British Isles Birding

Participants:

Chris Batty, Richard Bonser, Andy Clifton and Andrew Holden

Introduction

Up until very recently it was difficult to impossible for foreign nationals to visit Kuwait in a tourist capacity. The visa rules changed a couple of years ago and in April 2006 a Danish and a Finnish birding group visited the country and opened our eyes to the potential of such a trip. A chat with George Gregory following his presentation at the 2006 OSME meeting further whetted our appetite to visit the country.

This trip report covers the observations and information gleaned during a birding trip to Kuwait in April 2007. The main purpose of the trip was to find some difficult to see species in the Western Palearctic as well as experience the birding that the country has to offer. Kuwait is the only place in the Western Palearctic where Socotra Cormorant, Lesser Sand Plover, Red-vented Bulbul and Bank Myna can be reliably found. Added to this several other target species that Kuwait is good for (and that we recorded) include Crab Plover, Red-wattled Lapwing, Crested Tern, White-cheeked Tern, Bridled Tern, Dunn’s Lark, Black-crowned Finch Lark, White-eared Bulbul, Grey Hypocolius and Basra Reed Warbler. Fortunately our visit also coincided with the first breeding record for Kuwait of Common Babbler and an over-wintering Long-tailed Shrike.

 

Reading & Website Information

Much of the information gleaned prior to travel was from Andreas Hagerman’s excellent trip report from April 2006 and The Birds of the State of Kuwait by George Gregory (first published in 2005). We also used a trip report from a Finnish team (Rami Lindroos, Ilkka Sahi and Keijo Wahlroos) who visited the country at the same time as the Danish group.

A couple of threads on Birdforum (WP Rarities in Kuwait and Kuwait Bird News and Reports) have and hopefully will continue to provide useful information. Particularly useful files that can be found here include word documents containing the Kuwait Bird Reports for 2005 and 2006.

We were advised by George Gregory prior to our trip not to purchase a map until we arrived at the airport. This we did and we found the 1:500 000 Geo Projects/Arab World Map Library ‘Kuwait’ map to be more than sufficient during our stay.

 

Acknowledgements

Without doubt this is the most important section of the report as without the help of George Gregory this trip would certainly not have been as productive as it was. George went beyond what anybody would expect (and for other birding teams in spring 2007) organising access to otherwise inaccessible areas, taking us to birding sites and waiting countless hours at the airport to meet us all.

Brian Foster was also invaluable and also accompanied us in the field at times during our stay. The help and decent company provided by other Kuwait based birders, Pekka Fagel and Mike Pope, was also very much appreciated. Special mention as well to ‘the Norwegians’ Jarl Nystrom and Oivind Syvertsen who joined us on most days and were excellent company in the field and over evening meals. Sean Cole, Rob Thatcher, Don Sykes and Alex Parker also visited the country at the same time as us and provided decent company when we were in the field together.

And finally thanks to Tommy Frandsen, Andreas Hagerman, Jens Søgaard Hansen and Martin Poulsen for visiting the country in 2006 and to Andreas for writing the trip report – the format of which I have pinched for this report!

 

Other Information

Hotel

Like the Danes last year we stayed at the Hussa House Hotel (tel: 2560331 – 2520349) in Kuwait City, located behind The Continental. Due to the rather maze like structure of the road systems we took a GPS reading of the hotel so that we could get back to it each night! It seems that affordable accommodation is at a premium in the country with most hotels being rather more luxurious than the average birder needs. Therefore, at £16 per person per night, we would recommend staying at the Hussa House.

Car Hire and Travel

We hired a 4x4 for the duration of our stay. Many of the global hire car companies can be found at Kuwait airport. Many of the sites require travelling off road and from our experience a conventional car would not be appropriate. Travel is very easy throughout the country with good roads. Traffic can be heavy in rush hour in Kuwait City with the locals driving rather fast and close, but with a little time there is nothing different from travelling around any other major city. As Kuwait is an oil rich state petrol prices were extremely cheap – a few quid to fill up a gas-guzzling 4x4.

Eating/Drinking

The country is extremely westernized and therefore has what you’d expect in terms of McDonalds, Pizza Huts etc. Due to convenience we ate every night at a couple of restaurants in the vicinity of where we were staying. Food was reasonably priced, paying less than what you would in the UK. Supermarkets adjacent to petrol stations were well stocked and this is what we used for food during the day. Do note however that alcohol is, theoretically, illegal in Kuwait.

