SYRIA TRIP REPORT
19 March to 1 April 2001
Systematic List
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
2 Al Jabbul (27/03), 55 Muhaymiddah, Suspension Bridge (29/03); Euphrates (28/03)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
25+ Al Jabbul
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
20+ Al Jabbul
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
1 Al Jabbul (27/03)
Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus)
16 flying over across Suspension bridge Deir es Zor (29/03)
Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)
1m,1f Muhaymiddah (28/03); 1m,3f Suspension bridge Deir es Zor (29/03)
Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
2 flying North in the dusk near Muhaymiddah (28/03); 33 (incomplete count) Suspension bridge (29/03), 116 Suspension bridge (29/03)
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)
1 Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 6+ Muhaymiddah (28/03); 1 Mutar, Euphrates (29/03)
Little egret (Egretta garzetta)
8 Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 1 Yarmuk reservoir (21/03); 6 Abou Driecha (26/03); 4 Al Jabbul (27/03); 6 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 2 Euphrates (28/03); 12 Mutar, Euphrates (29/03)
Great White Egret (Casmerodius albus)
50+ Al Jabbul (27/03); 4 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 2 Mutar, Euphrates (29/03)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
1 Al Jabbul (27/03), 3 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
1 Abou Driecha (26/03); 15+ Al Jabbul (27/03); 3 Euphrates (28/03); 9 flying North Suspension bridge (29/03)
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
1 Hama flying N (23/03); 3 Abou Driecha flying N (26/03)
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
2700+ flying N Hama (23/03); 1100+ flying N between Hama and Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (seen from taxi!, 24/03); 40 N Abou Driecha (26/03); 20 Al jabbul (27/03); 1 Suspension bridge (29/03); 1 Mutar, Euphrates (29/03)
Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
18 Abou Driecha
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
500+ Abu Driecha (26/03); Al jabbul (27/03)
Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
500+ Abu Driecha (26/03); Al Jabbul (27/03); 7 N Suspension bridge (29/03)
Wigeon (Anas penelope)
5 Al Jabbul (27/03); 16 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Teal (Anas crecca)
5 Al Jabbul (27/03); 35 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
1m Al jabbul (27/03); 2m Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
2m Al Jabbul (27/03); 10 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Pintail (Anas acuta)
50+ Al Jabbul (27/03); 20+ Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Garganey (Anas querquedula)
30+ Al Jabbul (27/03); 50+ Muhaymiddah (28/03); 4 Euphrates (28/03)
Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
25+ Al jabbul (27/03), 16 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris)
1 Al Jabbul (27/03); 16 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
2m,2f Al Jabbul (27/3)
Pochard (Aythya ferina)
50+ Al Jabbul (27/03); 10+ Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
23 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
1m Muhaymiddah (28/03)
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)
2m,1f Al Jabbul (27/03); 3m,4f Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Daily, top counts 43 N Apamea (22/03) and 64 N Deir es Zor (29/03)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
1 N Deir es Zor (29/03) ; 2 Palmyra Sabchat (31/03) ; 1 Palmyra mountains in the east (31/03)
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
1 migrating N Hama (22/03) ; 11ad., 1 nestling Palmyra mountains (31/03)
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
1m,1w yarmuk valley (21/03); 1onv. Apamea (22/03); 1m,1f Abou Driecha (26/03); 10+ Al Jabbul (27/03); 2 Muhaymiddah (28/03), 8m,1f Suspension bridge (29/03), 1 Mutar, Euphrates, 3 Hamad (31/03); 3m Hamad (01/04)
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
1f Abou Driecha (26/03); 1f bus Deir es Zor – Palmyra (30/03); 1f sulfite well Palmyra (01/04)
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrouros)
1m,2f Bosra (20/03); 1m Abou Driecha (26/03); 1f Al Jabbul (27/03); 4m,4f Suspension bridge migrating N (29/03); 1m Mutar, Euphrates (29/03); 2m N Der es Zor (30/03); 2m,1f Hamad (30/03); 3m,2f Hamad (31/03); 2f Hamad (01/04)
Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)
1m Hamad (01/04)
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
1 Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 1 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 2 Hama (22/03); 1 Apamea (22/03); 1 Hama (23/03); 2 Al Jabbul (27/03); 1 Muhaymiddah (28/03); Der es Zor 6 migrating N
Steppe Buzzard (Buteo (buteo) vulpinus)
