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Trip report from Egypt
24/4 – 4/5 2008
This was the first birding trip to Egypt that I have arranged since returning home to Sweden in June 2006. The route followed mainly the one I used with the three Swedish birders in April 2006 and took in some well-known sites for target species: the Cairo area, the southern Red Sea coast and Abu Simbel. The aim with the trip was both to see as many exclusive Western Palearctic species as possible and to have some great birding at some of the most exciting areas of Egypt.
photo gallery by Kari T Haataja
Itinerary
24/4 – the tour guide arrives in Cairo in the evening.
25/4 – the Dutch participants and the tour guide meet and visit the Abbassa area. The rest of the group arrives in the evening.
26/4 – birding at Abbassa (1.5 hrs drive) in the morning and visit at the Giza pyramids in the afternoon.
27/4 – early morning drive to Ain Sukhna (1.5 hrs) for raptor watch between 7 am and 1 pm. Afternoon drive to Hurghada (4 hrs). Evening birding at El Gouna.
28/4 – birding around Hurghada including a short boat trip. Afternoon drive to Shams Alam (4 ½ hrs). Some birding along the way.
29/4 – morning at Shams Alam, then birding at Hamata mangroves, Wadi Lahami mangroves, Bir Shalatein, Marsa Hemira mangroves and evening visit at Wadi Gemal. Totally about 4 ½ hrs drive.
30/4 – birding around Shams Alam and Wadi Gemal until 1 pm. Afternoon drive to Safaga (4 hrs) and continue with the convoy to Luxor in the evening (3 ½ hrs)
1/5 – birding at Crocodile Island and culture/birding at Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut on the West Bank. Afternoon drive with the convoy to Aswan (3 hrs), evening birding at Aswan.
2/5 – early morning drive with the convoy to Abu Simbel (3 hrs), birding at the airport bay area. After lunch/siesta birding in the village and again at the airport bay. Evening search for Egyptian Nightjar.
3/5 – morning around the hotel, then again airport bay area. Culture visit at the Abu Simbel temples of Ramses II. Afternoon drive with the convoy to Aswan (3 hrs) and late night flight to Cairo (1 ½ hrs).
4/5 – part of the group visit Wadi Natrun (1.5 hrs drive) and another part head for Dashur (1.5 hrs drive) in search of the last target species. Afternoon flight to Sweden and Finland, the Dutch participants continue to Sinai.
Participants
Erik Nordberg Örebro, Sweden
Hans Westerberg Göteborg, Sweden
Pietro Raffone Göteborg, Sweden
Agne Johansson Lagan, Sweden
Jonas Starck Lagan, Sweden
Jukka Ihanus Esbo, Finland
Kari Haataja Esbo, Finland
Thierry Jansen Holland
Marteen Lanthseer Holland
Wouter Puyk Holland
Tomas Haraldsson, tour guide Stockholm, Sweden
Arrangements
The trip was planned and organised by me and with the administrative and technical support of Swedish tour operator Nimbusresor. In Egypt our local agency Palma Tours takes care of hotels, transports, flights and local support. We use both budget-type hotels as well as ****/***** high standard hotels. We travelled in a private air conditioned coaster bus (20 seats) with two drivers. Flight tickets were booked by participants themselves, using Austrian and Lufthansa at around 500 euro return trip from Gothenburg/Stockholm/Helsinki to Cairo. The Dutch flew in from Amsterdam to Cairo at a mere 325 euro return trip.
The trip
25th April
Having met at our hotel previous evening, I and the Dutch trio decided to make a morning pre-visit to the fish ponds at Abbassa. We hired a taxi man called Adel that has taken birders to different areas around Cairo before. Now it turned out that there are several different Abbassa´s in the area northeast of the city so it took us a while to get to the right place. We spent about two hours there in the late morning.
The heron colonies were alive and with at least 50 Night Herons. Pairs of Pained Snipe were easily located as were singing Clamorous Reed Warblers. Flocks of waders dominated by Little Stints moved around and a single White Stork roosted at a small wetland. White-breasted Kingfishers and Black-shouldered Kites were in the distance. As we headed back towards Cairo we stopped along the canal to search for Senegal Coucal in some plantations. Among hundreds of Sand Martins we caught short glimpses of a small martin with elongated tail feathers. Convinced that it was a super rarity from Africa we were quite frustrated until it turned out to be just a Sand Martin with abnormal tail feathers… Here also a colony with Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters but no coucal.
In the afternoon I went to meet our Swedish participants at the airport. Their first impression of the chaotic Cairo traffic and the sheer impact of a 20-milion inhabitant-city was quite a start on the journey. The first Black Kites and Laughing Doves were noted on the trip list. One lost luggage was fortunately sent to the hotel later that night, so all was fine. We had some dinner at the hotel in the evening and I went to meet Jukka and Kari arriving from Helsinki.
26th April
Loading our birding equipment and breakfast boxes on the bus, we headed for the Abbassa fish ponds in the early morning. Our dear drivers, Ibrahim and Naguib, were helpful and nice, but unfortunately not experienced in the Cairo traffic. So it took us some turning and asking before coming on the right road along the Ismailia Canal towards Abu Hamad. We stopped at the fish ponds at around 7:30 and posted ourselves at the road overlooking the area.
For a Scandinavian birder having “hibernated” through the northern winter, it was a delight to sweep your scope over breeding Squacco Herons, Night Herons, a pair of Purple Swamphens, Pied Kingfishers and some Glossy Ibises. Painted Snipe was again easy to find with at least six different pairs! Two nice Whiskered Terns passed by as did both European and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters. We moved down through the ponds and fields with the locals passing by with their cattle, greeting us “es-salaam alekoum”. The areas for the Kittlitz Plovers seems to have changed and we found none. Erik discovered a target species, however escaped, as he found a small colony of Streaked Weavers in the reeds along a ditch. Great!
