Egypt – birds and history

Egypt is renowned for its abundance of archaeological and historical sites. Most people dream of visiting the Great Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, the temples at Karnak and Abu Simbel, and the River Nile. In addition to these riches, Egypt provides exciting birdwatching since a number of African species such as Senegal Thick-knee, Greater Painted-snipe, Kittlitz's Plover, Senegal Coucal, and Nile Valley Sunbird reach the northern limit of their range here. In addition, many migrant birds en route from Africa to Eurasia are passing through at this time of year.

We'll visit the major archaeological sites and Egypt's best areas for birds, including the amazing Sinai Peninsula. This will include a visit to St. Catherine's Monastery in the dramatic central mountain range, as well as the prime birdwatching and snorkelling sites at the southern tip of the Sinai around Sharm El Sheikh. The fast catamaran across the Red Sea, internal flights instead of long drives, and several two- or three-night stops have eased the original pace of this tour (which has thrilled and delighted clients for thirteen years) whilst ensuring that it still presents an unbeatable sequence of unforgettable experiences.

Saturday 22 March to Sunday 6 April

with Bryan Bland and Patty Briggs as leaders.

Egypt bird list
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Day 1: The tour begins with a flight from London to Cairo. Night in Cairo.

Day 2: Our first day will be a wonderful mixture of both birds and history with visits to the fascinating stepped pyramid of Sakkara (a nesting site for Pharaoh Eagle-Owl) and the mastabas of Ti and Mereruka (for amazingly accurate carved representations of the birds of ancient Egypt), the Great Pyramids, and the Sphinx. We will also visit Lake Qarun for a late-winter wealth of ducks and waders, including Spotted Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, and perhaps a Greater Painted-snipe. Night in Cairo.

Day 3: Today will be spent in the bird rich areas of the East Delta and Gebel Asfar. In this mosaic of reedbeds, fish farms and agriculture we could encounter a variety of species including White-breasted Kingfisher (the only location in Africa for this Asian species), Greater Painted-snipe, Senegal Coucal, Streaked Weaver, and Avadavat. Night in Cairo.

Day 4: This morning we'll drive east across the desert to Suez (keeping a lookout for Cream-coloured Courser, Scrub Warbler, Bar-tailed Desert, Desert and Hoopoe Larks, and Desert, Mourning and Isabelline Wheatears). Now recognised as an excellent site to watch migrating raptors, the town is also a good place for waders, gulls, and terns. Terek Sandpiper is regular here. From the cool comfort of our restaurant table we might see our first Great Black-headed, Caspian or White-eyed Gulls plus guaranteed House Crows. The hotel gardens could also hold many migrants, from Rüppell's Warbler to Wryneck. Night in Ain Sokhna.

Day 5: Our hotel at Ain Sokhna is situated where the mountains meet the sea and where migrating raptors linger and circle to gain height. Given an east wind, thousands of Steppe Eagles can be seen and among them occasional Imperial, Booted and Short-toed Eagles. Later we'll cross from Africa to Asia by a tunnel under the Suez Canal and experience a new avifauna (Yellow-vented rather than Common Bulbuls and Palestine rather than Nile Valley Sunbirds) as we drive down the Sinai Peninsula towards St. Catherine's Monastery, 5,000ft above sea level and founded in 527 AD, on the traditional site of the burning bush seen by Moses. Our target bird at dusk will be Hume's Tawny Owl. Night at St. Catherine's.

Day 6: A popular (but very optional) start to the day is to climb the mountain to experience dawn at the very spot where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Later, a morning visit to the monastery will combine birds and history admirably. The original sixth-century walls and church dedicated to the Virgin Mary still stand, as does the mosque built in the seventh century when the Muslims spared this Christian refuge. The gardens of the monastery attract both migrant and resident birds including Chukar, Tristram's Grackle, and Sinai Rosefinch. After lunch we'll travel past forged mountains and wind-sculpted rock forms to Sharm el Sheikh at the southern tip of the peninsula. A dusk visit to Sharm Farm could provide Liechtenstein's Sandgrouse and maybe even Egyptian Nightjar. Night in Sharm El Sheikh.

