9 
Ortolan Bunting Emberlza hortulana 
One at Shibara, 4th; two in Wadi Maytam, south of Ibb, seemed 
extremely tired and are presumed to be birds on active passage 
grounded by torrential rain. 
References 
Brooks, D. J., M. I. Evans, R. P. Martins & R. F. Porter (1987). 
The Status of Birds in North Yemen and the Records of the OSME 
Expedition in Autumn 1985. Sandgrouse 9: 4-66. 
Martins, R. (1986). Spring observations on the birds of North 
Yemen. OSME Bull . 17: 2-13. 
6 Connaught Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 3BT, Great Britain. 
SELECTED BIRD OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FARASAN ISLANDS Tony Juniper 
The Farasan Islands lie at the southern end of the Red Sea in Saudi 
Arabian waters. The main archipelago is situated in the southern 
portion of the larasan bank between 16°20'N and 17°10'N and 41°30'E 
and 42°30'E. There are about 40 named islands the largest of which 
is Farasan Kebir. 
During March and April 1988 a team from the Saudi Arabian National 
Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) and the 
Ecology and Conservation Unit of University College London undertook 
fieldwork to collect information for conservation management plans. 
Three sites were visited one of which was the Farasan Islands. 
Apart from holding an important population of Arabian Gazelle 
Gazella gazella the main features of conservation Interest are 
related to the marine and littoral environments. Coral ecosystems, 
Rhizophora mangrove stands, populations of marine reptiles and 
mammals and colonies of breeding seabirds are important in either a 
national or international context. Most of the seabirds nest 
outside the time of our visit and it is not possible to comment on 
these; however, Jennings (1988) has dealt with the status of these 
species and there is little to add. Another ornithological feature 
which may be of importance in conservation terms are numbers of 
visiting shorebirds and terrestrial migrants but at this stage It Is 
impossible to estimate their numbers or to assign significance. 
Although little systematic ornithological work took place our 
observations revealed five "new" species of terrestrial bird which 
are possibly breeding. Breeding of the Kentish Plover Charadrius 
alexandr i nus was also proved. The five "new" possible breedor; - 
as follows: 
Black Kite Milvus migrans A pair (not of the arabs race^ were 
observed carrying nest material Into a palm on Segid which Is the 
second largest island. 
