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.