Participants: Pekka Fågel, AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, Gary Brown and Irina Mazurkevich.

Transcription

1 A trip to Socotra, Yemen 4-9 December 2008 By AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan Participants: Pekka Fågel, AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan, Gary Brown and Irina Mazurkevich. Introduction The Socotra Archipelago is part of the Republic of Yemen and is situated in the north-western part of the Indian Ocean, 400km from mainland Yemen. It consists of the main island Socotra of 3600km², Abd al Kuri 162 km², Samha 45 km², Darsa 10 km² and some guano-covered rocks Ka l Fir awn. Socotra holds six full species of endemic birds and more than six endemic subspecies, 850 plants 40% of which are endemic to the island. Dragon s Blood tree Dracaena cannibari and Cucumber Tree Dendrosicyos socotrana are two of the more conspicuous interesting trees endemic to the Island of Socotra. The herpetofauna of the main island Socotra consists of up to 26 terrestrial species and forms, 65% of which are thought to be endemic. The lizards of the Socotra contain one endemic member of the family Chamaeleonidae, 15 of the Gekkonidae family 11 of which are endemic, 2 endemics of the family Scincidae and one endemic of the Lacertidae family. The Serpentes (snakes) of Socotra include 6 endemics, one of the family Typhlopidae, 3 of the family Leptotyphlopidae and two of the family Colubridae. The main aim of the trip was to see and photograph the endemic birds of Socotra. These are (1) Socotra Cisticola Cisticola haesitatus, (2) Socotra Warbler Cisticola incanus (Incana incana), (3) Socotra Starling Onychognathus frater, (4) Socotra Sunbird Chalcomitra balfouri, (5) Socotra Sparrow Passer insularis and (6) Socotra Bunting Emberiza socotrana. The endemic subpecies are as follows: (1) Socotra Buzzard Buteo (socotranus), (2) Socotra Scops Owl Otus sunia/socotranus taxonomy under discussion. (3) Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis uncinatus (4) Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix nigriceps forbeswatsoni (5) Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus socotranus (6) Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis sokotrae (7) Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Embriza tahapisi insularis (8) Forbes-Watson s Swift Apus berliozi berliozi endemic breeder in Socotra winters Africa (9) Jouanin s Petrel Bulweria fallax endemic breeder in Socotra. Socotra Bunting by Pekka Fågel 1

2 Socotra Cisticola by Pekka Fågel Socotra Sunbird by Pekka Fågel 2

3 Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak by Pekka Fågel Socotra Warbler by A. Al-Sirhan 3

4 Socotra Bunting by A. Al-Sirhan Socotra Cisticola, juvenile by A. Al-Sirhan 4

5 Socotra Sparrow by Pekka Fågel Socotra Starling by Pekka Fågel Trip Reports The trip reports below were quite useful and informative. Socotra, Yemen 12 th - 20 th January 2006, by Dave Sargeant. Yemen, including Socotra Jan 13-25, 2007, by Jon Hornbuckle 5

6 ACK OWLEDGEME TS We are most grateful for help from Dave Sargeant who supplied us GPS coordinates file to download to our GPS receiver and to Richard Porter who supplied us the current bird checklist of Socotra and to Ahmed Saeed Suliman Saeed who accompanied us to find the Socotra Bunting, Socotra Scops Owl and Lichtenstein s Sandgrouse, and also to Rösler & Wranik who identified some reptiles from our photographs. Socotra Buzzard by A. Al-Sirhan 6