We made another stop near the Shell service station were I have seen Senegal Coucal a few times. The heron colony dominated the scene and we also had great wievs of four Little Bitterns, one pair seemed to be nesting. More White-breasted Kingfishers and bee-eaters but no coucal, tricky bird to find. We stopped also to have look at the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater colony with some 20 birds and had also five Senegal Thick-knees.
It was now towards lunch time and we made our way through the dense traffic, heading south to the Giza area. A good option for lunch is El-Ezba, a quiet spot along the Sakkara canal, were we filled ourselves with their open buffet. In the afternoon we left the WP lists in the bus for a while and visited the pyramids and the great sphinx. They truly are a magnificent sight and a great experience, easily combined with birds on a trip like this. In the evening we relaxed at the hotel and had dinner at the excellent Lebanese restaurant Raucha near the hotel.
the team at Abbassa fish ponds
27th April
Time to leave Cairo for this time, we checked out and loaded the bus in the early morning. We planned to reach the raptor migration site at Ain Sukhna in time for the first birds to appear, and also to scan the sea. Finding our way out of the city and then covering the 120 km desert stretch, we parked at the famous Fowzy´s Café at about 7:30. It was a local holiday, so the noise from beach visitors and buses stopping by was a bit disturbing from time to time. The first Steppe Buzzards and Black Kites started to drift north along the mountain chain but it took a while until the flow of birds started for real. We had time to look for some gulls and terns and were rewarded with White-eyed Gulls and two Crested Terns coming close by. Flocks of European Bee-eaters headed north as did Red-rumped Swallows amidst hundreds of Barn Swallows.
Raptors started to appear in loose flocks now, and we started to pick out Booted, Short-toed, Lesser Spotted and Steppe Eagles among the buzzards and kites. Quite a few Egyptian Vultures also passed, beautifully black-and-white against the blue sky. Some single Black Storks and Levant Sparrowhawks were added and suddenly there was a swirl of some 150 White Storks over the mountain peaks. We truly enjoyed our time, zipping cold cokes and studying id characteristics. A huge Griffon Vulture glided north, high on the sky and during dense passage, also a 2cy Imperial Eagle.
raptor show at Fowzy´s Café in Ain Sukhna
At noon the raptors had started to gain such a height and made observations tricky, but numbers were still good and a few Long-legged Buzzards were among hundreds of buzzards. We went to have some lunch at the nearby rest house and have some shade from the strong sun. Disturbing us from the meal was a warbler in the bushes next to us, identified as a female Ruppells Warbler. After the meal we continued our journey south along the Red Sea, quite a bird-empty stretch. Fuelling up in Ras Gharib we stretched our legs and saw some House Crows and migrants like Red-throated Pipit by a small pool. Later along the drive we had some short glimpses of Spotted Sandgrouses taking of from the road side.
Nearing our destination Hurghada, we spend the last hour of the day birding at the lagoons in El Gouna. Nice and warm in the evening sun, we had plenty of good birds around the marina. A family of Western Reef Herons, two Striated Herons, Crested and White-cheeked Terns and nice flocks of European Bee-eaters coming very close. At the sand banks in the lagoon we spotted two Slender-billed Gulls, a pretty White-winged Black Tern and three Terek Sandpipers, great! After a long day we drove the last bit to the hotel in southern Hurghada and most of the group went straight to bed after some little dinner.
28th April
In the morning we met up with my friend, the Hungarian birder/ringer Steve who lives in Hurghada. He took us to the newly discovered breeding site for “Pharaos” Eagle Owl, the ascalaphus subspecies. We saw them well and were amazed by the bird`s co-existence with humans in this densely populated area. After this we headed for the Hurghada rubbish tip which is now much greener then last time I was here. The mist nets were set up in a migrant-rich area where we found both Rufous Bush-Chat, Golden Oriole, Masked Shrikes, Bimaculated Larks and several other pipits and warblers. Having been seen here regularly the last years, we also had three male Namaqua Doves, beautiful birds. A small flock of Spotted Sandgrouse were seen flying in the distance and a 2cy Montagues Harrier moved slowly north.
A must when visiting Hurghada is a boat trip to look for sea birds around the islands off the coast. This we did in a privately chartered boat and as Agne said, cold coke in his hand and gliding on the turquoise blue waters; “living is quite easy right now”. White-eyed Gulls followed our boat and many White-cheeked Terns were seen close, but no Lesser Crested Terns seemed to have arrived yet. Waves of Honey Buzzards drifted out towards the east, at least some thousand birds during our two hours on board. More Western Reef Herons and two Ruddy Turnstones were added to the list.
After lunch at Felfela overlooking the sea, we started the long drive south towards Marsa Alam and our hotel south of that city, Shams Alam. We stopped by for tea at the beach in Quesir were hundreds of locals enjoyed their beach holiday. Continuing through the desert we had to break for a harrier coming fairly close, it turned out to be a 2cy female Pallid Harrier. Otherwise the drive was quiet, some Brown-necked Ravens and four White Storks were seen.
Just before sunset we arrived at the resort Shams Alam, used by birders quite a few times in the last years. Some of us checked in but others couldn´t wait to search for birds in the garden. Soon Thierry came back, breathing hard and smiling; ”Isabelline Shrike!”. We could study the bird, subspecies phoenicuroides, extremely close and it was still there as we left two days later. We enjoyed their huge dinner buffet and a cold Sakkara in the evening, thrilled to be in the exciting southern Red Sea.
