From Palmyra

A three-hour drive from Damascus, Palmyra is an ancient oasis of the Syrian desert, and a world renowned archeological site. The ruins and oasis of Palmyra should not be missed. The oasis is a very rewarding migration bottleneck during spring and autumn, especially for passerines and soaring birds. A stay of at least three days (2 nights) is recommended. It is also recommended that visitors obtain a copy of the paper on the long term bird survey of the Palmyrean desert (Serra et al., in prep), to be published in Sandgrouse in 2005.

Through easy half-day trips (or 1-day trips), Palmyra is the best basis to watch:

Northern Bald Ibis - the famous relict colony discovered in 2002, occurring from mid Feb through mid Jul
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber - in winter
Griffon Vulture
Common Crane Grus grus - in winter
Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis macqueeni - very rare, possibly opportunistic breeder
Great Bustard Otis tarda - reported by locals to occur in winter
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor - common during Mar-Sept
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii - quite common during Mar-Jun
Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius - four sightings in Feb-Mar recorded over three years
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alcata - quite common during Mar-Jun especially in wet years
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
Dunn’s Lark - seen during May-Jul in wet years
Bimaculated Lark - rare, all throughout the year
Temminck’s Horned Lark Eremophila bilopha - common
Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes - common
Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii - common during Oct-Mar
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens - common
Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes syriacus - breeding during Apr-Jun
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola - during migration time
Ménétries' Warbler Sylvia mistacea - breeding during Feb-Jun
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Acrocephalus elaeicus - breeding during Apr-Jul
Asian Desert Warbler Sylvia nana nana - in winter
Scrub Warbler
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus (possibly arenarius ?) - during migration
Steppe Grey Shrike Lanius pallidirostris - during migration
Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis and Common Raven C. corax
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia -migrant breeder (or resident)
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus - breeding during Mar-Jul in wet years
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus
Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta

During migration time, another full day is recommended for wandering within the desert south of Palmyra, also known as the Hamad, excellent for spotting, in addition to birds mentioned above, migrating birds such as:

White Stork Ciconia ciconia and Black Stork C. nigra
Migrating raptors such as Montagu’s and Pallid Harrier Circus pygargus and macrourus, Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes, Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus, Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis, Greater and Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga and pomarina, Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus etc.
Common Crane Grus grus
Houbara Bustard
Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
Thick-billed Lark
Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe xanthoprymna
Cyprus Pied Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca
Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia brachydactyla

During migration time, virtually any species of songbird can be spotted resting in tiny patches of trees growing around wells spread everywhere in the middle of the desert. A dinner and a night spent as guests of a nomadic Bedouin family, inside their tent, will become an unforgettable human and folkloric experience.