Requests 
Colour-marked waders in The Gulf 
In the course of studies on the effects of oil pollution on birds in the Gulf, 
more than 1,000 coastal Palearctic migrant waders had their underparts 
dyed yellow with picric acid during spring and autumn 1991 at Jubayl 
Industrial City on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. The species involved 
were mainly Dunlin Calidris alpina, Little Stint Calidris minuta, Lesser 
Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, and Kentish Plover Charadrius 
alexandrinus. Any observers who see colour-marked waders in the Gulf 
region or elsewhere are kindly requested to report sightings to Mike 
Evans, ICBP, 32 Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge CBS OP], UK. 
Ruddy Ducks in the Middle East 
I am working on the distribution of the Ruddy Duck in the Western 
Palearctic. 1 should be extremely grateful if any reader could send me any 
information of its occurrence in the Middle East or North Africa. All 
contributions will be acknowledged in my work. Marcello Grusso, v. 
Cagliari, 2, 09095 MOGORO (OR), Italy. 
Vagrant birds in Seychelles 
A Records Committee has been established to collate data on birds in the 
Republic of Seychelles, which also includes the coral limestone atolls of 
the Amirantes, Providence, Farquhar and Aldabra groups. It will assess 
and publish records of vagrants, as well as monitoring the populations 
of breeding species and migrants, with the ultimate aim of producing a 
full check-list. The members are Ian Bullock, Chris Feare, James Furguson- 
Lees (chairman), David Fisher, Ron Gerlach, John Phillips and Adrian 
Skerrett (secretary), all of whom have spent much time in the islands. 
Past and present observations are needed of any species that have been 
reported less than annually. Lists are available from Adrian Skerrett, PO 
Box 336, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles, to whom all records should be sent. 
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