29th April
Most of us were out before sunrise, eager to look through the garden with all its migrants. Breakfast boxes were eaten with Woodchat Shrikes, Black-eared Wheatears, Red-throated Pipits and Redstarts in the bushes around us. Some Montaugues and Marsh Harriers passed north, just overhead. We soon headed for the first birding site of the day, the Hamata mangrove area, some 50 km south of the hotel. We walked the short way from the road towards the beach and had very soon discovered a main target species, Sooty Falcon. At least five birds showed well around the mangrove trees. Out on the mud flats were some pretty dark morph Western Reef Herons, Spoonbills, Greater Sandplovers and even two Terek Sandpipers. Part of the group saw a male Pallid Harrier landing out in the mangroves!
Happy with the visit here we continued down the short bit to Wadi Lahami. Here at the dive lodge we walked out towards the mangroves where Goliath Heron has recently been seen. Grey and Purple Herons were easy enough and several Sooty Gulls put in an appearance, as well as singing Olivaceous Warbler and migrating Hobby and Golden Oriole. The area is large and can easily hide big herons, so I decided to wade out in the water to look from the outside of the mangroves. This was a lucky shot, since I flushed not one but two Goliath Herons from the outskirts of the mangroves! Passing low over the group, they landed and showed very well before returning to the same area. Smiles and high-fives all around!
Goliath Expedition in the mangroves!
We returned to the dive lodge and had a soft drink on the shaded veranda. A 2cy Striated Heron was on the beach in the same field-of-view as a Kingfisher and Sooty Gulls. The mood was high in the bus as we went on further south. At a checkpoint the guard insisted on a permission but was satisfied with a list of our names and passport numbers. Along the drive down to Shalatein and the Sudanese border we had some short glimpses of desert larks and several migrating Marsh Harriers. In the border village it seemed to be more military presence than before and we were not allowed to move around freely. As the drivers fuelled up we immediately found the target bird as several Lappet-faced Vultures were in the distance together with Egyptian Vultures. Suddenly another of the huge birds was just over our heads and seen excellently! We also had a Hoopoe Lark in the road.
Having to turn back after a too short visit in Shalatein, we stopped by the Marsa Hemira mangroves. In strong northerly winds we gave it a short while and had an adult Striated Heron and some Curlews and Kentish Plovers. We headed on back “home” and stopped again at Hamata where the sunlight in the afternoon is great for scanning the area and the sea. More waders including Whimbrels, some Sooty Gulls and two Sooty Falcons were seen. I decided to wade out in the waters south of the mangroves to have a look on the mud flats from the outside. At the same time the others moved north and we both discovered the birds in question about the same time; two Crab Plovers!! Totally amazing, a possible but absolutely not expected species. A lifer for me, standing thigh-deep in 25-degree water. Beers are on me tonight! Not knowing the others had already seen it, I splashed towards the shore and ran for them, only to be met by smiles and “what are you running for, we have already seen them!”.
In the evening we were very lucky to have arranged with the local rangers of the Wadi Gemal National Park a trip into the mountains to listen for the Hume`s Owl. So after dinner we embarked the trucks and bumped our way in the darkness into the wadi. We spotted both Sand Fox and some Cape Hares in the head lights before reaching the mountains. After playing its call on tape, a Hume`s Owl responed! It called for a few minutes, what a feeling and what a bonus! We were very happy and decided not to disturb it anymore. What a day, I think we all fell asleep smiling after a day where great WP birds came one after the other.
30th April
This morning we divided our forces and had some free time for breakfast. Some of us wanted to work on the African Collared Dove (we had only seen European ones so far) around the hotel and some joined me for a walk along the beach towards the mouth of Wadi Gemal. My group worked its way along the scrublands, scanning the sea regularly. Four Namaqua Doves flew past us towards the hotel and six Crowned Sandgrouse landed near the road, our only record of that species. After a while of sea scanning in the bad sunlight, we finally found a Brown Booby fishing quite far out at sea. Tawny Pipits and Masked Shrikes were on migration and in the scrubs were found some warblers and a Kingfisher was flushed from a small pool.
Wadi Gemal turned out to be fairly empty bird wise, and the strong northerly wind made birding difficult. Jonas had another Isabelline Shrike that unfortunately could not be found again. A Hoopoe Lark was seen and a Booted Eagle drifted north, that was about it. At the hotel, the search for the African dove had not yielded that sought-after species. Wryneck, Woodchat Shrikes and several Black-eared Wheatears where around the buildings. When we had some lunch, a third Isabelline Shrike was discovered on the other side of the road!
During the afternoon we took the long drive back north towards Safaga from where the convoy to Luxor would depart at 6 pm. Booted Eagle and an adult Egyptian Vulture were seen and the desert mountains at sunset were spectacular. At about 9:30 pm we finally arrived at our hotel in Luxor and had some dinner before crashing into our beds.
1st May
This morning we could actually have breakfast, albeit a pretty basic one, at the hotel and not in our beloved boxes. The drive to Crocodile Island was a short one, so we allowed ourselves a little longer sleep and arrived there at about 7 am. We walked from the bridge south along the eastern edge of the island. The village has now been cleared, probably for the extension of the resort, a sad development. Nile Valley Sunbirds were easily located including several stunning males. Little Green Bee-eaters and Red Avadavats were also new for the trip. Beautiful White-winged Black Terns hawked over the marshes and on the sky many Pallid Swifts. A high iron fence now stops you from reaching the southernmost part of the island so we took to the shade of a large tree and scanned the wet meadows and the mighty Nile.
Plenty of Squacco Herons (145 counted) and several Purple Herons, four Purple Swamphens, good numbers of Whiskered Terns and breeding “Egyptian” Yellow Wagtails were seen. We then slowly made our way back on the western side, through the resort with many Garden Bulbuls and Olivaceous Warblers in the trees around us.
