Trip Report for Egypt
12-22 August 2003
A typical Egypt package trip, booked from Barcelona, including Nile and Nasser Lake cruises and a final stay in Cairo. A bit less conventional was the extensive sailing in the Nasser Lake from Abu Simbel to Aswan. Few birding oportunities but excellent views from the ships, where the scope could be mounted and used extensively. Only one birder in the group of 14 persons, so birdwatching was a secondary activity and the bird list obtained is not completely exhaustive. Despite of this, superb birds were seen, 17 lifers for the author.
Itinerary:
12th August, Luxor Airport- Al Jamila cruise- Karnak and Luxor temples- Valleys of the Kings and of the Queens- Deir Al Medina- Habu Temple- Afternoon sailing from Luxor to Edfu.
13th August, Edfu Horus temple- Sailing to Kom Ombo- Kom Ombo temple- Afternoon sailing to Assuan.
14th August, Philae temple- Afternoon sailing from Aswan to Kitchener Island and to Nile’s first cataract.
15th August, Flight to Abu Simbel and transfer to the Prince Abbas for the Nasser Lake cruise- Afternoon visit to Abu Simbel.
16th August, Qasr Ibrim- Amada and Derr temples and Pennut tomb- Afternoon arrival to Ouadi el Seboua.
17th August, Ouadi el Seboua, Dakka and Moharraka temples- Navigation to Aswan.
18th August, Kalabsha, Beit el Wali and Qertassi temples near Aswan. Flight to Cairo.
19th-20th August Cairo, Giza, Saqqara and Memphis.
21th August, One-day excursion to Alexandria from Cairo.
22th August Return flight to Barcelona.
Bird list:
1. Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus): One male in the Nile (Edfu-Kom Ombo)
2. Mangrove Heron (Butorides striatus): One in the Nile (Edfu-Kom Ombo) and one in Aswan in front of the Old Cataract Hotel.
3. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis): Seen along the shores of the river
4. Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides): Fairly common along the Nile, especially between Edfu and Kom Ombo. Also at Philae.
5. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta): Very common
6. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea): One individual seen between Edfu and Kom Ombo
7. Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea): One individual seen between Edfu and Kom Ombo
8. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia): A migratory flock of more than 325 individuals soaring over Kalabsha temple near Aswan on 18th August.
9. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) 3 ex. Between Edfu and Kom Ombo
10. Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus) 8 ex. Nasser Lake, 4 near Abu Simbel and 4 near Amada temple
11. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) some along the Nile
12. Black Kite (Milvus migrans) 3 at Philae temple and more than 15 together at Abu Simbel
13. Black-winged Kite (Elanus careuleus) 1 ex over the ship crossing the river between Edfu and Kom Ombo
14. Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) 1 ex. flying over Edfu city, 1 juvenile over Philae temple
15. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) Some ex at Nile’s first cataract (Aswan)
16. Purple Swamp-hen (Porphyrio porphyrio) 2 at an island between Edfu and Kom Ombo
17. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) Fairly common between Edfu and Kom Ombo.
18. Senegal Thick-knee (Burhinus senegalensis) 2 at the shore of Nasser Lake, near Amada and Derr temples.
19. Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus) Some at the river between Luxor and Esna and also between Edfu and Kom Ombo.
20. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) 2 at Nile’s first cataract near Aswan
21. Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica) Some at different points of the river between Luxor and Kom Ombo. Also near Alexandria.
22. White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus), Common at ponds and channels near Alexandria, seen from the road.
23. Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) 5 at Abu Simbel gates
24. Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) Fairly common around: villages, roads, cities, orchards.
25. Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius), 2 flying over Ouadi el Seboua at evening.
26. Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 1 near the colossi of Memnon and another at Abu Simbel
27. Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), fairly common along the river and also at the Delta, near Alexandria.
28. Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) About 10 flying between Edfu and Kom Ombo. One at the entrance of Memphis remnants.
29. Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) 3 at Abu Simbel
30. Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) Common near hills, rocks and monuments: Edfu, Philae, Abu Simbel, Amada etc.
31. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica savignii), fairly common along the river.
32. African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp), 1 at the shore of Nasser Lake, seen with the scope, near Amada and Derr temples.
33. Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) Seen at Philae and Memphis.
34. White-crowned Wheatear (Oenanthe leucopyga) 2 at Philae, 4 at Abu Simbel (even at the ship!) and 2 at Amada temple
35. Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) 3 at Qasr Ibrim remnants, 2 at Ouadi el Seboua tamarisk bushes, near the lake’s shore.
36. Nile Valley Sunbird (Anthreptes metallicus) Some very close at Philae trees and bushes, 3 at Kitchener island in Aswan, 3 at Abu Simbel trees.
37. Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis) One from the river between Luxor and Esna.
38. Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix), Common everywhere, near cities and villages.
39. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Everywhere.
Pau Esteban
El Prat de Llobregat
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain