Photospot 19

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

PhotoSpot 19. Hooded Wheatear The Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha is one of the rarest and least-known species breeding in the western Palearctic. It haunts the most desolate and silent of desert places—ravines and rocky wadis—but, contrary to the 70. Male Hooded Wheatear Oenanthe monacha, Oman, March 1985 (G. Bundy) statement by Meinertzhagen (1930, Nichol's Birds of Egypt), it does not completely shun habitations. Pairs breed in buildings by cultivation in southern Saudi Arabia and around small, desert settlements in Oman and Israel. They visit water troughs, and feed on large ticks (Ixodidae) on camels and other livestock (plate 70). Hooded Wheatears are usually silent and elusive: their rattling calls are uttered during territorial disputes, but the song—a brief, throaty, thrush-like warble, lasting about two seconds— [Bril. Bitis 79: 120-123, March 1986] 120 PhotoSpot 121 is heard only infrequently. Males more often advertise their presence by chasing insects in the air, flashing black and white against a sand-coloured background. In these flycatching flights, the bird may fly straight up, to 50 or even 100 m, in pursuit of high-flying prey, this specialised feeding method allowing Hooded to inhabit areas without undue direct competi- tion for food with other insectivorous desert species. The clear-cut black upperparts and contrasting white belly and white-sided tail show up spec- tacularly during these vertical-take-offaerial excursions, and, indeed, this slim, long-bilied bird is perhaps the most handsome and graceful of all the wheatears. Its fondness for remote and desolate Dlaces often makes it difficult to find, although a male may sometimes approach very closely to observers entering his feeding or breeding territory, but then—inquisi- tiveness satisfied—fly a kilometre or more, to some distant cliffface or rocky outcrop and elude all further attempts at Observation. This elegant, elusive inhabitant of wild, dramatic places is but one of the 14 species of west Palearctic wheatears shortly to be covered in British Birds in a major identification feature written by Peter Clement and illustrated by Alan Harris, GRAHAM BUNDY and J. T. R. SHARROGK The Crest, Blythe Shute, Chale, hie ofWight P0382HJ 71. Male Hooded Wheatear Otnanlhe monacha, Oman, March 1985 (G. Bundy) 122 PhotoSpoi .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Birds Along Lehi's Trail
Journal of Book of Mormon Studies Volume 15 Number 2 Article 10 7-31-2006 Birds Along Lehi's Trail Stephen L. Carr Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Carr, Stephen L. (2006) "Birds Along Lehi's Trail," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol. 15 : No. 2 , Article 10. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol15/iss2/10 This Feature Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Title Birds Along Lehi’s Trail Author(s) Stephen L. Carr Reference Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 15/2 (2006): 84–93, 125–26. ISSN 1065-9366 (print), 2168-3158 (online) Abstract When Carr traveled to the Middle East, he observed the local birds. In this article, he suggests the possi- bility that the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi and his family relied on birds for food and for locating water. Carr discusses the various birds that Lehi’s family may have seen on their journey and the Mosaic law per- taining to those birds. Birds - ALOnG LEHI’S TRAIL stephen l. cARR 84 VOLUME 15, NUMBER 2, 2006 PHOTOGRAPHy By RICHARD wELLINGTOn he opportunity to observe The King James translators apparently ex- birds of the Middle East came to perienced difficulty in knowing exactly which me in September 2000 as a member Middle Eastern birds were meant in certain pas- Tof a small group of Latter-day Saints1 traveling in sages of the Hebrew Bible.
