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Egypt is situated at the juncture of Africa and Asia. Due to its unique location, it is considered part of North Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean Basin and shares much in the way of history, culture and nature with all of these three geographic realms. Considered a developing nation, Egypt is one of the most advanced and politically stable countries on the African continent. With a population of over 65 million, Egypt is the largest country in the Arab world. The majority are Moslem, but around 15% are Coptic [Christians]. Most of the population is confined to the Nile Valley and Delta, with the deserts having some of the lowest population densities in the world. Cairo is Egypt's capital and one of the world's largest cities with some 17 million inhabitants. A land of contrasts, traditional cultures are juxtaposed with modern communities and technology. Egypt is best known for its antiquities. The country possesses a wealth of prehistoric, Pharonic, Greek, Roman, Christian and Islamic sites. One can encounter antiquities almost anywhere, but the most visited sites are those in Cairo and Upper Egypt. The Pharonic sites are truly extraordinary and have marvelled travellers since ancient times. However, the country is also blessed with a wide range of habitats each with its own unique plant and animal life. Egypt's natural heritage is as rich as her cultural heritage. Egypt is blessed with a wide range of habitats each with its own unique plant and animal life. There are substantial marine and coastal resources (Mediterranean, Red Sea); vast desert wilderness (Western Desert, Eastern Desert, the Sinai); expansive wetlands (Nile River, lakes) and fertile agricultural lands. As for birds, over 470 species have been recorded. Two-thirds of these are migrants, only one third are resident and found in Egypt year round. Resident birds of interest are Shaharo-Sindian species, African species not found elsewhere in the Western Palaearctic and Red Sea birds. As the only land bridge between Europe and Asia, Egypt is situated on major migration routes, particularly for soaring birds. Egyptian wetlands are internationally important wintering grounds for water birds. Some African species, such as Sooty Falcon come north to breed in Egypt during the summer months. Birding in Egypt is good throughout the year; in a two week period between 160 to over 200 species can be expected. Target species and weather tend to be the main considerations in deciding when to come. The spring and autumn migration are the best times to see the greatest numbers and diversity of birds and the weather tends to be warm. Summer is very hot, but is a good season to see residents and Red Sea and Abu Simbel specialties. During winter the Nile and associated wetlands teem with wintering water birds and the weather is warm to cold depending upon where you are in the country. The average trip to Egypt is 10 days to two weeks; most people combine birding with history. Fortunately, the major antiquities tend to be good locations for birding. The standard organised itinerary includes Cairo (Pyramids and Sphinx, Egyptian Museum) and African residents (Painted Snipe, Senegal Coucal); Hurghada (sun and beach) and Red Sea birds (White-eyed Gull, White-cheeked Tern); Luxor (Karnak Temple, the tombs of Kings and Queens) and Upper Egypt resident (Nile Valley Sunbird): Aswan (Temple of Philae) and herons (Green-backed Heron); Abu Simbel (Ramsis Temple) and African summer visitors (Yellow-billed Stork, Pink-backed Pelican); and the Sinai (St Katherine Monastery, spectacular coral reefs) and specialties found no where in the country (Sinai Rosefinch, Palestine Sunbird). Egypt has a fledgling nature tourism industry. The largest sector is Red Sea diving, followed by desert safari tours and trekking in the high altitude mountains of South Sinai. In Egypt there is little by way of eco-lodges, camping grounds or other eco-tourism facilities. There are 21 Protected Areas scattered around the country, many of which are good locations to see birds. Egypt offers visitors much more to see and do, such as photography, shopping and relaxing on the beach. There is something for everyone so it is an ideal place for a family vacation or for couples where one individual is a non-birder. With an advanced tourism infrastructure and some of the most affordable prices in the Mediterranean, Egypt is a popular tourist destination. Hotels of all standards and prices can be found. A wide variety of food is served from oriental specialties to international cuisine, including fast food chains like McDonald's. (As a fairly liberal Moslem country, beer and wine is widely