Nearly daily
1 (20/03); 8 (21/03); 4 (22/03); 10 (23/03), 12 (24/03); 3 (26/03); 10+ (27/03); 18 (28/03); 2244(!) Der es Zor migration count (29/03); 34 Mutar, Euphrates (29/03); 162 from bus Der es Zor to Palmyra; 4 Palmyra (31/03)
Long–legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
3 Deir es Zor Suspenion bridge (flying N) (29/03); 3 Palmyra mountains (31/03); 2 desert 10 km beyond camp 3 (31/03)
Lesser-spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina)
5 N Hama (23/03); 1 Palmyra ruins (30/03)
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
1 imm. N Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03);1 imm. Sitting Palmyra (31/03)
Steppe/Lesser Spotted Eagle (A. nipalensis/pomarina)
1 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 1 Abou Driecha (26/03); 5 Al Jabbul (27/03); 1 N Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03); 2 Bus ride Der es Zor-Palmyra (30/03)
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
1 Lake Al Muzayrib (flying N); 3 flying N Suspension bridge (29/03); 1 Palmyra sulfite well (01/04). All observed birds belonged to the dark fase.
Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
1 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 1 Hamad (31/03)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
1 fl. N Apamea fishing ponds (22/03)
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)
2m Der es Zor fl. N; 1m Hamad (01/04)
Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
common
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
2m,1w Abou Driecha (26/03); 1 Abou Driecha (27/03); 1 Euphrates (28/03)
Chukar (Alectoris chukar)
1 Bosra fields (20/03)
Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
Mostly heard
Apamea, Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (3 seen), Abou Driecha, Muhaymiddah; 1 Hamad desert (01/04)
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
1 Abou Driecha irrigation channel (26/03); several heard Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana)
2 Abou Driecha irrigation channel (26/03)
Little Crake (Porzana parva)
1 Abou Driecha irrigation channel (26/03)
Moorhen (Gallinulla chloropus)
common on all waters
Coot (Fulica atra)
common on all major waters; 200+ Al Jabbul (26/03); 150 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 75 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio)
1 Al Jabbul (27/03)
Common Crane (Grus grus)
1 fl. N Hama Hotel (24/03); 13+25 fl. N from taxi between Hama – Quasr-Ibn-Wardn
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
5 Al Jabbul (27/03)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
8 Abou Driecha (26/03); 4 Al Jabbul (27/03); 30 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 15 temporary pond Palmyra mountains (31/03); 2 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta)
5 Abou Driecha (26/03); 3 Al jabbul (27/03)
Stone Curlew (Boerhinus oedicnemus)
1 Palmyra sabchat (31/03/01)
Cream-coloured courser (Cursorius cursor)
4 ,10 km South of camp 3 (31/03/01 Hamad region)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
50 Abou Driecha (26/03); 7 Yarmuk storage reservoir (21/03); 21 Euphrates (28/03); 6 Palmyra mountains temporary pond (31/03);11 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
15 Abou Driecha (26/03, 27/03); 25 Al Jabbul (27/03); 3 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
100+ Abou Driecha (26/03); 10 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
3 Abou Driecha salt lake (26/03); 2 displaying Hamad 10km south of camp 3; 1 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
White-tailed Plover (Chettusia leucura)
32 Muhaymiddah territorially!!!(28/03)
Spur-winged Plover (Hoplopterus spinosus)
2 Al Jabbul (26/03); 6 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
200+ Abou Driecha (26-27/03), 100+ Al Jabbul (village pond); 2 Palmyra montains temporary pond (31/03); 24 Hamad temporary pool (01/04)
Temmincks Stint (Calidris temminckii)
5 Al Jabbul small pond in the village (27/03)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
200+ Al Jabbul (27/03); 2 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
4 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 3 Apamea fish ponds (22/03); 10 Abou Driecha (26/03); 2 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 5 Euphrates (28/03); 2 Palmyra temporary pond (31/03); 2 Palmyra sulfite well (01/04)
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
30 Abou Driecha (26/03); 1 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Curlew (Numenius arquata)
5 Al Jabbul (27/03)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
1 Al Jabbul (27/03); 6 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Redshank (Tringa tetanus)
10+ Abou Driecha (26/03); 5 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
