Santa Katharina Monastery Egypt
Situated in the centre of the southern Sinai Peninsula, this well-known tourist attraction is famous among birders as one of the very few reliable sites for the very local Sinai or Pale Rosefinch. The monastery lies on the slopes of Mt Sinai and its gardens attract many migrants. Wadis and hills in this area hold a good selection of typical Sinai birds and part of the surrounding area has now been designated a national park.
The rosefinch is fairly common here and often to be seen around the souvenir stalls near the car-park. Tristram's Starling is another desert speciality that occurs here and one the most sought-after Western Palearctic birds, Hume's Owl, may be found in the mountains around the monastery. This species has been found in this area but it may not be present every year. Other typical Sinai species include Sand and Chukar Partridges and passerines such as Desert and Bar-tailed Desert Larks, Rock Martin and Hooded and White-tailed Wheatears. Palestine Sunbird has been recorded and may now be established in the area. A major Western Palearctic rarity has been seen here, a Thick-billed Warbler in November 1991. Santa Katharina Monastery can be reached by road from Cairo, Suez or Sharm el Sheik, and can be visited in a day from Eilat in Israel. There is a holiday village nearby providing accommodation.
Birds
Birds you can see here include:
Chukar Partridge, Sand Partridge, Rock Dove, Laughing Dove, Hume's Owl, Desert Lark, Crested Lark, Rock Martin, Pied Wagtail, Hooded Wheatear, White-tailed Wheatear, Scrub Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Palestine Sunbird, Tristram's Starling, Greenfinch, Sinai Rosefinch
Content and images originally posted by Steve