sold). There are all kinds of transportation between major cities(bus, train, plane and ferry). Although car hire is available, driving in Egypt is very challenging so chauffeured driven vehicles and other transport is recommended. One of the nicest ways to see Upper Egypt is by Nile Cruise. What makes Egypt special are the people. Egyptians are among the world's friendliest people, always wanting to help and chat with foreigners. While Arabic is the national language, in tourist areas a wide variety of languages are spoken. Most know some English, which is commonly used on signs. Egypt is an extremely safe country to travel; there is very little crime. Security has been tight since the terrorist problems in the 90s. Visitors to Egypt do not have to worry about malaria, yellow-fever and other tropical diseases. The most common maladies are stomach ailments (Pharaoh's revenge). Foreigners are advised to take the necessary precautions regarding what and where they eat and drink. Heat also has been known to take a toll on visitors so one should drink lots of water, wear a hat and apply plenty of sunscreen. Egypt has few local birders or companies geared to birding tourism. At present there is only one reliable local bird tour operator organizing tours for independent travellers and companies. A number of UK based birding tour companies offer trips to Egypt. While travelling on your own in Egypt is easy and safe, tours tend to be a much more convenient way to travel. |
Mindy Baha El Din
Number of bird species: 459
Common Birds of Egypt
Bertel Bruun and Sherif Baha El Din (2000) The American University in Cairo PressISBN: 9774242394
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Finding Birds in Egypt
Dave Gosney Paperback (July 1993) GostoursISBN: 1898110034
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Pharaohs' Birds - A Guide to Ancient and Present-Day Birds in Egypt
John Miles, 210 pages, 60 col plates, col illus, maps. Miles and Miles of CountrysideISBN: 9774244907
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The Birds of Ancient Egypt
by Patrick F. Houlihan with Steven M. Goodman - Aris & Phillips 1986ISBN: 0856685216
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The Breeding Birds of The Northern Red Sea Islands
Andrew Grieve and Linda Millington, 21 pages, b/w illus, tabs. Ornithological Society of the Middle EastISBN: 141743
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The Directory of Important Bird Areas in Egypt.
Sherif Baha El Din. The Palm PressISBN: 9775089255
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Proact
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African Bird Club
WebsiteWith a good tourist infrastructure and many historical sites to visit, Egypt is a popular destination. Luckily for birdwatchers, tourist destinations such as the Pyramids, the Red Sea and the Upper Nile coincide with important locations for birdwatching. Its strategic position with a land bridge and short sea crossings between Africa and Asia ensures that Egypt is an important country for migrants and wintering species.
Nature Conservation Egypt [Birdlife Partner]
WebsiteNature Conservation Egypt (NCE) is a non-government organization that is dedicated to the conservation of Egypt's natural heritage and the promotion of it's sustainable use for the benefit of the present and future generations. NCE also seeks to build partnerships with local and international bodies with similar interests. It achieves these aims through demonstration of practical conservation measures, awareness raising activities, studies and lobbying. For more information, contact us on: info@ncegypt.org
IBAs
WebsiteThe Nile supports most of the country's wetlands which are some of Egypt's most important habitats supporting the greatest diversity and density of bird species. The major inland wetland areas are as follows: the Bitter Lakes; Wadi El Natrun; Lake Qarun; Wadi El Rayan Lakes and Nile river and Lake Nasser. There are six major coastal lagoons on the Mediterranean: Bardawil; Malaha; Manzala; Burullus; Idku and Maryut. The Red Sea coastal habitats and wetlands include mudflats, reefs, mangroves and marine islands. Oases are the only source of water over much of the western desert, the principal ones being Maghra, Siwa, Wadi El Rayan, Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla, Kharga, Kurkur and Dungul...
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2000 [October] - John Bateman - Nile Cruise
Report...Arrived Luxor late afternoon on the transfer from the airport, several flights of Egrets going to roost, noticed flocks of 30-40 flying over the fields they were Cattle Egrets, also noticed 2 Black Kites soaring over the town...
