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Bird Monitoring
and Protection Team (BMAPT)
At the Kuwait
Environment Protection Society (KEPS)
ANNUAL REPORT
2002
CONTENTS
Membership and
Contacts Page 2
The Year
2002
Page 4
The Need for
Bird Monitoring and Protection in Kuwait Page 5
The Kuwait Bird
List
Page 7
The Commoner
Species of Birds Page 8
The Vagrant
Species of Birds Page
28
The Species of
Birds Requiring Confirmation Page 31
The Species of
Birds of Captive Origin Page 34
Notes on
Selected Bird Species in the Year 2002 Page 35
Recent
Bibliography
Page 52
MEMBERSHIP
AND CONTACTS
Board of
Directors
Chairman:
Khalid Al-Nasrallah
Deputy
Chairman and Bird Recorder:
Mahmoud Shihab
Secretary:
George Gregory
Liaison
Officer:
Abdalla
Al-Fadhel
Kuwait-based
Members
Shaikha Amthal
Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Abdalla
Al-Fadhel abdallaaa@hotmail.com
Misha´l
Al-Jeriwi mishal@kuwaitbirds.com
Fahad
Al-Mansori info@kuwaitbirds.com
Hussain
Al-Qallaf
kdt_naui@hotmail.com
Abdul-Muhsen
Al-Suraye´a surayea@hotmail.com
Andrew Bailey
Andrew.Bailey@kw.britishcouncil.org
Shirley
Carter-Brown
shirleycarterbrown@hotmail.com
Mark Chichester
MChichester@chevrontexaco.com
George
Gregory
ggoldie51@hotmail.com
Eisa
Ramadan
ramadan57@hotmail.com
Barbara
Settles bashinkas@hotmail.com
Mahmoud
Shihab
mahmoud@kuwaitbirds.com
Bird
Records Committee
Bird
Recorder:
Mahmoud Shihab
Secretary: George
Gregory
Other
Members:
Mish´al
Al-Jeriwi
Khalid Al-Nasrallah
Abdul-Muhsen Al-Suraye´a
Andrew Bailey
Eisa
Ramadan
Communications With The Team
All
communications with the team, including records of the occurrence
and breeding of all species of birds, descriptions of vagrant
species of birds, and notice of intended visits to Kuwait, should be
addressed to:
Khalid
Al-Nasrallah, Chairman, BMAPT
Post: P.O.Box 1896, Safat, 13019, KUWAIT
Tel: (965) 484 8256
Pager: (965) 960 6799
Fax: (965) 483 7856
Email:
khalid@kuwaitbirds.com
and/or George
Gregory, Secretary, BMAPT
Email:
ggoldie51@hotmail.com
THE YEAR 2002
The Year 2002
was important for the consolidation of the position of BMAPT and for
the expansion of its activities.
During the year:
The team’s
website at
www.kuwaitbirds.com was upgraded by Omar Al-Faddagh.
The team met
several times at the headquarters of its parent body, KEPS, in
Shuwaikh, to submit bird data, photographs and news and to plan
future activities.
The first
meeting of the Bird Records Committee took place. The committee
started work on the Fourth Edition of the Kuwait Bird List, and
considered a number of descriptions and photographs of vagrant
species of birds.
The Annual
Report 2001 was sent to the OSME Library and to various
international organizations, magazines and ornithologists.
The team and
other bodies were involved in environmental clean-up operations at a
number of coastal and inland sites.
The team secured
management rights over a 100 kilometer squared area of the National
Park, including the important sites of Wadi Ar-Rimam and Tulha.
Management and development work in this area was scheduled to start
in 2003.
The team secured
ownership and management rights over a one kilometer stretch of
Sulaibikhat Bay, to become a new nature reserve. Management and
development work in this reserve was also scheduled to begin in
2003.
The team carried
out a series of breeding bird surveys to Bubiyan Island between
March and June, which rediscovered breeding by a number of species
for the first time in many decades.
A number of
important breeding records, including several first records for
Kuwait, were submitted to the Atlas of Breeding Birds of Arabia.
Restrictions on
over-grazing and on hunting and disturbance helped reduce the impact
of these activities on bird populations in Kuwait.
This annual
report, the third for Kuwait, demonstrates the increasing influence
and effectiveness of BMAPT in the fields of bird monitoring and
protection.
THE NEED FOR
BIRD MONITORING AND PROTECTION IN KUWAIT
Bird
populations are being monitored in Kuwait to find out if human
activities or environmental changes are affecting them.
The most common
breeding birds in Kuwait are House Sparrow, Laughing Dove,
White-cheeked bulbul, Common Mynah and Feral Pigeon. These species
have increased in numbers because the greening of Kuwait City has
provided food and habitats for them.
Oasis farm
areas at Jahra, Abdali and Wafra are the breeding sites of species
such as White-breasted Kingfisher, Black-crowned Finch Lark and
Spanish Sparrow.
Kuwait’s small
offshore islands are important because they support breeding
colonies of seabirds such as Lesser Crested Tern, White-cheeked Tern
and Bridled Tern. The large island of Bubiyan is an important
breeding site for Western Reef Heron, Grey Heron, Spoonbill, Crab
Plover, Slender-billed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Swift
Tern and possibly other species.
Some species
tolerant of arid conditions, such as various larks and
Cream-coloured Courser, breed in the desert areas and wadi systems.
A number of
reedbed warblers, Little Crake and Moorhen breed at the sewage
outfalls, and other species probably do so.
Many species
pass through Kuwait on spring and autumn migration because it is at
a crossroads of migration routes between breeding grounds in Asia
and winter quarters in southern Arabia, Africa and the Indian
subcontinent.The most common migrant landbirds are Common Swift,
Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Short-toed Lark, Sand Martin,
Swallow, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.
Mud-flats
around the coast are important resting and feeding areas for migrant
herons, egrets, waders, gulls and terns. A number of reedbeds,
freshwater pools, sewage outfalls and flooded sabkha areas are used
by migrant waterside birds.
Birds arriving
in Kuwait for the winter include White Wagtail, Robin, Bluethroat,
Song Thrush and Desert warbler.
Some species
such as Greater Flamingo, Barn Owl and Ring-necked Parakeet can be
found in Kuwait in various seasons without necessarily breeding.
Bird
populations in Kuwait have completely recovered from the
environmental damage at the end of the Iraqi invasion, and some have
increased. The main threats to birds in Kuwait now are over-grazing,
shooting, disturbance, building and oil lakes.
Over-grazing
reduces both plant and animal food for birds, and removes habitats
for nesting and roosting birds. Restrictions on grazing in the east
of Kuwait have been introduced.
There has been
some reduction in shooting in recent years, but it still is fairly
severe in some areas. Shooting is mainly for sport, although some
species, such as Turtle Dove and Barred Warbler, are eaten as
delicacies. The species most commonly shot in Kuwait are Turtle
Dove, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, European Bee-eater and Swallow.
Indiscriminate shooting results in the reduction of some raptors and
regionally scarce species.
Disturbance by
camping and other activities is now prevented by the Public
Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources, the
Environment Public Authority and the Kuwait Environment Protection
Society in the National Park and in Nature Reserves at Jahra Pool,
Doha and Sulaibikhat Bay.
The recent
security fencing around various large oil fields has stopped
grazing, shooting and most disturbance there, and has effectively
created very large nature reserves where the vegetation is
regenerating naturally.
Building
sometimes creates new habitats for birds to nest or roost in, but
chalet building along the coastline prevents the breeding of Kentish
Plover and possibly of other species.
