Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus. 
Khor Kalba, 4 January. Third record, 
most recent was in December 1992 
(Bull 30:47). 
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus. 
Singing, Murawah Island, 22 
February. Second record. Perhaps 
further indication of where the Iraq/ 
Turkey populations spend the winter. 
S Aspinall. 
Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis . 
6, Ras al Khaimah, 20 January. On 2 
March a colony of 200 birds was found 
at this site, the only known colony in 
the UAE. 
Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia 
brachydactyla. Over 1 000, near Al Ain, 
16 March. Largest flock ever in the 
UAE of this poorly known species. 
YEMEN (INCLUDING 
SOCOTRA ISLAND) 
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus 
pacificus. Singles, near Sayhut, 23 
April; and on a pelagic trip off Sayhut, 
23 April. Very few previous records. 
OSME. 
Jouanin's Petrel Buliveriafallax. 260, 
pelagic trip off Socotra, 2 April. 188, 
pelagic trip off Sayhut, 23 April. 
Breeding grounds remain unknown, 
although previously unrecorded in 
these waters at this time. OSME. 
Masked Booby Sula dactylata. Off Ras 
DiTrillit, Socotra, 4 April. OSME. 
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos 
tracheliotus. 2, Mar 'ayt springs, 1 May; 
12, between Al Ghaydah and Wadi 
Zawawh, 1 May. First confirmed 
i records and evidence that this species 
is more widespread in the Arabian 
Peninsula than previously realised. 
OSME. 
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis 
phoenicurus. Adult, Wadi Hajar, 29 
March. First record for Yemen. 
OSME. 
Arabian Bustard Ardeotis arabs. 4 & 5 
seen on consecutive days at the best 
known site and another at a new 
locality in the south-west. OSME 
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola 
nordmanni. 3, Al Qutay, 16 April. 
First record for Yemen. OSME. 
Knot Calidris canutus. South coast of 
Socotra, 3 April. First record for the 
island and second record for Yemen. 
OSME. 
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii. 1-2, Ras 
Hebak, near Hadibu, Socotra, 6 April. 
Rare in Arabian Sea area, first record 
for Yemen. OSME. 
African Scop's Owl Otus senegalensis. 
4, Jebal Iraf, 21 March. 2, Wadi 
Yashbum, 27 March. 3, Wadi 
Mararah, 27 April. Max 5, 
different area of Wadi Mararah, 
28 April. 2, Shahrut, 29 April. 
Clarification of the species' range in 
Yemen. OSME. 
Plain Nightjar Caprimulgus inornatus. 
Up to 3, Jebal Iraf, 21-22 March. 2, as 
sawn, 3 May. 3, Al Ghuraf, 3 May. 5, 
near Qatn, 4 May. Only one previous 
record for Yemen. OSME. 
Dunn's Lark Eremalauda dunni. 25, 
between Shabwa and Marib Dam in 
possible breeding habitat, 6 May. 
OSME. 
I should like to thank the following 
for their help in compiling this review; 
S Baris, Arnoud B van de Berg (Dutch 
Birding), D Evans, A Grieve, Steve 
Gantlett {Birding World), Rod Martins, 
J Mortemore, Bob Nation, John 
Oldfield, Adam Rowlands, A J Stones, 
Magnus Ullman (SOF RES), Effie 
Warr and D Whaley. 
46 
