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| Spots for Birding in Egypt | A large stand of coastal mangroves that is inhabited by Spoonbill, Straited Heron and Western Reef Heron is Hamata Mangroves and it is visited by Goliath Heron and Crab Plover. And in the autumn large numbers of waders are reported on migration.
The desert here is not famous, but the plains, wadis and mountains contain birds typical of the Eastern Desert, such as Bar-tailed Desert Lark, Lanner Falcon, Trumpter Finch and Sand Partridge. Recently there have been discovered more unusual species, such as House Bunting, Hume's Tawny Owl, Pink-headed Dove and Lichenstein's Sandgrouse.
Shalatein
Travelers can now go as far south as Shalatein along the Red Sea coast without permits. A frontier town having the look and feel of the Wild West is Shalatein. And here the main tourist attraction is the camel market where Egyptians, desert tribesmen and Sudanese meet to barter and trade. You may see Lappet-faced Vulture here, which feasts on the camel carcasses disposed on the outskirts of town. Also Egyptian and Grifton Vultures are common. Sporadically you may encounter other African specialties, such as Black-crowned Finch Lark and Pink-headed Dove.
Upper Egypt
Nile Cruise
The ideal way to experience the antiquities and bird life of Upper Egypt is to set off for Nile cruise. And you can do the birding from the comfort of the boat as you float down the Nile past farmlands, desert, reedbeds and islands.
It is interesting almost any time of year, with species such as African Skimmer and White-tailed Plover reported. In spring and autumn there is a visible migration of birds along the river. And in winter it is probably the best time to see the largest numbers and diversity of bird life when the Nile is teeming with waterbirds.
Luxor
A visit to Luxor is high on the agenda for most travelers. Such farmland birds as Black-shouldered Kite, Crested Lark and Fan-tailed Warbler and desert birds like Trumpeter Finch, African Rock Martin and Hooded Wheatear can be observed while touring the spectacular tombs and temples of the West Bank.
And to south of Luxor there is Crocodile Island, one of Upper Egypt’s top birding sites where resident, migrant and wintering birds can be found in the gardens, farmlands and reedbeds around the island. Some of the species that may be encountered are Nile Valley Sunbird, Sardinian Warbler, Bluethroat and Red-throated Pipit.
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