2000 [September] - Tommy Pedersen - South Sinai
Report...The sewage-ponds southwest of town is best reached by taxi, but might be gone by early 2001. If so, try to visit the ponds north of the airport. I saw these ponds while taking off, so we did not go there ourselves. It looked promising, even if it seemed to be fenced in...
2001 [February] - Mindy Baha el Din
ReportArrival in Cairo in time for dinner. Weather throughout was cloudless with light breezes, giving us pleasantly sunny days and cool nights - that is until the last two days when the wind got up and it became quite cloudy and cool...
2001 [March] - John Miles - Nile Cruise - Egyptian Bird Festival
ReportThis was the first time that such a cruise had been organised since the old Swan Hellenic Bird Watching Tours of the 1980`s and 1990`s...
2001 [November] - Jan Landsverk - Hurghada
ReportMy wife and 3 of our sons jumped on a late charter trip to Hurghada, Egypt Nov. 6 2001. Because of peoples fear of going to the Middle East and islamic countries in general after Sept. 11, the prices to Egypt have fallen dramatically. We paid only US dollars 175 each – everything included...
2001 [September] - John Bateman - Hotel Isis Luxor
ReportCombining sightseeing/birdwatching & just relaxation. Luxor was chosen due to its proximity to birdwatching sites & accessibility to the R.Nile (West Bank) & historical ruins. The weather whilst we where there was very hot temp: over 100 degrees on most days thus ensuring that any activity was carried out in the morning.(as early as possibly)...
2002 [April] - Chris Cameron & Julie Dawson - Nile Valley, Luxor, Abu Simbel
ReportAfter a day trip to the pyramids in 2001 (from Cyprus) when we were impressed by the good birding to be had from the coach as it sped from Port Said to Cairo (despite the dense fog in the Nile delta); we decided that we wanted to see more of Egypt. This was a standard tourist Nile Cruise, booked from Teletext, aboard the M/S Viking II. There are any similar tours available and most stick to similar itineraries. We would have preferred to have travelled in March, when migration is probably in full swing, but were unable to do so...
2002 [April] - Tomasz Kulakowski & Gabriela Sawicka
ReportThis report is a result of a trip to eastern Egypt that was made by Tomasz Kulakowski and Gabriela Sawicka on 4-11th of April 2002. It was an organised tour (Polish Aladin agency) and we mostly used their services. We reached Egypt after 4-hour flight from Warsaw to Hurghada...
2002 [November] - Rhion Pritchard - Nile cruise
Report...I got most of the birds I had been hoping for, including 6 lifers. The lack of eagles was the main disappointment; hours spent watching the ridges did not produce a single eagle species. The time would probably have been better spent searching hotel gardens and crops...
2002 [October] - Bob Swann
ReportThis report gives details of the birds seen and the sites visited during a week`s holiday in south Sinai, Egypt based at the resort of Sharm el Sheikh with my (non-birding) wife...
2002 [October] - Mark Dennis
ReportEgypt contains the only remaining ancient wonder of the world in the shape of the Great Pyramids at Giza, a real must see experience for many people. It also offers relaxed autumn birding and the chance to see species like Nile Valley Sunbird, Sooty Gull, Kittlitz`s Plover and the endemic Egyptian races of Barn Swallow and Yellow Wagtail, both potentially good full species...
2002 [September] - Moira and Graeme Wallace
ReportThe purpose of the short trip to Sharm El Sheikh on the tip of the Sinai peninsula was to scuba dive in the Red Sea, together with a brief stopover in Cairo to take in the Pyramids...
2003 [December] Jeremy Gaskell - Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and el Faiyoum
ReportThe following is an account of birds encountered in and around Cairo and on day trips to Alexandria, Suez and el Faiyoum undertaken when the demands of work permitted in mid December 2003....
2003 [October] - Bruno Caula - Sinai
ReportIn Italian
2004 [April] - Denis Torche - El Gouna
ReportThis resort is situated 20Km north of Hurghada. It has a golf course which attracts many birds (pipits, larks, wheatears, hoopoes). There is also a tidal creek which has many waders. The best place for waders is behind the Abidos Marina, south of El Gouna...
