1 The shape and colouration of the tail; Basra Reed Warbler should show 
a dark square ended tail 
2 The grey leg colour that Basra Reed Warbler normally shows. 
3 The description of the narrow bill does not necessarily rule out the 
western race of Clamorous Reed warbler A s stentoreus, although the 
primary projection does. 
It is likely that the bird observed in Turkey was a Basra Reed Warbler 
however our field notes were not adequate to prove this beyond all 
doubt. Visitors to south-eastern Turkey should however be aware of the 
possible occurrence of this species. It is also worth noting that a Basra 
Reed Warbler was trapped in Eilat, Israel, in the spring of 1993, suggesting 
that some birds may migrate up the western side of Arabia. Although 
tentative this may add weight to the likelihood of Basra Reed Warbler 
occurring as a spring over-shoot in Turkey. 
Yves Bertault and Jean-Yves Fremont, 58, rue Laugier, 75017 Paris, France. 
A record of a possible Swinhoe's 
Petrel in the Arabian Sea 
A P Benson 
During the summer of 1989 1 was serving on board HM ships on Armilla 
Patrol in the Middle East. Whilst on this deployment we crossed the 
Arabian Sea several times but in mid-June we did so during unseasonably 
bad weather. 
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