Day 7: An early morning at the Ras Mohammed National Park could give us some typical desert birds such as Sand Partridge and Crowned Sandgrouse, while migrating raptors could include Bonelli's and Golden Eagles along with massive flocks of White Storks. The waters in this part of the Red Sea hold an amazing variety of tropical fish, easily seen from the surface, and there will also be a chance to snorkel. Greater Sandplover and Striated Heron are amongst the ornithological possibilities. Night in Sharm El Sheikh.

Day 8: If we haven't yet seen Blackstart, Hooded Wheatear, and Sand Partridge, we may hire four-wheel-drive vehicles to explore Wadi Kid and the mangroves of the Nabq protected area. We'll then take the new, fast catamaran back to Africa. Night in Hurghada.

Day 9: Surrounded by barren desert and sea, the gardens of the hotels in Hurghada are the only patches of green for miles. Consequently some of the many migrants passing over Egypt stop off to rest and refuel, and searching the gardens can be great fun. We'll take a private boat out into the Red Sea and around the islands in search of Brown Booby, Western Reef Egret, Sooty Gull, and Crested and White-cheeked Terns. Before and after lunch on board there will be another chance for snorkelling. Night in Hurghada.

Day 10: After some early morning birding around the hotel, we'll drive south along the coast, keeping an eye out for Lanner, to Safaga. Our escorted convoy will then take us across the desert to Luxor, in time for lunch at our delightful hotel on Crocodile Island. We'll then spend a relaxing afternoon searching the island for Little Bittern, Rufous Bush Robin, Purple Swamphen, and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, before we leave for the atmospheric Son et Lumière show, which will give us our first taste of the magnificent temple at Karnak, usually with Barn Owl as a bonus. Night on Crocodile Island.

Day 11: We'll spend the morning across the river visiting the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Ramesseum, and the Colossi of Memnon. Before it becomes too hot, we'll hope for views of Trumpeter Finch around the tombs, as well as Pallid Swift, Rock Martin, and Little Green Bee-eater. We'll then pause for lunch before returning to Karnak to see its splendour by daylight. An evening visit to Luxor Temple could add Little Owl. Night near Luxor.

Day 12: En route to Aswan we'll stop at the impressive temples of Edfu (the largest and best-preserved in the whole of Egypt) and Kom Ombo (in effect a double temple to the gods Sebek and Haroeris). Likely birds on the journey include Black-shouldered Kite, Senegal Thick-knee, and Purple Swamphen. After lunch we will relax in a uniquely Egyptian way - by cruising around Elephantine and Kitchener Islands, or to and through the First Cataract, in a white-sailed felucca, hopefully tallying seven species of heron including Striated. There will be an opportunity for more relaxing on our hotel balconies or in the grounds, or maybe a visit to the new Nubian museum. Night in Aswan.

Day 13: We'll visit the Temple of Philae, saved from the waters of Lake Nasser and reconstructed on an island in the lake, a delightful place to study Nile Valley Sunbird and Graceful Prinia. We will then drive or fly south across the Nubian Desert to Abu Simbel to visit the truly spectacular temples that were saved from the lake. A second visit after sunset will give us the opportunity for another sound and light show, this time incorporating the latest laser technology. With luck, Egyptian Nightjar might fly around the lights. Night in Abu Simbel.

Day 14: At remote but now easily accessible Abu Simbel, a spin-off for birdwatchers is a chance to look for sub-Saharan African species seldom seen elsewhere in the Western Palearctic. These could include Long-tailed Cormorant, Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, African Skimmer, Pink-headed Dove, and African Pied Wagtail. Provided the security forces grant us permission, we will spend several hours exploring otherwise inaccessible bays on Lake Nasser by boat. We'll also drive around the area searching for Kittlitz's Sandplover which we've discovered breeding there, and (again, given permission) out to a camel-stop in the desert where Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse are regular. Night in Abu Simbel.

Day 15: After some final early-morning birding around our hotel, we'll fly to Aswan and then back to Cairo. An afternoon at the Cairo Museum, home to the fabulous Tutankhamun collection and many other wonders of Ancient Egypt, will ensure that all the marvels of the last two weeks will fall into perspective. We'll then go to the old Islamic district of Khan el Kalili for some fun shopping in the narrow streets of the bazaar, culminating in our final meal together at a famous old Egyptian restaurant. Night in Cairo.

Day 16: We'll catch a morning flight back to London where the tour concludes.

Cost £3590

Single Room Supplement £250

Maximum group size: 14 participants and 2 leaders.

Egypt bird list
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