Hunting

The shooting of birds is evidently a popular pastime in Kuwait, particularly amongst young men. Having not experienced anything like this on our travels previously, it was rather disturbing. Although we of course could not ignore this as it was prevalent at a couple of sites we visited (particularly Al Abraq), it is something to bear in mind before you decide to go to Kuwait if you think it could completely ruin your trip. Casualties that we witnessed ranged from a Caspian Tern and calidrids to Sparrowhawks and Bee-eaters. It was, all told, pretty grim stuff.

Itinerary

An overview of our day-to-day itinerary is as follows. Note that although we were birding pretty much dawn til dusk, the small size of the country means that a lot of sites can be covered/re-covered on a daily basis.

3rd April Arrival Kuwait – Sulaibhikat – North Doha Nature Reserve – Doha Spit – South Doha Nature Reserve – Jahra East – Jahra Farms – Sabah-al-Salem

4th April Green Island – Sulaibhikat – Sabah-al-Ahmad (including Tulha) – Jahra East

5th April Jahra East – Abdaly Farms – Subiyah – Doha Spit – Jahra East – Sulaibhikat

6th April Pipeline Beach/Zour Port – Ras al Zour – Doha Spit – South Doha Nature Reserve – Sabah-al-Salem

7th April Green Island – Sabah-al-Ahmad (including Tulha) – Jahra East – Doha Spit – Jahra Farms – South Doha Nature Reserve

8th April Al Abraq Al Khabari – Sabah-al-Ahmad (including Tulha) – Doha Spit – Kabd

9th April Depart Kuwait

 

SITE DETAILS

George Gregory’s ‘The Birds of the State of Kuwait’ has a lot of information on specific sites and this section aims to document our experiences of birding at several of these sites. The map below illustrates an approximate layout of the country and the sites that we visited during our visit. To give you an example of scale, driving from Kuwait City to Abdaly Farms should not take more than a couple of hours.

Abdaly Farms A vast expanse of agriculture near the Iraq border that is good for migrants – we saw species such as Eastern Olivaceous and Menetries’s Warblers, White-throated Robin and Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin on our visit. The undoubted highlight was witnessing a family party of Common Babblers – the first confirmed breeding of this species in Kuwait. We located this species and Red-wattled Lapwing at 29”57’51N, 47”48’38E whilst another area (30”00’54N, 47”45’01E) visited produced little on our visit but is meant to be one of the best sites to see Shikra in the winter.

 Al-Abraq Al-Khabari An enclosed farm (29”22’08N, 46”57’41E) isolated in the western desert. It is accessed off the main road at 29”25’58N, 47”00’37E. Just a couple of days before our visit it had played host to Kuwait’s first Radde’s Accentor. Although we had a good time here, this is where we experienced the most shooting and the devastating effects that come with it. Accipters seemed to be the main target and this was evident by a number of dead Sparrowhawks we found, but the most distressing sight was that of a Bee-eater being shot out of the sky. This is apparently the best place to see African Collared Dove in Kuwait but we failed to find this species here, although it was apparently seen whilst we were on site. We witnessed a wave of migrants moving through that included a couple of Barred and Menetries’s Warblers, an Icterine Warbler, a couple of Semi-collared Flycatchers as well as good numbers of Lesser Whitethroats and Redstarts.

European Bee-eater Al-Abraq Al-Khabari 8^th April 2007 – this stunning bird had to be humanely destroyed moments after this photograph was taken due to a broken wing. It had been shot out of the sky by Kuwaiti hunters as we birded this desert oasis, truly bringing home the indiscriminate bird killing that unfortunately occurs in the country

Doha Spit and North Doha Nature Reserve The high tide roost at Doha Spit (29”22’39N, 47”50’17E) and the adjacent North Doha Nature Reserve (located just to the south near the sluice gates) are the best places in Kuwait to look for waders and terns. Much of the watching should be done from the car as once you get out flushing the roosting birds is quite likely. We saw half a dozen Crab Plovers here as well as large numbers of Lesser Sand Plover and Terek Sandpiper. One or two Crested Terns could normally be found with the Lesser Crested and Sandwich Tern flock whilst on one visit a White-cheeked Tern was present. Additionally, like Jahra East, this is probably a decent site to search for Saunders’s Tern as, with patience, you can get decent views of the Little Terns. The Kuwait Bay waders can also be viewed from behind the nearby Manchester Club.

Green Island A small promontory along the seafront in Kuwait City. This is the only place in the Western Palearctic to see Red-vented Bulbul and they can be easily located along with the more numerous and White-cheeked Bulbuls. Although we didn’t see too much here migrant wise this is possibly one of the best places to search for Grey Hypocolius – the Danish group had 24 together here in April 2006.

