Sandgrouse.

84 Pages·1997·11.6 MB·English

by  Ornithological Society of the Middle East

SANDGROUSE
Volume 19 1997
(1)
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF
THE MIDDLE EAST
OSME
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF THE MIDDLE EAST
OSME
OSME was founded in 1978 Publications
: :
as the successor to the OSME publishes a scientific journal, Sandgrouse, containing
Ornithological Society of papers, news and features on all aspects of Middle Eastern
Turkey. Its primary aims are: ornithology. Published twice yearly, it is issued free to
To collect, collate, and members. Further copies are available for sale from OSME.
publish data on all aspects Meetings
of the birds of the An Annual General Meeting is held in London at which guest
Middle East. speakers provide new perspectives on ornithology in the
To promote an interest region. There are also occasional special meetings, some
in ornithology and bird taking place outside the UK.
conservation throughout
Projects
the Middle East. i
OSME
organises field expeditions to collect data on birds in
To develop productive little-known parts of the region and in areas where OSME can
working relationships assist by teaming up with local groups.
with other governmental
and non-governmental The Conservation & Research Committee grants funds to
organisations with an valuable field projects and desk studies which further
interest in conservation knowledge and conservation of birds in the region. Grants
and/or natural history have been awarded to over 30 projects since the Conservation
in the region. & Research Fund was set up in 1982.
Membership
OSME is open to all, and its Vice Presidents:
membership spans over 40
Prof. Abdulaziz H. Abuzinada, B. Behrouzi-Rad,
countries.
Sherif Baha El Din, Prof. W. Buttiker,
Annual membership
Shaika Noora Bint Major M. D. Gallagher, MBE
Individual £12
(£15 air mail outside Europe) Isa Bin Sulman Al Khalifa, Dr Saeed Mohamed,
Family £15 Lord Barber of Tewkesbury, N. Yazgan
(£18 air mail) for two, plus £3 for
each additional family member. Council as at March 1997:
Supporting £24 Dr G. Allport R. P. Martins (co-opted)
&
Cover the subscription of a Conservation Research Turkey Bird Report
national birdwatcher in the
A. Colston R. Parslow
region (£27 air mail).
Treasurer Membership
Life Membership P. Davidson H. Scott (co-opted)
Individual £225 Information Officer Publications Officer
(£100 if 60 or over) A. Grieve F. E. Warr (co-opted)
Family £300 Publicity Officer Sales
for 2 members. Dr D. Harvey G. R. Welch
Please add £3 ifpaymentis made Features Editor Chairman
in non-sterlingcurrency. Fordetails A. Morris H. Welch (co-opted)
ofpayment by banker's order, and J. J.
for any otherinformation on the Secretary Librarian
Society, write to the Secretary at
the address below.
c/o THE LODGE, SANDY, BEDFORDSHIRE SG19 2DL, UK
OSME Web site - http://www.netlink.co.uk/users/ag/osme/osmehome.html
Contents
Sandgrouse OSME News
2
Volume 19 (1) 3 News and Information
7 Requests for Information
Editor Features
Guy M. Kirwan 8 Observations of Dunn's Larks Eremalauda dunni in the
Ramlat al-Sab'atayn, Republic of Yemen C. D. R. Heard
Features Editor and Guy M. Kirwan, on behalf of tfie OSME South
Derek Harvey Yemen expedition
Assistant Editor 12 Birding in the Goksu Delta, south Turkey Hilary Welch
Ian J. Andrews
16 Profile
Major Michael Gallagher MBE Derek Harvey
Editorial Committee
Duncan J. Brooks, 18 Photospot
Mike Evans, Ben Hoare, White-eyed and Sooty Gulls on the Red Sea coast of
Mike Jennings, Saudi Arabia Dr. Graham R. Lobley
Rodney Martins
Papers and Notes
& Dr Stephen Newton
22 The birds of the islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Suez,
Photographic Editor Egyptian Red Sea Richard Hoath, Dr Derek Russell,
Paul Doherty Rafik Khalil and Dina Khalil
A
& 30 list of bird specimens held in the Robert's College,
Design Production
Bebek (Istanbul, Turkey) collection, with some comments
Harry Scott
I. on Mathey-Dupraz (1920-24) Guy M. Kirwan
Identification Consultants 39 Five new bird species in Bahrain Michal Skakuj and
C. G. Bradshaw, Tadeusz Stawarczyk
Arnoud B. van den Berg
& Steve Madge 45 Breeding birds of the Taurus foothills bordering the
Goksu Delta, south Turkey Jan van der Winden and
Vincent van den Berk
51 Preliminary observations of the incubation and covey
behaviour of Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata
macqueenii Frederic Launay, Ronald A. Loughland and
Elena Mukhina
56 Birds new to Qatar Bob Nation, Helen Nation and
Andrew Hooper
63 The second-calendar year plumage of Crab Plover
Dromas ardeola Michal Skakuj, Erik Hirschfeld,
Jan Lontkowski and Tadeusz Stawarczyk
65 Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis colonisation of Kuwait
C
W. T. Pilcher, W. A. Stuart and S. T. Spencer
68 The first Red-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus in Jordan
Fares Khoury
68 New information on the breeding biology of
Cover Photograph:
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia Peter Castell
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor,
&
Hawar Island, Bahrain 70 Reviews Recent Literature
taken by Dr. Mike Hill 76 Around the Region
OSME isgratefulforsponsorship P. Davidson and G. M. Kirwan
fromJulian Francis towards thecost
ofprintingthecolourphotographs
inside this issue.