7 Itinerary Thursday 4 December Our taxi driver met us at 5am at our Hotel (Felix Arabia Hotel) and drove towards Shibam and Kawkaban, although it was dark the restaurants began to open and we stopped for breakfast in Sana a. On our way the sun began to rise and we saw a wheatear in a flat desert area, stopped at N E and followed the Wheatear to photograph it and then found another wheatear they were all Red-breasted Wheatears. Then we saw a flock of 30 Yemen Serins. While driving we saw 4 Brown-necked Ravens, 6 Red-breasted Wheatears, 10 Spectacled Bulbuls and Black Redstarts. Then we reached a Wadi at N E at this Wadi we saw many raptors, Griffon Vultures 2, Steppe Eagles 10, Imperial Eagles 4, Greater Spotted Eagles 2, Fan-tailed Raven 6, Yellow-billed Kite 8, Lanner Falcon 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Dusky Turtle Dove 20, Arabian Babbler 5, Long-billed Pipit 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Black Redstart 3. We then drove to Kawkaban at 3000m elevation, we found Hamerkop 1, Yellow-billed Kite 2, Blue Rock Thrush 3, Green Sandpiper 1, Red-breasted Wheatear 2. We drove toward a small town and had lunch then drove toward a vegetated Wadi at N E at this small Wadi we found South Arabian Wheatears 2, Palestine Sunbird 1, Graceful Prinia 1, Black Redstart 1, Abyssinian White-eye 2, House Sparrow 4, Yellow-billed Kite 2, Brown Woodland Warbler 2, Brown-necked Raven 4. At another small Wadi at N E we found the following, Tristram s Grackle 3, Palestine Sunbird 4, Arabian Serin 1, Brown woodland Warbler 2, Yemen Warbler 2, Graceful Prinia 3, Black Redstart 2, Red-eyed Dove 1, Dusky Turtle Dove 3, Spectacled Bulbul 3, Arabian Stonechat (Saxicola torquata felix) 4, Friday 5 December Our flight to Socotra was at 6am so we left the hotel at 3.30am. We arrived in Socotra at 9am. At the airport we first saw five Egyptian Vultures. On our way to the hotel we saw 9 Somali Starlings and one Sooty Gull. We then checked in at Taj Hotel, soon departing for our first trip on the island to Wadi Dihazafaq. On our way, we stopped at Khor Sirhin where we saw a Glossy Ibis 1, Eurasian Teal 2, Greenshank 1, Ringed Plover 1, Moorhen 2, Kentish Plover 2, Dunlin 2, Ruddy Turnstone 6. At Wadi Dihazafaq we saw Socotra Sparrows 2, Egyptian Vultures 2, Isabelline Wheatear 2, Pied Wheatear 1, Somali Starling 3, Long-billed Pipit 2, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark 20, a Skink and a Gecko of the genus Pristurus. At the hotel there were about 20 Egyptian Vultures and two Heuglin s Gull at the dumping area we also saw a Kite flying overhead but were not able to see whether it was Black or Yellow-billed. After lunch, we left the hotel at 2pm towards Deham village to see the Socotra Cisticola, on our way we saw 11 House Crows and two Socotra Cormorant. In Deham we saw six Socotra Cisticolas two of which were juveniles, Long-billed Pipit 3, Socotra Sparrow 2, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark 10. We also stopped at Khor Sirhin to see Laughing Dove 6, White Wagtail 1, Greenshank 1, Black-winged Stilt 3. Saturday 6 December We left the hotel at 4am to arrive on the Dixem Plateau by 5am, remaining there until 11.30am. Birds encountered there included Socotra Starling 6, Somali Starling 4, Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak 1, Socotra Warbler 2, Socotra Sunbird 2, Abyssinian White-eye 2, Socotra Sparrow 5, Egyptian Vulture 8, Common Kestrel, Long-billed Pipit 3 (on our way), Southern Grey Shrike 1, Peregrine Falcon 1, Forbes-Watson Swift 5. In the afternoon Ahmed Saeed Suliman requested our driver, Eiad, to take us to a place called Houla N E to see Lichtenstein s Sandgrouse. Along the coast we saw Heuglin s Gull 6, Steppe Gull 6, Sooty Gull 15, Greater Crested Tern 15, Lesser Crested Tern 150, Sandwich Tern 6. In Houla we saw Long-billed Pipit 8, Socotra Cisticola 6, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark 6 including one juvenile, Desert Wheatear 2. We then went to Khor Quryah to see the Lichtenstein s Sandgrouse at their drinking place after sunset. At Khor Quryah we saw Abyssinian White-eye 3, Laughing Dove 3, Brown Booby 1. Lichtenstein s Sandgrouse 4 came to drink when it was too dark to photograph the birds. We left the place at 6pm. Sunday 7 December We left the hotel at 5:45am and headed towards Wadi Ayhaft ational Park, arriving there at 7:15am. We saw Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak 2, Socotra Warbler 1, Socotra Sunbird 6, Abyssinian White-eye 10, Bruce s Green Pigeon 5, Laughing Dove 25, Socotra Buzzard 5, and Socotra Sparrow 25. In our way to the Wadi Ayhaft National 7

