Black-tailed Godwit Limosa Umosa 
Unusually large flocks of 5,000, 
Fereydun Kenar, Mazandaran, on 24 
January 1992, and 4,400, Kamjan 
Ma rshes west of La ke Ba kh tegan / La ke 
Tashk, Pars, 29 January 1992. 
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus 
lobatus Two on Lake Tashk, Pars, 29 
January 1992. although this species 
sometimes occurs in huge numbers at 
Lake Tashk and lake Bakhtegan dur- 
ing the migration seasons, this is the 
first winter record in central Pars, and 
indeed the first winter record inland in 
Iran. 
Stock Dove Columba oenas Two near 
Lake Parishan, Pars, 31 January 1992, 
A very scarce winter visitor this far 
south in Iran. 
Long-billed Pipit Anihus similis A 
pair on a stony hillside by Lake 
Bakhtegan, Pars, 29 January 1993. 
Scarce this far west in Iran. 
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni 
In a garden in Zabol, Seistan/ 
Baluchiustan, on 21 January 1992. A 
new species for Iran - long expected. 
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca In 
woodland near Bandar Anzali, Gilan, 
23 C 1992. This constitutes only the 
second wintering record of this spe- 
cies in the south Caspian region. 
Goldcrest Regulus regulus Two in 
woodland near Bandar Anzali, Gilan, 
23 January 1992. A scarce and irregu- 
lar winter visitor to northern Iran. 
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus Two 
in reedbeds at Lake Parishan, Pars, 31 
January 1992. A scarce winter visitor 
this far south in Iran. 
Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta Many 
hundreds of birds in large flocks, mov- 
ing west in the morning and east again 
in the evening, at Lake Bakhtegan/ 
Lake Tashk,Fars,29 January 1992. The 
weather was unusually severe at the 
time, with heavy snow falls in the pre- 
ceding days and deep snow cover 
around the lakes. This was apparently 
the first time that the area had been 
under snow for many decades. 
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothranstes 
In a garden in Zabol, Seistan/ 
Baluchistan, 21 January 1992. The first 
record of this species in southern Iran, 
although it is regular in winter in the 
Tehran area and at oasis towns in the 
northern deserts. 
Israel 
Streaked Shearwater Calonectris 
leucomelas . Prom pelagic trip from Eila t, 
June (exact date unavailable). First 
record for Israel (cf Hollom et al 1988). 
H Shirihai 
Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis. 
Prom pelagic trip from Eilat, June (ex- 
act date unavailable). Second record 
for Israel. H Shirihai 
White Stork CiconifldcoMW Eightbreed- 
ing pairs this year in the Golan Heights . 
cf. 11 breeding pairs in 1991. 22 nest- 
lings were ringed. B Shai/IWRG. 
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 
Six, Elrom fish ponds, Golan, March 
mid April. Scarce passage and winter 
visitor. B Shai 
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos 
trachelioHs Sede Boquer, central Negev, 
throughout April. Scarce away from 
Yotvata, Arava valley. B Shai 
Levant SparrowhAwli Accipiterbreznpes 
Total of 22,000, Arava Valley, 20-30 
April. Above average spring passage 
(cfBB 85: 141-186). B Shai 
Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii Two 
adults. Moon Valley, Eilat, 2 April at 
least; perhaps one of the same, Mt 
Yoash, 31 March - 3 April. Several 
recent records most recently in Octo- 
ber to November 1991 (cf. Birding 
World 4:383). Bryan Bland /Sunbird, S 
Pfutzke. 
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Pair, with 
three young, En-Yhar dam, Arava, 
April. First breeding record for Israel. 
BShai 
Painted Snipe Rostra tula baiglmlensis 
En-Yhar dam, northern Arava, 23 
April, occasional winter visitor, a late 
date. B SImi 
39 