1
Sandgrouse 19 (1): 1997
OSME AT THE BIRDFAIR
OSME once again manned a successful stand
at the 1996 British Birdwatching Fair at
Rutland Water, Leics: 33 new members were
recruited, sales items especially the new,
multi-colour sandgrouse tee-shirt proved
popular and visiting luminaries included
former society chairman Richard Porter and
Israeli birder par excellence Hadoram Shirihai.
OSME would like to extend its warm thanks
to Paul Doherty of Bird Images Videoguides for
the use of his excellent video footage from a
recent trip to Turkey, which was a popular
feature of the displays.
RECORDS OF RARE BIRDS
The most recent (October 1996) newsletter of
the Association of European Rarities
Committees (AERC) contains details of the
1997 meeting, to be held in the Slovak
Republic on 18-22 July. It also provides
guidelines to magazines and journals, such as
Sandgrouse, which publish details of recent
rarity sightings. Four points are raised by the
AERC: records of rare birds are being
published without prior substantiation; faulty
records (e.g. records later rejected by the Plate 1. The OSME stand at the British Birdwatching Fair,
responsible Rarities Committee) are Rutland Water, Leics.. August 1996 with from leftto right: Lilly
subsequently not being rectified; details of Shirihai, Hadoram Shirihai, Richard Porterand GeoffWelch.
{Geoff& Hilary Welch)
rare birds appearing in a birding magazine
very often do not reach the appropriate
national Rarities Committee; secondary Thinking
of
citations of news section reports are being
more and more often used without being OSME?
OSME AERC joining
checked. fully supports the in
taking this strong line, the compilers of
Around the Region already make every effort
to follow similar guidelines and to this end Enjoy a year's membership for only £12!
work in co-operation with a number of
OSME
national committees. We would like to urge
any similar bodies, operational in the OSME promotes the study and conservation ofbirds
throughout the Middle East
region, to forward accepted records for
encourages the standardised recording of
publication in Around the Region, in order bird observations
that this feature can be as complete and brings together knowledge of the region's
accurate as possible. Photographs substan- birdlife
tiating such records are also welcome. Anyone maintains a conservation and research fund
with knowledge of records, previously to support small-scale projects by members
publishes Sandgrouse twice a year, sent to all
published in Sandgrouse but subsequently members
rejected by the relevant national body, are also
invited to contact the compilers as soon as
To join, write to: Membership Secretary,
possible.
OSME c/o The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL U.K.
2
News and Information
NEWS
INFORMATION
T/ze flzm 0/ this section is to inform readers about proposals for tourism and development in the
events in the OSME region. It relies on members area. The wetland complex is most notable for
and others supplying relevant news and its breeding population of herons, ibises,
information. If you have anything concerning egrets and wildfowl, including the globally
birds, conservation or development issues in the threatened Marbled Teal Marmoronetta
OSME area please send it to News and angustirostris. It also supports vast migratory
Information, OSME, c/o The Eodge, Sandy, and wintering populations of pelicans,
Bedfordshire SG19 IDE, U.K. wildfowl, storks and birds of prey. Current
plans include provision for intensive boating
This section is not intended as a definitive report and commercial activities with the aim of
or write up of the projects concerned. Many of the bringing up to 14,000 visitors a day to the
projects are sponsored; such support is appreciated area. The Society for the Protection of Nature
but is not generally given acknowledgement here. in Israel has requested that the planning
authorities relocate commercial activities
away from the Valley and to limit the number
CYPRUS
of tourists that visit the areas of wildlife
Birding information The Cyprus Ornithological conservation importance. BirdLife has written
Society (1957) has provided an Information to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism in support
Centre and telephone 'Birdline' service. This of the SPNI request. (Source: Network News 4
is continuing but with the following (3).)
