conference In Ulianovsk Russia on 19-22 September 2012

Thu, 24 May 2012 03:37:11 -0500

[MEBirdNet] trip report Azerbaijan 12-19 April 2012

Wed, 23 May 2012 04:02:55 -0500

Hi all, We were four swedish birders travelling and birding through eastern Azerbaijan this April and our trip report is now ready and have been sent to various forums of which Netfugl.dk have already put it on their trip report section. Questions on our trip, the report and birding in

[MEBirdNet] New for Arabia; White-rumped Sandpiper in the UAE

Mon, 21 May 2012 08:46:13 -0500

EBRC chairman Oscar Campbell and co-observer Dermot O'Mahoney found and photographed a White-rumped Sandpiper in Al Ain, inland UAE on May 18 2012.
The bird was still present yesterday at 3pm in 44 degrees Celsius, happily feeding with a Terek Sandpiper and Red-wattled Lapwings.

This constitutes species no 451 on the United

[MEBirdNet] Fwd: [WestPalBirds] Trip report for southern Egypt May 2012

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:49:28 -0500

The following was posted on WestPalBirds.

Ian Harrison
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: graeme_joynt <(email address filtered)>
Date: 17 May 2012 20:46
Subject: [WestPalBirds] Trip report for southern Egypt May 2012
To: (email address filtered)

**

Hi all, just got back from a very successful trip to Egypt from 7-14 May,
with 7 other British birders: Chris Bell, Colin

[MEBirdNet] Records from Afghanistan

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:40:29 -0500

3 pairs of Yellow-throated Sparrows (one confirmed nest) at Patrol Base Rahim, Helmand Province. Also Steppe Eagle over.

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records

Thu, 10 May 2012 05:06:10 -0500

Records received from Afghanistan:

Ian Harrison

A Camp Bastion first (as far as is known) on 10 May with a Little Egret present in a Grey Water Lagoon. Wader numbers reduced to 1 each of Wood Sandpiper, LRP and Little Stint.

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records

Wed, 09 May 2012 08:54:34 -0500

More records received from Aghanistan.

Ian Harrison

Good passage of Spotted Flycatchers in both Camps Bastion and Leatherneck between 7-9 May 12.

2 x Dunlin on grey water lagoon, Camp Leatherneck, 6 May

A massive 38 Wood Sandpipers at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on 9 May along with 4 Little Stints

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records

Fri, 04 May 2012 04:44:57 -0500

The following Afghanistan records received:

Wader passage through Camp Bastion wth up to 140 Black-winged Stilts, a total of 5 Wood Sandpipers, 12+ Little Stints, 10+ Common Sandpipers and a lone Dunlin.

The first Afghan Babbler of the year seen on 4 May 12 on barbed wire (!) within the camp.

27 Heuglin's

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:49:53 -0500

Some migration records received:

Roller vis-mig with 51 over Camp Bastion on the morning of 2 May. Small flocks up to 16 noted.

Also:

4 Eastern Orphean Warblers
1 Long-tailed Shrike
1 Siberian Stonechat

Ian Harrison

[MEBirdNet] BirdBrain, Rutland Birdfair

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:09:12 -0500

My sincere apologies to Neotropical Bird Club who I omitted from the list of bird clubs participating in the Rutland BirdFair BirdBrain quiz (my plea for a volunteer to represent OSME). Not intentional obviously.

We are still actively seeking a volunteer, unfortunately.

Ian Harrison
Secretary, OSME

[MEBirdNet] Help Wanted - BirdBrain, Rutland BirdFair

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:37:40 -0500

As many people are aware, the Rutland Birdfair runs a quiz ('BirdBrain') between the three Regional Bird Clubs - OBC, ABC and OSME. The prize money is allocated to conservation research funds in the clubs for use on vulnerable or endangered species. (OSME has given prize money to the Bald

[MEBirdNet] Aqaba Bird Observatory in Jordan

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:39:48 -0500

[MEBirdNet]

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:17:01 -0500

My name is Majid mirfatah , I am from iran
I take this photo in Iran,Tehran

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

RE: [MEBirdNet] Male Hooded Wheatear in Cyprus

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:16:01 -0500

also 3 Trumpeter Finch at Cape Greco in the last 2 days and a White-tailed
Plover for several days at Paralimini Lake

Chris

_____

From: (email address filtered) [mailto:(email address filtered)] On Behalf
Of Steve Cale
Sent: 21 April 2012 21:06
To: (email address filtered)
Subject: Re: [MEBirdNet] Male Hooded Wheatear in Cyprus

Re: [MEBirdNet] Male Hooded Wheatear in Cyprus

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:06:16 -0500

Thanks chris for the info
regards
Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris <(email address filtered)>
To: MEBirdNet <(email address filtered)>
Sent: Sat, Apr 21, 2012 8:03 pm
Subject: RE: [MEBirdNet] Male Hooded Wheatear in Cyprus

Hi Steve

this is the fourth this spring, female Akrotiri GP 13/4 and two males, at
Mandaria and Paphos Headland on the 14/4

Chris Lamsdell

_____

From:

RE: [MEBirdNet] Male Hooded Wheatear in Cyprus

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:06:02 -0500

Hi Steve

this is the fourth this spring, female Akrotiri GP 13/4 and two males, at
Mandaria and Paphos Headland on the 14/4

Chris Lamsdell

_____

From: (email address filtered) [mailto:(email address filtered)] On Behalf
Of Steve Cale
Sent: 21 April 2012 20:59
To: (email address filtered)
Subject: Re: [MEBirdNet] Male Hooded Wheatear

Re: [MEBirdNet] Male Hooded Wheatear in Cyprus

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:58:34 -0500

Dear all
today 21st April 2012 at cape korucam, North Cyprus there was a very obliging 1st year male Hooded Wheatear, seen & photo'd at close range by 6 observers.
200meters east of the lighthouse mast on the end of the cape on the very arid habitat north of the access

[MEBirdNet] Fourth Northern Bald Ibis appears back in Syria

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:15:07 -0500

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/tracking/northernbaldibis/

Check the above blog for more details, and previous blogs for the recent developments and the migration route.

All three adults from last year already returned safely to Palmyra last month, but this additional (unringed) bird represents a welcome increase for this precariously small population.

Whether this

[MEBirdNet] Green Music & Arts Festival, Iraq

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:49:31 -0500

I received the following information regarding an event organised by Nature Iraq.

Ian Harrison

Nature Iraq and Development Now are pleased to announce the inaugural Green Music and Arts Festival, to be held in Sulaimani's Azadi Park on April 20th, the Friday before Earth Day. The first event of its kind held

[MEBirdNet] Latest issue of Sandgrouse

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:27:41 -0500

Latest Issue of Sandgrouse

Dear Subscriber

The latest issue of Sandgrouse, the Journal of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia (OSME) - Volume 34,1 (2012) - was published earlier this month and has been mailed to members on the current OSME membership list. Please note: if

RE: [MEBirdNet] Death of Syrian ornithologist.

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:11:39 -0500

Re: [MEBirdNet] Death of Syrian ornithologist.

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:10:43 -0500

Re: [MEBirdNet] Death of Syrian ornithologist.

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:30:30 -0500

Re: [MEBirdNet] Death of Syrian ornithologist.

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:00:03 -0500

Sad news indeed. I did not know Yousef personally but we corresponded over a few years around 2005 whilst he was teaching in Najran Saudi Arabia. He sent me some valuable distribution records for the ABBA project from that area.

Mike Jennings

--- On Fri, 13/4/12, Ian <(email address filtered)> wrote:

From: Ian <(email

[MEBirdNet] Latest from Nature Iraq

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:26:32 -0500

The following news has been received from Nature Iraq.

Threat Assessment of Lesser Zaab River

On February 2, Nabil Musa started a threat assessment of the Lesser Zaab a tributary of the Tigris. a project partly funded by the Rufford Small Grant Foundation. The aim is to develop action

Re: [MEBirdNet] Death of Syrian ornithologist.