2004 [December] - John Miles - Nile Cruise
Report...This was a normal Nile cruise on a Thomas Cook boat called ‘the African Queen’ with the historic trips to sites often used to add to the bird list. Extra trips were to Crocodile Island [2] and west bank of the Nile at Aswan. Benefits of this time of the year were temperature [24c – 28c] through the day and the depth of the Nile which is low at this time of the year effecting many of the wintering species...
2004 [October] - Pier Luigi Beraudo
ReportIn Italian
2005 [April] - Bob Swann - Sharm el Sheikh
Report...The plantation held a few migrants: 2 Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers ‘chipping’ away, a Common Redstart, a Common Nightingale, 7 Lesser Whitethroats and 5 Tree Pipit. I also disturbed a European Sparrow Hawk and a Marsh Harrier floated by. At lot of the large trees in the plantation had died and fallen. The ‘field’ area at the northern end was very dry and abandoned, with few birds apart from Collared Doves and Laughing Doves. I headed back to the road (Tower Street) and crossed it. Beyond a fence was a zoo. In an adjacent irrigated fodder field were 6 Cattle Egret, a few Yellow Wagtails and 3 Rock Martins overhead...
2005 [July] - Richard Bonser
ReportDuring July 2005, I spent a week based at the Sonesta Club Resort at Na’ama Bay, Egypt with my girlfriend. Realising that this is potentially not the best month to visit the area, I nevertheless targeted a few species that I knew would be available at this time of year and that I had not seen previously within the Western Palearctic – Western Reef Egret, Sooty Falcon, Sooty Gull, White-eyed Gull, White-cheeked Tern, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, Spotted Sandgrouse, Rock Martin, Eastern Mourning Wheatear and Sinai Rosefinch...
2006 [March] - Erik Forsyth
Report...On the first day of the tour, the early arrivals made our way through the bustling city of Cairo (with its 20 million inhabitants) to the Gezira Sports Ground. After ten minutes we had located a flock of both Alexandrine and Rose-ringed Parakeets, both species are breeding residents in Cairo. At the golf range we located Black-eared and Northern Wheatears and Woodchat Shrike. In some nearby scrubby wasteland we were lucky to find a small flock of Indian Silverbills, a pair of White-throated Kingfisher nesting in an earthbank and a singing Eurasian Blackbird...
2006 [March] - Richard Bonser
ReportHaving visited the country with my girlfriend in July 2005, and experiencing the area around Sharm el Sheikh, it was obvious that the country had a lot more to offer in terms of its birdlife. It was not too difficult to drum up enthusiasm for an early spring trip and, as such, four of us set out to visit the area around Cairo, the Nile Valley around Luxor and the Red Sea coast as far south as the administrative border with Sudan...
2006 [May] - Mike & Eleanor Martin
Report...The time when the boat is berthed is pretty busy with arranged trips, and there is little opportunity to build in time to develop your own schedule, and this proved a bit exasperating with regard to catching up on some of the smaller birds…larger species were easy enough from the boat, which travels at a jogging rate of about 10 km per hour...
2006 [May] - Richard & Erica Klim
ReportImmediately before Christmas 2005, we took an impromtu break at the excellent 5-star Mövenpick Jolie Ville Luxor Resort on Crocodile Island. This provided a truly laid-back combination of birding, culture and winter sunshine at a reasonable price (total cost £284 per person from London/Gatwick including 7 nights B&B, with Portland Holidays / Thomsonfly, www.portland-direct.co.uk). Although most of our birding trips involve extensive touring by rental car, this visit opened our eyes to the potential of birding parts of Egypt by public transport and taxi, given the very low costs involved...
2006 [November] - Peter C. Meijer
Report...Very nice was the pictures with: Greylag Goose, Red-breasted Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose...
