Egypt Birding Round Trip

14 nights / 15 days

Cairo / Red Sea / Aswan / Abu Simbel

Summary and purpose

A two-week birding adventure to the premier birding spots of Egypt to see all the available specialities and to enjoy the timeless sandscape of the country.

Destination country

Egypt. Start and finish in Cairo.

Next schedule

15-26 April, 2010 - Completed

14-27 October, 2011 - Open for booking!

(please check this date later again!)

Duration

15 days. If you are interested in a shorter 8-9 days version, please let us know!

Price

1750 EUR + 190 single supplement. The price is per person and excludes flights to or from Cairo.

Accomodation

Three-star hotels with all rooms en-suite.

Numbers

12 people with 2 guides.

Transport

Minivans.

Egypt, the “Land of Pharaohs” in antiquity, had much to offer its visitors, no matter the purpose of the visit. The Roman Emperor Trajan built a “winter palace” for himself on Philae Island because the winters were so mild, the temperature rarely dropping below 10°C, even on the coldest winter night. Among its fabulous archaeological sites, Egypt includes two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, The Great Pyramids of Giza and the Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria. Furthermore, Egypt has a great deal to offer naturalists, especially those interested in birds.

Any of the very few Western ornithologists who have spent many years in Egypt know that Egypt’s treasures are not confined to the Great Pyramids, Nile Valley and Tutankhamen’s legacy. Zoogeographically, Egypt lies on the southern boundary of the Western Palearctic (WP) and so it is the perfect place to see some very unusual (in twitcher parlance, ‘avian mega-rarities’) WP species, such as: Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus, Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis, Striated Heron Butorides striata, Brown Booby Sula leucogaster, Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius, Greater Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis, African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris, White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus, Bridled Tern Onchyoprion anaethetus, White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa, Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesta, African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp, Red Avadavat Amandava amandava and Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar.

Recently it has become known that Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris, Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus, Pallid Scops Owl Otus brucei and Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula migrate through Egypt. Previously these species had been overlooked. Black Bush Robin Cercotrichas podobe, Rosy-patched Bush-Shrike Rhodophoneus cruentus and Fulvous Babbler Turdoides fulva breed in the southeastern corner of Egypt, in the remote and still largely unknown mountains of Gebel Elba.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cairo

Arrival at Cairo International Airport, met and assisted by our representative who will help you negotiate the immigration and customs formalities. Transfer to our hotel for check-in. Overnight at the hotel in Cairo.

Day 2: Cairo/ Sakkara / Dashur

After visiting the only remaining ancient Seven Wonders of the World, the colossal pyramids of Giza and their guardian, the amazing Sphinx (which of course has witnessed every sunrise since was built more than 4600 years ago!), we will travel 26km south to the oldest pyramid in the world, the famous Steppe Pyramid at Sakkara. Here, while admiring this 64m high burial place, we have a chance to see a pair of Pharaoh Eagle Owl Bubo ascalaphus, which is closely related to European Eagle Owl B. bubo.

Heading south further 6 km, we’ll look for the White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis and the circling Black Kite Milvus migrans and Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus around the Dashur lakes, where of course you might wish to see the two pyramids of Dashur: the Red and the Bent Pyramids.

The first one may be visited, and you can take pictures in the mortuary chamber Pharaoh Snefru, the founder of the famous IV Dynasty.

In the afternoon we have a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum where you can see an extraordinary amount of antiquities, including the treasures from the tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamen, amongst which is his massive (122 kg), pure gold sarcophagus. There is also birding interest in two famous wall paintings (from the tomb of Nakht), of Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons and Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis.

Dinner and overnight at the Oasis Hotel.

Extra:
Overnight at hotel in Cairo, with the possibility of enjoying the sound and light show at the Pyramids of Giza.

Day 3:

After breakfast we will drive to the Bilbeis area to the Abassa fish pounds, aiming to see the most wanted species of the area: Squacco (Ardeola ralloides) and Grey (Ardea cinerea) Herons, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis, Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus, Kittlitz’s Plover, Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis, Greater Painted Snipe, Black Kite, Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis, White-throated Kingfisher, Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus, Clamorous Acrocephalus stentoreus and Eurasian A. scirpaceus Reed Warblers, Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler) Cisticola juncidis, Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis and Streaked Weaver.

Extra:
Afternoon /early evening visit to the biggest bazaar of North Africa, the medieval Khan El Khalili.

Day 4:

After breakfast, we check out from the hotel to begin the journey from Africa to Asia, which will be shorter than anyone might expect! The Sinai Peninsula is just 120 km east of Cairo, just 1.5 hours by bus.