Time then for some world-class historical sites, and chance on desert birds, as we drove the Nile bridge to the western side and up towards the Valley of the Kings. This desolate gorge in the desert mountains, away from the nearest village, was chosen as the eternal resting place for the Pharaos of the New Kingdom (16th-11th century BC). We visited several magnificent tombs and marvelled at the colourful stories told on their walls. Outside the sun beat down strong on us and the hundreds of tourists at the site. Of birds we had a pair of Trumpeter Finch and our first good views of Rock Martins, but none of the wheatears we hoped for.
We also made a short stop at the Temple of Hatshepsut (no wheatears here either) before heading back to Luxor for lunch and clearing our rooms at the hotel. The initial plan was to travel with train down to Aswan but there were some problems along the line that could mean long delays. So we opted for the afternoon convoy instead and settled in for the 3-hour drive through the Nile Valley. The journey itself was quite uneventful, we saw several Black-shouldered Kites and many bee-eaters of the three species along the way.
Arriving in Aswan just after 6 pm we made our way on the small roads to the southeast of the city. Here are the bays and inlets of the Lake Nasser between the Old and the New Dam, just east of the famous Temple of Philae. A lovely site especially now at sunset, and rich in birds. All eight species of herons (including one Great White Egret and an adult Striated Heron), some Glossy Ibises, our first Egyptian Goose, a lone male Ferrugineous Duck, hundreds of White-winged Black and Whiskered Terns and two White-crowned Black Wheatears. Just wonderful to be able to end a day like this in a calm and warm evening. As we turned back on the road between the rocks and crags, suddenly an Eagle Owl perched on a rock, showing itself in silhouette against the darkening sky! Presumably ascalaphus. We went to our hotel and then some of us had dinner at a nice floating restaurant by the Nile.
2nd May
The morning convoy to Abu Simbel leaves VERY early so it was just to force yourself out of bed and be ready with your gear by the bus. At 4 am the convoy started to roll through the Nubian Desert night and most of us had some good sleep during the drive. The sun rose over the vast empty plains and we started to see road signs to places in the Sudan, we are far south now. Just after 7 am we reached the small village of Abu Simbel by the huge lake and immediately went to the perhaps best known birding site, the so-called airport bay. From some small hills you have a good view of the large bay with both open shoreline and scrublands surrounding it.
Within minutes we had localised a first species quite exclusive to this place; a Yellow-billed Stork flying in the distance. Soon others were found feeding along the shore and at least eleven 2cy-3cy birds and one adult were seen the rest of the day. A flock of Spoonbills were on the far shore of the bay and a lone Greater Flamingo was spotted in the same area. Many terns including Gull-billed Terns moved around and several Rufous Bush-Robins were in the scrubs around us. We walked along the shore furher into the bay, having good views of the storks. A Bimaculated Lark was discovered on the ground and just behind it, a male Namaqua Dove.
After a walk not resulting in that much, we headed for the hotel for check-in and some lunch. The heat was getting to us now at noon, nearing 40 C, so we had some siesta before moving out again in the late afternoon. A flock of White Storks circled in the heat and White-crowned Black Wheatear seemed to be common. We returned to the airport bay and worked hard for new species but they would not show. More terns, some Pied Kingfishers and Senegal Thick-knees were noted. Nearly a hundred Black Kites gathered in the evening as we started to move back towards the hotel. We had not driven more than a few hundred meters when some tern-looking birds flew past the bus and Kari was the first to shout; “skimmers, they are skimmers!!” Hard break and all scrambled out of the bus and saw the three African Skimmers move on and then disappear. The tour guide let out a sigh of relief as a major target species-burden was lifted of his shoulders… What luck, unbelievable.
In the evening we planned to go to a site for Egyptian Nightjar. But the local police/military office was not really happy about that, and it took us nearly an hour before two policemen were sent with us. And as we wanted to turn of the road, the track was closed and there was absolutely no way through. As a last shot, we went to the site where I had seen it with the team in April 2006. We could not have been luckier. A Barn Owl hunted bats over some street lights and after playing the nightjar call, an Egyptian Nightjar appeared in front of us!! We managed to spot it on the ground in our flash lights and could see it very well at close range. Yes! Towards midnight we were back at the hotel and falling asleep was not a problem this night either.
quiet evening at Lake Nasser, Abu Simbel
3rd May
Sleeping until about 6 am, most of the team had breakfast in the restaurant. Before that I wanted to check the place where we had the wagtails a few years ago, and looking down at the small rock in the lake just down from the hotel pool, there were two African Pied Wagtails! The group left their boiled eggs and tea in a hurry and rushed to the pool, and we all saw the wagtail couple on the rock before they took of.
With another target bird safely in our pack, we had the drivers to take us to the airport bay area yet again. There were some thin clouds on the sky and a nice breeze, making it comfortable. Two more African Pied Wagtails were seen shortly, many pairs of Egyptian Geese, Temminck`s Stint and flocks of Grey Herons going north. Wouter discovered a lone pelican far out on the lake, and possibly a Pink-backed, we waited for it to get closer. After quite a while it was now seen in good light and we were convinced it was an immature Pink-backed Pelican! Some of us saw the under wing pattern as it flapped its wings and we also saw it flying, obviously smaller than a White or Dalmatian.
Towards noon we went back to the hotel. Some had lunch and rest, some had a swim in the pool and most joined me to the temples in the afternoon. The impression from the four huge statues of Ramses II are just overwhelming and the cave temple itself is magic. Mural paintings of battle scenes and Ramses with the gods still stood bright after 3200 years. In the late afternoon the convoy took us back to Aswan and last long bus ride for this trip was over at about 7 pm.