8 Park we saw Long-billed Pipit 2, Socotra Sparrow 12, Laughing Dove 12, Socotra Sunbird 15, and Western Reef Heron 1 and also found a Socotra Chameleon Chamaeleo monachus. In the afternoon we left at 2:13pm to Houla for the Lichtenstein s Sandgrouse, stopping at Khor Sirhin on the way to observe Garganey 2, Eurasian Teal 5, Glossy Ibis 3, Northern Shoveler 2, Moorhen 2, Black-winged Stilt 4, Greenshank 1, Osprey 1, Little Egret 1. At sea side we saw Sooty Tern 20, Sandwich Tern 6, Greater Crested Tern 2, Little Stint 2, Socotra Cormorant 3. At Houla we found Lichtenstein s Sandgrouse 1, Long-billed Pipit 6, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark 4, Socotra Cisticola 6. We then went to Wadi Shoq before sunset to find Socotra Scops Owl 1, Bruce s Green Pigeon 3, Laughing Dove 10, Lichtenstein s Sandgrouse 2. Monday 8 December 8 December was an Islamic holiday, Adha Eid so Ahmed Saeed Suliman had asked us to come late at 8.30am. Ahmed drove us to the Dixem Plateau in search of the elusive Socotra Bunting that we couldn t find on our last visit there. On our way to Dixem we 3 Sooty Gulls were noted along the coast, and at higher elevation we stooped to observe Socotra Warbler 3, Socotra Sunbird 2, Somali Starling 2. On the Dixem Plateau we found Southern Grey Shrike 7, Long-billed Pipit 10, Desert Wheatear 1, Common Kestrel 1, Socotra Buzzard 3, Brown-necked Raven 2, Rock Martin 1, Socotra Bunting 8, Socotra Starling 14, Somali Starling 16, Isabelline Wheatear 2. In the afternoon we travelled west along the coast we found Eurasian Curlew 1, Desert Wheatear 1, Turnstone 4, Grey Plover 1. Tuesday 9 December The plan was to drive to Qalansiyah and then take a boat trip towards the cliffs and mangroves on the west coast. However, the sea was too rough, so we decided to go bird watching around Khor Qalansiyah. On the way to Qalansiyah, we noted: Socotra Cormorant 1, Grey Heron 1, Brown-necked Raven 4, Long-billed Pipit 1, Isabelline Wheatear 1, Peregrine Falcon 1, Egyptian Vulture 20, Steppe Gull 20, Socotra Starling 2, Southern Grey Shrike 2. At Khor Qalansiyah we found: Barn Swallows 2, Gull-belled Tern 1, Temminck s Stint 1, Cattle Egret 1, Redshank 1, Wood Sandpiper 3, Black-winged Stilt 20, Steppe Gull 30, Somali Starling 3, Little Stint 3, Socotra Cormorant 1, Brown Booby 30, Western Reef Heron 3, Garganey 4, Eurasian Teal 2, Marsh Sandpiper 2, Whimbrel 1, Indian Pond Heron 3, Common Sandpiper 2, Greater Crested Tern 10, Sooty Gull 10. In the afternoon, we drove back to Hadibo and went birdwatching at Khor Sirhin. There we observed: Yellow Bittern 2, Glossy Ibis 2, Temminck s Stint 4, Common Snipe 2, Black-winged Stilt 10, Green Sandpiper 1, Wood Sandpiper 1, Common Kestrel 1, Little Ringed Plover 3, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting 3, Abyssinian White-eye 3. Wednesday 10 December Two of us (Abdelrahman and Pekka) took the early morning flight at 6am to Sana a then to Kuwait to arrive in Kuwait at 8.25pm. Gary and Irina remained for another week on the island to concentrate more on the flora and vegetation, although birds were also occasionally noted. 8