Some of the oil
lakes have naturally dried out and some others have been covered
over. However, others remain, for example at Bahra, where some birds
die by being trapped in oil residues.
The
establishment of more nature reserves, increased control of
shooting, environmental education and publicity to increase public
awareness are some of the best ways of protecting birds in Kuwait.
THE KUWAIT BIRD LIST
(FOURTH EDITION)
The Kuwait Bird
List has been divided, for present convenience, into:
The Commoner
Species of Birds, The Vagrant Species of Birds, The Species of Birds
Requiring Confirmation and The Species of Birds of Captive Origin.
All of these
are analyses of the records of Ahmadi Natural History and Field
Studies Group, S. Al-Ahmadi, K. Al-Ghanim, M. Al-Jeriwi, F.
Al-Mansori, K. Al-Nasrallah, H. Al-Qallaf, Shaikha A. Al-Sabah, M.
Al-Saleh, A. Al-Sarhan, A.Al-Suraye’a, A. Bailey, W. Bindl, R.P.
Blacker, G. Bundy, H-M. Busch, A. Caldwell, S. Carter-Brown, R.E.
Cheeseman, M. O. Chichester, D. A. Clayton, N. Cleere, B. Cooper, P.
Cowan, P.Z. Cox, A.J. Crease, A.Cross, G.Dallemagne, H.R.P. Dickson,
H. McCurdy, V. Dickson, M. Evans, P. Fraser, J. Gaskell, G. Gregory,
P.R. Haynes, S. Holliday, P. A. D. Hollom, S. Howe, P. Johnson, A.
Lange, F. Lange, H. McCurdy, R. Meinertzhagen, J. Middleton, N.
Montfort, Natural History Museum Tring, M. Newhouse, D. L. Newman,
G. Ostero, C. W. T. Pilcher, E. Ramadan, P. H. Rathbone, P. Johnson,
J. Rathgeber-Knan, J. Seegers, M. Reed, P. Robertson, A. Ross, G.
Rowlands, L. Sager, V.A.D. Sales, O. and S. Schroder, R. Seargent,
B. Settles, J. Shaw, M. Shihab, S.T.Spencer, W. A. Stuart, B.
Thomas, C. B. Ticehurst, A. Tye, G. Walker, F.E. Warr, J. Webb, R.
Williams, G. Wright, and Anonymous, published in a wide variety of
sources.
Particular
thanks must go to the OSME librarian, Ray Daniel, the ABBA
Co-ordinator, Michael Jennings, the former Kuwait Bird Recorder,
Effie Warr and the former Chairman of the Ahmadi Natural History and
Field Studies Group, Stanley Howe, for their help in making records
accessible. Thanks must also go to the National Commission for
Wildlife Conservation and Development in Riyadh, whose sponsorship
of ABBA enables such work to continue.
The work of
Gavin Rowlands, David Hellam and Zainab Khalil in formatting
versions of this list is gratefully acknowledged.
The Kuwait Bird
List has not been easy to compile, due to loss, destruction and
inaccessibility of records, nor is it immutable, and BMAPT would
welcome any comments, suggested changes or constructive criticism
concerning the list so that it can be kept up to date and accurate.
The list, of course, is constantly changing, as every year brings
new data and new discoveries about Kuwait’s birds.
THE COMMONER
SPECIES OF BIRDS
The Commoner
Species of Birds are those species which are judged to have occurred
at least 10 times in total.
Seasonal Status:
The seasonal status of each species is judged to be one of the
following categories:
Abundant: occurs
annually in very large numbers (10,000+)
Very Common:
occurs annually in large numbers (1,000 - 9,999)
Common: occurs
annually in moderate numbers (100 - 999)
Uncommon: occurs
annually in small numbers (10 - 99)
Scarce: occurs
annually in very small numbers (1 - 9)
Rare: does not
occur annually
Species:
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus
ruficollis)
Scarce winter
visitor. Scarce passage migrant. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.
Great Crested
Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
Scarce winter
visitor. Scarce passage migrant
Black-necked
Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax
carbo)
Very common
winter visitor. Very common passage migrant.
Socotra
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
Uncommon
disperser in spring, summer and autumn. Has bred.
White Pelican (Pelecanus
onocrotalus)
Rare disperser
in all seasons. Has bred.
Dalmatian
Pelican (Pelecanus crispus)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Bittern (Botaurus
stellaris)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Little Bittern
(Ixobrychus minutus)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Rare winter visitor. Has bred.
Night Heron (Nycticorax
nycticorax)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare summer visitor. Rare winter visitor. Has bred.
Squacco Heron (Ardeola
ralloides)
Common passage
migrant. Rare summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus
ibis)
Uncommon
disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Western Reef
Heron (Egretta gularis)
Very common
resident. Breeds.
Little Egret (Egretta
garzetta)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Great White
Egret (Egretta alba)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Grey Heron (Ardea
cinerea)
Very common
winter visitor. Common passage migrant. Common resident. Breeds.
Purple Heron
(Ardea purpurea)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare summer visitor.
White Stork (Ciconia
ciconia)
Scarce passage
migrant.
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis
falcinellus)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Spoonbill
(Platalea leucorodia)
Common resident.
Breeds.
Greater
Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Very common
resident. Very common disperser in all seasons. Has bred.
White-fronted
Goose (Anser albifrons)
Rare winter
visitor.
Greylag Goose (Anser
anser)
Rare winter
visitor.
Ruddy Shelduck
(Tadorna ferruginea)
Rare passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Shelduck
(Tadorna tadorna)
Uncommon winter
visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Wigeon (Anas
penelope)
Uncommon winter
visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Gadwall
(Anas strepera)
Uncommon winter
visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Teal (Anas
crecca)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Mallard (Anas
platyrhynchos)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Pintail (Anas
acuta)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Garganey (Anas
querquedula)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter vistor.
Shoveler (Anas
clypeata)
Uncommon winter
vistor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Pochard
(Aythya ferina)
Uncommon winter
visitor. Rare passage migrant.
Ferruginous
Duck (Aythya nyroca)
Rare passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Tufted Duck
(Aythya fuligula)
Uncommon winter
visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Honey Buzzard
(Pernis apivorus)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Black Kite (Milvus
migrans)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Egyptian Vulture
(Neophron percnopterus)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Griffon Vulture
(Gyps fulvus)
Scarce disperser
in spring, autumn and winter.
Black Vulture
(Aegypius monachus)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Short-toed Eagle
(Circaetus gallicus)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Marsh Harrier (Circus
aeruginosus)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Hen Harrier
(Circus cyaneus)
Rare passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Pallid Harrier
(Circus macrourus)
Common passage
migrant.
Montagu’s
Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Goshawk
(Accipiter gentilis)
Rare passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter
nisus)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Shikra (Accipiter
badius)
Scarce passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Levant
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes)
Rare passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Buzzard (Buteo
buteo)
Very common
passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Long-legged
Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
Common passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Spotted Eagle (Aquila
clanga)
Common passage
migrant. Scarce winter vistor.
Steppe Eagle (Aquila
nipalensis)
Very common
passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Eastern Imperial
Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Golden Eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Booted Eagle
(Hieraaetus pennatus)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Bonelli’s Eagle
(Hieraaetus fasciatus)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Lesser Kestrel
(Falco naumanni)
Very common
passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Kestrel
(Falco tinnunculus)
Common passage
migrant. Common winter visitor. Uncommon resident. Has bred.