Jahra East The outfall (29”21’22N, 47”43’44E) can be accessed from several tracks off the main road. The adjacent reedy area adjacent to the outfall is probably the best site in Kuwait to search for Basra Reed Warbler – we located one bird here after a fair bit of searching and other teams in 2007 seemed also to have success in finding this species here. We also observed a couple of Little Crakes and a Moustached Warbler in the channel here. The whole area was full of Red-throated Pipits and flava wagtails as well.

 If you walk/drive west from the outfall there is a good vantage point to look out into Kuwait Bay – this was a site recommended to us to search for Saunders’s Tern though, despite scrutiny of Little Terns, we were unsuccessful. During our visits we did see Black-winged Pratincole, Great Black-headed Gull and Isabelline Shrike here along with lots of terns and waders.

Jahra Farms An area of small agricultural farms in Jahra town. The main area (29”21’04N, 47”40’27E) can be accessed from the mosque car park on the opposite side of the road to Burger King. This is currently the only place where Bank Myna is found in the Western Palearctic – they were nesting in the well near the road at 29”20’54N, 47”40’25E during our visit. We also saw White-throated Kingfisher here as well as several migrants including Semi-collared Flycatcher and Eastern Imperial Eagle.

Kabd An agricultural farm where special access is needed to visit. Rather amusingly on our visit, we all had to dress up in rather fetching blue uniforms and wear masks to prevent the spread of avian flu! It is, however, probably the best site in Kuwait for Egyptian Nightjar but on our visit the windy conditions conspired against us. Pale Rock Sparrow and a handful of Isabelline Shrikes were the highlights of our visit.

Pipeline Beach/Zour Port In 2006 this area seemed to be the Danes favourite site but it seems that on our visit migration was not quite as good and access more restricted. The hole in the fence that the Danes mention in their trip report is no longer and you are unable to access the beach (where they saw Socotra Cormorant and Egyptian Nightjar amongst other species) from the road. Our highlights in this area of sparse bushes and semi-desert included a male Turkestan Shrike and a Steppe Grey Shrike.

Ras al Zour A private army/oil base on the southern Kuwait coast with extremely difficult access – to put it into perspective this was a site that some of the resident Kuwait birders had not visited previously due to access issues. A sandy islet just offshore provided us with decent views of the target species – Socotra Cormorant – as well as good numbers of White-cheeked and Lesser Crested Terns. A single Crested Tern was also seen and at least a dozen Bridled Terns were present offshore. Birding around the base and the adjacent golf course produced several migrants including Pied Wheatear, Isabelline Shrike and several Lesser Kestrels.

Sabah-al-Ahmad Nature Reserve (including Tulha Oasis) A large area of steppe grassland, stony desert and rocky ravines located to the north-west of Kuwait City on the road to Iraq. The highlight of our visit were at least 6 Dunn’s Larks (including 2 juveniles) and a male Black-crowned Finch Lark attending a nest. Other species we found here included Bimaculated Lark, Hoopoe Lark, Steppe Grey Shrike and Lesser Kestrel. Though we were probably a bit too late, small numbers of Red-tailed Wheatear (chrysopygia) winter in the rocky ravines here (particularly that at 29”31’24N, 47”47’43E).

The reserve contains Tulha - an area of bushes that surround a small pool (29”35’07N, 47”47’01E). This site, the only area of greenery in an otherwise barren landscape, is extremely attractive to migrants. A pair of Grey Hypocolius were present on one visit, small numbers of Pale Rock Sparrow were seen and at least one European Scops Owl was found roosting on each of our visits. Other species we noted here included Eastern Orphean Warbler, Semi-collared Flycatcher and Steppe Grey Shrike as well as lots of common migrants such as Hoopoe, Wryneck, Redstart, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin and White-throated Robin. Waders such as Wood Sandpiper and Black-winged Stilt were found on the small pond. As this is a gated nature reserve, the lack of shooters during our visits made the site even more enjoyable.

Sabah-al-Salem We visited this site, on the southern outskirts of Kuwait City, a couple of times. There is a small area of bushes that attract migrants and in recent times Egyptian Nightjar has been seen at dusk (though we failed to find this species). A small reedy area on the opposite side of the road is good for two introduced (though as yet not classified as ‘self-sustaining) species – Streaked and Black-headed Weaver.

