Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Hurghada Birds

The gulls in Hurghada roost on a half-finished resort just going out of town to the north. There is a real mixture there. There may be more than I could tell.

Armenian Gull (Larus armenicus)

This is a first winter Armenian Gull at the back standing with some adults in front sitting down.

Heuglin’s Gull (Larus heuglini) – first winter

The black patch at the end of the dark bill gives me some sort of clue about this Heuglin’s Gull.

Heuglin’s Gull (Larus heuglini) adult

The adult Heuglin’s Gull has a red ring around the eye with a patch on the bottom bill.

Sooty Gull (Larus hemprichii)

The only all dark gull with a white patch at the top of the eye.

White-eyed Gull (Larus leucophthalmus)

The White-eyed Gull is essentially a Red Sea endemic. There is a white patch below and above the eye.

And that is the end of Egypt. Next post is from Istanbul, Turkey. More gulls. Probably the same ones.

Hurghada bird list

Armenian Gull (Larus armenicus)
Heuglin’s Gull (Larus heuglini)
Sooty Gull (Larus hemprichii)
White-eyed Gull (Larus leucophthalmus)

El Quseir Birding

What a horror of a journey getting to the Red Sea. I set off this morning hoping to catch the 10am bus to Hurghada and getting off at Safaga. But no 10am bus. So I went to GoBus and booked a ticket for the 3:30pm VIP bus. Dejected, I went and had a turkish coffee. While in the cafe, I met a guy who said he could get me on a mini-bus to Safaga. So off I went to the mini-bus station. But the first bus would not take me because tourists were not allowed to travel by minibus. But we found another driver and off I went. No hassles, except we went via Al Qusair which is more south than Safaga. So I got off there and found a hotel.

White-eyed Gull (Larus leucophthalmus) in flight

A flock of these White-eyed Gulls came wheeling towards me when I was on a wharf in the harbour. They flew around in circles for a while until they settled in what appeared to be an old swimming pool.

White-eyed Gull (Larus leucophthalmus)

I hurried up the road, crashed through a cafe and started clicking away at these White-eyed Gull in front of a bunch of yuppies sipping on their lattes. Satisfied after I had shot enough photos, I trudged off past all the yuppies and back through the cafe to the street, triumphant. A new species!

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

This Common Greenshank had only one shank. It looked like something had bitted one off!

Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)

There were not many waders along the shore. These were the only three there.

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaulti)

At the end of the day, I found a great hotel on the sea-shore, I went for a walk along the beach, got ripped off, had a super cheap felafel meal and coffee, and I have erratic wifi. Tomorrow I must find a way to get to Marsa Alam. It is the weekend but I managed to book a guest house for a couple of nights. Christmas is coming up – I wonder where I shall spend it? Probably near Hurghada.

Red Sea Bird List

White-eyed Gull (Larus leucophthalmus)
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaulti)

Desert and Canals

This morning I rented a bicycle and headed west from the hostel into the desert. I went past where all the tombs were but no birds at all. I did find some birds around the canals.

Egyptian Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica savignii)

I have been trying to get some photos of the Egyptian Barn Swallow and finally found some on the wires. This is the Egyptian race, savignii.

Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)

This is the nominate race Barn Swallow for comparison. The tummy is white as compared to the red of the Egyptian Barn Swallow.

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

There were quite a few Black-winged Kites around lurking on the overhead wires.

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

At first I thought it was a Nile Valley Sunbird, but I was disappointed. doh!

Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus)

I am not sure if this is the Egyptian race, arsinoe whose range is Egypt (Nile Valley), eastern Chad, Sudan, and northern South Sudan.

Luxor bird list

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Egyptian Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica savignii)
Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) or Egyptian Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus arsinoe)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Luxor Birding 2

18/12/2017 Morning. Once again I set off along the river bank heading north at Luxor west bank. The sun was shining at ninety degrees. I thought it might be behind me but it was not.

Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)

This is the first time I have seen a Greater Painted-snipe. Lucky.

Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)

This Red-throated Pipit still has some summer plumage left.

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Little Stint (Calidris minuta)

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)

Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)

Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)

Luxor Bird LIst

Greater painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
Egyptian Barn Swallow
Common Hoopoe
Terek Sandpiper
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Ruff
White Wagtail
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava beema)
Glossy Ibis
Purple Heron
Black Kite
Common Moorhen
Zitting Cisticola
Graceful Prinia
Spur-winged Lapwing
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)