New information on the birds of the 
Western Desert of Egypt 
Ahmed MRiad 
Introduction 
Egypt's Western Desert comprises about two-thirds of the country's 
total area yet is rarely visited by ornithologists, principally due to the 
harsh environment, its remoteness and lack of good roads. There is a 
paucity of information concerning the fauna of the Western Desert in 
general, compared to other areas of Egypt such as the Nile Valley, the 
Red Sea coastline and Sinai. Between 20-27 March 1993 I visited the 
oases of Kharga, Dakhla, Farafra and Baharya in the Western Desert. 
A second trip from 1-3 June 1993 visited Siwa Oasis. In addition I 
made several trips in 1992 and 1993 to the desert c.l20 km south of Al 
Alameen (approximately 100 km west of Alexandria), reaching as far 
as the north-eastern part of the Qattara Depression. My point of refer- 
ence for the birds of the Western Desert is Goodman & Meininger 
(1989) which included all available bird records from this region. The 
recent expansion of several species from the Nile Valley to some of 
these oases is recorded here. Species mentioned here are necessarily 
selective but are considered to be of especial significance. My trips 
have also revealed that the Dakhla Oasis is the most interesting 
ornithologically and that the Farafra and Siwa Oases are the most dis- 
sapointing. All observations are by the author. 
Systematic List 
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Several at Dakhla Oasis 22-24 March 1993 were 
the third record for the oasis. 
Osprey Pandion haliaetus One at Dakhla Oasis 22-24 March 1993 was the first 
record for the oasis. The only previous record from the Western Desert was 
of two or three birds south-east of Al Moghra on 13 April 1977 (Goodman & 
Ames 1983) 
Black-shouldered Kile Elanus caeruleus Two pairs at Dakhla Oasis 22-24 
March 1993. The first record from the Western Desert oases, indicating fur- 
ther expansion of the species away from the Nile Valley and Delta regions. 
The species is now also found on the new farms along the Cairo-Alexandria 
desert highway, in Wadi Natrun and along the northi coast as far west as Al 
Hammam (60 km west of Alexandria). 
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