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:32:58 -0500

Ian,

Seconds before reading your terrible news of Yousef's untimely death a small flock of his beloved European Bee-eaters passed so beautifully through my rough garden in Arusha, Tanzania.

Very sadly there is now one less sensitive and devoted admirer of such avian wonder. One less observer to marvel at these

[MEBirdNet] Death of Syrian ornithologist.

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:04:01 -0500

Sad news was received from the Global Owl Project about a regular contributor to MEBirdnet, Yousef Ali Alzaoby who was recently killed in his home town of Dara'a in Syria ? no details available. Readers will particularly remember his regular postings on migratory birds through the region - I

Re: [MEBirdNet] Sokhna, Raptor bottleneck

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:04:27 -0500

Dear Colin,

Thanks for the nice little plug! But, Mary Megalli isn't going to furnish
any more "details," until it's over, and published! I can answer inquiries,
of course, in a "broad" manner. Going great, really peak now, and
Hungarians have a very clever method, which I will suggest to others.

On Tue, Apr 10,

[MEBirdNet] Sokhna, Raptor bottleneck

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:14:11 -0500

Here are some provisional results from a recent week at the spring raptor count at Ein Sokhna, Eastern Egypt. This is an important, but under-watched raptor bottleneck on the Gulf of Suez. The count was organised and sponsored by Mary Megalli and is the first of its kind for 30

[MEBirdNet] Records from Afghanistan

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:53:28 -0500

Received from Afghanistan:

4 Black-bellied Sandgrouse on the airfield, Camp Bastion, Helmand, 7 Apr. A lifer for the correspondent.

[MEBirdNet] Records from Afghanistan

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:50:20 -0500

Records received from Afghanistan:

4 Black-winged Stilts, Camp Leatherneck, 8 Apr

[MEBirdNet] News from Syria

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:10:32 -0500

News from Syria

Although It was very difficult to go to the steppes because of the current situation, Ahmad Aidek managed with some difficulty to rent a car and look for Sociable Lapwing on 29 March. Although late in the year - the birds usually leave Syria mid-March - the weather

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:14:31 -0500

More records received from Afghanistan:
Ian

Camp Bastion, Helmand
Collared Pratincole over at 0620hrs, 5 April. 1 also seen on 4 April.

Good passage of Hume's Whitethroat on Siberian Chiffchaff through but no sign of the Oriental Magpie-robin reported previosly.

A passage of mainly Pallid Harriers but one male Montegu's seen.

Wader passage has included Kentish

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:15:15 -0500

Records received - all from Camp Bastion, Helmand Province. Ian Harrison

Camp Bastion, Helmand 3 April

1 Montagu's Harrier
1 Siberian Stonechat
Pied Bushchat - Pair
2 Mountain Chiffchaff
2 Hume's Whitethroat
1 Desert Whitethroat
1 Bluethroat;
1 Hume's Wheatear
!!!!! Oriental Magpie Robin One just south of the runway. Showing well. Will

[MEBirdNet] Request for information - soaring birds & wind turbines

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:24:42 -0500

Request for information

As part of the UNDP/BirdLife International `Migratory Soaring Birds project', a wind energy development sensitivity mapping model is being developed to highlight those areas where there is a high probability of collision between migrating soaring birds and wind turbines and associated infrastructure. The Migratory Soaring Birds project encompasses

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:13:51 -0500

Received the following records.

Ian Harrison

Camp Bastion, Helmand 1 Apr.

10 Hume's Warblers
1 Paddyfield Warbler
2 Blyth's Reed Warblers
1 (Red spotted) Bluethroat
1 Desert Warbler

[MEBirdNet] Spring in Cairo

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 02:17:16 -0500

Over the past ten days a pair of Blackbirds have been collecting nesting materials in our garden in Six October on the western outscerts of Cairo. Now the female seems to be sitting on eggs as she is not so visible any more. In the same time the wintering flock

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:39:57 -0500

The following received from our birder in Afghanistan.

Desert (Small) Whitethroat. One, Camp Bastion, 30 Mar 12 along with the first two Citrine Wagtails of the season. Both male.

