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The following records of sightings are largely unconfirmed and have been published in the Bulletin of the African Bird Club for information only. Some of these records were originally published in Dutch Birding, Birding World and Sandgrouse.
In October 2006 - February 2007, the following were reported. Fourteen White-tailed Lapwings Vanellus leucurus were counted at Lake Qarun, 2 km from Faiyum, between 21 January and 16 February. In the Red Sea mountains 30 km west of Hurghada, Hume’s Owl Strix butleri was heard on 24 December. An immature Black Scrub Robin Cercotrichas podobe was at Marsa Alam, Wadi Gamla, southern Red Sea, on 13 - 14 November, again later the same month and on 1 January; this would constitute the second record for the country and the first outside Abu Simbel. Also there was a Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus on 30 December - 1 January. The first Pied Stonechat Saxicola caprata for Egypt, if accepted, was photographed at El Gouna, Red Sea, on 2 - 3 October. On 27 October, Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus was reported at Aswan; this would be another first for Egypt, if accepted as a wild bird.
The first Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii for Egypt, a bird photographed on Crocodile Island, Luxor, on 24 April 2004, was published in 2006 (Alula 12: 114–119).
Reports from the period March - July 2006 include the following. Two Pink-backed Pelicans Pelecanus rufescens were seen at Abu Simbel on 10–11 April. Also there in April were up to 25 Yellow-billed Storks Mycteria ibis, with at least 38 on 19 July. Two Green-backed Herons Butorides striata in the Abassa region on 19 March were probably the first for the Nile delta. Single Goliath Herons Ardea goliath were seen at Wadi Lahami on several dates in March and May, with an immature there on 14–15 July, and at Shalatein on 22 May. At the latter, up to 28 Lappet-faced Vultures Torgos tracheliotus were counted in April–May.
A Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla was watched at Abu Simbel on 2–3 April. On 20 July, an adult Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus was observed at Lake Nasser. African Collared Doves Streptopelia roseogrisea were reported from Abu Simbel (one on 30 April) and north of Marsa Alam (up to four in March–May). At least three African Pied Wagtails Motacilla aguimp were seen at Abu Simbel on 10–11 April.
Records from the period November 2005 - April 2006 include the following. A Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus was at Hurghada on 25 February. A Green-backed Heron Butorides striata and two Goliath Herons Ardea goliath were found at Wadi Lahami and Marsa Hemira mangroves on 7 February. Two Three-banded Plovers Charadrius tricollaris were seen in the Aswan area on 25-30 January; at least one was still present on 10 February. A first-winter Kittlitz's Plover C. pecuarius was observed on Crocodile Island, Luxor, on 19 November. A pair of African Collared Doves Streptopelia roseogrisea was displaying 23 km north of Marsa Alam on 21 March. At El Gouna, north of Hurghada, a Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi was seen on 23 March, with two there on 9-12 April.
Records from the period September 2005 - January 2006 include the following. An adult Goliath Heron Ardea goliath and a first-winter Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus were at Wadi Lahami on 6 November. Twenty Red-breasted Geese Branta ruficollis were observed from a cruise boat on the Nile at Esna, in late November. At Ain Sukhna, an adult Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga was seen on 30 December and 2-4 January, and an immature and four adult Steppe Eagles A. nipalensis on 2 January. At least 29 Lappet-faced Vultures Torgos tracheliotus were counted at Ber Shalatan on 18 September. A Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo was seen in a flock of 130 Common Cranes Grus grus at Hurghada on 10 October. A female Namaqua Dove Oena capensis was photographed at Wadi Gama on 19 October. The latter species was also reported from Hurghada airport during October. A Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna was observed at Giza pyramids on 16 November.
Last page update 13th November 2007
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