alterations: the Information Centre (open
SAUDI ARABIA
daily from 10.00 to 12.30) has moved from the
A
Apollo Hotel, Katopaphos to the adjacent Houbara Bustard draft agreement for the
taverna on the Lighthouse Road. The Cyprus conservation and management of the
Birdline has a new number: Paphos 233707. Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata has
been approved by the National Commission
These services are provided free of charge to for Wildlife Conservation and Development
visitors but please send in your sightings, and is to be distrubuted to the species' Range
preferably before you leave Cyprus to Jeff States through diplomatic channels. The
Gordon, Director Information Centre, PO Box agreement, which relates to the Asiatic
1129, 8131 Kato Paphos, Cyprus. subspecies C. u. macqueenii, was developed as
an initiative by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
EGYPT under the auspices of the Bonn Convention,
in which the Houbara Bustard is listed as
Sinai Wildlife Projects have been campaigning
requiring special attention to restore its
for the protection of White Storks Ciconia
population to a more favourable state. This
ciconia on migration through Egypt. They
international agreement is based on the need
have produced a leaflet in English, Arabic,
for increased international cooperation for the
German and Italian explaining the interna-
conservation and management of the
tional importance of the White Stork and
what people can do to protect them. A bustards. (Source: Network News 4 (3).)
rehabilitation centre to treat sick and injured
Saudi Arabia joins CITES Saudi Arabia acceded
birds has been established in Sharm El
to the Convention on International Trade in
Sheikh, South Sinai.
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) on 12 March 1996 (effective on 10
ISRAEL
June 1996). The total number of parties to
The Hula Valley in Israel, of international CITES is now 131. (Source: Traffic USA 19 in
importance for its wildlife, is threatened by Oryx 30 (4).)
Simon Albrecht
Sandgrouse 19 (1): 1997
TURKEY that the harvest of snopdrops and winter
Global 500 awards Congratulations to Mrs aconites would be on sale in the UK in
Nergis Yazgan, OSME Vice-President and autumn 1996 which saw the publication of
General Director of DHKD and to Dr Tansu the third edition of FFI's Tlw Good Bulb Guide,
Gurpinar, DHKD's Ankara representative as which lists bulb retailers and exporters who
well as to the Garanti Bank, who are DHKD's show a responsible attitude towards wild-
collected bulbs. Companies who sign up
main sponsor, on their 1996 Global 500
Awards from the United Nations either pledge "Never to knowingly sell wild-
Environment Programme (UNEP). collected bulbs" or to label such bulbs as
"From wild source". For the first time there is
New Turkish reserve 6787 ha of the Eregli now a US version of The Good Bulb Guide in
collaboration with the American
marshes have been designated a Strict Nature
Reserve following campaigning by conserva- Horticultural Society. (Source: Fauna and Flora
tionists. The marshes have suffered many News 6, October 1996.)
years of degradation from pollution and UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
decreased freshwater input. The area
provides an important stop-over and The Federal Environment Agency (reported in
breeding habitat for many species of water Sandgrouse 18 (1)) is known as the UAE
bird including Pygmy Cormorant Environment and Wildlife Research and
Phalacrocorax pygmeus, White Pelican Development Agency and is based in Abu
Pelecanus onocrotalus and White-headed Duck Dhabi with branches throughout the
Oxyura leucocephala. (Source: BirdLife in Europe Emirates. The agency will monitor the natural
May 1996, 6 in Oryx 30 (4).) environment and its biodiversity, and
conduct scientific research for the
Turkish bird names standardised At a meeting improvement and protection of the
held in Ankara on 4-5 November 1995, an environment. It will also conduct environ-
agreed list of Turkish bird names for species mental impact assessments for industrial and
recorded within the country was formally economic projects in the emirate of Abu
adopted, with the support and under the Dhabi. A further role will be to propose
auspices of DHKD and the Ankara Bird protected areas for wildlife and manage areas
Group (AKGT). Six representatives attended once they are established. Education and
the meeting, including the Director-General spreading awareness about wildlife is also
of the National Parks network, Serhan Goksu, high on the new agency's agenda.
as well as several of the authors of the six lists
of Turkish bird names previously in IBA updates About 20 large signs appeared
circulation. The new, standardised list was round the roadside lagoon at Ramtha Tip (a
published in August 1996 by AKGT and UAE Important Bird Area) in August 1996.