[Show full text]
Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan
NEPA Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan An Output of the National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environment Management (NCSA) for Afghanistan June 2008 United Nations Environment Programme Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch First published in Kabul in 2008 by the United Nations Environment Programme. Copyright © 2008, United Nations Environment Programme. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. UNEP would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations Environment Programme Darulaman Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: +93 (0)799 382 571 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.unep.org DISCLAIMER The contents of this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of UNEP, or contributory organizations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP or contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Unless otherwise credited, all the photos in this publication have been taken by the UNEP staff. Design and Layout: Rachel Dolores
[Show full text]
A Survey of the Birds in South Sinai, Egypt
A survey of the birds in South Sinai, Egypt From 28 June to 05 August 2006 we conducted bird surveys of the birds in the south Sinai peninsula, Egypt, mountains, wadis (ephemeral river beds), plains, and oases in and adjacent to the St. Katherine Protectorate Important Bird Area. We recorded 30 bird species, of which nine were migrants and only three were birds of prey. The most abundant species were Rock Dove, Rock Martin and Laughing Dove and the most widespread species was White-Tailed Wheatear, which was detected in all 38 surveys. Most vegetation in the St. Katherine Protectorate occurs in gardens managed by Jabaliya Bedouin people. Birds in the St. Katherine Protectorate are threatened by recent shifts from traditional fruit crops to cannabis plantations and by the demands placed on scarce water supplies by a recent increase in tourism. A critical area for both resident and migrant birds, the St. Katherine Protectorate deserves ongoing protection, appropriate management, with more detailed research and community- based conservation. Introduction Located where the Asian and Africa continents meet, the Sinai Peninsula is a distinctive biological region with characteristic flora and fauna (Zalat et al 2001). The region has a predominantly mountainous environment consisting of different drainage systems made up of a number of connected wadis. Geologically the peninsula is split into three sections; the northern sand dunes, a central limestone plateau, and high altitude igneous rock mountains in the south. South Sinai lies in the North African belt and has a Saharan-Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot, with a mean temperature of 36°c (August) and winters are cool with a mean minimum temperature of - 7.8°c (February).
[Show full text]
White-Crowned Black Wheatear: New to Britain and Ireland B.J
British Birds VOLUME 77 NUMBER 5 MAY 1986 White-crowned Black Wheatear: new to Britain and Ireland B.J. Brown t about 18.15 GMT on 4th June 1982, A. C. Easton and R. Conner were Atold by Mr and Mrs R. Tarry of Kessingland, Suffolk, that they had seen what they thought was possibly a Black Wheatear Oenanthe leucura to the north of the pumping Station at Kessingland. Their description was good, so ACE telephoned me and we went to investigate. The bird was easily found, in the exact spot that Mr Tarry had described. It was quite approachable, and we instantly identified it (at that time) as a Black Wheatear. Since it was all-black, with a white rump, uppertail- and undertail-coverts, and a white tail except for black central feathers, we did not consider the possibility that any other species could be involved or needed to be eliminated. We had, however, noted a single white feather on the forehead; and that the white on the outer tail feathers extended to the tip with, apart from one or two small marks, no terminal black band. The wheatear was frequenting a small pit which was being used to dump farm rubbish and pieces of disused machinery, and a flat grassy area around this. While we were watching it, a gentleman on holiday at Kessingland came along and told us that he had observed the bird for the past two days; he had no idea what it was, believing it to be a freak Wheatear 0. oenanthe. The Supervisor of the nearby pumping Station confirmed that it had been there for a few days before it was reported.
[Show full text]
Birdwatching in the United Arab Emirates
BIRDWATCHING IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DIARY 961226 - 970109 Petter Haldén, Fredrik Malmaeus, Mikael Malmaeus, Mats Waern This is a try to write down the most important details of our trip to UAE. We had very good help from other people's travel reports made by Joakim Djerf, Tim Earl, Annika Forsten, Henk Hendriks and Erik Hirschfelt - we thank them. We hope that someone someday will have good help from this report. We also have to thank Colin Richardson who gave us useful information during the trip. Two books we used very much were Colin Richardson's "The Birds of the United Arab Emirates" and R F Porter, S Christensen and P Schiermacker-Hansen's "Field Guide to the Birds of the Middle East" (The excellent 1996 edition). Here follows a chronological view of what happened, which sites we visited, what birds we saw and perhaps some good advice. For a complete list of noted birds see the list of species at the end of the report. 961226. We arrived at Dubai airport around 4 p.m. At the airport we saw LAUGHING DOVE and PALLID SWIFT. We got our car, a little white Toyota, from Budget (195 dollars/week) immediatly at the airport and we drove to Dallas Hotel and checked in. Dallas Hotel was OK, situated in central Dubai. Most of the birding sites we visited during our trip were located one or two hours from Dubai, and therefore we found it suitable and convenient to stay at the same hotel during the whole trip. After checking in we took a walk down town.