Merlin
(Falco columbarius)
Rare winter
visitor. Rare passage migrant.
Hobby (Falco
subbuteo)
Common passage
migrant.
Lanner Falcon
(Falco biarmicus)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Saker Falcon
(Falco cherrug)
Rare passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Peregrine Falcon
(Falco peregrinus)
Rare disperser
in all seasons. Rare resident.
Quail
(Coturnix coturnix)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Water Rail
(Rallus aquaticus)
Uncommon
resident. Uncommon passage migrant. Has bred.
Spotted Crake (Porzana
porzana)
Uncommon
resident. Uncommon passage migrant.
Little Crake
(Porzana parva)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Has bred.
Baillon’s Crake
(Porzana pusilla)
Scarce passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Corncrake
(Crex crex)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Moorhen
(Gallinula chloropus)
Common resident.
Uncommon winter visitor. Breeds.
Coot (Fulica
atra)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Rare resident. Has bred.
Common Crane
(Grus grus)
Rare winter
visitor and passage migrant.
Demoiselle
Crane (Anthropoides virgo)
Rare passage
migrant.
Macqueen’s
Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)
Rare disperser
in all seasons. Has bred.
Oystercatcher
(Haematopus ostralegus)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Black-winged
Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor. Has bred.
Avocet
(Recurvirostra avosetta)
Uncommon winter
visitor. Uncommon passage migrant. Rare summer visitor.
Crab Plover
(Dromas ardeola)
Very common
resident. Breeds.
Stone Curlew
(Burhinus oedicnemus)
Uncommon Passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Cream-coloured
Courser (Cursorius curso)r
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon resident. Breeds.
Collared
Pratincole (Glareola pratincola)
Common passage
migrant. Scarce summer visitor.
Black-winged
Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Ringed Plover
(Charadrius hiaticula)
Common passage
migrant. Common winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Kentish Plover
(Charadrius alexandrinus)
Very common
resident. Breeds.
Lesser Sand
Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
Very common
passage migrant. Common winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor.
Greater Sand
Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
Very common
passage migrant. Very common winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor.
Has bred.
Caspian Plover
(Charadrius asiaticus)
Common passage
migrant.
Dotterel
(Charadrius morinellus)
Rare passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Pacific Golden
Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Scarce passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Grey Plover (Pluvialis
squatarola)
Common winter
visitor. Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor.
Red-wattled
Plover (Hoplopterus indicus)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Sociable Plover
(Chettusia gregaria)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
White-tailed
Plover (Chettusia leucura )
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Lapwing (Vanellus
vanellus)
Scarce winter
visitor and passage migrant.
Sanderling
(Calidris alba)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Little Stint
(Calidris minuta)
Very common
passage migrant. Common winter visitor.
Temminck’s
Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Curlew Sandpiper
(Calidris ferruginea)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Dunlin (Calidris
alpina)
Very common
passage migrant. Common winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Ruff
(Philomachus pugnax)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Broad-billed
Sandpiper (Limicola falcipennis)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Jack Snipe
(Lymnocryptes minimus)
Scarce passage
migrant. Rare winter vistor.
Snipe
(Gallinago gallinago)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Great Snipe
(Gallinago media)
Rare passage
migrant.
Black-tailed
Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Bar-tailed
Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Curlew
(Numenius arquata)
Very common
passage migrant. Common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor.
Spotted
Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Redshank (Tringa
tetanus)
Very common
passage migrant. Very common winter visitor.
Marsh Sandpiper
(Tringa stagnatilis)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Greenshank
(Tringa nebularia)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Green Sandpiper
(Tringa ochropus)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Wood Sandpiper
(Tringa glareola)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Terek Sandpiper
(Xenus cinereus)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Turnstone (Arenaria
interpre)s
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Red-necked
Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius
pomarinus)
Common passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Arctic Skua (Stercorarius
parasitcus)
Common passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor. Rare summer visitor.
Great
Black-headed Gull (Larus ichthyaetus)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Black-headed
Gull (Larus ridibundus)
Abundant passage
migrant. Abundant winter visitor.
Common Sandpiper
(Actitis hypoleucos)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Slender-billed
Gull (Larus genei)
Abundant passage
migrant. Common resident. Breeds.
Common Gull (Larus
canus)
Rare winter
visitor.
Lesser
Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Very common
passage migrant. Common winter visitor.
Siberian Gull (Larus
heuglini)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Yellow-legged
Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Very common
passage migrant. Very common winter visitor. Uncommon summer
visitor.
Gull-billed
Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Common resident.
Common passage migrant. Breeds.
Caspian Tern
(Sterna caspia)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon resident. Breeds.
Swift Tern
(Sterna bergii)
Common summer
visitor. Scarce resident. Breeds.
Lesser Crested
Tern (Sterna bengalensis)
Common summer
visitor. Scarce resident. Breeds.
Sandwich Tern
(Sterna sandvicensis)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Scarce resident.
Common Tern
(Sterna hirundo)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor.
White-cheeked
Tern (Sterna repressa)
Very common
summer visitor. Rare resident. Breeds.
Bridled Tern (Sterna
anaethetus)
Very common
summer visitor. Scarce resident. Breeds.
Little Tern
(Sterna albifrons)
Common passage
migrant. Rare summer visitor.
Whiskered Tern
(Chlidonias hybridus)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Breeds.
White-winged
Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus )
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Breeds.
Spotted
Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus)
Irregular (has
been common) summer visitor. Uncommon disperser in autumn, winter
and spring. Has bred.
Black-bellied
Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)
Uncommon winter
visitor. Rare passage migrant.
Pin-tailed
Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata)
Irregular (has
been common) summer visitor. Uncommon passage migrant. Uncommon
winter visitor. Has bred.
Rock Dove
(Columba livia)
Abundant
resident (Feral Pigeons, Tumblers, etc). Breeds.
Woodpigeon (Columba
palumbus)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring .
Collared Dove
(Streptopelia decaocto)
Very common
resident. Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Breeds.
Turtle Dove (Streptopelia
turtur)
Very common
passage migrant. Rare summer visitor. Rare winter visitor. Breeds.
Laughing Dove
(Streptopelia senegalensis)
Abundant
resident. Breeds.
Namaqua Dove
(Oena capensis)
Uncommon
resident. Scarce disperser in spring and autumn. Has bred.
Ring-necked
Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Very common
winter visitor. Uncommon resident.
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus
canorus)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Barn Owl (Tyto
alba)
Scarce disperser
in spring and autumn.
Scops Owl (Otus
scops)
Common passage
migrant.
Eagle Owl
(Bubo bubo)
Scarce resident.
Breeds.
Little Owl
(Athene noctua)
Uncommon
resident. Breeds.
Short-eared Owl
(Asio flammeus)
Scarce passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
European
Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)
Common passage
migrant. Rare summer visitor.
Egyptian
Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius)
Common passage
migrant. Rare summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Common Swift
(Apus apus)
Abundant passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Pallid Swift
(Apus pallidus)
Very common
passage migrant. Common summer visitor. Common winter visitor.
Breeds.
Alpine Swift
(Apus melba)
Scarce passage
migrant.
White-breasted
Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
Uncommon winter
visitor. Scarce resident. Breeds.
Common
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Scarce winter
visitor. Scarce passage migrant.
Pied Kingfisher
(Ceryle rudis)
Scarce disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Blue-cheeked
Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus)
Abundant passage
migrant. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.
European
Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
Abundant passage
migrant.
European Roller
(Coracias garrulus)
Common passage
migrant.
