Upcher's Warbler Hippolais languida One at Bulaq, Kharga Oasis 20 March 
1993. The first record for the Western Desert; there are six previous records 
for Egypt, the majority from Sinai (Baha el Din & Baha el Din 1995). 
Robin Erithacus rubecula Common at Baharya Oasis 25-26 March 1993 and one 
at Dakhla Oasis 23 March 1993. These records represent the first for Dakhla 
and the second for Baharya. The only previous record from the latter (in 1983) 
was, at the time, the only known occurrence from the Western Desert oases. 
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens Recorded in the area from c.60 km south 
of Al Alameen to the Qattara Depression (80 km south of Al Alameen) 26 
September 1992. Since then it has been recorded on several occasions, 
throughout the year, from the same area. Probably a breeding resident. 
Several were seen between 40-70 km south Marsa Matruh, on the Matruh- 
Siwa road 2 June 1993. Mourning Wheatears were previously rarely recorded 
west of the Nile; these records confirm their occurrence at several localities in 
the northern part of the Western Desert. 
Blackbird Turdus merula One at Kharga Oasis 21 March 1993, common at 
Dakhla Oasis 22-24 March 1993, fairly common at Baharya Oasis 25-26 March 
1993 and several at Siwa Oasis 2-3 June 1993. These records represent the first 
records for the Western Desert oases. Blackbirds are also found in the new 
farms along the Cairo-Alexandria highway and in Wadi Natrun. A pair had 
also taken up residence in a garden 77 km west of Alexandria on the north 
coast. 
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Small flocks at Baharya Oasis 22-26 March 1993. A 
rare winter visitor to the oases. 
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis Very common throughout Dakhla Oasis 
22-24 March 1993. Nests were found in the oasis; the first confirmed breeding 
record in Egypt (Riad 1995). House Sparrows P.domesticus were not found in 
this oasis; though they had been recorded previously in Dakhla (Goodman et 
a/. 1986). 
Acknowledgements 
I would like to thank Tom and Anne Moore for allowing me to accompany 
them on their trip to the four southern oases. Special thanks to Sherif and 
Mindy Baha el Din who were of constant assistance and have always supplied 
much encouragement. 
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