Arnoud van den Berg had a very successful week sound-recording the nightjars at Oued Jenna. ‘Every night, I also heard the Pharaoh Eagle Owl once or twice. However, I could not find any Sudan Golden Sparrows…. Cricket Warblers and Eremopterix nigriceps were remarkably abundant this year, as were Ammomanes cincturus and coursers. A male Tristram’s Warbler may be noteworthy too’

Incomplete checklist for Dakhla and Dakhla bay on 24-25/2 and 2-3/3:

• flock of Great Cormorant P c sinensis
• flock of Eurasian Spoonbill
• several flocks of Greater Flamingo
• Oystercatcher (flock of 30 on 2/3)
• Stone-curlew (heard on beach at hotel in town)
• Spotted Redshank (one)
• Caspian Tern (maximum 400+ during high tide at tip of peninsula)
• Royal Tern (on 2/3 two roosting in bay, sound-recorded, and on 3/3 one flying past hotel)
• Lesser Crested Tern (one)
• Laughing Dove 26-27/2 (twice one in town)
• White-throated Bee-eater (Attitude hotel) 2/3
• Black Wheatear (east of Dakhla)
• Desert Wheater (east of Dakhla)
• Blackcap (Attitude)

Checklist for Oued Jenna, Aousserd, staying to camp from 27 February to 2 March 2017:

• Little Egret 28/2 (two flying up from little pool)
• Black Kite 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (handful flying about; 2nd cy)
• Marsh Harrier 28/2, 1-3 (one male)
• Long-legged Buzzard 26/2 (one west of Jenna)
• Common Kestrel 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (few)
• Lanner Falcon 2/3 (perched along the road 100+ km west of Jenna)
• Stone Curlew 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (heard at night)
• Cream-colored Courser 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (common, often heard)
• Collared Dove 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (numerous)
• Pharaoh Eagle Owl 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (heard every night; once flushed)
• Golden Nightjar 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (2-4 individuals, heard every night)
• Common Swift 26/2 (one flying past)
• Black-crowned Finch-Lark 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (numerous)
• Bar-tailed Desert Lark 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (numerous)
• Dunn’s Lark 26/2 (cf one)
• Hoopoe Lark 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (common)
• Short-toed Lark 2/3 (few)
• Sand Martin 26-27/2 (one or two in flock of hirundines)
• Rock Martin 26/2 (cf one in flock of hirundines)
• Barn Swallow 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (common; first night big flock roosting)
• Red-rumped Swallow  27-28/2 (six flying about)
• White Wagtail 1/3 (one)
• Brown-necked Raven 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (daily)
• Desert Grey Shrike 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (several actively hunting and singing)
• Northern Wheatear 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3
• White-tailed Wheatear (Aousserd) 27-28/2, 1/3
• Fulvous Babbler 27-28/2, 1-2/3 (common and confiding)
• Cricket Warbler 27-28/2, 1-2/3 (numerous; with fledglings, singing)
• Chiffchaff 26-27-28/2, 1-2/3 (common)
• Tristram’s Warbler 27-2 (one male)
• Subalpine Warbler 27-28/2, 1-2/3 (several males)
• Sardinian Warbler 27/2 (one male)
• House Sparrow 27-28/2, 1-3 (only at Aousserd, petrol station)
• Desert Sparrow 27-28/2, 1-2/3 (numerous; nesting)