9 Species seen in Yemen Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta umbretta, 1 Yellow-billed Kite, Milvus aegyptius, 12 Eurasian Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus fulvus, 2 Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus nisus, 1 Greater Spotted Eagle, Aquila clanga, monotypic, 2 Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis orientalis, 10 Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca, monotypic, 4 Lanner Falcon, Falco biarmicus, 1 Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus, 1 Red-eyed Dove, Streptopelia semitorquata, 1 Dusky Turtle Dove, Streptopelia lugens, 23 Long-billed Pipit, Anthus similis arabicus, 1, endemic subspecies to South Arabia White Spectacled Bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, monotypic, 13 Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros, 7 Arabian Stonechat Saxicola torquata felix, 4, endemic subspecies in Southwest Arabia Red-breasted Wheatear, Oenanthe bottae bottae, 12, endemic subspecies to Southwest Arabia Abyssinian Black Wheatear, Oenanthe lugubris, 2 Blue Rock Thrush, Monticola solitarius, 3 Graceful Prinia, Prinia gracilis yemenensis, 4 9

10 Yemen Warbler, Sylvia buryi monotypic, 2, endemic to Southwest Arabia Lesser Whitethroat, Sylvia curruca, 2 Abyssinian White-eye (Zosterops abyssinicus arabs), 2 Brown Woodland Warbler, Phylloscopus umbrovirens yemenensis, 4, endemic subspecies to Southwest Arabia. Arabian Babbler, Turtoides squamiceps yemensis, 5 Palestine Sunbird, Cinnyris osea osea, 5 Brown-necked Raven, Corvus ruficollis, monotypic, 8 Fan-tailed Raven, Corvus rhipidurus, 6 Tristram s Starling, Onychognathus tristramii, 3 House Sparrow, Passer domesticus indicus, 40 Olive-rumped Serin, Serinus rothschildi, 1, endemic to Southwest Arabia Yemen Serin, Serinus menachensis, monotypic, 30, endemic to Southwest Arabia Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Embriza tahapisi arabica, 1, endemic subspecies to Southwest Arabia. 10

11 Lichtenstein s Sandgrouse by Gary Brown Socotra Scops Owl by Gary Brown 11

12 Species seen in Socotra orthern Shoveler Anas clypeata and passage migrant Two at Khor Sirhin on 7/12 Garganey Anas querquedula and passage migrant Two at Khoe Sirhin on 7/12 and four at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca and passage migrant Two at Khor Sirhin on 5/12, five at Khor Sirhin on 7/12, and two at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus & passage migrant One at Khor Sirhin on 5/12, three at Khor Sirhin on 7/12, and two at Khor Sirhin on 9/12 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Vagrant Two at Khor Sirhin on 9/12 Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii. Three at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis and passage migrant. May breed. One at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea One at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Little Egret Egretta garzetta & passage migrant One at Khor Sirhin on 7/12 Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis & passage migrant One on the coast on our way to Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12, and one at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Brown Booby Sula leucogaster plotus Breeds; offshore throughout the year 30 at Qalansiyah on 9/12 and one sick bird at Khor Quryah on 6/12 Socotra Cormorant Leucocarbo nigrigularis and winter visitor. Three at coast next to Khor Sirhin on 7/12, and one at Qalansiyah on 9/12 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus archeri One on 6/12 and on 8/12 on our way to Dixem Plateau, one at Khor Sirhin on 9/12. Also noted by Gary on the Nuged Plain (12/12) Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus One on the Dixem Plateau on 6/12, another one on 9/12 just west of Hadibo on the way to Qalansiyah 12

