A suggested 15-day itinerary, concentrating on the eastern specialities, opens the 
report and is followed by a 10-page site guide, including no less than 39 maps. 
The site guide is very comprehensive, including not only sites visited during the 
trip, but also covering additional localities gleaned from other reports. Although 
a few of the maps are somewhat basic, the majority are extremely detailed and 
should make finding most of the more difficult species 'easy'. 
A further three pages provide additional background information relating to 
food, accommodation, road conditions etc. plus details of the itinerary followed 
on the trip. The report is completed with a systematic list covering 253 species, 
including most of the Turkish specialities. 
I should like to have seen a list of additional references provided, but all in all this 
is an excellant report and an essential reference for anyone planning a trip to 
Turkey. 
Richard Webb 
Bird Songs of Israel and the Middle East By Krister Mild. 114 species on 
two audio cassettes, with explanatory booklet and checklist of Israeli 
birds. £24.95 including postage. Available from Bird Recording Services/ 
OSME Offer, PO Box 942, London ElO 6RZ, UK. 
These two cassettes are a follow up to Krister Mild's Soviet Bird Songs and are of 
a similar high standard. They cover 114 species, with a total playing time of three 
hours. As would be expected, the length and quality of each recording varies, but 
in the main the sound reproduction is good. Each species is introduced by its 
English name and a selection of recordings; for example alarm call, flight call and 
song are provided for most species. Details of the different calls, along with 
'timings' are provided in the accompanying 77-page booklet, which also 
summarises the status of each species in Israel. A bibliography is included. 
A wide range of species, the majority of which were recorded in Israel, have been 
included. The recordings include several species, such as Hume's Tawny Owl 
Strix hutleri, Dunn's Lark Eremalauda dunni, and Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus 
synoicus, for which recordings have not previously been readily available, and as 
such will be a valuable source of reference for anyone interested in Middle 
Eastern ornithology. In addition, they will undoubtedly bring back countless 
pleasant memories of trips to the area for listeners. 
The presentation pack also includes a 14-page checklist of Israeli birds, which 
details the status of each species on the Israeli list (up to and including 1989), 
season by season, using a system of codings. Israel is a popular destination with 
European birders and these cassettes should be a useful purchase for anyone 
visiting the area. 
Richard Webb 
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