Bird Monitoring and Protection Team (BMAPT)

At the Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS)

ANNUAL REPORT 2003

CONTENTS

Membership and Contacts                                                   Page 2

The Year 2003                                                                     Page 4

The Need for Bird Monitoring and Protection in Kuwait       Page 5

The Kuwait Bird List                                                             Page 7

The Main List of Species of Birds                                         Page 8

The Species of Birds of Captive Origin                                Page 31

The Species of Birds Requiring Confirmation                      Page 32

Notes on Selected Bird Species in the Year 2003               Page 35

Recent Bibliography                                                             Page 47

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

Musaad Al-Saleh                                                turtledove8@hotmail.com

Abdulrahman Al-Sirhan                                       alsirhan@alsirhan.com

Abdul-Muhsen Al-Suraye´a                                 surayea@hotmail.com

Andrew Bailey                                                     Andrew.Bailey@kw.britishcouncil.org

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

Post:              GES, P.O.Box 33106,Rumaithiya, 25562, KUWAIT

Tel:                (965) 7902767

Email:            ggoldie51@hotmail.com

THE YEAR 2003

The Year 2003 was important for the consolidation of the position of BMAPT and for the expansion of its activities.

During the year:

A new website at <www.bmapt.com> was set up.

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 Bird Records Committee continued work on the Kuwait Bird List, and produced the Fifth Edition.

The Annual Report 2002 was published on the internet and printed copies were distributed in Kuwait and the United Kingdom.

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 the entire National Park, including the important sites of Wadi Ar-Rimam and Tulha. Management and development work in this area started during the year.

The team began to manage and develop its nature reserve at Sulaibikhat Bay.

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. Significant revegetation has occurred in the National Park and in most of the oilfields.

There was restricted access to important bird-recording areas such as the National Park, Bubiyan and Warba Islands, Ratqa, Al-Abraq Al-Khabari, Wadi Al-Batin, Subiya and Hujaijah, resulting in greatly reduced coverage for much of the year. Some of these areas are still off-limits at time of publication, but it is hoped that the team will gain access to them soon.

This annual report, the fourth 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 (SIXTH EDITION)

 The Kuwait Bird List has been divided, for present convenience, into:

The Main List of Species of Birds, The Species of Birds of Captive Origin and The Species of Birds Requiring Confirmation.

 All of these are analyses of the records of Ahmadi Natural History and Field Studies Group, S. Al-Ahmadi, S. Al-Dosari, K. Al-Ghanim, M. Al-Jeriwi, F. Al-Mansori, S. Al-Mulla,  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, J.Dashti, H.R.P. Dickson, H. McCurdy, V. Dickson, 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 MAIN LIST OF SPECIES OF BIRDS

The Main List of Species of Birds comprises those species of birds which are judged to have definitely occurred in a wild state, or those species of birds originally of captive origin which have subsequently become established, in Kuwait. 

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 but has occurred more than 10 times in total

Vagrant: has occurred less than 10 times in total.

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.

Slavonian Grebe  (Podiceps auritus)

Vagrant.

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.

Pygmy Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax pygmeus)

Vagrant.

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.

Black Stork  (Ciconia nigra)

Vagrant.

White Stork  (Ciconia ciconia)

Scarce passage migrant.

Glossy Ibis  (Plegadis falcinellus)

Uncommon passage migrant.

Sacred Ibis  (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

Vagrant.

Spoonbill  (Platalea leucorodia)   

Common resident. Breeds.

Greater Flamingo  (Phoenicopterus roseus) 

Very common resident. Very common disperser in all seasons. Breeds.

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.

Marbled Duck  (Marmaronetta angustirostris)

Vagrant.

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.

Red-breasted Merganser  (Mergus serrator)

Vagrant.

Honey Buzzard  (Pernis apivorus)

Uncommon passage migrant.

Crested Honey Buzzard  (Pernis ptilorhynchus)

Vagrant.

Black-shouldered Kite  (Elanus caerulus)

Vagrant.

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.

Lesser Spotted Eagle  (Aquila pomarina)

Rare passage migrant.

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.

Red-footed Falcon  (Falco vespertinus)

Vagrant.

Merlin  (Falco columbarius)

Rare winter visitor. Rare passage migrant.

Hobby  (Falco subbuteo)

Common passage migrant.

Sooty Falcon  (Falco concolor)

Vagrant.

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.

Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides)

Rare disperser in all seasons.

Black Francolin  (Francolinus francolinus)

Vagrant.

Quail  (Coturnix coturnix)

Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer visitor. Has bred.