DHKD and is available from the latter: The signs read "Sharjah Municipality, Bird
DHKD, P. K. 18. 80810 Bebek-Istanbul, Protection Area. Anyone found shooting or
Turkey. (Contributed by DHKD) disturbing birds will be prosecuted."
Management of this area is an issue that
Sustainable bulb harvest Flora and Fauna BirdLife has pursued with the Ruler of
International (FFI) saw the fruition of their Sharjah.
Indigenous Propagation Project in May 1996.
Over 200 villagers at Dumlugoze in the The outlook for Huylayla Island, part of an
Taurus Mountains celebrated their first extensive area of mangroves, coastal dunes
harvest of propagated bulbs. The harvest and marshes, is not so good. There has been a
followed five years of collaboration between recent announcement to construct an
FFI and DHKD to stem the trade in wild industrial and commercial free zone on the
bulbs from Turkey. The villagers used to island. The island has some of the declining
collect wild bulbs in the mountains but have number of lagoons that remain along the
now been shown how to propagate their own coast and is one of the few areas where
bulbs. This has relieved the pressure on wild mangroves flourish in the UAE. (Source:
populations as well as providing the villagers Network News 4 (3).)
with a higher, and sustainable, income. It is
hoped that other villages will be encouraged
to follow Dumlugoze's success. It was hoped
4 Simon Albrecht
News and Information
BARCELONA CONVENTION
Five Nature Reserves proposed After three
months of research in the UAE mountains by Mediterranean action plan The contracting
Chris and Tilde Stuart of the African Arabian
parties to the Convention for the Protection of
Wildlife Research Centre the following have
the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution have
been proposed as nature reserves: Rus al Jebel adopted a number of amendments to the
(important for Arabian Leopards),
Mediterranean Plan of Action. The
Shimaliyyah (important for Arabian Leopard convention now includes the concept of
and Arabian Tahr), Khor Kalba (important for sustainable development and a new protocol
birds and now approved as a nature reserve on specially protected areas and biological
by HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al diverstiy in the Mediterranean. (Source:
Qasimi), Khor al Baydah (coral reefs, seagrass Naturopa Newsletter No. 96-1,2 in Oryx 30 (4).)
beds and wildlife area of Siniya island), near
Jebel Ali in Dubai (gazelles need protecting ARABIAN PLANT SPECIALIST
from ongoing development). (Source: Gazelle GROUP
11 (10) October 1996.)
An Arabian Plant Specialist Group (APSG) has
ABBA SURVEYS 13-16: TO SAUDI been established to promote plant conser-
ABABIA AND OMAN, 1992-4 vation in the Arabian peninsula. Judging by
the report we have seen on the workshop that
OSME
The library has received the following founded the group, this is clearly an
ABBA
report: Results of four ornithological important development for plant conser-
surveys to the Southern Tihama of Saudi Arabia, vation in the area. Unfortunately we have no
North Eastern Saudi Arabia, Northern Oman and contact address for anyone wishing to contact
North Western Saudi Arabia during the period the APSG but hope to publish one in the
December 1992 to April 1994. The report future if it is sent to us. Abdulaziz Abuzinada
ABBA
presents information collected during is Chair of the APSG and one of the Vice-
Surveys 13 to 16 and is published by the Chairs is Dr. A. Miller of the Edinburgh
National Commission for Wildlife
Botanical Garden, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Conservation and Development, Riyadh as
(Source: Species 26-27.)
their Technical Report No. 36. Copies are
available (price £12.00 including postage) BALD IBIS
from Michael Jennings, Warners Farm,
1 In the last issue we reported on the death of
Warners Drove, Somersham, Cambridgeshire
We
38 Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in Morocco.
