EGYPT - 4 & 5 March

4 March spent driving from Wadi Gemal to Wadi Dome (8 hours) through Safaga and its world-famous calamars and house crows, after early morning tries at the mangroves for Goliath Heron. Hopeless with strong wind and high tide.



5 March morning around Ain Sukhna with a few terns and gulls (Lesser Black Backed Gull, Crested and Lesser Crested Terns), then drive to Cairo to join the Baha in the evening. I took opportunity of some free time in the afternoon to walk in Giza to the Urman Garden where a feral population of Alexandrine Parakeet is breeding (along the more common Rose-ringed Parakeets).
About 15 birds seen, some on the nest, in holes along palm tree trunks.

The parakeets breed in these palm trees, within holes excavated from the old palm bases let on the upper part of the trunks


Walking back to Mindy and Sherif's home, I found this roosting Barn Owl in central Giza, and right below it a pellet containing a sparrow skul.