3 Abou Driecha (26/03); 4 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 1 Palmyra mountains temporary pond (31/03); 2 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
5 Abou Driecha (26/03); 5 Euphrates (28/03)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
4 Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
5000+ Abou Driecha (26/03); 500+ Al Jabbul (27/03); 32 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 2 Palmyra mountains temporary pond (31/03); 33 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
1 Al Jabbul (27/03);1 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 1 Euphrates (28/03); 2 Palmyra mountains temporary pond (31/03)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
1 Bosra (20/03); 2 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 1 Apamea fish ponds (22/03); 20+ Abou Driecha (26/03); 5 Muhaymiddah (28/03); Der es Zor Suspenion bridge; 32 Palmyra mountains temporary pond (31/03); 4 Hamad temporary pond (01/04); 2 Palmyra sulfite well (01/04)
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
19 Abou Driecha (26/03)
Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei)
500+ Abou Driecha (26/03); 500+ Al Jabbul (27/03); 20 Suspension bridge (29/03)
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
100+ Al Jabbul (26/03); 3 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 9 Euphrates (28/03); 3 Suspension bridge (29/03); 4 Hamad temporary pond (01/04); 40 Mutar Euphrates (29/03)
Great black-headed Gull (Larus ichthyaetus)
1 2j Al jabbul (27/03)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans)
1 Al Jabbul (27/03); 4 Euphrates (28/03); 22 Suspension bridge (29/03); 20 Mutar, Euphrates (29/03)
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
20+ Abou Driecha (26/03); 10+ Al Jabbul (26/03)
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
21 Al Jabbul (27/03)
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
10 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Rock Dove (Columba livia)
common
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
4 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 5 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
common near settlements
Little Owl (Athene noctua)
2 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 1 Al Jabbul (26/03); 5 Euphrates (28/03); 1 Palmyra ruins subsp. ‘lilith’ (30/03); 1 Hamad temporary pond (01/04); 1 wadi west from Palmyra (01/04)
Little Swift (Apus affinis)
20+ possibly breeding Yarmuk valley (21/03); 1 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Alpine Swift (Apus melba)
15+ Yarmuk valley (21/03); 10 Aleppo (25/03); 2 Abou Driecha (26/03); 10 Palmyra mountains (31/03)
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
100 Apamea (22/03); 100 Krak des Chevaliers (23/03)
Common Swift (Apus apus)
50+ Damascus airport (19/03); 1 Bosra (20/03); 100+ Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 10 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 10 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 200+ Aleppo (25/03); 50 Abou Driecha (26/03); many Muhaymiddah (28/03)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
2 Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 1 Abou Driecha (26/03); 1 Al Jabbul (26/03); 2 Euphrates (28/03)
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
2 Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 8 Al Jabbul (26/03); 2 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 4 Euphrates (28/03); 1 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
2 Bosra (20/03); 6 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 1 Al Hamra (near QIW) (24/03); 2 Abou Driecha (26/03); 2 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03); 2 Bus ride Der es Zor-Palmyra (30/03); 3 Hamad (01/04) ; 1 Hamad temporary pond (01/04) ; 1 Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04)
Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
1 Yarmuk valley (21/03)
Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)
common near settlements
Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)
2 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 20 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 10 Bus ride Der es Zor-Palmyra (30/03); 10 Palmyra sabkhat dunes (salt lake) (31/03); 5 Hamad (01/04); 3 Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04)
Lesser short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens)
2 Abou Driecha (26/03);
Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra)
30 singing Bosra fields (20/03); 25 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 5 Bus ride Der es Zor-Palmyra (30/03)
Temminck’s Horned Lark (Eremophila bilopha)
20 Palmyra sabkhat dunes (salt lake) (31/03); 10 desert 10 km beyond camp 3 (31/03); 30 Hamad (01/04); 5 Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04); 10 wadi west from Palmyra (01/04), commonest bird in Hamad-region.
