Although this count confirms the existence of a major migration route 
along the Asir mountains, the Al Hada escarpment is not necessarily the 
optimum site for monitoring all species. The reasons for the large 
fluctuations in daily numbers are unknown, but a contributory factor is 
likely to be the weather conditions, both in the immediate vicinity of the 
escarpment and farther north along the birds' migratory route. 
Acknowledgments 
Our thanks go to all those staff at NWRQ Taif and NCWCD, Riyadh who made 
this study possible and our stay in Saudi Arabia so enjoyable. Special thanks go 
to Dr Holger Schulz and Patrick Paillat who showed particular interest in our 
work. 
References 
Beaman, M and Porter, R F 1977. A 'new' raptor migration route through NE 
Turkey. Orn Soc Turkey Bull 14: 2-5. 
Welch, G and Welch, H 1991, The Autumn Migration of the Steppe Eagle Acjuila 
nipalensis. Sandgrouse 13 (1): 24-33. 
Welch G and Welch H 1988. The Autumn Migration of Raptors and other 
Soaring Birds across the Bab-el-Mandeb Straits. Sandgrouse 10: 26-50. 
Geoff and Hilary Welch, Minsmere Reserve, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk, 
1P17 3BY, UK 
Bird observations in Southern Iran 
1975/76 with particular reference to 
the Bahram-e-Gour Protected Area 
SJ Farnsworth 
I visited southern Iran as a water resources engineer from 2 June 1975 to 
1 May 1976, working mainly in the eastern part of the Bahram-e-Gour 
Protected Area, near Sirjan (Sa'idabad) (see Fig 1). The project camp site 
was located just inside the eastern boundary of the Protected Area at 
elevation +1720m, where the majority of the bird (and mammal) 
observations were made whilst carrying out project work (co-ordinates 
55° 17'E 28° 44'N). During a leave period with my wife in November 
1975, we visited Tehran, Esfahan and Shiraz, which allowed additional 
observations to be made. 
10 
