Sharm El Sheikh is a popular Red Sea resort well known for birding and a good base for making day trips to nearby sites. Migrants can be found in the hotel gardens, particularly during the autumn when birds congregate at the southern tip of the peninsula, with such species as Orphean Warbler and Masked Shrike. Other birds sighted in and around the Sharm el Sheikh area are: Marsh Harrier, Lesser Kestrell, Wood Sandpiper, Spur-winged Plover, Crested Lark, Pale Sand Martin, Eurasian Collared Dove, White Wagtail, Richard's pipit, Spanish Sparrow, Little Ringed Plover and the House Crow.
The sewage farms are one of the best sites for seeing migrants along with resident Litchenstein's, Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouse which come daily to drink at the ponds.
Lesser Kestrel
Spannish Sparrow
Marsh Harrier
Much of the fruit and vegetables on sale is locally produced. In almost every sense Farafra is self-sufficient. A local man who recently graduated from Cairo University with a law degree said, "I had to come back to Farafra, I have everything I need here." In this sense he could have been referring to many things. His family and roots are there, as is the unique lifestyle.
Of products for sale, olives and olive oil is of high quality in Farafra. In addition, there is a rich output of vegetables and fruits, including bananas, mangos and guavas.
Desert Wheatear
Blackeared Wheatear
Nabq Protected Area on the Gulf of Aqaba is the most norther mangrove in the world and one of the best sites to see Red Sea birds, such as Western Reef Heron, Striated Heron and Sooty Gull. It is also an important stop over and refueling site for migrating waders. Interesting species have been recorded, such as Pacific Golden Plover, Black bellied Plover and the Caspian Tern. .
Sooty Gull
St. Catherine Protectorate in the heart of the High Mountain Range of South Sinai is a world famous natural and cultural heritage site. The gardens around St. Catherine's Monastery at the base of Mt. Sinai are frequented by Sinai specialties such as Sinai Rosefinch, Tristram's Grackle and Chukar. Other desert residents are found including: Desert Lark, Scrub Warbler, White-crowned Black Wheatear, White tailed Wheatear, Rock Dove and Hume's Tawny Owl. It is also a good location to see migrants and winter visitors.
Rose Finch
Tristram's Grackle
Whitecrowned Black Wheatear
White-tailed Wheatear
North Sinai
Birding in El Arish on the Mediterranean coast is off the beaten track for most birders, but is well worth the visit. The orchards and fields in Wadi el Arish are home to Sinai specialties: Palestine Sunbird, Yellow Vented Bulbul and Desert Finch (spring-summer), as well as is an excellent location to find interesting migrants and winter visitors. While a permit is needed, desert areas to the south harbor species such as Temminck's and Dunn's Larks .
Palestinian Sunbird
The Zaranik Protected Area 35 km east of El Arish offers world class birding. From mid August to the end of September Zaranik is an internationally important bottleneck for migratory birds, with flock after flock of waterbird passing along the coast, while the beaches, scrub and saltmarshes are littered with passerines and near passerines.
Over 200,000 Garganey migrate through Zaranik along with 75 different species of waterbird. Cretzschmar's Bunting [an endangered species], Audubon's Gull and Corncrake are just some of the specialties annually seen. The reserve is productive during other seasons: Greater Flamingo occurs throughout the year