Desert Lark (Ammomanes desertii)
1 desert 10 km beyond camp 3 (31/03); 1 Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04)
Bar-tailed Desert Lark (Ammomanes cincturus)
1 Hamad (01/04)
Thick-billed Lark (Ramphocoris clotbey)
1 Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04)
Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon alaudipes)
1 Bus ride Der es Zor-Palmyra (30/03); 25 Palmyra sabkhat dunes (salt lake) (31/03); 10 desert 10 km beyond camp 3 (31/03); 5 Bedouin camp Hamad (31/03); 3 Hamad (01/04); 3 wadi west from Palmyra (01/04)
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
100+ NW Abou Driecha (26/03); 10 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 75 N Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03); 4 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)
2 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 2 N Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
2 N Damascus airport (19/03); 50 Bosra (20/03); Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 10 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 25 Apamea (22/03); 10 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 50 Abou Driecha (26/03); many Muhaymiddah (28/03); 8 N Hamad (01/04); 7 Hamad temporary pond (01/04); 5 Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04)
House Martin (Delichon urbica)
15 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 70 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03); 2 N Hamad (01/04)
Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)
50 Apamea fish ponds (22/03); 100+ Abou Driecha (26/03)
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
2 N Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
15+ Damascus airport (19/03); 10 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 20 Apamea (22/03); 30 Bus ride Der es Zor-Palmyra (30/03)
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
1 Yarmuk reservoir (21/03); 15 Abou Driecha (26/03); 5 Abou Driecha (27/03); 1 Al Jabbul (26/03); 3 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
1 Bosra (20/03); 5 Apamea fish ponds (22/03); 5 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 20 Al Jabbul (26/03); 1 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 2 Euphrates (28/03); 3 Bus ride Der es Zor-Palmyra (30/03); 2 Palmyra mountains temporary pond (31/03)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
1 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
M. flava flava
5 Abou Driecha (26/03)
M. flava beema
2 Abou Driecha (26/03); 2 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
M. flava feldegg
5 Al Jabbul (26/03); 50 Al Jabbul (26/03); 2 Hamad temporary pond (01/04)
M. flava superciliaris
5 Abou Driecha (26/03)
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
1m Abou Driecha (26/03); 5m,1f Muhaymiddah (28/03)
White-throated Robin (Irania gutturalis)
1 beautiful male, wadi west from Palmyra (01/04)
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
L. svecica svecica
1m Abou Driecha (26/03), 1f sulfite well Palmyra (01/04)
L. svecica cyanecula
5 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 1m Abou Driecha (26/03); 1 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03); 1 Mutar, Euphrates (28/03); 1f Bedouin camp Hamad (31/03); 2f sulfite well Palmyra (01/04)
Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
1m desert 10 km beyond camp 3 (31/03); 2m,1f Bedouin camp Hamad (31/03)
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
5 Bosra (20/03); 2 Apamea (22/03)
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)
1m Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03);
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
1m Yarmuk valley (21/03); 1 Apamea (22/03); 10 Palmyra ruins (30/03); 10 Palmyra sabkhat dunes (salt lake) (31/03); 7 Hamad (01/04); 5 Hamad temporary pond (01/04); 2 wadi west from Palmyra (01/04)
Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
4 Bosra fields (20/03); 5 Palmyra ruins (30/03); 5 Palmyra sabkhat dunes (salt lake) (31/03); 5 desert 10 km beyond camp 3 (31/03); 10 Hamad (01/04); 4 wadi west from Palmyra (01/04)
Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica)
1 couples Bosra cemetery, 15 cpls Bosra fields (20/03); 10 cpls Yarmuk valley (21/03); 1 cpl Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 1m Muhaymiddah (28/03); 15 Palmyra ruins (30/03); 3 Hamad (01/04); 1 cpl wadi west from Palmyra (01/04)
Cyprus Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca)
10m one singing! Palmyra ruins (30/03); 2m Palmyra sabkhat dunes (salt lake) (31/03) ; 1m sulfite well Palmyra (01/04)
Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens)
10m Palmyra ruins (30/03); 1m Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04)
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
1m,2f Bosra cemetery (20/03)
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
