4 
Occasionally they were combined as in "whee-whee, cha-cha-cha-cha- 
cha-cha-". Territorial calls were as previously described, (Martins 
1986) an alternative description being "cha-ku-ku-ku-ku" , sometimes 
with the latter "ku" notes speeded up to produce a sound reminiscent 
of the "gobbling" call of a domestic Turkey. 
Arabian Red-legged Partridge Alectoris melanocephala 
Seven at Kawkaban, 4th; two in mixed low bushes and Euphorbia scrub 
near Ta'izz sewage lagoons, 7th; five at Hajja and six near As Suq 
(east of Hajja) on 12th. A call uttered by foraging birds at 
Kawkaban was "qwick, qwick, qwick" , sounding like a distant Rock 
Nuthatch, Sitta neumayer and an alarm call delivered in flight when 
flushed was "choouw, choouw...", repeated eight times. 
Little Button Quail Turnix sylvatica 
Two in crops on the Tihamah about 10km south-east of Al Qanawis, 
12th - the second record for the YAR. The small size, rather 
uniform pale brown upperparts, extremely short rounded wings, short 
tail, whitish underparts with broad orange patch on flanks (observed 
on one bird only) , yellow iris and rapidly "whirring" flight were 
noted. 
Water Rail 
One heard at Ta'izz marsh on 8th. One previous spring (April) 
record from the same locality. 
Little Crake Porzana parva 
One at Ma' rib on 14th and at least eight on 15th, though these could 
have been present on 14th also. The second (mid) April record and 
the first for the Interior desert. 
Coot Fulica atra 
Four at Ma'rib on 14th, one remaining on 15th, indicating active 
passage on these dates. The first record for the Interior desert. 
Avocet Recurvirostra avrocetta 
Eighteen at Ta'izz sewage lagoons on 7th and 8th; two at Ma'rib on 
14th and three on 15th - the first record for the Interior desert. 
Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis 
One in poor croplands and degraded Euphorbia scrub near Ta'izz 
marsh, 7th; a pair in a small patch of Acacia tortilis woodland 15km 
east of Al Qutay, lOth and a pair in climax Acacia Euphorbia 
woodland 5km north-east of Al Midman, 11th. They must surely breed, 
though proof is still awaited. 