At St. Katherine city and the surroundings, we`ll boost our rarities list with Chukar Partridge Alectoris chukar, Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi, Tristam's Starling, sandgrouse species, even Hume's Owl Strix butleri (!),Fan-tailed Raven Corvus rhipidurus, Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta, White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos, Palestine Sunbird Cinnyris osea, Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus japonicus, Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githegineus and Sinai Rosefinch Carpodacus synoicus.

Day 5:

After early morning birding, we'll visit the St. Katherine monastery, admiring the ancient icons and take a look even to the Burning Bush, where it was believed that God spoke to Moses.

The afternoon is free for birding in the surroundings of the monastery, then after darkness falls, those who still feel fit, can attempt to sound-record Hume's Owl.

Day 6:

After breakfast we descend from the high mountains of south Sinai to the fascinating holiday resort of Sharm El Sheikh. After checking into our hotel, we hope in time for lunch, we can plan the afternoon birding.

In late afternoon, a visit to the outskirts of the city can bring us some of the biome restricted species of the region: Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciatus, Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis, Fan-tailed Raven, Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis, Blackstart Cercomela melanura and Scrub Warbler. Hundreds of raptors and Western White Stork Ciconia ciconia roost at this site, where one of the most-sought species of the region will arrive to drink just a few moments before it gets dark: Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse Pterocles lichtensteinii.

Day 7:

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and begin our travel back to the mainland along the Red Sea Coast, with a few hour stop at Ain Sokhna (Gulf of Suez), to watch the formidable biannual raptor migration (March-April-May), and sip a hot, cardamom blended Turkish coffee made by our generous Nubian host, Fawzi. During our coffee break we just laid back and watch the raptors above the mountains escarpment: European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Black Kite, harrier spp, Levant (Accipiter brevipes) and Eurasian (A. nisus) Sparrowhawks, Steppe (Buteo buteo vulpinus) and Long-legged (B. rufinus) Buzzards, Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina), Steppe Eagle (A. nipalensis), Booted Eagle (A. pennata  and Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus.

With some luck, Eurasian Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus, Bonelli’s Eagle A. fasciatus and even Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus may be observed. The coastline between Suez and Ain Sokhna should turn up our first White-eyed, Slender-billed (Chroicocephalus genei), Black-headed (C. ridibundus), Lesser Black-backed (‘Baltic’ ssp: Larus fuscus fuscus) and Caspian (L. cachinnans) Gulls and Caspian (Hydroprogne caspia), Swift (Thalasseus bergii) and Lesser Crested (T. bengalensis) Terns. Heuglin’s Gull L. heuglini and Sandwich Tern T. sandvicensis are also possibles. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops aduncus usually can be seen from the bus, swimming near the shore, from the winding road on the way to Hurghada.

Arrival at Hurghada, check in, dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 8:

Full day boat trip around Giftun Island in Hurghada Archipelago. White-eyed Gull is a boat-follower, hoping for any food remains, and sometimes even a Sooty Gull L. hemprichii may be among the flock. Slender-billed, Armenian (L. armenicus), Steppe (L. barabensis) and Heuglin’s Gulls can be seen here until early May. Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus is a common breeding bird here, a well-known nest being in the middle of a hotel’s beach. Our aim is to see Brown Booby , White-cheeked and Bridled Onychoprion anaethetus Terns.

Eagle-eyed birders can try to twitch Saunders’s Tern Sternula saundersii from the dozens of almost similar Little Terns S. minutus. Of course, Red-billed Tropicbird is the most wanted species, but rarely can be seen, usually flying far offshore. Early-arriving Sooty Falcon Falco concolor will hunt around the archipelago, and can be seen at early evening even from our hotel’s beach, hunting around the coastline.

Snorkel equipment will be available on-board for free use, so we will enjoy underwater life as well, a breathtaking experience along the coral reefs. Hurghada archipelago was discovered by Captain Jacques Yves Cousteau to be an amazing diving site. He stated that the Red Sea coral reefs are more beautiful even than those on the Australian Great Barrier Reef!

He does not exaggerate. The facts are that over 1000 species of fish and about 230 species of hard corals are known from the Red Sea! At least 15% of the fish and a similar proportion of other marine are endemic, a proportion equalled by nowhere else in the world.

Dinner and overnight at Hurghada in our hotel.

Day 9:

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and then we’ll visit a Pharaoh Eagle Owl breeding site and then a visit to the sewage pools can bring us several wanted rarities: Lesser Kestrel F. naumanni, Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, Namaqua Dove Oena capensis, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis, Turkestan (formerly within Isabelline: Lanius phoenicuroides) and Masked (Lanius nubicus) Shrikes, Bimaculated Lark Melanocorypha bimaculata, Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, Richard’s (Anthus richardi), Tawny (A. campestris) and Red-throated (A.cervinus) Pipits.