Indian Roller (Coracias
bengalensis)
Scarce disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Hoopoe
(Upupa epops)
Common passage
migrant.
Wryneck
(Jynx torquilla)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Dunn’s Lark (Eremelauda
dunni)
Scarce disperser
in spring, summer and autumn. Rare disperser in winter.
Bar-tailed
Desert Lark (Ammomanes cincturus)
Uncommon
resident. Breeds.
Desert Lark (Ammomanes
deserti)
Uncommon
resident. Breeds.
Hoopoe Lark
(Alaemon alaudipes)
Common resident.
Uncommon disperser in spring and autumn. Breeds
Thick-billed
Lark (Ramphocoris clotbey)
Rare disperser
in winter and spring. Has bred.
Bimaculated
Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.
Short-toed Lark
(Calandrella brachydactyla)
Abundant passage
migrant. Common summer visitor. Scarce winter visitor. Breeds.
Lesser
Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens)
Very common
passage migrant. Very common winter visitor. Common summer visitor.
Breeds.
Crested Lark (Galerida
cristata)
Very common
resident. Breeds.
Wood Lark (Lullula
arborea)
Rare winter
visitor and passage migrant.
Small Skylark (Alauda
gulgula)
Scarce disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Skylark (Alauda
arvensis)
Uncommon winter
visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
Temminck’s
Horned Lark (Eremophila bilophus)
Uncommon
disperser in autumn, winter and spring. Has bred.
Sand Martin (Riparia
riparia)
Abundant passage
migrant. Uncommon summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Crag Martin
(Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo
rustica)
Abundant passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor.
Red-rumped
Swallow (Hirundo daurica)
Common passage
migrant.
House Martin (Delichon
urbica)
Abundant passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Tawny Pipit (Anthus
campestris)
Very common
passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Olive-backed
Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)
Rare winter
visitor.
Tree Pipit (Anthus
trivialis)
Very common
passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Meadow Pipit
(Anthus pratensis)
Uncommon passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Red-throated
Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
Very common
passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Water Pipit (Anthus
spinoletta)
Common winter
visitor. Common passage migrant.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla
flava)
Very common
passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.
Citrine Wagtail
(Motacilla citreola)
Rare passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla
cinerea)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
White Wagtail (Motacilla
alba)
Abundant winter
visitor. Abundant passage migrant.
White-cheeked
Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
Very common
resident. Breeds.
Red-vented
Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Common resident.
Breeds.
Grey Hypocolius
(Hypocolius ampelinus)
Common passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Rufous Bush
Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon summer visitor. Breeds.
Robin (Erithacus
rubecula)
Common winter
visitor.
Thrush
Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Nightingale (Luscinia
megarhynchos)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Bluethroat
(Luscinia svecica)
Common winter
visitor. Common passage migrant.
White-throated
Robin (Irania gutturalis)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Eversmann’s
Redstart (Phoenicurus erythronotus)
Rare winter
visitor.
Black Redstart
(Phoenicurus ochruros)
Common passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Common Redstart
(Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Very common
passage migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Whinchat
(Saxicola rubetra)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Stonechat
(Saxicola torquata)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Isabelline
Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)
Abundant passage
migrant. Common winter visitor.
Northern
Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Abundant passage
migrant.
Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe
pleschanka)
Abundant passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Black-eared
Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Desert
Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
Abundant passage
migrant. Common winter visitor.
Finsch’s
Wheatear (Oenanthe finschii)
Scarce winter
visitor and passage migrant.
Red-tailed
Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna)
Scarce passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Mourning
Wheatear (Oenanathe lugens)
Scarce disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe
monacha)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
White-crowned
Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucopyga)
Rare disperser
in autumn, winter and spring.
Rock Thrush (Monticola
saxatilis)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola
solitarius)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Blackbird (Turdus
merula)
Scarce winter
visitor.
Black-throated
Thrush (Turdus ruficollis)
Rare winter
visitor.
Fieldfare (Turdus
pilaris)
Rare winter
visitor and passage migrant.
Song Thrush (Turdus
philomelos)
Common winter
visitor. Common passage migrant.
Mistle Thrush (Turdus
viscivorus)
Rare winter
visitor.
Redwing (Turdus
iliacus)
Rare winter
visitor and passage migrant.
Cetti’s Warbler
(Cettia cetti)
Uncommon
disperser in autumn, winter and spring.
Graceful
Warbler (Prinia gracilis)
Common resident.
Breeds.
Grasshopper
Warbler (Locustella naevia)
Scarce passage
migrant.
River Warbler (Locustella
fluviatilis)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Savi’s Warbler
(Locustella lusciniodes)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Moustached
Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon)
Common winter
visitor. Common passage migrant. Uncommon resident. Has bred.
Sedge Warbler
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Common passage
migrant.
Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus
palustris0
Common passage
migrant.
EuropeanReed Warbler (Acrocephalus
scirpaceus)
Very common passge migrant. Uncommon summer visitor. Rare winter
visitor. Breeds.
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus
stentoreus)
Common passage
migrant. Scarce resident.
Great Reed
Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
Very common
passage migrant. Uncommon summer visitor. Has bred.
Basra Reed
Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis)
Common passage migrant. Scarce
summer visitor
Eastern
Olivaceous Warbler (Hippolais pallida)
Very common
passage migrant. Common summer visitor. Rare winter visitor. Breeds.
Syke’s Warbler
(Hippolais rama)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Upcher’s
Warbler (Hippolais languida)
Very common
passage migrant.
Icterine
Warbler (Hippolais icterina)
Scarce passage
migrant.
Ménétries’s
Warbler (Sylvia mystacea)
Common passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Desert Warbler
(Sylvia nana)
Common passage
migrant. Common winter visitor.
Orphean Warbler
(Sylvia hortensis)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Barred Warbler
(Sylvia nisoria)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Lesser
Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Hume’s Lesser
Whitethroat (Sylvia althaea)
Rare passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Desert Lesser
Whitethroat (Sylvia minula)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce winter visitor.
Whitethroat (Sylvia
communis)
Very common
passage migrant.
Garden Warbler
(Sylvia borin)
Scarce passage
migrant.
Blackcap (Sylvia
atricapilla)
Very common
passage migrant.
Green Warbler (Phylloscopus
nitidus)
Rare passage
migrant.
Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus
sibilitrax)
Scarce passage
migrant.
Mountain
Chiffchafff (Phylloscopus sindianus)
Rare passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus
collybita)
Abundant passage
migrant. Abundant winter visitor.
Willow Warbler
(Phylloscopus trochilus)
Abundant passage
migrant.
Spotted
Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
Very common
passage migrant.
Red-breasted
Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Scarce passage
migrant.
Semi-collared
Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Penduline Tit (Remiz
pendulinus)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Golden Oriole (Oriolus
oriolus)
Common passage
migrant.
Isabelline
Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)
Common passage migrant. Uncommon
winter visitor. Scarce summer visitor.
Red-backed
Shrike (Lanius collurio)
Common passage
migrant.
Lesser Grey
Shrike (Lanius minor)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Southern Grey
Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)
Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Steppe Grey
Shrike (Lanius pallidirostris)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.
Woodchat Shrike
(Lanius senator)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Masked Shrike (Lanius
nubicus)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
House Crow (Corvus
splendens)
Uncommon summer
visitor and passage migrant. Breeds.
Brown-necked
Raven (Corvus ruficollis)
Scarce summer
visitor. Scarce resident. Breeds.
Starling (Sturnus
vulgaris)
Very common
winter visitor. Common passage migrant.
