OSME in Southern Yemen 
and Socotra 
Richard Porter and Rod Martins 
From the rocky Red Sea promontory of Bab al-Mendab east to the 
wooded monsoon hills of the Mahra; from the unique island of Socotra 
north to the ancient Wadi Hadramawt and the desert sands of the Empty 
Quarter. This was the setting for OSME's second expedition which 
journeyed to Southern Yemen and Socotra from mid March to mid May 
1993. The plan was to complement the work of OSME's first expedition 
which visited the former North Yemen in the autumn of 1985 and in this 
respect it was highly successful. 
Until twenty or so years ago, little systematic study of the wildlife of 
Yemen had been conducted due to difficulty of access both politically 
and geographically. Since then such research has increased, albeit slowly. 
However it wasn't until the unification in May 1990 of the former North 
Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic) and South Yemen (People's Democratic 
Republic of Yemen) into the Republic of Yemen that the realistic 
opportunity of work in the southern part of the country and on the island 
of Socotra was opened to OSME. 
A brief report of the first two weeks of the survey was given in the Spring 
Bulletin but here we are pleased to present a summary of the main 
achievements together with some of the ornithological highlights. 
Full details will appear in a future volume of Sandgrouse but in the 
meantime a 17 page preliminary report has been prepared (Southern 
Yemen and Socotra, Spring 1993) and can be obtained from Richard 
Porter, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Beds. SG19 2DL, UK - price £3 
including p & p (cheques payable to OSME please). 
Summary of achievements 
■ Systematic surveys of 77 areas of Southern Yemen, recording 266 bird species. 
■ Systematic surveys of 18 areas on Socotra, recording 79 bird species. 
■ Two 10-hour surveys by ship on the Gulf of Aden along part of the north coast 
of Socotra. 
■ Discovery of 4 bird species previously unrecorded in Yemen and 10 species 
new to Socotra. 