After lunch at one of the most charming local restaurants down by the seashore, we drive south to Wadi Gamal. On the way, Desert, Eastern Mourning (Oenanthe lugens) and Hooded (Oenanthe monacha) Wheatears can appear, species always welcome to WP enthusiasts.

After checking into our hotel (Shams Alam) and searching for migrant passerines around the hotel’s garden, we can try to locate Hume’s Owl with a sound-lure in the neighbouring National Park. If we find it, there is nothing else left to do except celebrate in the Beach Bar!

Day 10:

Early morning, we continue our trip down south to the Sudanese border, hoping on the way to see Spotted (Pterocles senegallus) and Crowned (P. coronatus) Sandgrouse.

The target species of the day will be the biggest vulture in the WP: Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus. Egyptian Vulture, Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis and with some luck even Fan-tailed Raven might be seen around this famous Sudanese camel market.

After a visit to the local exotic “bazaar” we will slowly return north.

On the way back a short stop at a mangrove ”forest” may bring us one of the most wanted species of the WP: Goliath Heron Ardea goliath. Sandpipers, herons, Western Osprey, terns and gulls also inhabit the mangroves. If there is one place on Earth that will reveal an avian surprise, then Wadi Lahami is theplace!

By late afternoon, we return to our hotel for dinner and a free programme. Lazing at the swimming pool is an excellent relaxation after 6 full days of birding.

Day 11:

Breakfast and birding around the garden until an organized bus convoy will lead us trough the waste and hyper arid Easter Desert of Egypt till the Nile Valley.

We will then drive south along the Nile Valley until we reach the gate to the rest of Africa: Aswan.

Optional birding at Lord Kitchener’s Island (Botanical Garden).

Check into the hotel and take our leisure at the pools, then dinner. Overnight in Aswan.

Day 12:

Check-out from the hotel at dawn to visit the Old Cataract Natural Reservoir, which will delight us with Nile Valley Sunbird, Striated, Purple (Ardea purpurea) and Grey Herons, Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio, Greater Painted Snipe and, with some luck, even an African Skimmer.

At 11:00 we will join the bus convoy to Abu Simbel, at the Sudanese border. After checking into the Nefertari Hotel, we visit the famous temple of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. These temples were saved by an international (UNESCO) effort between 1961 and 1970 from the rising water level of Lake Nasser after the building of the High Dam at Aswan.

Pale Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta, White-crowned Wheatear Oenenthe leucopyga, Graceful Prinia and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Iduna pallida are always present around the temple.

In the afternoon we’ll scout the shores of Lake Nasser for the African rarities such as Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens, Yellow-billed Stork, African Skimmer, Kittlitz’s Plover, Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca, African Collared Dove Streptopelia risoria, African Pied Wagtail and the local House Sparrow Passer domesticus, which may well be a distinct subspecies.

Extra: After the nightfall we can choose to enjoy the spectacular sound and light show at the temple and aiming to see the elusive Egyptian Nightjar which is often seen hunting around the midnight lamps.

Dinner and overnight at Nefertari hotel.

Day 13:

After breakfast, we will check again the shores of Lake Nasser, to try to complete our rarities list by finding the species that might have eluded us on Day 12! Then, we join the bus convoy to Aswan and Luxor.

Late afternoon arrival in Luxor; if we can check in at the Mövenpick hotel in Luxor before dark, we can undertake some pleasant and comfortable early-evening birding at Crocodile Island on the Nile, looking for Red Avadavat, (Turkestan (Isabelline) Shrike, Greater Painted Snipe, Nile Valley Sunbird, White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis and all the heron species.

In the evening we can enjoy the loud calls of the Senegal Thick-knee, which often nests on the roofs of our bungalows! The beautiful green-backed form of the Purple Swamphen is always present around the swamps.

Day 14:

Day-long birding around Crocodile Island, checking the swamps and the Nile banks.

We may make an extra visit to historical sites like Valley of the Kings. We may find there not only breath-taking limestone walls and ancient tombs, but also Trumpeter Finch, Pale Crag Martin and Eastern Mourning Wheatear.

Our last evening of the trip will be spent on the Nile banks, discussing the observations made during the trip and refreshing our memories with cold Stella beer.

Day 15:

Transfer to Luxor airport and fly back to Cairo, while making plans to meet again in the next year’s birding trip to Ethiopia!