Rose-coloured
Starling (Sturnus roseus)
Scarce passage
migarnt. Rare summer visitor.
Bank Mynah (Acridotheres
ginginianus)
Common resident.
Breeds.
Common Mynah (Acridotheres
tristis)
Very common
resident. Breeds.
House Sparrow
(Passer domesticus)
Abundant
resident. Breeds.
Spanish Sparrow
(Passer hispaniolensis)
Very common
winter visitor. Common resident. Breeds.
Pale Rock
Sparrow (Petronia brachydactyla)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.
Yellow-throated
Sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis)
Uncommon passage
migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Breeds.
Indian
Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)
Uncommon
resident.
Chaffinch (Fringilla
coelebs)
Rare winter
visitor.
Brambling (Fringilla
montifringilla)
Rare winter
visitor.
Goldfinch
(Carduelis carduelis)
Rare winter
visitor.
Siskin (Carduelis
spinus)
Rare winter
visitor.
Linnet (Carduellis
cannabina)
Rare winter
visitor.
Trumpeter Finch
(Bucanetes githagineus)
Scarce disperser
in all seasons. Has bred.
Common
Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
Uncommon passage
migrant.
Cinereous
Bunting (Emberiza cineracea)
Scarce passage
migrant.
Ortolan Bunting
(Emberiza hortulana)
Common passage
migrant. Rare winter visitor.
Little Bunting
(Emberiza pusilla)
Rare passage
migrant and winter visitor.
Reed Bunting (Emberiza
schoeniclus)
Rare winter
visitor.
Black-headed
Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)
Rare passage
migrant.
Corn Bunting (Miliaria
calandra)
Common winter
visitor. Uncommon passage migrant.
THE VAGRANT
SPECIES OF BIRDS
The
Vagrant Species of Birds are those species that are judged to have
occurred fewer than 10 times in total, with each record supported by
a written description available to BMAPT, acceptable by modern
standards.
If new species
are supported by acceptable descriptions, then they will be added to
this list.
Species:
Slavonian Grebe
(Podiceps auritus)
Pygmy Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax pygmeus)
Black Stork (Ciconia
nigra)
Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis
aethiopicus)
Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta
angustirostris)
Red-breasted
Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Crested Honey
Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
Lesser Spotted
Eagle (Aquila pomarina)
Sooty Falcon (Falco
concolor)
Barbary Falcon
(Falco pelegrinoides)
Purple
Gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio) (has bred)
Black Francolin
(Francolinus francolinus) (caveat escapes)
Knot (Calidris
canutus)
Spur-winged
Plover (Hoplopterus spinosus)
Woodcock (Scolopax
rusticola)
Slender-billed
Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)
Grey Phalarope
(Phalaropus fulicarius)
Long-tailed
Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus)
Mediterranean
Gull (Larus melanocephalus)
Little Gull (Larus
minutus)
Chestnut-bellied
Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)
Rufous Turtle
Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
Bruce’s Green
Pigeon (Treron waalia) (caveat escapes)
Great Spotted
Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius)
Long-eared Owl
(Asio otus)
Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha
calandra)
African Rock
Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula)
Blyth’s Pipit (Anthus
godlewskii)
Richards Pipit
(Anthus richardi)
Yellow-vented
Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) (caveat
escapes)
Wren (Troglodytes
troglodytes)
Dunnock (Prunella
modularis)
Black-throated
Accentor (Prunella atrogularis)
Ring Ouzel (Turdus
torquatus)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus
naumanni)
Fan-tailed
Warbler (Cisticola juncidis)
Olive-tree
Warbler (Hippolais olivetorum)
Yellow-browed
Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
Hume’s
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus humei)
Bearded Tit (Panurus
biarmicus) (caveat escapes)
Common Babbler
(Turdoides caudatus)
Black Drongo (Dicrurus
macrocercus) (caveat escapes)
Rook (Corvus
frugilegus)
Wattled
Starling (Creatophora cinerea) (caveat escapes)
Dead Sea
Sparrow (Passer moabiticus)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza
citrinella)
Rock Bunting (Emberiza
cia)
Rustic Bunting
(Emberiza rustica)
Red-headed
Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps)
THE SPECIES OF BIRDS REQUIRING
CONFIRMATION
The Species of
Birds Requiring Confirmation are those species which have been
published as occurring in Kuwait, but which require confirmation
because:
1- no
description was written for any record,
2- no
description is available for adjudication of any record by BMAPT,
3- one or more
descriptions are available to BMAPT, but are judged not to be
acceptable by modern standards, or
4- the
identification was not claimed or listed as completely certain.
Persian
Shearwater (Puffinus (Iherminieri)
persicu)s
Red-billed
Tropicbird (Phaeton aethereus)
African Darter
(Anhinga rufa)
Indian Pond
Heron (Ardeola grayii)
Lesser
White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus)
Long-tailed
Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
Common Scoter (Melanitta
nigra)
Velvet Scoter (Melanitta
fusca)
Red Kite (Milvus
milvus)
Eleonora’s
Falcon (Falco eleonorae)
Golden Plover (Pluvialis
apricaria)
Purple
Sandpiper (Calidris maritime)
Armenian Gull (Larus
armenicus)
Great
Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
Kittiwake (Rissa
tridactyla)
Roseate Tern (Sterna
dougalli)
Saunders’s Tern
(Sterna saundersi)
Black Tern (Chlidonias
niger)
Stock Dove (Columba
oenas)
Striated Scops
Owl (Otus brucei)
Tawny Owl (Strix
aluco)
Hume’s Tawny
Owl (Strix butleri)
Little Swift (Apus
affinis)
Little Green
Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
Long-billed
Pipit (Anthus similis)
Guldenstadt’s
Redstart (Phoenicurus erythrogaster)
Blackstart (Cercomela
melanura)
Eastern Pied
Wheatear (Oenanthe picata)
Hume’s Wheatear
(Oenanthe alboniger)
Scrub Wheatear
(Scotocerca inquieta)
Paddyfield
Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola)
Blyth’s Reed
Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)
Melodious
Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta)
Spectacled
Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata)
Subalpine
Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)
Sardinian
Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)
Cyprus Warbler
(Sylvia melanothorax)
Ruppell’s
Warbler (Sylvia rueppelli)
Bonelli’s
Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli)
Radde’s Warbler
(Phylloscopus schwarzi)
Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus
fuscatus)
Collared
Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)
Pied Flycatcher
(Ficedula hypoleuca)
Iraq Babbler (Turdoides
altirostris)
Hooded Crow (Corvus
corone cornix)
Arabian Golden
Sparrow (Passer euchlorus)
Serin (Serinus
serinus)
House Bunting (Emberiza
striolata)
Cretzschmar’s
Bunting (Emberiza caesia)
<>
THE SPECIES
OF BIRDS OF CAPTIVE ORIGIN
The Species of
Birds of Captive Origin are those species whose occurrence is judged
to involve only deliberately released or escaped individuals of
species which have bred or been recorded in the wild elsewhere in
the OSME region.
Chukar (Alectoris
chukar)
See-see
Partridge (Ammoperdix griseogularis)
Grey Crowned
Crane (Balearica regulorum)
African Collared
Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) (including Barbary Dove and
Albinos)
Alexandrine
Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)
Budgerigar (Melopsittacus
undulates)
Brahminy Mynah
(Sturnus pagodarum)
Streaked Weaver
(Ploceus manyar)
Common Waxbill
(Estrilda astrild)
Avadavat (Amandava
amandava)
Zebra Waxbill (Amandava
subflava)
NOTES ON
SELECTED SPECIES IN THE YEAR 2002
These notes are
based on the bird records of A. Al-Fadhel, M. Al-Jeriwi,
F.Al-Mansori, K.Al-Nasrallah, H. Al-Qallaf, M. Al-Saleh, A.
