Trip report, Sharm El Sheikh (1 Viewer)

[U Q]

Here's my trip report from Sharm El Sheikh:

http://www.estbirding.ee/artiklid/184/birding-trip-to-egypt-17-23012010


BTW: Greater Sand Plovers of columbinus ssp. are VERY hard to separate from Lesser Sand Plover. After scrutinizing photos back home i couldn't id any Lessers from these. I would expect that this is very rare bird around Sharm, although i have seen several mentioned in trip reports.

best regards
Uq

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Thanks Uq

I've just booked a trip to Sharm in March. Your report is very useful.

Good birds too.

 

[NicoleB]

That was one adventure you had, I guess
Great report.
Can't believe they tried to tell you not to take pictures on Hotel grounds.

 

[NicoleB]

Where the sewage plants the one between Hadaba and Naama bay or the ones further North?

And in which part of Sharm was your Hotel?
I'm not so good with the coordinates.

 

[U Q]

Maybe this map clears things a bit (or makes them even more confusing). Anyway, the Google Earth co-ordinates are mentioned in trip report + there are 3 smaller maps for most important sites. Google Earth has been my lifeline during the latest trips, check it out.

cheers,
Uq

 

[NicoleB]

Ah, that one helps - thanks !

 

[tupelo080135]

Try the pools

Ah, that one helps - thanks !

Sewage Ponds are great but the pools near the airport ar even better. Lots of good cover for birds and good areas to view for you. If you need directions I can send you them.

 

[NicoleB]

Thanks!

I have one taxi driver that should be able to get me there

 

[Swissboy]

I posted my September 2010 trip report elsewhere here on BF:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=182454

I did not visit the small pools north of the airport. Instead, I tried to explore the Nabq Protected area to some extent.

 

[NicoleB]

Thanks, Robert!
The pools at the airport are easier to access, IF nobody is around to watch you getting through the fence. And then usually an innocent smile and the explanation that you are there for the birds and try to get more tourists there with your reports will let you get through,...

 

[Swissboy]

Thanks, Robert!
The pools at the airport are easier to access, IF nobody is around to watch you getting through the fence. And then usually an innocent smile and the explanation that you are there for the birds and try to get more tourists there with your reports will let you get through,...

I did not try those because I read somewhere that they are overgrown. And with all the difficulties I had with birds trying to stay in the shade, I just did not feel like going there. Plus, I had only so much time and was kind of sure the sandgrouse chances were better at the pools I visited.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I did not try those because I read somewhere that they are overgrown. And with all the difficulties I had with birds trying to stay in the shade, I just did not feel like going there. Plus, I had only so much time and was kind of sure the sandgrouse chances were better at the pools I visited.

The pools near the airport (the "Small" Pools) certainly weren't overgrown when I was there in March and I had good numbers of spotted sandgrouse on the morning of the 27th. Several groups and some single birds totalling over 50 altogether.

Perhaps the item you read referred to the "old pools" at Sharm- they are overgrown.

 

[Swissboy]

The pools near the airport (the "Small" Pools) certainly weren't overgrown when I was there in March and I had good numbers of spotted sandgrouse on the morning of the 27th. Several groups and some single birds totalling over 50 altogether.

Perhaps the item you read referred to the "old pools" at Sharm- they are overgrown.

I definitely thought they were the same! So which ones are shown on the picture in post #5, labelled "small pools" next to a yellow pointer?

Then, there are two pointers, a green and a yellow one next to each other at the south end of the airport. Just a bit north of the golf course. No label there. Would that be the place for the old pools then?

 

[Barred Wobbler]

The label for the small pools in post 5 is the correct location. Stop at the roundabout north of the airport and it's a short walk across the desert to the pools (these are the ones in my photos).

The "old pools" aren't identified on the picture in post 5. They can be seen as a small greyish smudge on that picture, with a southwest-northeast orientation on the north side of the east-west yellow road below the letters "ma" at the end of the word "Naama"

 

[NicoleB]

I did not try those because I read somewhere that they are overgrown. And with all the difficulties I had with birds trying to stay in the shade, I just did not feel like going there. Plus, I had only so much time and was kind of sure the sandgrouse chances were better at the pools I visited.

Funny. I didn't catch one Sandgrouse at the Sharm Pools, but I got them at the Small Pools |:$|

The greenery was cut back (sadly enough) right before breeding season (I think).

Here are some of my catches from there:
http://nicoleb.org/b2/index.php/nature/small+sewers:

Some idea of what it looks like (before the green was cut):
http://nicoleb.org/b2/index.php/nature/small-sewers-nabq

 

[NicoleB]

The 'Old Sewers' were my local patch.
They were right across from where we lived (opposite 'Tower country Club')
http://nicoleb.org/b2/index.php/nature/old+sewers:

I did make a google map once with all of them marked correctly, but I have no clue where I put it

 

[Swissboy]

The label for the small pools in post 5 is the correct location. Stop at the roundabout north of the airport and it's a short walk across the desert to the pools (these are the ones in my photos).

The "old pools" aren't identified on the picture in post 5. They can be seen as a small greyish smudge on that picture, with a southwest-northeast orientation on the north side of the east-west yellow road below the letters "ma" at the end of the word "Naama"

Thanks, that will at least help for a next visit!