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.

Purple Gallinule  (Porphyrio porphyrio)

Vagrant.

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 cursor)

Common passage migrant. Uncommon resident. Breeds.

Collared Pratincole  (Glareola pratincola)

Common passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor.

Black-winged Pratincole  (Glareola nordmanni)

Uncommon passage migrant.

Little Ringed Plover  (Charadrius dubius)

Uncommon passage migrant. Scarce summer visitor. Scarce winter visitor.

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.

Spur-winged Plover  (Vanellus spinosus)

Vagrant.

Red-wattled Plover  (Hoplopterus indicus)

Rare resident. Rare disperser in autumn, winter and spring. Has bred.

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.

Knot  (Calidris canutus)

Vagrant.

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.

Broad-billed Sandpiper  (Limicola falcinellus)

Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter 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.

Woodcock  (Scolopax rusticola)

Vagrant.

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.

Slender-billed Curlew  (Numenius tenuirostris)

Vagrant.

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.

Common Sandpiper  (Actitis hypoleucos)

Common passage migrant. Uncommon win4er visitor. Rare summer visitor.

Turnstone  (Arenaria interpres)

Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.

Red-necked Phalarope  (Phalaropus lobatus)

Common passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.

Grey Phalarope  (Phalaropus fulicaria)

Vagrant.

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.

Long-tailed Skua  (Stercorarius longicaudus)

Vagrant.

Great Black-headed Gull  (Larus ichthyaetus)

Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter visitor.

Mediterranean Gull  (Larus melanocephalus)

Vagrant.

Little Gull  (Larus minutus)

Vagrant.

Black-headed Gull  (Larus ridibundus)

Abundant passage migrant. Abundant 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.

Yellow-legged Gull  (Larus cachinnans)

Very common passage migrant. Very common winter visitor. Uncommon summer visitor.

Siberian Gull  (Larus heuglini)

Common passage migrant. Uncommon winter 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.

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.

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse  (Pterocles exustus)

Vagrant.

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)

Scarce 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. Has bred.

Rufous Turtle Dove  (Streptopelia orientalis)

Rare passage migrant.

Laughing Dove  (Streptopelia senegalensis)

Abundant resident. Breeds.

Namaqua Dove  (Oena capensis)

Uncommon resident. Scarce disperser in spring and autumn. Breeds.

Ring-necked Parakeet  (Psittacula krameri)

Very common winter visitor. Uncommon resident.

Great Spotted Cuckoo  (Clamator glandarius)

Vagrant.

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.

Long-eared Owl  (Asio otus)

Vagrant.

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.

Little Swift  (Apus affinis)

Vagrant.

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 benghalensis)

Scarce disperser in autumn, winter and spring.

Hoopoe  (Upupa epops)

Common passage migrant.

Wryneck  (Jynx torquilla)

Uncommon passage migrant.

Black-crowned Finch Lark  (Eremopterix nigriceps)

Uncommon resident. Breeds.

Dunn’s Lark  (Eremelauda dunni)

Scarce disperser in all seasons.

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.

Calandra Lark  (Melanocorypha calandra)

Vagrant.

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. Breeds.

Sand Martin  (Riparia riparia)

Abundant passage migrant. Uncommon summer visitor. Rare winter visitor.

Rock Martin  (Hirundo fuligula)

Vagrant.

Crag Martin  (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)

Uncommon passage migrant. Rare winter visitor.

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.

Richard's Pipit  (Anthus richardi)

Vagrant.

Blyth's Pipit  (Anthus blythi)

Vagrant.

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.

Wren  (Troglodytes troglodytes)

Vagrant.

Dunnock  (Prunella modularis)

Vagrant.

Black-throated Accentor  (Prunella atrogularis)

Vagrant.

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.

Ring Ouzel  (Turdus torquatus)

Rare winter visitor.

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Scarce winter visitor.

Dusky Thrush  (Turdus naumanni)

Vagrant.

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.

Redwing  (Turdus iliacus)

Rare winter visitor and passage migrant.

Mistle Thrush  (Turdus viscivorus)

Rare winter visitor.

Cetti’s Warbler  (Cettia cetti)

Uncommon disperser in autumn, winter and spring.

Fan-tailed Warbler  (Cisticola juncidis)

Vagrant.

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. Breeds.

Sedge Warbler  (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

Common passage migrant.

Marsh Warbler  (Acrocephalus palustris)

Common passage migrant.

European Reed Warbler  (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

Very common passge migrant. Uncommon summer visitor. Rare winter visitor. Breeds.