Our search for migrating raptors was concentrated on the region of Ras 
Siyan, during the period 5-7 March. The spring movements turned out to 
be extremely frustrating to monitor. Three species - Egyptian Vulture 
Neophron percnopterus (733), Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus (134) and 
Booted Eagle Hieraeetus penmtus (953) - made up 97% of the 1,877 birds 
recorded. In general, birds began moving from 8.15am and approached 
the Ras Siyan hill from the northwest, crossing the inland lagoon at about 
50m. Up until about 9am, small numbers of birds headed out across the 
straits after gaining height over the hill, but after this time, as the wind 
increased, they tended to move off south and west; and by 11 am all 
movement had ceased on the coast. By gradually driving south, we were 
eventually able to relocate the movement. 
Our limited observations suggest that as the wind increases, the birds 
seek to gain extra height over the inland hills (about 20km from the coast 
and rising to 300-40(hn), before heading off across the straits at a height 
of over 500m. By starting off farther south, in the region of Godoria, and 
travelling on a north to northeasterly heading, the east-southeasterly 
winds drift the birds towards the nearest point on the Yemen side of the 
straits, Perim Island. Whether this is the regular pattern of the spring 
movement or just the effects of the unusual weather conditions (frequently 
overcast and very hazy, with a light shower on 7 March) during our visit 
can be revealed only by further research. 
The significance of the spring passage through Djibouti is highlighted 
when the species counts are compared with those made during 38 days' 
observation in autumn 1987. Totals for each species for 1987 and 1990 
respectively are: Egyptian Vulture 554/733; Short-toed Eagle 1,202/134 
and Booted Eagle 1,123/954. Djibouti is clearly a major site for both 
Egyptian Vulture and Booted Eagle, but the question now arises as to 
where the birds are heading. The Djibouti birds are not going to form part 
of the Suez/Eilat movement, where numbers recorded are generally 
much lower in both spring and autumn (Shirihai 1987 in Eilat an 
Intercontinental Highway for Migrating Birds); their destination probably 
lies somewhere farther east in central Russia. 
The virtual absense of migrating Steppe Eagles Aquila rapax and Steppe 
Buzzards Buteo b vulpinus this spring was also interesting, despite their 
being the most numerous species in autumn. One of our prime reasons 
for visiting Djibouti in early March was to look for these particular 
species. It is possible that we were slightly early for Steppe Buzzard, but 
Steppe Eagles should have been at their peak. Their numbers peak 
during mid-February to mid-March at Eilat. 
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