South Doha Nature Reserve A couple of small pools fringed with reeds (29”19’37N, 47”47’33E) to the west of Kuwait City where seistanicus Purple Swamphen can be found. We also located Basra Reed Warbler and Clamorous Reed Warbler here. Note that this was the worst place we found for mosquitoes in Kuwait, particularly in the evenings (this being the best time to see the Swamphens as well!).

Subiyah A small enclosed area of bushes surrounding a farm at the north-eastern most point of Kuwait Bay (29”34’21N, 47”54’26E). We encountered hunters here who thankfully were not the best shooters and a cage full of birds here included 3 Grey Hypocolius that presumably had been caught locally. An Eversmann’s Redstart was present here for a couple of days in late 2006 but our visit produced little in the way of migrants; an Eastern Orphean Warbler the only bird of note.

Sulaibhikat A small area of rough ground and bushes on the shores of Kuwait Bay; located to the west of Kuwait City. An over-wintering Long-tailed Shrike favoured the palms by the wall on the southern side of the reserve during our stay whilst this area seemed to be a decent migration spot. Namaqua Doves were seen on all of our visits whilst other highlights included a female Grey Hypocolius, a couple of Daurian Shrikes and a male semenowi Cinereous Bunting. There is also a viewing platform where you can look out at the waders, gulls, terns and flamingos in Kuwait Bay.

 

DAILY SIGHTINGS

This section hopefully will give you a feel of what species we recorded at each site during each visit. One thing that was really enjoyable about our visit was you could visit sites time and time again and see a different variety of species on a day-to-day basis. This section is pretty much lifted from my notebook and arranged in a decent species order. Though I have tried to include all species, there may be occasions where commoner species have been omitted from some sites.

 Particularly noteworthy species/observations are in bold and where the letter C is stated, this species was common at that site.

 

3^rd APRIL 2007

Arrival late evening/early morning to Kuwait International Airport

Sulaibhikat Nature Reserve

Grey Heron 10+,  Greater Flamingo 400+,  Kentish Plover 10+,  Little Stint c.80,  Slender-billed Gull c.200,  Little Tern 1,  Namaqua Dove 4,  Hoopoe 1,  Bee-eater 7,  Swallow 10,  Crested Lark C,  White Wagtail 1,  Red-throated Pipit 3,  Redstart 1,  Bluethroat 1,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 1,  Eastern Black-eared Wheatear 1,  Rock Thrush 1 (male),  Stonechat 2, Grey Hypocolius 1(female),  White-cheeked Bulbul C,  Graceful Prinia 12,  Lesser Whitethroat 2, Long-tailed Shrike 1,  Common Myna 5,  House Sparrow C,  Ortolan 1

 

Left: Ortolan Sulaibhikat 3^rd April 2007

Right: Rock Thrush Sulaibhikat 3^rd April 2007

North Doha Nature Reserve

Cormorant 1,  Teal c.50,  Pallid Harrier 1,  Ringed Plover 25+,  Kentish Plover 30+,  Little Stint 50+,  Dunlin 20+,  Curlew Sandpiper 50+,  Curlew C,  Redshank 100+,  Greenshank 50+,  Terek Sandpiper 150+,  Turnstone c.10,  Slender-billed Gull 50+,  Caspian Tern 10+

 Doha Spit

Greater Flamingo 1,  Black Kite 1,  Pallid Harrier 2,  Oystercatcher c.50,  Crab Plover 3,  Kentish Plover C,  Lesser Sand Plover 200+,  Grey Plover 50+,  Sanderling C,  Dunlin C,  Little Stint C,  Ruff 3,  Curlew C,  Whimbrel 2,  Marsh Sandpiper 8,  Terek Sandpiper 30+,  Common Sandpiper 2,  Turnstone c.40,  Slender-billed Gull C,  Heuglin’s Gull 4,  Caspian Tern 50+,  Sandwich Tern 3,  Lesser Crested Tern c.75,  Crested Tern 1

South Doha Nature Reserve

Little Bittern 1,  Little Egret 2,  Purple Heron 9,  Steppe Eagle 1,  Purple Swamphen heard,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 1,  Tree Pipit 2,  Chiffchaff C,  House Sparrow C

Jahra East

Cormorant 4,  Squacco 8+,  Western Reef Egret 1,  Purple Heron 2, Black-winged Stilt 2,  Black-winged Pratincole 28,  Collared Pratincole 1,  Grey Plover c.10,  Ruff 4,  Common Sandpiper 4,  Slender-billed Gull C,  Black-headed Gull c.30,  Great Black-headed Gull 1(2cy),  Heuglin’s Gull 3,  Caspian Tern 15+,  Little Tern 1,  Sand Martin 2,  Red-throated Pipit C, Yellow Wagtail 100s,  Isabelline Shrike 1(phoenicuroides)