We had the evening to spend in the city before the flight should depart for Cairo. Dinner was had again at the nice Aswan Moon restaurant and then some of us took a stroll through the bazaar. The transfer bus took us to the airport and at 1 am the flight left for Cairo. Luggage was delivered fine and after a wild taxi ride through the city we found ourselves at the hotel from the first two days, Zayed. We decided about tomorrows last efforts and had a few hours sleep.
4th May
Having missed two important species, Kittlitz Plover and Senegal Coucal, we had arranged some taxis to take us to different locations. Four of us headed for Wadi Natrun for the plover and the rest to Dashur where we had a site for the coucal. After so little sleep and at the end of the trip, heads were hanging and the last energy reserves were consumed. The Natrun team easily found at least 12 Kittlitz Plovers together with many other waders (including Curlew Sandpiper and a Painted Snipe).
The Dashur team found a nice area around the so-called Dashur “Lake”, now some small reed-fringed wetlands, and great views over the pyramids at the desert edge. Built by Senefru, father of Cheops, in the 26th century BC. Little Bitterns and Little Grebe seemed to be breeding here, as were many White-breasted Kingfishers and 30+ Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters. Thierry found a stunning Roller and some Southern Grey Shrikes were also new for the trip. We moved around, playing the coucal call but they refused to show themselves. A Common Cuckoo flew past us, trying to keep us going. At the southern edge of the area we searched again, finding only Masked and Woodchat Shrikes and breeding “Egyptian” Yellow Wagtails.
After our last efforts in the field, we said goodbye to our Dutch friends who would continue to the Sinai in a rental car. The rest of us had some lunch and rest at the hotel before being transferred to the airport in the afternoon. At 4 pm our flights took of and we took farewell of each other and Egypt for this time.
List of species
173 species were recorded by the team during the trip. Of species not seen, can be mentioned Lesser Crested Tern, African Collared Dove, Senegal Coucal and Hooded Wheatear.
Bold type are the rarer target species and underlined are the more common target species and bonus species, like Isabelline Shrike.
Egyptian Goose / Nilgås
1 at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May and 20+, including chicks, at Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May.
Mallard / Gräsand
2 at the Nile, Cairo on 26th April.
Shoveler / Skedand
1m2f at Abu Simbel on 2nd May.
Ferruginous Duck / Vitögd dykand
1m at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May.
Little Grebe / Smådopping
Heard at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Brown Booby / Brun sula
1 feeding off Shams Alam on 30th April.
Great Cormorant / Storskarv
1 at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May.
Pink-backed Pelican / Rosaryggad Pelikan
1 imm. at Abu Simbel on 3rd May.
Little Bittern / Dvärgrördrom
A pair at Abbassa on 25th April, 4 at the Shell site at Abbassa on 26th April, 2 at Crocodile Island on 1st May, a pair at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Night Heron / Natthäger
Fairly common in the Nile Valley with 75+ birds in the heron colonies at Abbassa and 25+ at Crocodile Island. A few birds on migration along the Red Sea coast.
Striated Heron / Mangrovehäger
1 2cy along the Ismailia Canal on 25th April, 2 at El Gouna on 27th April, 1 2cy at Wadi Lahami on 29th April, 1 adult at Marsa Hemira on 29th April and 1 adult at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May.
Squacco Heron / Rallhäger
Common in the Nile Valley with hundreds of breeding birds in the different colonies. 145+ at Crocodile Island on 1st May. A few along the Red Sea coast.
Cattle Egret / Kohäger
Very common
Western Reef Heron / Revhäger
Fairly common along the Red Sea, more so in the southern parts of the coast. A pair with a juvenile at El Gouna on 27th April and 15+ in the Hamata - Wadi Lahami areas on 29th April.
Little Egret / Silkeshäger
Common
Great White Egret / Ägretthäger
1 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April and 1 at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May.
Grey Heron / Gråhäger
Only a few record of this wintering species. 4 at Wadi Lahami on 29th April, 20 flying north at Abu Simbel on 3rd May and some records of single birds.
Purple Heron / Purpurhäger
2 at Wadi Lahami on 29th April, 3-4 at Crocodile Island on 1st May, 2 flying north at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May.
Goliath Heron / Goliathäger
2 (presumably a pair) at Wadi Lahami on 29th April. Breeding also this year?
Yellow-billed Stork / Afrikansk ibisstork
At least 12 birds (one adult, the rest 2-3cy birds) at Abu Simbel 2-3rd May.
Black Stork / Svart stork
8 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April and 2 migrating over the sea off Hurghada on 28th April.
White Stork / Vit stork
A few late migrant flocks and possibly non-breeding birds hanging around. 1 at Abbassa on 25-26th April, 1 at Giza on 26th April, 150 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April, 4 along the road south of Quesir on 28th April, 1 migrating at Wadi Lahami on 29th April, 100 migrating at Abu Simbel on 2nd May.
Glossy Ibis / Bronsibis
20 flying by at Abbassa 25-26th April, 50 flying south at Crocodile Island on 1st May, a few at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May and at least 2 at Abu Simbel 2-3rd May.
Spoonbill / Skedstork
6-7 at Hamata on 29th April, 25 at Abu Simbel on 2nd May and 4 flying north there on 3rd May.
Greater Flamingo / Större flamingo
1 + 3 at Abu Simbel on 2nd May.
Honey Buzzard / Bivråk
40+ migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April and 1000+ migrating over the sea off Hurghada on 28th April.
Black-shouldered Kite / Svartvingad glada
Fairly common in the Nile Valley, more so in Upper Egypt and the Luxor-Aswan stretch.
