Bulletin 8 - July 1979: Diary Notes 1979
Diary Notes 1979
February 25: The first migrant Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) was recorded in the grounds of Abu Dhabi Radio Station. By the end of the first week in March they could be seen in several locations on the Island.
Mid-April: A seahorse was found in a batch of prawns purchased from a local fishing-boat alongside the Corniche. This is the first positive recording for Abu Dhabi.
April 22nd: The first cicada of the summer was heard in the park on Sheikh Khalifa Street. Now (late July) they are allover the city. (see Bulletin 6, p. 7)
Late April: The flint artefact illustrated here was found at Qasiawira at the Eastern end of the Liwa crescent by Diane Donohue, our Insect Recorder. It was probably an awl rather than an arrowhead. The flint is of Omani nodular, not coastal tabular, type.
April 26: On a visit to Khabbayn, c. 30 km east of Al Ain, three separate families of the insect order Neuroptera were observed at night around lamps. These were:
a) Nemopteridae - Long-winged lacewings.b) Chrysopidae - Green lacewings.
c) Myrmeleonidae - Ant-lion flies.
May 18: A young dog-fox (Vulpes vulpes arabica), with its silvery coat in immaculate condition, was found run over on the Dubai Road about 40 km. north of Mafraq. This is the commonest fox of the area.
May 25: Recorded at the Sewage farm among the usual observations:
1 Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)1 Collared pratincole (Glareola pratincola)
1 Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus cobatus) in full summer plumage.
1 Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) which was heard but not seen.
June 23: The shell of a dead Conus textile Linne was found on Ras al Khaimah beach.
July 5: A live dhub (Uromastyx microlepis), none the worse for its encounter with a car on the Dubai Road, was handed in to the Reptile Recorder. It is about 30 cm in length.
