Some birds in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt (1 Viewer)

NicoleB · Oct 16, 2009

Hi there,

have tried to ID the bulk of the only one hour birding trip to the Small Pools (Sewers) here in Sharm.
Am still at loss with a few, which will probably easy ones for you

StuartReeves · Oct 16, 2009

A lot of photos to handle at once, but my first impressions are:

1,2, 3 Lesser Spotted Eagle
4, Redshank
5, 6 Steppe buzzard (a sub-species of Common Buzzard)
7, an eagle, possibly Greater Spotted
8, 9, 10, Whiskered Tern
11, Little Stint
12, Steppe Eagle
13, Turnstone
14, a lark of some sort
15, White Wagtail
16, An eagle, possibly Lesser Spotted
17, An eagle
18, Booted Eagle
19, A Black Kite and an out of focus raptor
20, 21, Black Kite
22 Black Kite and Short-toed Eagle

Cheers,

Stuart

Parker · Oct 16, 2009

Hi Nicole, I'll have a go at the ones your not sure about. The first three on the deck,
Turnstone.
Short Toed Lark
White Wagtail

The flight shots,
Not sure but an Eagle of some sort.
Poss Steppe Eagle.
Booted Eagle.
Black Kite & out of focus Short Toed Eagle.
Black Kite.
Black Kite.
Short Toed Eagle (top bird) & Black Kite.
Raptors are not my strong point. Cheers, P.

NicoleB · Oct 16, 2009

Thank you both for your effort and help!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

CAU · Oct 16, 2009

http://www.nicoleb.org/gallery/index.php?album=egypt/birdwatch&image=lesser-spotted-eagle.jpg
This looks more like a juvenile Steppe Eagle than a Lesser Spotted Eagle to me. Note that the greater coverts have broadly white tips (much broader than bird 3, which is a juvenile Lesser Spotted Eagle), but the median coverts lack white tips (except for the outermost, which show a broadly white v-pattern, something I also associate with Steppe Eagle). Do you have a picture showing a side view of the head?

http://www.nicoleb.org/gallery/index.php?album=egypt/birdwatch&image=bird-UID-6-5.jpg
This looks again more like a Steppe Eagle to me. A Greater Spotted Eagle should show white carpal commas, which this bird apparently lack. Note that a Lesser Spotted Eagle shows two carpal commas per wing, and that they are quite visible on bird 16.

http://www.nicoleb.org/gallery/index.php?album=egypt/birdwatch&image=bird-UID-2.jpg
This looks like a Steppe Eagle (note the broad white bands on the undersides of the wings).

http://www.nicoleb.org/gallery/index.php?album=egypt/birdwatch&image=bird-UID-4-1.jpg
The out of focus bird looks more like a pale morph Booted Eagle than a Short-toed Eagle to me, as it apparently has dark remiges. Note that Booted Eagles can also show a dark hood:
http://www.tarsiger.com/gallery/index.php?pic_id=komi1202716870&lang=eng

I agree with the others.

NicoleB · Oct 17, 2009

Thanks for your help, CAU!
Will change the titles accordingly.

Have a great weekend!

Bubbs · Oct 17, 2009

1. Steppe Eagle
2. LSE
3. LSE
4. Redshank
5. Steppe Buzzard
6. Steppe Buzzard
7. Steppe Eagle
8, 9, 10, Whiskered Tern
11. Little Stint
12. Steppe Eagle
13. Turnstone
14. Short-toed lark
15. White Wagtail

Flight Shots....

UID-1 Lesser-spotted Eagle
UID-2 Steppe Eagle (with damaged tail)
UID-3 Booted Eagle
UID-4 Black Kite with Booted Eagle
UID-7 Black Kite
UID-14-1 Black Kite
UID-15-2 Short-toed Eagle (top) Black Kite (bottom)

Not quite sure about No7 in the top list (6-5) being Steppe as there are all dark Spotted Eagles that show no carpal 'commas'.

John.

NicoleB · Oct 17, 2009

Thanks a million, John!!!

NicoleB · Oct 17, 2009

@CAU
Here's the one you asked for in profile:
http://www.nicoleb.org/gallery/index.php?album=egypt/birdwatch&image=lesser-spotted-2-eagle.jpg

Bubbs · Oct 17, 2009

NicoleB said:
@CAU
Here's the one you asked for in profile:
http://www.nicoleb.org/gallery/index.php?album=egypt/birdwatch&image=lesser-spotted-2-eagle.jpg

And it's a Steppe Eagle. CAU may have asked for a profile shot in order to show the gape extension...which extends to the rear of the eye.

John.

NicoleB · Oct 18, 2009

Thanks, John

Lappkrabben · Oct 18, 2009

In such a close-up you can use the often-not-possible-to-use-detail of nostrils.

The nostrils are oval in steppe eagle and round in lesser and greater sp. eagles.

NicoleB · Oct 18, 2009

Oh, useful Info indeed!
Thanks Mattias, you guys are a great pool of knowledge

Have a happy Sunday!

CAU · Oct 18, 2009

NicoleB said:
@CAU
Here's the one you asked for in profile:
http://www.nicoleb.org/gallery/index.php?album=egypt/birdwatch&image=lesser-spotted-2-eagle.jpg

Thanks! John and Mattias already explained the important details, which further confirm that the bird is a Steppe Eagle.

NicoleB · Oct 18, 2009

Thanks again, CAU

!

Some birds in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt (1 Viewer)

More options

NicoleB

Nature addict

StuartReeves

Local rarity

Parker

Uncomfortably Numb.

NicoleB

Nature addict

CAU

Well-known member

NicoleB

Nature addict

Bubbs

Well-known member

NicoleB

Nature addict

NicoleB

Nature addict

Bubbs

Well-known member

NicoleB

Nature addict

Lappkrabben

Well-known member

NicoleB

Nature addict

CAU

Well-known member

NicoleB

Nature addict

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread