Goldcrests in Egypt 
On 22 October 1989, a warm, still 
day, I was birdwatching in the 
grounds of the Hotel PLM Azur El 
Alamein at Sidi Abd El Rahman, 
30 km west of El Alamein on the 
Egyptian Mediterranean coast. 
Among the migrants feeding in 
bushes in the gardens were two 
Goldrests Regulus regulus. 
According to The Birds of Egypt, 
these are the first Goldcrests 
recorded in Egypt for 21 years, since 
one at Bahig (90 km east) on 30 October 1968. The species' status in Egypt 
is of 'a rare and irregular winter visitor'. 
There was a range of other migrant passerines at Sidi Abd El Rahman on 
22 October, including (with numbers in brackets) Tree Pipit Anthus 
trivialis, Yellow Wagtail Motacillaflava, White Wagtail Motacilla alba (45), 
Robin Erithacus rubecula (12), Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Isabelline 
Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina, Blackbird Turdus merula, Song Thrush T 
philomelos, Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis, Lesser Whitethroat S curruca, 
Blackcap S atricapilla, Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, Willow Warbler P 
trochilus, Spotted Ryca tcher Mwsdcapfl striata, Red-backed Shrike Lanius 
collurio, Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs (72 - 'a scarce winter visitor'), Brambling 
F montifringilla (three - 'rare winter visitor'). Linnet Acanthis cannabina 
and Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra. 
Derek J Evans, British International School, PO Box 137, Gezira, Zamalek, Cairo, 
Egypt 
Southernmost record of Kittiwake in 
Egypt 
On 5 May 1989, 1 was birdwatching at Ain Sukhna on the western side of 
the Gulf of Suez, 50 km south of Suez, Egypt. Perched on the pier adjacent 
to the unfinished hotel were a number of Black-headed Larus ridibundus. 
Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus and White-eyed Gulls Larus 
leucophthalmus, as well as Common Terns Sterna hirundo. Amongst them 
was a Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla in first-summer plumage, apparently in 
good health and unoiled. It was seen both perched and in flight. 
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