Al-Suraye’a, A. Bailey, S. Carter-Brown, M. Chichester, G. Gregory,
P. Johnson, H. McCurdy, E. Ramadan, J.Seegers, M. Shihab,
S.T.Spencer and G.Wright.
Socotra
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis)
Maximum seven at
Al-Zour on 13.6.2002.
White Pelican (Pelecanus
crispus)
Two at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 29.11.2002.
Little Bittern
(Ixobrychus minutus)
A pair in reeds
at Sabah Al-Salem for weeks from 23.5.2002.
Squacco Heron (Ardeola
ralloides)
Up to four in
reeds at Sabah Al-Salem from 25.4.2002.
Western Reef
Heron (Egretta gularis)
About 300 pairs
breeding on Bubiyan Island, including c10 pairs on a wrecked ship in
the Khur as Subiyah. Eggs recorded from 4.3.2002, pulli from
4.4.2002.
Great White
Egret (Egretta alba)
Maximum 34 at
Jahra Bay on 2.1.2002.
Grey Heron (Ardea
cinerea)
About 100 pairs
breeding on Bubiyan Island, including 5 pairs on a wrecked ship in
the Khur as Subiyah.
Eggs recorded from 4.3.2002, pulli from 4.4.2002.
Purple Heron (Ardea
purpurea)
Maximum 14 at
Al-Zour on 13.9.2002 and at Khor Ala’ma on 23.9.2002.
Spoonbill
(Platalea leucorodia)
About 50 pairs
breeding on Bubiyan Island. Eggs from 4.4.2002, pulli from
17.5.2002.
Greater
Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Maximum 1500 at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 1.2.2002.
Ruddy Shelduck
(Tadorna ferruginea)
Two at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 15.3.2002 and 20.3.2002.
Shelduck (Tadorna
tadorna)
Maximum 208 from
Sulaibikhat Bay to Jahra Bay on 1.1.2002.
Wigeon (Anas
penelope)
Maximum 15+ at
Jahra Pool Area on 4.1.2002.
Gadwall (Anas
strepera)
Maximum two or
more at Jahra Pool Area on 4.1.2002.
Teal (Anas
crecca)
Maximum six at
storm ponds near Road 230.
Mallard (Anas
platyrhynchos)
Maximum seven at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 8.2.2002.
Pintail (Anas
acuta)
Three at Sewer
Plant Reeds on 20.2.2002.
Garganey (Anas
querquedula)
Maximum 27 at
Al-Zour on 20.9.2002.
Shoveler (Anas
clypeata)
Maximum 18 at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 29.11.2002.
Tufted Duck (Aythya
fuligula)
Maximum two at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 8.2.2002.
Crested Honey
Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
A juvenile found
dead at Qaisat on 4.10.2002. Probably overlooked previously.
Black-winged
Kite (Elanus caerulus)
One caught in a
baited raptor trap, then photographed, at Al-Abraq Al-Khabari on
28.2.2002 (1st Kuwait record).
Black Kite (Milvus
migrans)
Maximum 150 at
Sulaibiya on 15.2.2002.
Egyptian
Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
One at Salmi on
14.9.2002.
Black Vulture (Aegypius
monachus)
One at Wafra Oil
Field on 28.9.2002.
Goshawk (Accipiter
gentilis)
A first-year
male found dead at Sabah Al-Salem on 16.1.2002.
Shikra (Accipiter
badius)
Singles at
Rawdatain on 26.4.2002, caught in a baited raptor trap at Salmi on
10.9.2002, and at Qaisat on 13.12.2002; all photographed.
Has been annual in recent years.
Lesser Spotted
Eagle (Aquila pomarina)
One at Qaisat on
5.4.2002. Probably under-recorded.
Steppe Eagle (Aquila
nipalensis)
Maximum c770 at
Kabd on 28.2.2002.
Osprey (Pandion
haliaetus)
An inland record
of one found dead at Al-Abraq Al-Khabari on 18.10.2002.
Red-footed
Falcon (Falco vespertinu)s
A second-year
female found dead at Hujaijah on 9.5.2002 (1st Kuwait
record).
Sooty Falcon (Falco
concolor)
Two at Jabriya
on 21.4.2002 and two photographed at Shuwaikh on 19.6.2002.
Saker Falcon (Falco
cherrug)
Singles at Salmi
on 6.9.2002 and at Ratqa on 19.11.2002.
Peregrine
Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
The single bird
continued to roost on a tall bank building in Kuwait City for the
third year.
Water Rail (Rallus
aquaticus)
Found breeding
at Sabah Al-Salem on 11.6.2002 (1st confirmed Kuwait
breeding record).
Spotted Crake
Porzana porzana)
Numerous
sightings in reeds at Jahra East Outfall and Sabah Al-Salem from
January to May and from September to December 2002.
Probably breeds in small numbers.
Little Crake (Porzana
parva)
Numerous
multiple sightings at Jahra East Outfall, Sabah Al-Salem and Sewer
Plant Reeds from January to June, singing and responding to tape
once, and from September to December 2002. Up to ten pairs suspected
of breeding annually.
Coot (Fulica
atra)
Maximum 25 at
South Doha Nature Reserve on 1.2.2002.
Macqueen’s
Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)
One at Ratqa on
5.1.2002. ‘Many’ reported by hunters in northern Kuwait from October
to December 2002, including two in North-East Kuwait
and one at Ratqa on 19.11.2002.
Oystercatcher (Haematopus
ostralegus)
Maximum 120 at
Jahra East Outfall on 15.3.2002.
Black-winged
Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Maximum 22 at
Jahra East Outfall on 15.3.2002.
Crab Plover (Dromas
ardeola)
Found breeding
on Bubiyan Island. c1000 full-grown birds with two food-begging
adults on 4.4.2002; c100 active nest burrows on 17.5.2002, with many
adults and two juveniles emerging; some eggs found outside burrows.
Little Ringed
Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Maximum 13 at
Jahra East Outfall on 22.3.2002.
Ringed Plover (Charadrius
hiaticula)
Maximum 40 at
Sabah Al-Salem on 17.1.2002.
Lesser Sand
Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
Maximum 300 at
Sabah Al-Salem on 3.1.2002.
Greater Sand
Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
Maximum 200 at
Sabah Al-Salem on 24.1.2002, but no breeding this year.
Caspian Plover
(Charadrius asiaticus)
Maximum three at
Khor Ala’ma on 16.8.2002. Probably thoroughly under-recorded.
Pacific Golden
Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
One at Doha on
8.2.2002. Probably under-recorded.
White-tailed
Plover (Chettusia leucura)
Maximum 30 at
Ratqa on 5.3.2002.
Sanderling (Calidris
alba)
Maximum 130 at
Sabah Al-Salem on 17.1.2002.
Little Stint (Calidris
minuta)
Maximum 30 at
Sabah Al-Salem on 23.2.2002.
Temminck’s
Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Maximum 5 at
Sabah Al-Salem on 23.2.2002.
Curlew
Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
Maximum 22At
Khor Ala’ma on 25.7.2002.
Broad-billed
Sandpiper (Limicola falcinellus)
Maximum 30 at
Sabah Al-Salem on 15.1.2002.
