Tunisia. Which Book??? (1 Viewer)

Johnny1 · Oct 9, 2012

I'm going to Tunisia in January for a week staying in the Port El Kantaouia area. Can anyone recomend a good bird I.D. book for the area, I've done the usual Googly search but to be honest I don't really know which books cover the area as I've never been to that part of the world before. It is not a strictly birding holliday and as I'm only going for a week I will only be birding in the local area so I don't need a 10 volume set of the Birds of North Africa! I hope someone can help.

Richard Klim · Oct 9, 2012

Svensson et al (Collins Bird Guide, 2nd Edition) is easily the best field guide for Tunisia.

eg, Amazon UK.

Johnny1 · Oct 9, 2012

Richard Klim said:
Svensson et al (Collins Bird Guide, 2nd Edition) is easily the best field guide for Tunisia.

eg, Amazon UK.

Isn't this a bird guide for the birds of Britain and Europe?

Richard Klim · Oct 9, 2012

Johnny1 said:
Isn't this a bird guide for the birds of Britain and Europe?

Yes, but it also includes the Canary Islands, Madeira, North Africa north of 30ºN, Sinai peninsula, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan – ie, most of the Western Palearctic.

deboo · Oct 9, 2012

I agree with Richard.
Collins was fine for helping me id birds I saw on a non birding hol near Djerba. I added 10+ new uns and I wasn't paying that much attention...no change there then ;-)

dave..

AmyN · Oct 9, 2012

Johnny 1

Collins is as good as any as a fieldguide, but if you are really interested in the bird distribution in this region then the book you need is Oiseaux de Tunisie/Birds of Tunisia. It is in French and English. Its a gripping read! A few photos, mainly text and distribution maps, certainly one for the anoraks.

Johnny1 · Oct 9, 2012

Richard Klim said:
Yes, but it also includes the Canary Islands, Madeira, North Africa north of 30ºN, Sinai peninsula, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan – ie, most of the Western Palearctic.

Thanks Richard I'll take a look at it.

Johnny1 · Oct 9, 2012

deboo said:
I agree with Richard.
Collins was fine for helping me id birds I saw on a non birding hol near Djerba. I added 10+ new uns and I wasn't paying that much attention...no change there then ;-)

dave..

Thanks Dave, I own a copy of the Collins so maybe I can make do with that though I thought I might need somthing more specialised. As for paying attention you sound a bit like me when the wifes talkin to me!

Johnny1 · Oct 9, 2012

AmyN said:
Johnny 1

Collins is as good as any as a fieldguide, but if you are really interested in the bird distribution in this region then the book you need is Oiseaux de Tunisie/Birds of Tunisia. It is in French and English. Its a gripping read! A few photos, mainly text and distribution maps, certainly one for the anoraks.

Thanks Amy, I might just get hold of a copy to whet my appetite for the Tunisian birds.

deboo · Oct 9, 2012

Johnny,

We were a tad further south than you're going, but saw....
Laughing Dove were all about. Spanish and Rock Sparrow on the resort. On a day trip to the Ksour I spied Black and Red-rumped Wheatear, Spotless Starling, Brown-necked Raven, Trumpeter Finch and House Bunting. Not bad for mid August!

I reckon in January you'll find some cracking birds... good luck and keep em peeled

dave...

david kelly · Oct 10, 2012

I went to Port El Kantaoui in November 1989. There were Moussier's Redstarts in a Wadi near the golf course north of the Marina. We hired a taxi to take us to some wetlands north of the resort where there were Gretaer Flamingoes as well as loads of Black-necked Grebes, ducks etc. and Marsh Harriers. One day a pair of Cranes flew over the resort too.

It may have changed since then!

David

Johnny1 · Oct 10, 2012

deboo said:
Johnny,

We were a tad further south than you're going, but saw....
Laughing Dove were all about. Spanish and Rock Sparrow on the resort. On a day trip to the Ksour I spied Black and Red-rumped Wheatear, Spotless Starling, Brown-necked Raven, Trumpeter Finch and House Bunting. Not bad for mid August!

I reckon in January you'll find some cracking birds... good luck and keep em peeled

dave...

Thanks Dave, I'm particularly interested in catching up with some of the wheatears but this won't be a strictly birding hol so my birding will be confined to the local area though I hope we'll have chance for a few trips further afield.

Johnny1 · Oct 10, 2012

david kelly said:
I went to Port El Kantaoui in November 1989. There were Moussier's Redstarts in a Wadi near the golf course north of the Marina. We hired a taxi to take us to some wetlands north of the resort where there were Gretaer Flamingoes as well as loads of Black-necked Grebes, ducks etc. and Marsh Harriers. One day a pair of Cranes flew over the resort too.

It may have changed since then!

David

Thanks for the info Dave, that wadi sounds ideal, would the wetlands North of the resort be the Sabkhet Halk El Menzel? I've been reading up on some reports and this has been mentioned in a few of them.

Tideliner · Oct 10, 2012

Johnny, many hotels in Tusina do a desert 2 day treK , part by coach and part by 4x4. I can recomend it if you are on a family holiday. Saw 5 species of lark , 5 species of wheatear , Magical Moussiers redstarts , several larks including Theaka , short toed, hoopo lark , brown necked raven , flamingoes , tons of hawfinches , spanish sparrow palid and little swift breeding in mid winter , tawny eagle , a bucket full of Kentish plovers , I could go on , but for a family holiday you can mix in some good birdwatching in one of these Sahara Treks. Your one night away is in a good hotel too , but beware of some of the stops the loos are well pretty awful to say the least.

david kelly · Oct 10, 2012

Johnny1 said:
Thanks for the info Dave, that wadi sounds ideal, would the wetlands North of the resort be the Sabkhet Halk El Menzel? I've been reading up on some reports and this has been mentioned in a few of them.

Yes they would be.

The golf course is still there on google maps but it all looks a lot tidier than it did in 1989.

Regards

David

Johnny1 · Oct 11, 2012

Tideliner said:
Johnny, many hotels in Tusina do a desert 2 day treK , part by coach and part by 4x4. I can recomend it if you are on a family holiday. Saw 5 species of lark , 5 species of wheatear , Magical Moussiers redstarts , several larks including Theaka , short toed, hoopo lark , brown necked raven , flamingoes , tons of hawfinches , spanish sparrow palid and little swift breeding in mid winter , tawny eagle , a bucket full of Kentish plovers , I could go on , but for a family holiday you can mix in some good birdwatching in one of these Sahara Treks. Your one night away is in a good hotel too , but beware of some of the stops the loos are well pretty awful to say the least.

Thanks, the trek sounds like a great way of seeing some incredible birds unfortunately we have a few other commitments while there so I don't think we'll have the time:C Will have to wait and see how things develop when we get out there.

Johnny1 · Oct 11, 2012

Cheers Dave, Ill take a look at the Google map and see if I can figure out whats what, though I don't even know which Hotel we'll be staying in yet though I'm sure it'll be near the central area.

Johnny1 · Oct 16, 2012

Recieved my Collins Bird Guide 2nd edition today and have checked it against the tunisia bird list and it seems to cover everything so thanks to all!

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