Stagfire have recently been contracted to carry out ornithological surveys for a multi-billion pound infrastructure project currently in development in the Middle East. Whilst this presents a range of challenges including 4x4 desert driving and surveying in temperatures exceeding 45 degrees, the wealth of species diversity in this region makes for some special wildlife encounters. The survey area takes in the Red Sea fly-way which is an important migration route for over 1.5 million soaring birds. Raptors, storks, pelicans and cranes utilise this route when travelling between their European breeding grounds and African wintering areas. Species highlights include Short-Toed Snake Eagle, Booted Eagle, Montagus, Pallid and Marsh Harrier, Black Kite, Sooty Falcon, Levant Sparrowhawk and Honey Buzzard.
Photos and blog post by David Stone.