13 Osprey Pandion haliaetus One at Khor Sirhin on 7/12 Black/ Yellow-billed Kite Milvus migrans/ aegyptius Vagrant One was flying close to Taj Hotel on 5/12 Egyptian Vulture eophron percnopterus. Was seen every day with a maximum of up to 50 individuals Socotra Buzzard Buteo (socotranus), endemic to Socotra Five at Wadi Ayhaft National Park on 7/12, three at Dixem Plateau on 8/12. Gary also saw one on the cliffs above the Nuged Plain on 12/12 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Uncommon visitor. May breed. Two on 5/12, another two on 7/12 all at Khor Sirhin Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus and probably winter visitor and passage migrant Three on 5/12 and four on 7/12 at Khor Sirhin, 20 at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola and passage migrant One was seen along the coast west of Hadibo on 8/12 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula and passage migrant One at Khor Sirhin on 5/12 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius and passage migrant Three at Khor Sirhin on 9/12 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus and winter visitor Two at Khor Sirhin on 5/12 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago and passage migrant Two at Khor Sirhin on 9/12 Whimbrel umenius phaeopus and passage migrant One at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Eurasian Curlew umenius arquata and passage migrant One along the coast west of Hadibo on 8/12 Common Redshank Tringa totanus and passage migrant One at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 13

14 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Vagrant Two at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia and passage migrant One at Khor Sirhin on 5/12, and one at 7/12 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus and passage migrant One at Khor Sirhin on 9/12 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola and passage migrant Three at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12, and one at Khor Sirhin on 9/12 Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos and passage migrant Two at Khor Qalansiyah on 8/12 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres and passage migrant Six at Khor Sirhin on 5/12, and four west of Hadibo on 8/12 Little Stint Calidris minuta and passage migrant Two at Khor Sirhin on 7/12, and three at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii and passage migrant One at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12, and four at Khor Sirhin on 9/12 Dunlin Calidris alpina and passage migrant Two at Khor Sirhin on 5/12 SOOTY GULL Larus hemprichii and winter visitor Fifteen east of Hadibo on 6/12, seven east of Hadibo on 7/12, and three on 8/12, and ten at Khor Qalansiya. Up to 30 at several spots along the coast heading towards the east (Gary, 11/12) Heuglin's Gull Larus heuglini Five at Khor Sirhin on 5/12, six east of Hadibo Steppe Gull Larus heuglini barabensis Rare winter visitor Six east of Hadibo on 6/12, and twenty at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Rare winter visitor and passage migrant. One at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis and passage migrant One hundred and fifty east of Hadibo on 6/12 14

15 Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis and passage migrant Six east of Hadibo on 6/12, another six east of Hadibo on 7/12 Greater Crested Tern Sterna bergii and passage migrant Fifteen east of Hadibo on 6/12, two east of Hadibo on 7/12, and ten at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Lichtenstein's Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii Four at Khor Quryah on 6/12, one at Houla on 7/12. Gary photographed a male in Croton scrub at the mouth of Wadi Dihazafaq on 14/12/2008 Feral Pigeon Columba livia x forma domestica ; introduced Up to ten were seen around villages Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Sokotrae, endemic subspecies to Socotra. Six at Khor Sirhin on 5/12, six at Khor Quryah on 6/12, twenty five at Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12, and ten at Wadi Shoq on 7/12 Bruce's Green Pigeon Treron waalia Five at Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12, three at Wadi Shoq on 7/12. At least five in Wadi Ayheft on 14/ (Gary). Socotra Scops Owl Otus sunia/socotranus ; taxonomy under discussion One at Wadi Shoq on 7/12 Forbes-Watson Swift Apus berliozi Breeding visitor Five at Dixem Plateau on 6/12 Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis uncinatus, endemic subspecies to Socotra One at Dixem Plateau on 6/12, seven at Dixem Plateau on 8/12, and two at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 House Crow Corvus splendens Arrived on boat and now breeding; subject of control programme. Eleven west of Hadibo on 5/12 Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis Two at Dixem Plateau on 7/12, and four at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12. 1 on Nuged Plain (Gary, 13/12/2008) Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Passage migrant Two at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula One at Dixem Plateau on 8/12 Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix nigriceps forbeswatsoni, endemic subspecies to Socotra Twenty at Wadi Dihazafaq on 5/12, ten at Deham on 5/12, six at Houla on 6/12, and four at Houla on 7/12. Gary noted a few individuals on the Nuged Plain