1m Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 5 Hama (22/03); 1f nestbuilding Hama (24/04)
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
1 Yarmuk valley (21/03);
Savi’s Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)
2 singing Muhaymiddah (28/03);
Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)
50+ singing Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 15 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 1 Apamea (22/03); 5 Krak des Chevaliers (23/03); 5 Abou Driecha (26/03); 10 Al Jabbul (26/03); Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti)
10+ Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 1 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 4 Euphrates (28/03)
Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
2 singing Muhaymiddah (28/03); 1 sulfite well Palmyra (01/04)
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenabaenus)
3 Muhaymiddah (28/03);
Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)
2 Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 1 Euphrates (28/03); 1 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
20+ Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 10 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 5 Hama (22/03); many Muhaymiddah (28/03); Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03); 3 Mutar, Euphrates (29/03)
Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
2 Bosra fields (20/03)
Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
1m,1f Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 2 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
4 Damascus airport (19/03) ; Bosra ; 5 Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 5 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 15 Abou Driecha (26/03); many Muhaymiddah (28/03); 5 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03); 5 Bedouin camp Hamad (31/03); 1 Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04); 5 sulfite well Palmyra (01/04)
Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)
1f Suspension bridge park, Der es Zor (28/03)
Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus)
3 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 10 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Great Tit (Parus major)
1 Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 2 Krak des Chevaliers (23/03)
Iraq Babbler (Turdoides altirostris)
2 Muhaymiddah (28/03); 7 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Palestine Sunbird (Nectarinia osea)
1m Yarmuk valley (21/03);
Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)
10+ Yarmuk valley (21/03); 2 Krak des Chevaliers (23/03);
White-cheeked bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
3 Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
1 bus ride Damascus- Bosra
Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)
2cpls, 1m Bosra fields (20/03)
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
2 Al Jabbul (26/03); 1 Al Jabbul (26/03);
Magpie (Pica pica)
15 Al Jabbul (26/03); Euphrates (28/03); Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Common raven (Corvus corax)
1 Palmyra mountains (31/03);
Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix)
10 Damascus (19/03); 5 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 5 Hama (24/03); 10 Aleppo (25/03); 1 Al Jabbul (26/03); Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
common
Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis)
1m Bosra; 5 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 100 Abou Driecha (26/03); 100+ Bus ride Der es Zor-Palmyra (30/03);
Dead Sea Sparrow (Passer moabiticus)
100+ (!) Abou Driecha irrigation channel (26/03)
Pale Rock Sparrow (Petronia brachydactyla)
15 Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
5 Lake Al Muzayrib (21/03); 1 Krak des Chevaliers (23/03); 5 Abou Driecha (26/03);
Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
5 Damascus airport (19/03); 15 Bosra (20/03); 10 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 5 Krak des Chevaliers (23/03) ; 5 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); Suspension bridge Der es Zor (29/03)
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
2 Yarmuk valley (21/03)
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
3 Bosra fields (20/03); 10 Yarmuk valley (21/03); 5 Krak des Chevaliers (23/03)
Desert Finch (Rhodospiza obsoleta)
30+ Bosra fields (20/03); 2 Abou Driecha (26/03);
Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus)
2m,1f Ghadir Sjaejb al’halba temporary pond SE mountains from Palmyra (01/04)
Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)
50 Apamea (22/03); 15 Krak des Chevaliers (23/03) ; 20 Quasr-Ibn-Wardn (24/03); 50 Abou Driecha (26/03)
Cretzschmar’s Bunting (Emberiza caesia)
25+ Yarmuk valley (21/03)
For further information please contact us:-
FRANK.VANDEMEUTTER@student.kuleuven.ac.be
jan.soors@instnat.be