2007 [January] - Andrea Tarozzi
ReportThis is a short report of a winter holiday – rather than a birdwatching trip – in Egypt, on the Red Sea Coast. I hope this can be useful for those going down there in this “alternative” season, rather than during the bird migration months...
2008 [April] - Erik Forsyth
ReportAfter enduring an hour of bumper to bumper traffic we arrived at the Gezira Sports Ground happy to be out birding in this relatively “green oasis” in the middle of the densely populated Cairo...
2008 [December] - Eric Barnes
Report...We opted to climb after the main tourist ‘day trippers’ and set off just after dawn. The bulbuls were seen at the Guest House, as were the common European passerines. Tristrams Grackle was first seen on the side of the monastery and feeding around the first Bedouin camp. The Beduoin camp/refreshment shops above Elijah’s Basin even at mid day had Grackle , Rosefinch , Desert Lark and Scrub Warbler...
2008 [May] - Tomas Haraldsson
Report...the heron colonies were alive and with at least 50 Night Herons. Pairs of Pained Snipe were easily located as were singing Clamorous Reed Warblers. Flocks of waders dominated by Little Stints moved around and a single White Stork roosted at a small wetland. White-breasted Kingfishers and Black-shouldered Kites were in the distance. As we headed back towards Cairo we stopped along the canal to search for Senegal Coucal in some plantations. Among hundreds of Sand Martins we...
2008 [November] - Julian Sykes
Report...at the moment we found our first white-morph Western Reef Heron fishing in the water, a close Greater Sandplover and a Slender billed Gull. As we walked back to the rooms a Night Heron flew over, it had been a good start and at Ron´s rooms we checked out the moth trap with just a few species being caught. We then all met for breakfast, which is an extensive buffet-style affair and very enjoyable...
2008 [October] - Dave Farroe
ReportThis year’s Birdquest tour to Egypt and Jordan was the first for many years to combine the two countries, a successful union that introduced a visit to the spectacular setting of ancient Petra and the stunning desert scenery of Wadi Rum...
2009 [May] - Markus Lilje
ReportSome of the highlights here included the difficult Rüppell’s Warbler, Woodchat and Masked Shrikes, the ever-popular Eurasian Hoopoe and feral populations of Rose-ringed Parakeet and Indian Silverbill. During the afternoon the hotel garden proved great with Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin, Whinchat and a stunning Eurasian Wryneck much enjoyed by all present...
2009 [October] - Derek Scott
ReportThis year’s Birdquest tour to Egypt and Jordan was a slightly shorter, customized version of the 2008 tour, and omitted the northern Gulf of Suez, the interior of Sinai and Wadi Rum...
2010 [April] - Mark Beevers
ReportOur first taste of North African birding was quite productive and a wander through our hotel grounds in Cairo yielded Eurasian Wryneck, Semi-collared Flycatcher, noisy White-throated Kingfisher, Masked Shrike, Common Nightingale and several Eurasian Hoopoes. Added to this we found one of only two Common Whitethroats to be seen on the tour...
2010 [December] - Graeme Wright - Aswan
ReportThe back of the Movenpick faces the Botanical Garden on Kitchener’s Island and there are notable flows of birds past the hotel in the morning (must be great on passage). Although there is considerable building work going on at the moment, as the hotel extends, there are benches facing the river that over look a small beach and some Papyrus Reeds and from there you can see almost everything the island has to offer. I think this beach will probably survive the redevelopment so all should be well...
2010 [December] - Jan Landsverk - Sinai
ReportMany of the Landsverk family (11 people) went to Sharm el Sheikh on holiday December 2010. We paid for the flight ticket and booked apartments ourselves found on Internet. We stayed at Delta Sharm between Naama Bay and Sharm el Sheikh. It was a perfect place in many respects and rather close to the probably best place in Sinai to watch birds - a sewage work (several sewage dams a few km north of Delta Sharm). A former sewage work is found only a ten minutes walk from where we lived. Two of my sons – Erlen and Aleksander - and myself had hoped to get away from the others and spend a few hours some mornings to watch birds at these places....
