OLIVE PIGEON Columba arquatrix Small numbers once more recorded at al- 
Mahwit - the only known locality in northern Yemen. 
DIDRJC CUCKOO Chrysococcyx caprius Occurrence as a breeding species in 
the Mahra established. 
KLAAS'S CUCKOO Chrysococcyx klaas One observation was the third known 
for Yemen. 
AFRICAN SCOPS OWL Otus senegalensis Much commoner, with wider 
altitudinal range than previously known. 
SPOTTED EAGLE OWL Bubo africanus Occurrence established in the Mahra. 
PLAIN NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus inornatus Substantial breeding populations 
discovered in Juniper forest on Jabal Iraf and on highly arid wadi slopes 
within the Wadi Ha drama wt region, where clearly common. Only one 
previous record from Yemen. 
PALLID SWIFT Apus pallidas Substantial passage observed on south coast of 
the mainland. 
FORBE-WAT SON'S SWIFT Apus berliozi Fairly common on Socotra with up to 
40 recorded on any one day. 
MALACHITE KINGFISHER Alcedo cristata First record of probable breeding 
within Yemen, Arabian Peninsula and Asia. Only one previous (historical) 
record. 
DUNN'S LARK Eremalauda dunni Small apparently breeding population 
discovered in desert-steppe between Wadi Ha drama wt and Ma 'rib. One 
previous record. 
RUFOUS BUSH ROBIN Cercotrichas galactotes Substantial passage observed. 
SOCOTRA WARBLER Incana incana Fairly common in suitable habitat on 
Socotra with up to 20 recorded in a day. 
AFRICAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER Terpsiphone viridis Altitudinal range as 
breeding species extended onto highland plateau (of northern Yemen). 
SOCOTRA SUNBIRD Nectarima balfoun The most widespread of the Socotran 
endemics with up to 50 recorded in a day. 
SOCOTRA GRACKLE Onychognathus frater Apparently much less common 
than the non-endemic Blyth's Grackle with which it often associated. Up to 
16 recorded in a day. 
BLYTH'S GRACKLE Onychognathus blythi Fairly common in suitable habitats 
on Socotra with up to 110 recorded in a day 
SOCOTRA RUFOUS SPARROW Passer motitensis insularis Extremely common 
on Socotra with up to 200 recorded in a day. 
ARABIAN WAXBILL Estrilda rufibarba Previously undocumented population 
discovered in W 7 adi Hadramawt represents a substantial extension of 
known range to the north-east. 
ARABIAN SERIN Serinus rotlischildi Substantial extensions of known range to 
the north-east (in Southern Yemen). 
GOLDEN-WINGED GROSBEAK Rhynchostruthus socotranus The Mahra 
apparently supports the highest breeding density of this species in Yemen. 
In Socotra the local race was found to occur down to near sea-level. 
TRUMPETER FINCH Bucanetes gitlwgineus Recorded from Wadi Hadramawt, 
the second known locality in Yemen. 
SOCOTRA BUNTING Emberiza socotrana This proved to be the rarest of the 
Socotran endemics with only one recorded. 
Richard Porter & Rod Martins, OSME, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire 
SG19 2DL,UK. a 
