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boasts a list of over 260 species - Masirah has been a difficult 
place on which to obtain detailed information. However, this has 
now been remedied in this very well compiled and presented booklet 
which provides all of the necessary information required by anyone 
birdwatching on the island. Besides the comprehensive systematic 
list, covering records up to November 1987, there are short sections 
on Masirah' s climate and vegetation; a birdwatcher's calendar of 
ornithological events; a useful list of sites to visit with 
recommendations for timing; breeding birds; and five Appendices 
covering Species Not at Present Accepted, List of Observers, Wader 
Counts, Rainfall and Temperature (1966-75) and a Bibliography. 
There is also an Addendum with details of a further four species 
added to the island's list since the main text was compiled. This 
is a valuable addition to the literature of this region and 
thoroughly recommended - at £2.00 plus postage it is excellent value 
for money. 
Geoff Welch 
Birds of Turkey 7, Acigol by Lieuwe J, Dijksen and Max Kasparek . 
1988. Price £2.00 including postage from OSME Sales . 
Acigol is a saline lake adjacent to the E24 road from Izmir to Afyon 
in south-west Anatolia (the publication states E25 but on my map the 
road is labelled E24) . The lake is the most westerly of a group of 
large lakes of which the best known is perhaps Burdur Gblii, which 
will be covered in the next number in the Birds of Turkey series. 
Birds of Turkey 7 also includes Calti Gblii, a small lake to the 
south-west of Acigol. 
The booklet follows the now familiar layout of a general description 
of the lake and its surrounding area followed by its ornithological 
importance, other fauna, human activity and nature conservation, 
birdwatching and hints for birdwatchers. The bulk of the booklet 
(21 pages) gives the status of the 203 bird species recorded in the 
area. There is a Turkish summary and reference list at the end. 
Most birdwatching activity has been in the spring (April/May) but 
only 22 species have been confirmed as breeding. The most important 
of these are Common Crane Grus grus , whose population appears to 
have been stable at about 12 pairs since the last century, and Great 
Bustard Otis tarda which appears to be declining markedly. The area 
is also important for breeding White Stork Ciconia ciconia , Ruddy 
Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea , Shelduck T, tadorna , Egyptian Vulture 
Neophron percnoptierus , Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus , 
Black-winded Stilt Himantopus himantopus , Avocet Recurviros tra 
avosetta and Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus but there is 
still mucli to clarify and discover. Greater Flamingos 
Phoenicopterus ruber might breed and confirmation is needed for 
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo , White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis and 
Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis . The status of Lamergeier 
Gypaetus barbatus and Gritfon Gyps fulvus and Black Aegypius 
