organised and smoothly run. I would like to take this opportunity also 
to thank Peter's wife, Pauline, for her assistance with the organisation 
of AGMs. 
Tom Nightingale, by his own admission not a committee person, provided 
OSME with a close link with the region, joining Council just after 
having returned to Britain from Bahrain. Although often quiet at 
meetings, Tom's comments were always pertinent and succinct. 
Whilst OSME depends on the time and committment of its elected 
Council, the Society is also very reliant on the work of its co-opted 
members. Therefore I would like to make special mention of Chris 
Tucker who also left Council after serving as Membership Secretary 
from 1991having previously been Postal Clerk. Membership Secretary is 
one of the most crucial jobs in any society as it provides the vital point of 
contact with the membership. Chris fulfilled this role admirably, not only 
maintaining the membership files but organising journal mailings and 
dealing with a wide range of enquiries about the Society, as well as typing 
up articles for the Bulletin. 
To all of the above, I express my sincere thanks for their support and 
company during their time on Council and wish them well for the future. 
Geoff Welch 
OSME at the British Birdwatching Fair 
For the fourth year running, OSME had a stand at the Bird Fair and 
attracted a lot of interest, not least because of an Arabian Breeding Bird 
photographic quiz compiled by Mike Jennings. This was rapidly dubbed 
the Most Difficult Quiz of the Fair! For those brave enough to have 
entered, the nine species depicted were as follows: 
1 Spoonbill - close examination of the chick's bill tip revealed a globular 
lump, the start of the characteristic 'spoon'. 
2 Osprey - although very young, the chick photographed already showed the 
distinctive black and white head patterning. Everyone got this one. 
3 Grey France! in - a hard one! Only one person got this right. 
4 Houbara - bustard eggs are distinctively oval and are laid directly on the 
ground. The northern Arabia locality ruled out Arabian Bustard. 
5 Spur-winged Plover - a difficult one. The chick showed the dark cap 
of the adult. 
6 Eagle Owl - many birds lay white eggs and make no nest (see Houbara!). 
Without any scale reference, this one was difficult. 
7 Red-rumped Swallow - the bottle-shaped nest is characteristic of the 
species, though nests are sometimes reused by Little Swift. 
8 Nile Valley Sunbird - the nest is distinguished by being loosely constructed 
of wool and other light fibres. 
9 Arabian Golden Sparrow - the black stick nests, sometimes built on top of 
each other in thorn trees, are very distinctive. But obviously not to those who 
entered the competition as no-one got it right! 
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