Ruff (Philomachus
pugna)
Maximum 25 at
Jahra East Outfall on 22.3.2002.
Great Snipe
(Gallinago media)
One at Jahra
Farms on 13.9.2002.
Woodcock
(Scolopax rusticola)
Up to three at
Sabah Al-Salem until 31.1.2002.
Curlew
(Numenius arquata)
Maximum 200 at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 2.1.2002.
Green Sandpiper
(Tringa glareola)
Maximum 8 at
Jahra Pool on 22.2.2002 and at Jahra East Outfall on 11.10.2002.
Terek Sandpiper
(Xenus cinereus)
Maximum 150 at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 26.4.2002 and 2.5.2002.
Common
Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Maximum 14 at
Al-Zour on 26.7.2002.
Turnstone (Arenaria
interpres)
Maximum 70 at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 2.5.2002.
Great
Black-headed Gull (Larus icthyaetus)
Maximum 117 at
Khor Ala’ma on 11.1.2002.
Slender-billed
Gull (Larus genei)
Found breeding
on Bubiyan Island, with c200 agitated adults on 4.4.2002, and c50
agitated adults and four well-feathered pulli on 17.5.2002.
Lesser
Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Maximum 250 at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 20.3.2002.
Siberian Gull (Larus
heuglini)
Maximum 20 at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 20.3.2002.
Yellow-legged
Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Maximum 450 at
Al-Zour on 8.2.2002.
Gull-billed
Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Hundreds of
pairs found breeding on Bubiyan Island, with eggs from 4.4.2002.
Caspian Tern (Sterna
caspia)
Found breeding
on Bubiyan Island, with c30 agitated adults on 4.4.2002, and with
c25 agitated adults and seven nests with apparently predated eggs on
17.5.2002.
Swift Tern (Sterna
bergii)
Found breeding
on Bubiyan Island, with seven eggs and many agitated adults on
4.3.2002, and c300 agitated adults, c100 eggs and four downy pulli
on 4.4.2002.
Lesser Crested
Tern (Sterna bengalensis)
Five adults were
in possible breeding habitat on Bubiyan Island on 17.5.2002.
Sandwich Tern (Sterna
sandvicensis)
Three adults
(one dead) were in possible breeding habitat on Bubiyan Island on
4.4.2002.
Common Tern (Sterna
hirundo)
Two adults were
in possible breeding habitat on Bubiyan Island on 17.5.2002.
Bridled Tern (Sterna
anaethetus)
Two adults were
in possible breeding habitat on Bubiyan Island on 4.4.2002.
Little Tern (Sterna
albifrons)
Four adults on
4.4.2002 and two adults on 17.5.2002 were in possible breeding
habitat on Bubiyan Island.
White-winged
Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Bred again at
Jahra East Outfall, with maximum of 12 adults and second-year birds
on 17.5.2002, but only one juvenile on 14.6.2002.
Spotted
Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus)
Small numbers
shot in northern Kuwait January to March 2002.
Black-bellied
Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)
Three at Ratqa
on 5.3.2002.
Pin-tailed
Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata)
Hundreds shot in
northern Kuwait January to April 2002.
African Collared
Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)
Up to seven or
more at Sabah Al-Salem, three at Abu Halifa, and one each at
Mahboula, Messila and Salwa during 2002. Two Barbary Doves were with
the three African Collared Doves at Abu Halifa on 23.5.2002. Single
mongrels were at Mahboula on 29.3.2002 and at Jahra Farms on
14.6.2002. An albino was at Salwa from October to December 2002.
Captive origin is likely for these birds.
Turtle Dove (Streptopelia
turtur)
Maximum six at
Al-Zour on 16.3.2002.
Rufous Turtle
Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
One reported
wounded and captured at Al-Zour on 12.4.2002, but no description or
photograph.
Namaqua Dove (Oena
capensis)
Two captured at
Al-Zour on 12.4.2002, two at Wafra Oil Field on 4.5.2002, a male at
Abdali Farms on 10.5.2002, found breeding on 27.6.2002 with a female
and two newly-fledged juveniles at Jahra pool (1st Kuwait
breeding record), one at Wafra Oil Field on 12.8.2002 and one found
dead at Qaisat on 18.10.2002.
Barn Owl (Tyto
alba)
One at Abdali
Farms on 10.5.2002.
Alpine Swift
(Apus melba)
Seven at Al-Zour
on 12.4.2002.
White-breasted
Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
Single pairs
bred at two different sites at Jahra Farms, one being in a
stone-lined well; two juveniles seen nearby in September 2002. An
adult flew down into a stone-lined well at a third site, and many
old nesting burrows were found at a fourth site.
Common
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
One at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 14.3.2002 and 20.3.2002.
Pied Kingfisher
(Ceryle rudis)
One at
Sulaibikhat Bay on 23.11.2002.
Indian Roller (Coracias
benghalensis)
Singles at Jahra
Farms on 11.1.2002 and 15.2.2002 and at Abu Halifa on 11.12.2002.
Hoopoe (Upupa
epops)
Maximum 18 at
Al-Zour on 5.9.2002.
Black-crowned
Finch Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps)
Maximum 140 at
Wafra Oil Field on 9.1.2002. Also 20-25 birds, including juveniles
at Wafra Oil Field in early May 2002. Found breeding at AbdulFatai
Marafie Farm at Wafra on 31.5.2002, with c12 adults, eight
newly-fledged juveniles and three used nests found. Suspected of
widespread breeding in southern Kuwait.
Dunn’s Lark (Eremalauda
dunni)
12 at Ratqa on
7.3.2002. Singles near Subiya on 8.3.2002 (when singing) and
14.3.2002, and at Al-Abraq Al-Khabari on 24.5.2002. Suspected of
breeding in small numbers.
Hoopoe Lark (Alaemon
alaudipes)
Maximum eight at
Wafra Oil Field on 14.5.2002.
Thick-billed
Lark (Ramphocorys clotbey)
Five at Ratqa on
4.3.2002. Seven or more at Salmi from 8.3.2002 to 4.4.2002; found
breeding on 29.3.2002 (1st Kuwait breeding record).
Bimaculated
Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata)
30, some in
pairs, at Al-Abraq Al-Khabari for weeks from 7.3.2002.
Lesser
Short-toed Lark (Calandrella rufescens)
Maximum 300 at
Al-Abraq Al-Khabari on 7.3.2002. Found breeding at Ratqa on 7.3.2002
and at Salmi on 22.3.2002. Probably a widespread breeder in Kuwait.
Crested Lark (Galerida
cristata)
Maximum 25 at
Wafra Oil Field on 19.3.2002.
Small Skylark (Alauda
gulgula)
One at Al-Zour
on 27.9.2002. Probably under-recorded.
Temminck’s
Horned Lark (Eremophila bilopha)
Five at Ratqa on
7.3.2002. Six pairs at Al-Abraq Al-Khabari from 15.3.2002. Found
breeding at Salmi on 29.3.2002 and in the National Park on
31.3.2002.
Crag Martin
(Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
One at Bubiyan
Bridge on 14.3.2002 and four at Sabah Al-Salem on 23.5.2002.
Richard’s Pipit
(Anthus richardi)
One photographed
at Sulaibikhat on 13.4.2002.
Tawny Pipit (Anthus
campestris)
Maximum four at
Wafra Oil Field on 19.3.2002.
Meadow Pipit (Anthus
pratensis)
One at Sabah
Al-Salem on 7.2.2002 and two at Wafra Opi Field on 17.4.2002.