Black Kite / Brun glada
Common in the Nile Valley. 130 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April. About 100 coming to roost at Abu Simbel in the evening of 2nd May.
Egyptian Vulture / Smutsgam
43 (26 adult and 17 2-3cy birds) migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April, 10+ at Shalatein on 29th April and a total of 3 migrating along the Red Sea 29-30th April.
Griffon Vulture / Gåsgam
1 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April.
Lappet-faced Vulture / Örongam
At least 5 at Shalatein on 29th April.
Short-toed Eagle / Ormörn
51 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April.
Marsh Harrier / Brun kärrhök
13 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April, a total of at least 25 migrating along the Red Sea on 28-30th April and a few along the Upper Nile Valley on 1-3rd May.
Pallid Harrier / Stäpphök
1 2cy f migrating south of Quesir on 28th April and 1 m at Hamata on 29th April.
Montague´s Harrier / Ängshök
1m migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April and a total of 7 f migrating along the Red Sea 28-30th April
harrier sp. / obestämd kärrhök
A total of 9 unidentified “ringtails” migrating along the Red Sea 28-30th April. Most seemed to be Montague´s and the late date also points at that species.
Sparrowhawk / Sparvhök
5-6 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April. Some others left as unidentified Sparrowhawk / Levant Sparrowhawk. 1f migrating over the sea off Hurghada on 28th April.
Levant Sparrowhawk / Balkanhök
Some 15 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April, including several adult males coming nice and close.
“Steppe” Buzzard / “Stäppvråk”
1600+ migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April. Some singles migrating along the Red Sea 28-30th April.
Long-legged Buzzard / Örnvråk
At least 2 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April.
Lesser Spotted Eagle / Mindre skrikörn
85+ migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April.
Steppe Eagle / Stäppörn
30+ migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April.
Imperial Eagle / Kejsarörn
1 2cy migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April.
Booted Eagle / Dvärgörn
13 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April, 1 migrating at Wadi Gemal on 30th April and possibly the same at Safaga later that day.
Osprey / Fiskgjuse
3 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April and common along the Red Sea on 28-30th April. Also seen at Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May with at least 1 bird.
Kestrel / Tornfalk
Common
Hobby / Lärkfalk
1 migrating at Ain Sukhna on 27th April and 1 migrating at Wadi Lahami on 29th April.
Sooty Falcon / Sotfalk
At least 5 adult birds at Hamata on 29th April, seen very well around the mangroves.
Lanner / Slagfalk
2 at Hamata on 29th April and 2 at Shams Alam on 29-30th April.
Quail / Vaktel
1 south of Abbassa on 25th April and 1 at Shams Alam on 29th April.
Moorhen / Rörhöna
Common in the Nile Valley
Purple Swamphen / Purpurhöna
A pair at Abbassa on 26th April, 4 at Crocodile Island on 1st May and a pair at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May.
Coot / Sothöna
3 at Hurghada rubbish tip on 28th April and common at Crocodile Island on 1st May.
Crane / Trana
1 migrating at Shams Alam on 30th April.
Painted Snipe / Rallbeckasin
Two pairs + 1m at Abbassa on 25th April and at least 6 pairs here on 26th April. 1 at Wadi Natrun on 4th May.
Black-winged Stilt / Styltlöpare
About 10 at Abbassa 25-26th April.
Crab Plover / Hägerpipare
2 at Hamata on 29th April. Feeding on the outer tidal mudflats in the late afternoon.
Senegal Thick-knee / Senegaltjockfot
3 at Abbassa on 26th April and 5 just south of here, several records in the Nile Valley on 1st May and at least 10 in Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May. 3 at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Ringed Plover / Större strandpipare
2 at Abbassa on 26th April and 2 at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May.
Kittlitz Plover / Kittlitzpipare
12 at Wadi Natrun on 4th May. Seen by part of the group and also by the Dutch on 24th April.
Kentish Plover / Svartbent strandpipare
Fairly common along the Red Sea lagoons and sandy shorelines.
Greater Sandplover / Ökenpipare
About 10 at Hamata on 29th April.
Grey Plover / Kustpipare
5-6 at El Gouna on 27th April, about 5 at Hamata on 29th April and 3 at Wadi Lahami on 29th April.
Spur-winged Plover / Sporrvipa
Common
Dunlin / Kärrsnäppa
2 at Hamata on 29th April.
Little Stint / Småsnäppa
About 100 at Abbassa on 25-26th April.
Temminck´s Stint / Mosnäppa
Several each at Abbassa on 26th April and Abu Simbel on 3rd May.
Curlew Sandpiper / Spovsnäppa
1 at Wadi Natrun on 4th May.
Ruff / Brushane
25+ at Abbassa on 25-26th April and 75+ at Wadi Natrun on 4th May.
Common Snipe / Enkelbeckasin
1 at Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May.
Whimbrel / Småspov
2 at Wadi Lahami and 3 at Hamata, both on 29th April.
Curlew / Storspov
4 at Hamata and 2 at Marsa Hemira, both on 29th April.
Spotted Redshank / Svartsnäppa
10 at Abbassa on 26th April.
Redshank / Rödbena
1 at El Gouna on 27th April and 3 at Hamata on 29th April.
Greenshank / Gluttsnäppa
5 at Abbassa on 26th April.
Wood Sandpiper / Grönbena
Several each at Abbassa on 25-26th April and the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Terek Sandpiper / Tereksnäppa
3 at El Gouna on 27th April and 2 at Hamata on 29th April.
Common Sandpiper / Drillsnäppa
Several each at Abbassa 25-26th April and the site SE of Aswan on 1st May.