[Show full text]
Download From
Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2012 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8 th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9 th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 14, 3rd edition). A 4th edition of the Handbook is in preparation and will be available in 2009. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY . DD MM YY Ali Qasem Fujairah Municipality Environment Protection and Development Department, Head of Department Designation date Site Reference Number Tel:+971 9 2028234 Mob:+97150 8833402 Fax :+971 9 2222231 P.O.Box 7 Fujairah - United Arab of Emirates e-mail : [email protected] Dr.Christophe Tourenq Manager, Science and Research, Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF P.O.
[Show full text]
Monitoring Birds, Reptiles and Butterflies in the St Katherine Protectorate, Egypt
Egyptian Journal of Biology, 2005, Vol. 7, pp 66-95 © Printed in Egypt. Egyptian British Biological Society (EBB Soc) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Monitoring birds, reptiles and butterflies in the St Katherine Protectorate, Egypt Kathy Meakin1*, Selvino R. de Kort2, Hilary Gilbert3, Francis Gilbert3,4 Samy Zalat3,5, Logain 7 Mohi, Suzan Ibrahim, John Griffin & the Volunteers of Operation Wallacea in Egypt 1. 31 Cliftonville Court, Goldstone Villas, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3RX, UK ([email protected]) 2. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, USA ([email protected]) 3. BioMAP, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Al Maadi, Cairo, Egypt 4. School of Biology, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG7 2RD ([email protected]) 5. Department of Zoology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt ([email protected]) 6. Lugain Mohi, Suzan Ibrahim (all Suez Canal University) and John Griffin (Nottingham University). 7. See www.opwall.com ABSTRACT Fifty-two bird species were recorded during transect and point count surveys of wadis in the St Katherine Protectorate in the mountainous southern region of the Sinai, Egypt. Two species are new to Egypt: Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumeyer) and Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia). There were several other notable species: migrants such as Arabian Warbler (Sylvia leucomelaena) and Upcher’s warbler (Hippolais languida); and residents such as Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxi), Hume’s Tawny Owl (Strix butleri) and Striated Scops Owl (Otus brucei). Estimates of bird density and descriptions of each wadi are given. Species diversity of wadis within the Ring dyke geological feature bounding the central mountain plateau was not significantly different from wadis outside. Species composition and numbers of individuals varied according to the distribution of water sources, natural trees and Bedouin gardens especially in fruit.
[Show full text]
Arabian Peninsula
THE CONSERVATION STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREEDING BIRDS OF THE ARABIAN PENINSULA Compiled by Andy Symes, Joe Taylor, David Mallon, Richard Porter, Chenay Simms and Kevin Budd ARABIAN PENINSULA The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM - Regional Assessment About IUCN IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN’s work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with almost 1,300 government and NGO Members and more than 15,000 volunteer experts in 185 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by almost 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. www.iucn.org About the Species Survival Commission The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions with a global membership of around 7,500 experts. SSC advises IUCN and its members on the wide range of technical and scientific aspects of species conservation, and is dedicated to securing a future for biodiversity. SSC has significant input into the international agreements dealing with biodiversity conservation. About BirdLife International BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation Partnership. BirdLife is widely recognised as the world leader in bird conservation.
[Show full text]
Tropical Birding Israel Tour
Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018 Tropical Birding Israel Tour March 10– 22, 2018 TOUR LEADER: Trevor Ellery Report and photos Trevor Ellery, all photos are from the tour. Green Bee-eater. One of the iconic birds of southern Israel. This was Tropical Birding’s inaugural Israel tour but guide Trevor Ellery had previously lived, birded and guided there between 1998 and 2001, so it was something of a trip down memory lane for the guide! While Israel frequently makes the international news due to ongoing tensions within the country, such problems are generally concentrated around specific flashpoints and much of the rest of the country is calm, peaceful, clean and modern. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018 Our tour started on the afternoon of the 10th where, after picking up the group at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, we headed north along the coastal strip, collecting our local guide (excellent Israeli birder Chen Rozen) and arrived at Kibbutz Nasholim on the shores of the Mediterranean with plenty of time for some local birding in the nearby fishponds. Spur-winged Lapwing – an abundant, aggressive but nevertheless handsome species wherever we went in Israel. Hoopoe, a common resident, summer migrant and winter visitor. We saw this species on numerous days during the tour but probably most interesting were quite a few birds seen clearly in active migration, crossing the desolate deserts of the south. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] Tropical Birding Trip Report Israel March, 2018 We soon managed to rack up a good list of the commoner species of these habitats.