Water Pipit (Anthus
spinoletta)
Maximum 320 at
an evening roost at Sewer Plant Reeds on 11.12.2002.
Citrine Wagtail
(Motacilla citreola)
Singles at Sewer
Plant Reeds on 16.3.2002 and 20.9.2002.
White-cheeked
Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
Maximum 35 at
Al-Zour on 20.9.2002 and 27.9.2002.
Grey Hypocolius
(Hypocolius ampelinus)
A male at Jahra
Farms on 25.1.2002, two at Wafra Oil Field on 13.4.2002 and one at
Al-Zour on 22.11.2002.
Wren (Troglodytes
troglodytes)
One at Sabah
Al-Salem on 24.1.2002 (2nd Kuwait record).
Rufous Bush
Robin (Cercotrichus galactotes)
Found breeding
at Abdali Farms, with ten pairs of adults and a not fully-grown
juvenile being fed by an adult.
Bluethroat (Luscinia
svecica)
Maximum 30 at
Sabah Al-Salem on 16.3.2002 and at South Doha Nature Reserve on
20.3.2002. Frequently sings in Kuwait on spring migration.
Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe
pleschanka)
Maximum 25 at
Al-Abraq Al-Khabari on 15.3.2002.
Desert
Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
A male
repeatedly chased a female, while flicking wings, at Sabriya on
14.3.2002.
Hooded Wheatear
(Oenanthe monacha)
One at Jahra
Pool Area on 1.10.2002. This species has been annual in recent
years.
Black-throated
Thrush (Turdus ruficollis)
One at Jahra
Farms on 6.12.2002.
Song Thrush (Turdus
philomelus)
Maximum 30 at
Jahra Farms on 29.11.2002.
Redwing (Turdus
iliacus)
One at Jahra
Farms on 2.1.2002.
Cetti´s Warbler
(Cettia cetti)
Singles
(probably same bird) singing at Sabah Al-Salem from 7.2.2002 to
16.3.2002.
Savi´s Warbler
(Locustella luscinioides)
Three birds
singing at Jahra East Outfall for months from 5.4.2002. Suspected of
breeding.
Moustached
Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon)
Confirmed
breeding at Sabah Al-Salem on 13.5.2002, with a not fully-grown
juvenile being fed by an adult (1st Kuwait breeding
record). Also, singing for months at Jahra East Outfall from
5.4.2002.
European Reed
Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
Repeatedly heard
singing at Jahra East Outfall, South Doha Nature Reserve, Sabah
Al-Salem and Sewer Plant Reeds for months, and suspected of
breeding.
Great Reed
Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
Repeatedly heard
singing at Jahra East Outfall, South Doha Nature Reserve, Sabah
Al-Salem and Sewer Plant Reeds for months, and suspected of
breeding.
Basra
Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus griseldis)
Repeatedly heard
singing at Jahra East Outfall, South Doha Nature Reserve, Sabah
Al-Salem and Sewer Plant Reeds for months, and suspected of
breeding.
Olivaceous
Warbler (Hippolais pallida)
Confirmed
breeding at Abdali Farms on 10.5.2002, with a not fully-grown
juvenile being fed by an adult, and in Kuwait City with a nest being
found in the hollow of the roof of a low building (1st
Kuwait breeding records).
Syke´s Warbler
(Hippolais rama)
Singles at Jahra
Farms on 22.3.2002 and singing at Sabah Al-Salem from 16.3.2002 to
3.5.2002.
Icterine
warbler (Hippolais icterina)
One near Jahra
on 13.4.2002 and 15.4.2002. Probably under-recorded.
Orphean Warbler
(Sylvia hortensis)
Singles at Jahra
East Outfall on 5.4.2002 and at Al-Zour on 20.9.2002. Probably
under-recorded.
Barred Warbler
(Sylvia nisoria)
Maximum three at
Al-Zour on 5.9.2002 and at Qaisat on 27.9.2002.
Mountain
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus sindianus)
Singles,
possibly the same bird, showing the characters of this difficult
taxon at Sabah Al-Salem on 31.1.2002, 14.2.2002 and 16.3.2002.
Spotted
Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
Maximum 15 at
Abdali Farms on 16.5.2002.
Red-breasted
Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Two at Sabriya
on 8.11.2002, four there on 15.11.2002 and one at Jahra Farms on
13.12.2002.
Bearded Tit
(Panurus biarmicus)
One at Sabah
Al-Salem on 20.4.2002.
Penduline Tit
(Remiz pendulinus)
Maximum seven at
Sabah Al-Salem on 22.3.2002.
Red-backed
Shrike (Lanius collurio)
A winter record
of one at Sabah Al-Salem on 3.1.2002. Maximum 30 at Al-Zour on
3.5.2002.
Lesser Grey
Shrike (Lanius minor)
Maximum four at
Wafra Oil Field on 14.5.2002.
Masked Shrike
(Lanius nubicus)
Singles wintered
at Jahra Farms in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.
House Crow
(Corvus splendens)
Maximum nine at
Shuwaikh on 15.2.2002.
Brown-necked
Raven (Corvus ruficollis)
One flying south
at Fahaheel on 23.2.2002 was unusual.
Starling
(Sturnus vulgaris)
Maximum 300 at
Sulaibiya on 15.2.2002.
Rose-coloured
Starling (Sturnus roseus)
An adult and a
juvenile at Al-Zour on 9.8.2002, and single juveniles at Wafra Oil
Field on 21.8.2002 and at Al-Zour on 15.9.2002.
Bank Mynah
(Acridotheres ginginianus)
About 25 pairs
bred in two wells at Jahra Farms.
Spanish Sparrow
(Passer hispaniolensis)
Maximum c1500 at
Jahra Farms on 11.1.2002. c50 pairs visiting domed nests at Abdali
Farms from 10.5.2002.
Pale Rock
Sparrow (Petronia brachydactyla)
Three at Al-Zour
on 16.3.2002 and three at Jahra Farms on 13.9.2002. Probably
under-recorded.
Yellow-throated
Sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis)
One pair
confirmed breeding at Al-Zour from 18.4.2002. Five at Qaisat on
6.9.2002. Probably under-recorded.
Streaked Weaver
(Ploceus manyar)
A male sang for
months at Sabah Al-Salem for months from 16.3.2002. A male and a
female there on 27.9.2002.
Avadavat
(Amandava amandava)
A male flew over
Sabah Al-Salem on 13.5.2002.
Indian
Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)
Up to seven at
Al-Zour on 20.9.2002 and up to three at Sabah Al-Salem on 4.10.2002.
Probably breeds in small numbers annually.
Trumpeter Finch
(Bucanetes githagineus)
Confirmed
breeding at Salmi on 22.3.2002 (1st Kuwait breeding
record).
Common
Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
A juvenile at
Wafra Oil Field on 26.9.2002.
Yellowhammer
(Emberiza citrinella)
A female at
Heraijah on 14.3.2002 (1st Kuwait record).
Little Bunting
(Emberiza pusilla)
One at Sabah
Al-Salem on 15.1.2002.
Corn Bunting
(Miliaria calandra)
Maximum 184 at
Jahra Pool on 24.2.2002.
<>
RECENT
BIBLIOGRAPHY
AL-NASRALLAH, K.
and GREGORY, G. (2003) Bubiyan Island, Kuwait, 2002. Phoenix 19:
5-7.
GREGORY, G.
(2002) The captive origin of bird species in Kuwait. Sandgrouse
24 (2): 122-129.
GREGORY, G.
(2003) Recent Breeding Data from Kuwait. Phoenix 19: 21-24.
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