Common Crane Grus grus Adult, 
Yanbual-Sinaiyah, 18Novemberl990; 
first record for Yanbu, small numbers 
have wintered south of Jeddah during 
past two winters. B S Meadows 
Spur-winged Plover Hoplopterus 
spinosus Adults with three half-grown 
chicks, Yanbu al-Sinaiyah, 11 
November 1990; all previous breeding 
records between March and July. B S 
Meadows 
Sociable Plover Cfietfusw^rg^arw One, 
Yanbu al-Bahr (refuse tip), 20 
December 1 990; three previous records 
at Yanbu were in October; first record 
since 1984. B S Meadows 
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola 
One, Yanbu al-Sinaiyah, 8 December 
1990; first December record at Yanbu. 
B S Meadows 
BhtckTemChlidoniasniger One, Yanbu 
al-Sinaiyah, 1 November 1990; only 
previous record along the Saudi 
Arabian Red Sea coast was at Yanbu in 
November 1986. B S Meadows 
African Turtle Dove Streptopelia 
riseogrisea Pair, Madian Salah, 30 
November 1990; most northerly record 
to date of a species which seems to be 
expanding its range rapidly. First seen 
inthe Yanbu-Medina areain 1987, now 
seen regularly. B S Meadows 
Mourning Whealear Oenanthe lugens 
One, Yanbu al-Nakl, 23 November 
1990; two pairs, Madian Salah, 29-30 
November; juvenile, 29-30 November; 
breeds (O / lugensl) in the sandstone 
localities of the northern Hejaz (first 
discovered in 1986), now also 
established as a winter visitor (O / 
persical) to the Yanbu area. B S Meadows 
Pygmy Sunbird Anthreptes platurus 
Seven, Yanbu al-Nakl, 2 November 
1990; two, near Medina, 9 November; 
one-two, Yanbu al-Sinaiyah, 6 
November 1990 to 7 January 1991; 
winter influx north of the Tropic of 
Cancer for the second year in 
succession. B S Meadows 
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus 
Correction: the entry in Bulletin 25 
should read 'oversummered', not 
'overwintered'. 
Deseit^inchRhodospizaobsoleta Seven, 
in full breeding plumage, Khaybar, 30 
November 1990; a new locality, 
although in 1985 1 found this species as 
far south as Medina. B S Meadows 
Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus 
One, Madain Salah, 29 November 1990; 
third record in this locality since 1984; 
almost certainly resident in this area of 
extensive sandstone outcrops. 
Southerly range extension. B S Meadows 
Af ican Silverbill Euodice cantons Two, 
Yanbu al-Nakl, 6 November 1990 and 
one on 1 November; not positively 
recorded north of the Tropic of Cancer 
until February 1990. Incidentally, the 
above birds were in an area where 
feral Indian Silverbills have been 
established since 1985. B S Meadows 
United Arab Emirates 
White Stork Ciconia ciconia 25 
wintering, Digdaga fodder fields, Ras 
al Khaimah, 21 December 1990 to late 
January 1991; first flock to overwinter 
since 1985, generally rare on passage. 
C Richardson, WRP Bourne 
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus One female, 
over fodder fields at Digdaga, 5 October 
1990; fourth record since 1987, these 
birds are scarce, usually female and 
very few identified with certainty. / 
Bannon 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 
Immature soaring below Jebel Hafit 
summit (UAE's highest mountain), 23 
November 1990; believed resident in 
locality (probably in neighbouring 
Oman). First confirmed sighting in 
many years./y4 D Chapman, DRobinson 
Merlin Falco columbarius Female, 
Dubai (over Zabeel water treatment 
plant), 4 November 1990; second 
record. The first was near Abu Dhabi, 
August 1989. D Brown 
Barbary Falcon Falco peregrinoides 
63 