[Show full text]
The Important Bird Areas in the UAE 2019
The Important Bird Areas in the UAE 2019 www.moccae.gov.ae The Important Bird Areas in the UAE Table of Content 04 Introduction 04 What is the Important Bird Area (IBA) program? 04 How are the IBA identified? 05 IBA Global Categories and Criteria 06 How many important bird areas in the UAE 08 Important bird areas in the UAE The important bird areas in the UAE 10 Abu Dhabi 26 Dubai 32 Sharjah 34 Ajman 36 Umm al Quwain 38 Ras Al Khaimah 40 Fujairah 2 3 Introduction The Important Bird Areas in the UAE What is the Important IBA Global Categories and Criteria Bird Area (IBA) program? • Globally Threatened Species Restricted Range Species The IBA Programme aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of • Biome-restricted assemblages sites critical for the conservation of the world’s birds and other wildlife. These • Congregations sites, in addition to their international significance for biodiversity, also provide • essential benefits to people, such as food, materials, water, climate regulation and flood protection, as well as opportunities for recreation and spiritual fulfilment. Over the past four decades, the IBA programme has identified and IBA Criterion Description documented over 12,000 sites globally, amounting to around 6% of the world’s surface area. A1: Globally Criterion: the site is known or thought regularly to Threatened hold significant numbers of a Globally Threatened Species species. A2: Restricted Criterion: the site is known or thought to hold a Range Species significant component of the group of species whose How are the IBA identified? breeding distributions define an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) or a Secondary Area (SA).
[Show full text]
11. Birds of the Paradise Gardens
Mute Swan Cygnus olor The mute swan is a species of swan, and thus a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus The tundra swan is a small Holarctic swan. The two taxa within it are usually regarded as conspecific, but are also sometimes split into two species: Bewick's swan of the Palaearctic and the whistling swan proper of the Nearctic Bean Goose Anser fabalis The bean goose is a goose that breeds in northern Europe and Asia. It has two distinct varieties, one inhabiting taiga habitats and one inhabiting tundra Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis The red-breasted goose is a brightly marked species of goose in the genus Branta from Eurasia. It is sometimes separated in Rufibrenta but appears close enough to the brant goose to make this unnecessary, despite its distinct appearance Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna The common shelduck is a waterfowl species shelduck genus Tadorna. It is widespread and common in Eurasia, mainly breeding in temperate and wintering in subtropical regions; in winter, it can also be found in the Maghreb Eurasian Teal Anas crecca The Eurasian teal or common teal is a common and widespread duck which breeds in temperate Eurasia and migrates south in winter Mallard Anas platyrhynchos The mallard or wild duck is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, ..
[Show full text]
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 23-26 February 2007 Mike Cram, Neville Davies, Neil Tovey
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 23-26 February 2007 Mike Cram, Neville Davies, Neil Tovey I finally made the much awaited planned visit to long time birding buddy and best man Neil Tovey in Dubai. Neil has been working out there for 2 years and is due to return after Easter. With domestic approval sorted, a full three days beckoned to ‘cram’ in as many species and lifers as possible. The UAE consists of the seven former ‘Trucial States’. By the time the British left in the 1970s, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm-al-Qaiwain, Ras-al-Khaimah, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Ajman formed the nation of the United Arab Emirates. DAY 1 Fri 23rd Feb 2007 – Dubai, Central Coast & Northern Region Birding pal Neville Davies accompanied me as we took our overnight 6-hour Virgin Atlantic flight from Heathrow to Dubai (£295 return) on the evening of 22nd Feb. We landed at Dubai just after dawn on Fri 23rd and with a fairly swift and painless transit through security, we met up with Neil just outside the airport. With accommodation and transport already sorted (we were staying with Neil), bags were slung in the boot and we hit the ground running! We left the airport and made our way to one of Dubai’s finest sites. Along the way, we saw the first of many Laughing Dove and Common Myna and a few birds on pools near the entrance to the site, mainly the first of many Great White Egret, Greater Flamingo and Black-winged Stilt. The Pivot Fields, Dubai We worked the reed beds and fields in among the sprinkler systems and encountered many Pipits and Wagtails.
[Show full text]