Ian Harrison
Secretary, OSME

[MEBirdNet] Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia : 2012 records

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:59:56 -0500

Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia: 2012 call for records

2012 is the 29th year that ABBA has been collecting records of breeding and resident birds in Arabia. Observers are asked to send in their personal observations for 2012 when it is convenient, either after a visit or at

[MEBirdNet] Jordan birding - Facebook

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:38:26 -0500

Message from Dr Fares Khoury, OSME Country Contact in Jordan:

People interested in birding in Jordan can join the Facebook group `Birdwatching Club in Jordan' where they can obtain the latest news and information on the Jordan birding scene. More information from Dr Fares at:

(email address filtered)

Ian Harrison
Secretary, OSME

Re: [MEBirdNet] Honey Buzzard in Aqaba, Jordan, on February 10, 2012

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:12:53 -0500

Hi Wouter

Please send records to Dr. Fares Khoury (JBRC), Department of Biological
Sciences, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Tel. 00962 5 3826600, Fax. 00962 5 3826613. E-mail: (email address filtered)

The Jordan Bird Records Committee (JBRC) was set up in April 1999 to assess
records of rare birds in Jordan.

With best wishes

Dawn Balmer

On 26 March

[MEBirdNet] Honey Buzzard in Aqaba, Jordan, on February 10, 2012

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:07:36 -0500

Dear all,

I received pictures from a female European Honey Buzzard that was seen at
Aqaba, Jordan, on February 10, 2012, by a Belgian observer named Patrick
Keirsbilck.

Presumably, winter records of this species are very rare in Jordan (as in
the rest of the Middle East), so I assume this is

[MEBirdNet] Records from Afghanistan

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:01:23 -0500

Records received from Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan

22 March
Rufous-tailed Chat, 1

25 March
1 Paddyfield Warbler
4 Bluethroat
1 Wood Sandpiper
1 Little-ringed Plover

[MEBirdNet] Volunteer for the Batumi Raptor Count

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 12:42:50 -0500

Dear MEbirders,

who's interested in spending the late summer season for at least 2 weeks
at the Caucasus in Georgia witnessing the incredible bottleneck
migration of thousands birds of prey?

In autumn 2011 a lot of raptors passed the bottleneck at the Black Sea
coast. Counting from 2 stations we saw about:
450.000

[MEBirdNet] FW: BIRD NEWS 2012/24 - SOCIABLE LAPWING

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:29:52 -0500

Akrotiri Gravel Pits, 23-Mar

A SOCIABLE LAPWING Vanellus gregarious was found on the west side of the
main aerial farm at Akrotiri Gravel Pits, this afternoon. It was still
present at 5pm

This is only the 2nd Cyprus record, the first being seen at almost the same
location at

Re: [MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records.

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:22:06 -0500

Dear Ian
Would you keep your eyes open for House Crows if you are in settlements nearer to the Pakistan border. There are some at Torkham, Jalalabad, I believe it is, but otherwise their distribution is unknown.

Regards
Colin

________________________________
From: Ian <(email address filtered)>
To: (email address filtered)
Sent: Tuesday, 20 March 2012, 8:51
Subject:

[MEBirdNet] Egyptian Vulture this spring

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:31:33 -0500

Dear Friends,

A friend from Beypazar?, Ankara, Turkey is wondering why the vultures
are late to the breeding areas. They should have arrive by 15th of March
but there is only a single sighting nearby and apparently none from the
breeding colony.

Could you share some of your basic sightings of migrant

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records.

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 03:51:56 -0500

I received the following record yesterday. Ian H

Trumpeter Finch. 3 buffeted in strong winds during sandstorm on 19 March.

[MEBirdNet] Black Scrub Robin in Egypt

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:33:04 -0500

>From Netfugl:-

Black Scrub Robin - 1 at Berenice TClub Resort, Berenice, Egypt, 10.15am, on 19 March 2012.
AG

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[MEBirdNet] Afghanistan records.

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 05:30:43 -0500

Afghanistan records received. Ian H

Camp Bastion. 17 March:
1 Southern Grey Shrike, 1 Booted Warbler
6 Spanish Sparrows