Blue-cheeked bee-eater (Merops persicus) is a migrant breeder (MB) and regular passage visitor (PV) bird, as it is described in “Common Birds of Egypt” for Bertel Bruun and Sherif Baha El Din. The breeding range is only limited on the Nile Delta. Is it the first breeding record in the South?
On May 11, 2025, my friend Dick Hoek, a passionate bird enthusiast from the Netherlands, shared an exciting observation on Facebook. While exploring the area near the water purification plant in Ballana, north of Aswan, Dick and Mohamed Habib witnessed a pair of Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters (Merops persicus) engaged in nest-digging activity along a steep canal slope—a potential sign of local breeding.
This intriguing update immediately reminded me of a personal observation I made back in June 2023. At that time, I noticed similar nesting behavior near the Kom Ombo Temple, just north of Aswan. Several burrows were carved into a sandy cliff behind the archaeological site, clearly used as nests. During a brief 30-minute observation, I counted at least six nests—four of which appeared active, with adult birds regularly entering and exiting, often carrying food.
Documenting the Observation
The observation was supported by two short videos and six photographs:
Video 1: An adult Blue-cheeked Bee-eater enters a nest burrow while carrying food, presumably feeding a chick inside.
Video 2: A juvenile bird is seen waiting near the entrance of the burrow, scanning the sky for a parent with food.
The accompanying photos show:
An adult at the nest entrance
An adult inside a burrow
A perched pair on top of the cliff
An adult carrying an insect near the nest
These visual records add significant weight to the evidence of active breeding behavior in the area.
Breeding Range in Egypt
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (merops persicus persicus) breeds primarily in the Nile Delta and winters in East Tropical Africa. If confirmed, this observation would represent the first documented breeding record of this species in the Aswan region, expanding its known breeding range further south along the Nile Valley.
Summary of the Kom Ombo Observation
Date: June 23, 2023
Time: 17:31 local time
Location: 24°27’10.2″N, 32°55’46.9″E
Number of nests: Minimum of 6
Active nests: At least 4
Observer: Ismael Khalifa
Documentation: 2 videos and 6 photographs
Final thoughts
While more data and follow-up visits are needed to confirm sustained breeding in the area, these early findings are promising. They open the door to further studies and monitoring, which could ultimately redefine our understanding of the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater’s breeding distribution in Egypt, particularly in Upper Egypt and Aswan.
Great Ismael! Very good report. You are becoming a real scientist. Keep on going!
Thanks a lot, dear Dick 💐
It’s you who learned me and inspired me.
I feel grateful for you and your efforts around Aswan.