PE17 3HW, U.K.
have still not heard of any definite cause of
A similar report on ABBA surveys 17 to 19 to death. Viruses have been ruled out but poWste-
Saudi Arabia and Oman in March 1995 to mortems have given no clear indications.
have not yet heard the the final results of
April 1996 is in preparation.
pesticide analysis but early results gave no
WORLD CONFERENCE ON BIRDS OF clear answer. When we have further
PREY AND OWLS - AUGUST 1998 information we shall report it. In the
meantime if anyone has any reports or
The World Working Group on Birds of Prey and sightings from anywhere in the Middle East
Owls will be holding a World Conference region, will they please send a report to
from 4 to 11 August 1998 in Midrand, OSME.
Johannesburg, South Africa. Further
information from: Mr Robin Chancellor, 15b
Bolton Gardens, London SW5 OAL, U.K. Fax:
Int+44-171-370-1896, or Dr Bernd-U.
Meyburg, Wangenheimstrasse 32, 14193
Berlin, Germany. Fax: Int+30-892-8067, or Dr
Gerhard H. Verdoorn, PO Box 72155,
Parkview 2122, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Fax: Int+27-11-646-4631.
Simon Albrecht 5
Sandgrouse 19(1): 1997
The dependable, experienced, worldwide mail order book service.
Specialists in all aspects of the natural sciences, birdlife and
wildlife, plus travel books, guides and maps. Including all books in
SANDGROUSE.
print as advertised in
PISTYLL FARM, NERCWYS,
Nr. MOLD, FLINTSHIRE
FREE
CH7 4EW, UK
TEL: [phone]
CATALOGUE
1997
FAX: [phone]
ON REQUEST
E-mail: [email protected].
6
Requests for Information
The BIRDS
of the
Hashemite Kingdom of REQUESTS
JORDAN
vr
INFORMATIfOt N
"by IcUi. <JT# j^kxiiclire'vv^s
ThB Birds ofthe Hashemite Kingdom of /
Jordan, is tne first comprehensive
summary of the status and
distribution ofail 374 bird species
recorded in Jordan. Arabic bird names
Foreword byHisMajestyKingHusseinI Dr Omar Al-Saghier, BirdLife International's
Description""to all habitat t>pes accompanied
by 30 photographs representative for Yemen is currently working
T1i6m0 LBiorsdebpyhoatnodgroatphhesrsby the author, on a list of Arabic bird names that can be
iDnetfaoirlmeadtisopnecoineswhacecroeunatnsd,wgihveinngeuapc-htos-pdeactiees universally agreed. He will be consulting with
occurs all leading ornithologists in the Arabic-
* Breeding distribution maps
Migration timingemits speaking world but in the meantime if anyone
FDuelrlaiJloerddbainrdcwheactkclhiisntgsitesguide, with maps wishes to contact him in respect of this issue
illustrations byJohn Busby his address is: Dr Omar Al-Saghier, P. O. Box
£18.50 13330, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen; fax. + 967 1
(plus £1 ,50 P&P UK, ,£2.50 Europe, £4.35 205299.
elsewhere)
Bird lore and bird mythology
Enquiries andorders totheauthor/pwAisl\er:
Mark Cocker is currently collecting
I.J. Andrews, 39 Clauknouvs Drive, information for a book on the mythology and
Musselburgh. Midlothian EH2 6UW,
1 lore associated with birds from around the
Scotland
S 0131-665 0236 world. He is interested in the cultural associ-
ations that birds have acquired both in an
historical and contemporary context and is
especially keen to gather information on the
significance birds have had for pre-industrial
peoples. He is also interested in examining the
cultural importance and exploitation of birds.
SANDGROUSE Two examples are the pre-Colombian Aztec
feather art and use of birds-of-paradise in
Papua New Guinea ceremonial dress. Any data
on these themes would be gratefully received
and fully acknowledged in any publication.
Please contact: Mark Cocker, 9 Primrose
Road, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich NR1 4AT,
Norfolk, U. K. tel./fax. [phone].
Photographs wanted
To illustrate forthcoming articles in Sandgrouse
we are in need of good quality photographs
(preferably slides) of Black Vulture, Greater
BLACK & WHITE ADVERT RATES and Lesser Sand Plovers, all species of
sandgrouse occurring in the region, and
Full page: 21Omm tall x 135 wide £80 Radde's and Arabian Accentors. We would
Half page: 100mm tall x 135 wide £40 also welcome shots of any Middle Eastern
Quarter page: 100mm tall x 61 wide £30 birds for possible front covers or inside
FULL-COLOUR ADVERT RATES Sandgrouse. Please ensure that all slides show
FBualclkpacgoev:er: 2214O5mmmm ttaallll xx 113750 wwiiddee ££347200 itdheeapllhyotowghrearpehera'nsd nwamhee,nthite swpaescietsakaennd.