2011 [February] - Scott Bowers - Egypt & Ethiopia
ReportThis trip report covers a one month journey to Egypt and Ethiopia with a couple of short layovers in London. Some highlights of the trip included the Ethiopian Wolf and escaping the Egyptian Revolution...
2011 [March] - John Miles
ReportThe idea of the holiday was to use a cruise boat on the Nile to cover as many birding locations along the river and at the Ancient Monuments. A bus was used to ferry guests to and from the boat to the Ancient locations while taxis were used when only using a bird location. A local ferry was used at Aswan along with a Felucca, the ancient sailing boat to reach Kitchener’s Island...
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Birding Pals
InformationLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Green Eye Ecotours
Tour OperatorToday we provide outdoor-oriented tours, adventures, expeditions...
Rockjumper
Tour OperatorEgypt has been the world’s most desirable tourist destination since the birth of tourism several thousand years ago. Marveling at Egypt’s antiquities is a major feature of our tour and we visit all the important sites, from riding camels around the Sphinx and Great Pyramids to being dazzled by the Sound-and-Light show at the giant Abu Simbel statues, close to the Sudanese border. In between we will visit the Egyptian Museum housing Tutenkhamun’s breath-taking treasures, the vast Temples of Luxor and Karnak, the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the superb Temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo, essential stopovers during our Nile cruise.
Sarus Bird Tours
Tour Operator...we will explore the the Fayoum Oasis for specialities such as Slender- billed Gull, Painted Snipe and Senegal Coucal if we are fortunate, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Egyptian Wagtail, Clamorous Reed Warbler and Zitting Cisticola. We will next fly out to the spectacular temple at Abu Simbel, on the fringe of the Western Palearctic, and where species such as Pink-headed Dove...
Wild Egypt - an on-line safari
Tour OperatorFrom the colorful shores of the Nile River to the majestic Red Sea, the land of Egypt teems with animal life, much of it rarely seen by the outside world...
Birding Egypt Discussion Forum
ForumRequest or give advice on anything relevant to the Birding Egypt theme...
Egypt Bird Group
Mailing ListTo post to list:EgyBirdGroup@yahoogroups.com
List contact:EgyBirdGroup-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:EgyBirdGroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
A mailing list of the resident and non resident birders and ringers of Egypt, covering research, recent records, rarity records, conservation, community announcements, discussions, information exchanges. This is an open list, feel free to participate in the discussions and to begin a discussion about any subject which is minimally related to the birds, fauna or flora of Egypt. The group mailing language is English, but many of the members are not native English speakers. PLEASE, be tolerant with the grammatical and spelling skills of the members.
Birding Egypt
WebsiteEgypt located at the crossroads of three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa, is blessed with a wide range of habitats each with its own unique bird life. The country is located on major migration routes. Millions of birds pass through every autumn and spring. Many species overwinter, Egyptian wetlands are internationally important wintering sites for waterbirds...
Birding in Egypt
WebsiteThe aims of this website are multiple: First of all it is addressed to the ornithologist, with an interest in Egyptian avifaunal records, but it is also for the amateur and beginner birders, who are "birding" for their own amusement, far and wide through the endless Egyptian deserts. One of my main goals is to promote interest and knowledge of this amazing piece of Earth, and try to widen our knowledge about its avifauna and to move forward all biodiversity conservation efforts...
Birding in Egypt
WebsiteHistorical travel represents a very old tradition in Egypt. People have been touring Egypt`s historical sites actually since ancient times. However, there is another very traditional type of travel to Egypt. For certainly the past 150 years, people have been visiting Egypt to bird watch...
Birds of the Red Sea - Eilat
WebsiteSlide show...
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
WebsiteProfile with image etc.
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
WebsiteVery brief profile with some images
Finding Birds in Egypt
WebsiteEgypt must be one of the best countries in the world for combining birdwatching with more popular forms of tourism...
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This site was last updated on Sunday, 29th January 2012.
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