Ruddy Turnstone / Roskarl
2 at Magawish Island, Hurghada on 28th April and 15 at Hamata on 29th April.
Sooty Gull / Sotmås
Fairly common along the southern Red Sea coast 29-30th April but almost none north of Shams Alam. 20+ at Hamata on 29th April.
White-eyed Gull / Vitögd mås
Common along the Red Sea but seems almost replaced by the Sooty Gull further south. 300+ passing El Gouna on 27th April and 600+ during the boat trip at Hurghada on 28th April.
Black-headed Gull / Skrattmås
1 along the Ismailia canal, Abbassa on 25th April.
Slender-billed Gull / Långnäbbad mås
2 at El Gouna on 27th April and 2 at Hamata on 29th April.
Lesser Black-backed Gull / Silltrut
4+1 migrating at El Gouna on 27th April.
Gull-billed Tern / Sandtärna
Fairly common, 30+, at Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May.
Caspian Tern / Skräntärna
Common but in low numbers along the Red Sea
Crested Tern / Tofstärna
2 at Ain Sukhna and 6-7 at El Gouna, both on 27th April, 2 during the boat trip at Hurghada on 28th April and 2 at Shams Alam on 29th April.
Sandwich Tern / Kentsk tärna
5 at El Gouna on 27th April.
Common Tern / Fisktärna
Common migrant along the Red Sea with 75+ both at El Gouna on 27th April and from the boat trip at Hurghada on 28th April.
White-cheeked Tern / Vitkindad tärna
Fairly common along the Red Sea with 75+ during the boat trip at Hurghada on 28th April and smaller numbers, 25+, seen at El Gouna on 27th April and at Shams Alam and Hamata on 29th April.
Little Tern / Småtärna
35 (migrating?) at El Gouna on 27th April and 20+ during the boat trip from Hurghada on 28th April. 1 at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May.
Whiskered Tern / Skäggtärna
3 at Abbassa on 26th April, 40+ at Crocodile Island and 150+ at the site SE of Aswan, both on 1st May, 150+ migrating at Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May.
White-winged Black Tern / Vitvingad tärna
1 at El Gouna on 27th April, 20+ at Crocodile Island and 150+ at the site SE of Aswan, both on 1st May, 20+ at Abu Simbel 2-3rd May.
African Skimmer / Afrikansk saxnäbb
3 adult at Abu Simbel, close to the village in the evening of 2nd May.
Crowned Sandgrouse / Kronflyghöna
6 at Shams Alam on 30th April.
Spotted Sandgrouse / Ökenflyghöna
6-7 along the road south of Ras Gharib on 27th April and at least 7 at Hurghada rubbish tip on 28th April.
European Collared Dove / Turkduva
5 at Shams Alam on 29-30th April. Several records of flying birds around Hurghada left as unidentified.
Turtle Dove / Turturduva
Fairly common migrant but in low numbers.
Laughing Dove / Palmduva
Common
Namaqua Dove / Långstjärtsduva
3m at Hurghada rubbish tip on 28th April, 4 at Shams Alam 29-30th April and 1m at Abu Simbel on 2nd May.
Common Cuckoo / Gök
1 at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Barn Owl / Tornuggla
2 at different sites at Abu Simbel in the evening on 2nd May.
“Pharaos” Eagle Owl / “Ökenberguv”
A pair with a chick at breeding site in Hurghada on 28th April and 1 at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May. Subspecies ascalaphus.
Little Owl / Minervauggla
1 along the ring road in Cairo on 25th April.
Hume´s Owl / Klippuggla
1 heard in the inner Wadi Gemal on 29th April.
Egyptian Nightjar / Ökennattskärra
1 near the airport bay-site in Abu Simbel in the evening on 2nd May.
Common Swift / Tornseglare
Fairly common migrant.
Pallid Swift / Blek tornseglare
Common around Luxor on 1st May.
White-breasted Kingfisher / Smyrnakungsfiskare
Common (20+) around Abbassa and along the Ismailia Canal on 25-26th April. Also common in the Dashur area with at least 10 birds.
Kingfisher / Kungsfiskare
2 at El Gouna on 27th April and 1 at the mouth of Wadi Gemal on 30th April.
Pied Kingfisher / Gråfiskare
Common along canals, ponds and the river itself in the Nile Valley. Also 3 at Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May.
Little Green Bee-eater / Grön dvärgbiätare
Fairly common at Crocodile Island and along the Luxor – Aswan road on 1st May. Also several at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater / Grön biätare
Fairly common around Cairo with both 20+ at a colony near Abbassa 25-26th April and 30+ at the Dashur-site on 4th May. Also some singles migrating along the Red Sea on 28-30th April and at Crocodile Island on 1st May.
European Bee-eater / Biätare
Seemingly at the peak of its migration, seen at almost every visited site with flocks of 15-75 moving north. A total of 400+ migrating at El Gouna / Hurghada in a few hours of birding 27-28th April.
Roller / Blåkråka
1 at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Hoopoe / Härfågel
Common.
Wryneck / Göktyta
1 at Shams Alam on 30th April.
Bar-tailed Desert Lark / Sandökenlärka
Several larks on the desert plains north of Shalatein should have belonged to this species, but only short glimpses were given.
Hoopoe Lark / Ökenlöplärka
1 at Shalatein and 2 along the road, all on 29th April, and 1 at Wadi Gemal on 30th April.
Bimaculated Lark / Asiatisk kalanderlärka
At least 4 at Hurghada rubbish tip on 28th April and 1 at Abu Simbel on 2nd May.
Short-toed Lark / Korttålärka
40+ at Hurghada rubbish tip on 28th April.
Crested Lark / Tofslärka
Common.
Sand Martin / Backsvala
Common migrant and also some colonies seen.
Rock Martin / Blek klippsvala
5 at Valley of the Kings and several at the site SE of Aswan, both on 1st May and fairly common around Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May.
Barn Swallow / Ladusvala
Very common migrant with thousands heading north. Many saviigni in the Nile Valley.
Red-rumped Swallow / Rostgumpsvala
Some migrants seen, often with Barn Swallows. Low numbers with a total of about 25.
House Martin / Hussvala
Fairly common migrant.
Tawny Pipit / Fältpiplärka
Fairly common migrant along the Red Sea on 27-30th April but in low numbers. 2 also at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Tree Pipit / Trädpiplärka
Fairly common migrant, especially at the Shams Alam garden on 29-30th April.
Red-throated Pipit / Rödstrupig piplärka
Fairly common migrant.
Yellow Wagtail / Gulärla
Some migrants seen and the local subspecies pygmaeus breeding at Crocodile Island on 1st May and at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
White Wagtail / Sädesärla
Only a few migrants seen.
African Pied Wagtail / Brokärla
A pair at the Nefertari Hotel and another 3 birds at the airport bay-site, all at Abu Simbel on 3rd May.
Garden Bulbul / Trädgårdsbulbyl
Common in the Nile Valley.
Rufous Bush Robin / Trädnäktergal
1 at Hurghada rubbish tip on 28th April and fairly common at Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May.
Common Redstart / Rödstjärt
Some migrants seen, mainly at Shams Alam on 29-30th April.
Whinchat / Buskskvätta
1 at Hamata on 29th April.
Isabelline Wheatear / Isabellastenskvätta
At least 1 at Shams Alam on 29-30th April.
Northern Wheatear / Stenskvätta
Fairly common migrant.
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear / Medelhavsstenskvätta
Fairly common migrant, mainly around Shams Alam on 29-30th April.
Mourning Wheatear / Sorgstenskvätta
1 along the road SE of Cairo on 27th April.
White-crowned Black Wheatear / Vitkronad stenskvätta
2 at the site SE of Aswan on 1st May and several others around Aswan, fairly common at Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May.
Blackbird / Koltrast
Seemed fairly common at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Fan-tailed Warbler / Grässångare
Common in the Nile Valley.
Graceful Prinia / Streckad Prinia
Common in the Nile Valley all the way down to Abu Simbel.
Sedge Warbler / Sävsångare
A few migrants seen in reed areas and the Shams Alam garden.
Reed Warbler / Rörsångare
Seen at the Hurghada rubbish tip and some other migrants.
Clamorous Reed Warbler / Papyrussångare
Fairly common in the Nile Valley wetlands with several singing birds each at Abbassa on 25-26th April, Crocodile Island on 1st May and the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Olivaceous Warbler / Eksångare
Common especially at Crocodile Island on 1st May and at Abu Simbel 2-3rd May. Also some single migrants along the Red Sea on 29-30th April.
Sardinian Warbler / Sammetshätta
2f at Wadi Gemal on 30th April and a few at Shams Alam on 29-30th April.
Rüppells Warbler / Svarthakad sångare
1f at the rest house in Ain Sukhna on 27th April.
Lesser Whitethroat / Ärtsångare
Common migrant.
Common Whitethroat / Törnsångare
Some single migrants along the Red Sea on 28-30th April.
Blackcap / Svarthätta
1m1f at Shams Alam on 29-30th April.
Chiffchaff / Gransångare
Some singles on migration along the Red Sea on 28-30th April.
Willow Warbler / Lövsångare
Common migrant.
Spotted Flycatcher / Grå flugsnappare
Fairly common migrant along the Red Sea 28-30th April.
Pied Flycatcher / Svartvit flugsnappare
1f at Shams Alam on 29th April.
Nile Valley Sunbird / Nilsolfågel
Fairly common at Crocodile Island and 2 at the site SE of Aswan, both on 1st May. Several at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Golden Oriole / Sommargylling
1 along the road north of Ras Gharib on 27th April, 1 at Hurghada rubbish tip on 28th April and 1 migrating at Wadi Lahami on 29th April.
Isabelline Shrike / Isabellatörnskata
2 at Shams Alam on 29-30th April and 1 at nearby Wadi Gemal on 30th April. Both birds at Shams Alam showed phoenicuroides-characteristics, the subspecies of the third bird could not be told.
Red-backed Shrike / Törnskata
1f at Shams Alam on 30th April.
Southern Grey Shrike / Ökenvarfågel
At least 2 at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Woodchat Shrike / Rödhuvad törnskata
Fairly common migrant but in low numbers, mainly around Shams Alam on 29-30th April.
Masked Shrike / Masktörnskata
Fairly common, most visited areas had 1-3 birds.
House Crow / Huskråka
25+ at Ras Gharib on 27th April.
Common Crow / Grå kråka
Common.
Brown-necked Raven / Ökenkorp
Fairly common in desert areas, 30+ both at Shalatein on 29th April and at Abu Simbel on 2-3rd May.
House Sparrow / Gråsparv
VERY common.
Spanish Sparrow / Spansk sparv
10+ at Shams Alam on 29-30th April.
Streaked Weaver / Streckad vävare
A small colony with 3 nests and at least 6 birds at Abbassa on 26th April. Introduced.
Red Avadavat / Röd tigerfink
At least 6 in the reeds on the eastern side of Crocodile Island on 1st May. Introduced.
Goldfinch / Steglits
A few at the Dashur-site on 4th May.
Trumpeter Finch / Ökentrumpetare
5 at Wadi Gemal on 30th April and a pair at Valley of the Kings on 1st May.