Submissions should be sent to Paul Doherty,
Flyers & Insert: Please call for details 28 Carousel Walk, Sherburn in Elmet, North
Yorks LS25 6LP, U.K.
Simon Albrecht
Sandgrouse 19 (1): 8-11 1997
Observations of Dunn's Lark Eremalauda
dunni in the Ramlat al-Sab'atayn,
Yemen
Republic of
C. D. R. HEARD AND GUY M. KIRWAN,
ON BEHALF OF THE OSME SOUTH YEMEN EXPEDITION
Dunn's Lark Eremalauda dunni inhabits desert areas along the southern edge of
the Sahara, from Mauritania east through Mali, Niger and Chad to Sudan and
north-east to Arabia (Sibley & Monroe 1990) where it is apparently largely nomadic
and most widespread in north and central Saudi Arabia (Jennings 1995). Its identifi-
cation, poorly understood until the late 1980s, was discussed by Round & Walsh
(1981), Tye (1988), Shirihai et al. (1990) and Shirihai (1994). In Yemen there are
seven records: singles collected at Sheikh Othman near Aden on 15 January 1922
Umm
(Meinertzhagen 1923), al Samr, east of Mushainiqa by Philby on 5 August
1936 (Bates 1938, specimen in BMNH, Tring) and Zumukh, Hadramawt on 31
October 1950 (Guichard & Goodwin 1952) with sight records of one near Marib
dam on 2 December 1985 (Brooks et al. 1987), 25 between Shabwah and Marib on 6
May 1993, three 30 km south of al-'Abr on 13 January 1994 (Martins et al 1996) and
at least six in the Empty Quarter on 5 November 1996 (D. Farrow pers. comm.).
THE OBSERVATIONS
1993 metres a.s.l.) with an extensive covering of
On 6 May 1993 the OSME expedition crossed annual grasses e.g. Aristida sp. and Cyperus
the Ramlat al-Sab'atayn from Shabwah to the conglomerate with abundant herbs, including
tarmac road connecting the Safir oilfields and Indigofera sp. and Tribulus sp.; the lowest-
Marib (c. 80 km). This route was through lying areas also had perennials such as
increasingly arid and virtually treeless, pure Panicum turgidum (a grass) and Dipterygium
sand desert apart from the occasional glaucum (a low bushy herb).
Sodom's Apple Solatium sp. bush. However,
Midway across the desert stretch the dunes
the first third of the journey crossed rolling
sand dunes covered with a fresh green became less undulating and the grasses
sparser, interspersed with spiny succulents.
growth of ephemeral grasses, doubtless the
A
result of exceptional rains during the further 18 Dunn's Larks were identified
previous six weeks (reputedly the first rain in from the road in these areas. The last Dunn's
Larks were seen in the final dry grass area,
this area for four years).
with none in the open desert beyond this
Remarkably few bird species were point. It seems reasonable to assume that the
species vacates areas where the vegetation
encountered but, soon after entering the
grass-covered dunes, the first of many has died back and that their apparent close
Dunn's Larks was spotted from the vehicles association with this ephemeral habitat may
and c. seven apparently territorial birds were be the key factor in Dunn's Lark's nomadic
soon located in an area of c. three km 2 breeding distribution. The only other bird
Although only brief bursts of song and. species seen during the crossing of the
Ramlat al-Sab'atayn were Hoopoe Lark
display flight were noted, they were clearly
unwilling to leave the area. When disturbed Alaemon alaudipes (four), Black-crowned
they flew a short distance and then ran on the Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps (four in area
bare sand between grass tufts, before of tor-like, rocky outcrops close to the former
border between North and South Yemen), a
invariably taking shelter in the shade of one
of the thicker plants (usually quickly making female Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis, a
Whitethroat Sylvia communis, seven Great
a scrape to nestle in). The area in which the
first Dunn's Larks were observed was part of Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor and a House
a vast system of mobile sand dunes (c. 1000 Bunting Emberiza striolata.
8 C. D. R. Heard and Guy M. Kirwan