16 Socotra Cisticola Cisticola haesitatus, endemic species to Socotra Six at Deham on 5/12 including two juveniles, six at east of Hadibo on 6/12, and six at Houla on 7/12 Socotra Warbler Cisticola incanus (Incana incana), endemic species to Socotra Two at Dixem Plateau on 6/12, one at Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12, and three at Dixem on 8/12 Abyssinian White-eye Zosterops abyssinicus socotranus Two at Dixem Plateau on 6/12, three at Khor Quryah on 6/12, ten at Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12, and three at Khor Sirhin on 9/12 Somali Starling Onychognathus blythii Nine at our way to our Hotel on 5/12, three at Wadi Dihazafaq on 5/12, four at Dixem Plateau on 6/12, eighteen on 8/12 at Dixem, and three at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Socotra Starling Onychognathus frater, endemic species to Socotra Six at Dixem Plateau on 6/12, fourteen at Dixem Plateau on 8/12, and two at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina and passage migrant Two at Wadi Dihazafaq on 5/12, two at Dixem Plateau on 8/12, and one at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka and passage migrant One at Wadi Dihazafaq on 5/12 Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti and passage migrant Two at Houla on 6/12, one at Dixem Plateau on 8/12, and one west of Hadibo on 8/12 Socotra Sunbird Chalcomitra balfouri, endemic species to Socotra Two at Dixem Plateau on 6/12, Seven at Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12, two at Dixem Plateau on 8/12. Up to five in the lower reaches of Wadi Ayhaft (Gary ) Socotra Sparrow Passer insularis, endemic species to Socotra Two at Wadi Dihazafaq on 5/12, two at Deham on 5/12, five at Dixem Plateau on 6/12, twenty five at Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12, twelve on our way to Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12. Common also in the south of the island (Gary), White Wagtail Motacilla alba and passage migrant One at Wadi Sirhin on 5/12, two at Khor Qalansiya on 9/12 Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis sokotrae, endemic subspecies to Socotra Two at Wadi Dihazafaq on 5/12, three at Deham on 5/12, three in our way to Dixem Plateau on 6/12, eight at Houla on 6/12, two at Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12, six at Houla on 7/12, ten at Dixem Plateau on 8/12, and one at Khor Qalansiyah on 9/12 Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus socotranus, endemic subspecies to Socotra One at Dixem Plateau on 6/12, and two at Wadi Ayhaft on 7/12 16

17 Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi insularis, endemic subspecies to Socotra Three at Khor Sirhin on 9/12 Socotra Bunting Emberiza socotrana, endemic species to Socotra Eight at Dixem Plateau on 8/12 References Porter, R.F., Christensen, S. and Schiermacker-Hansen (1996) A Field Guide to the Birds of the Middle East. Birds of the Socotra Archipelago with status at November 2008 by R.F. Porter and Ahmed Saeed Suliman Saeed Suliman, on behalf of SCDP and BirdLife International. Southern Yemen and Socotra. Sandgrouse Volume 17 (1996) Ornithological Society of the Middle East, UK. Jennings, M. (2001) Phoenix 18. ABBA Survey 28: Socotra, December 2000.?National Commission for Wildlife Consevation and Development, Saudi Arabia. Clements, J.F. (2007) The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, sixth edition. Cornell University Press. Dickinson, E.C. (Editor) The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World - 3rd Edition. Christopher Helm. Rösler H., Wranik W. The reptiles of the Socotra archipelago with special remarks on the slender blind snakes (Leptotyphlopidae: Leptotyphlops). Proceedings of the 13th Congress of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica. pp (2006) 17