root@cs.su.oz (Deus ex Machina) (01/19/91)
In article <MISAN.91Jan15171157@ra.abo.fi> misan@ra.abo.fi (Annika Forsten DC) writes: > Trip to Egypt 1-7.1.1991 > The last day was spent on the coast and in the mountains but we only saw > 4 more Hooded Wheatears. I have never seen such empty deserts before, there > were birds only near the Nile and on the coast really, all the desert > areas we went through were almost completely devoid of life. I spent a week in June near Sharm-El-Sheik on the Red Sea coast near the tip of the Sinai. I was amazed at how little life (including birds) was evident in the desert. I saw 18 species (13 lifers) but most of these were coastal birds or hanging around the town and its water. Dawn walks into the desert produced very little - beyond House Crows and beautiful desert Foxes. Fortunately I was there for the scuba diving which was excellent. The transition from barren desert to lush coral reef at the shoreline is wonderful. I did manage to get among feeding Swift terns while snorkelling. Just feet away there would be a sudden splash a black bill would plunge in followed by their feet. The only other noteworthy observation was what seemed to be range extension for House Sparrow (big deal). Andrew