More help required!

[Jacqueline Burrell]

Hi everyone

My grateful thanks to Steve Davis and Andy Birch and I will keep my unidentified species coming - so here is the next batch!

The first four htos were taken in Marsa Alam about 450 kilometres north of the Sudanese border last week and what I think may been a trumpeter finch landed on a tree in my garden for 30 seconds in Setember, never to be seen again!

I'm off to Abu Dhabi in January for a few days work but I'll certainly find the time for some birding as its the best month of the year to visit Ras Al Khor, the UAE's most important site for wading birds and some species of migratory duck and as many as 25,000 individuals of about 88 species have been recorded. I am sure to need lots of assistance!!!!

Best regards

[Graham Etherington]

Hi Jacqueline,
The first is a species of Wheatear. From it's build and facial markings, I'd say it is a Northern Wheatear.
The second is a Eurasian Curlew and the last photo is a female Red-backed Shrike.
Are the third and fourth photos the same bird? I'm hoping not! I'd say the fourth bird is a Little Ringed Plover, but the third bird looks like a Greater Sand Plover.
Merry Christmas,
Graham

[Jacqueline Burrell]

Hi Graham

Thanks for your help.
You're correct in saying the third and fourth photos are not the same.

Here's another appauling pic of the wheatear - it was about two minutes after sunrise and the bird was so shy that even a 500mm lenses proved inadequate but it might determin whether it is a Northern Wheatear.

Merry Christmas (in Egypt we have to wait for orthodox Christmas on 6th. January) and a Happy New Year.

Best regards

Jacqueline

[Graham Etherington]

Oh yeah. That's a Northern Wheatear.
6 Jan eh! I'll think of you tomorrow when I'm opening up all my presents ;-)
Although I'm sure you'll be seeing better birds than I'll be over the holiday!
Cheers,
Graham

[Colin Key]

Jacqueline,

#3 Greater Sand Plover

#4 Juvenile Ringed Plover

Agree with others on the rest.

Colin