 

Left: Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava beema Jahra East 3^rd April 2007

Right: Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla (flava) feldegg Jahra East 3^rd April 2007

Jahra Farms

Little Bittern 1,  Ring-necked Parakeet 5,  Wryneck 1,  Tree Pipit c.8,  Redstart c.8,  Nightingale 1,  Lesser Whitethroat 2,  Blackcap 5+,  Chiffchaff C,  Semi-collared Flycatcher 2,  White-cheeked Bulbul 2,  Bank Myna 8+, Common Myna 5

Sabah-al-Salem

Wryneck 1,  Grey Wagtail 1,  Yellow Wagtail c.15,  Graceful Prinia c.5,  Great Reed Warbler 1,  Chiffchaff C,  Common Myna c.10,  (Streaked Weaver 2males),  (Black-headed Weaver 2males)

 

4^th APRIL 2007

Green Island

Lesser Black-backed Gull 1,  Slender-billed Gull 1,  Wryneck 1,  Red-throated Pipit 1,  Red-vented Bulbul 4,  White-cheeked Bulbul 20+,  Whitethroat 1,  Lesser Whitethroat C,  Eastern Orphean Warbler 2,  Blackcap c.5,  Chiffchaff 5+

Sulaibhikat Nature Reserve

Short-toed Eagle 1,  Namaqua Dove 2,  Pallid Swift 30+,  Bee-eater 7,  Wryneck 2,  Swallow C,  Crested Lark C,  White-cheeked Bulbul C,  Pied Wheatear 1,  Redstart c.10,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 1,  Graceful Prinia C,  Reed Warbler 2,  Grasshopper Warbler 1,  Lesser Whitethroat C, Woodchat 1,  Isabelline Shrike 1(phoenicuroides), Cinereous Bunting 1(male, semenowi)

Dunn’s Lark Sabah-al-Ahmad 7^th April 2007

Sabah-al-Ahmad (including Tulha Oasis)

Squacco 1,  Kestrel 4,  Short-toed Eagle 1,  Pallid Harrier 2, Steppe Buzzard 1,  Wood Sandpiper 1,  Common Sandpiper 3,  Scops Owl 2,  Little Owl 1,  Collared Dove 10+,  Roller 1,  Dunn’s Lark 2,  Black-crowned Finch Lark 1(male, attending nest),  Bar-tailed Lark 4,  Hoopoe Lark c.5,  Bimaculated Lark 2,  Lesser Short-toed Lark 1,  Short-toed Lark 15+,  Swallow C,  Tawny Pipit 2,  Red-throated Pipit 2,  Yellow Wagtail 4,  Grey Wagtail 2,  Northern Wheatear 4, Eastern Orphean Warbler 1,  Lesser Whitethroat c.5,  Blackcap 3,  Chiffchaff C,  House Sparrow C,  Ortolan 2

Jahra East

Little Bittern 1,  Squacco 2,  Purple Heron 1,  Glossy Ibis 17+,  Marsh Harrier 2,  Little Crake 2(pair),  Black-winged Stilt c.15,  Green Sandpiper 4,  Common Sandpiper C,  Sand Martin c.5,  Red-rumped Swallow 1,  Swallow C,  Red-throated Pipit c.15,  Yellow Wagtail C, Moustached Warbler 1,  Great Reed Warbler 2,  Reed Warbler 1,  Savi’s Warbler heard,  Isabelline Shrike 1(phoenicuroides)

 

5^th APRIL 2007

Jahra East

Cormorant 2,  Little Crake 1(female),  Common Sandpiper C,  Swallow C,  Red-throated Pipit c.5,  Yellow Wagtail C,  Basra Reed Warbler 1, Great Reed Warbler 8+,  Reed Warbler 2,  Sedge Warbler 2, Savi’s Warbler heard

Roadside café south of Abdaly

Black Kite 1,  Bluethroat 2,  White-throated Robin 1,  Chiffchaff c.5,  Masked Shrike 1, House Sparrow C

Abdaly Farms

Pallid Harrier 1,  Steppe Buzzard 1,  Red-wattled Lapwing 3,  Roller 1,  Red-throated Pipit  2,  White-throated Robin 1,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 2,  Graceful Prinia C,  Menetries’s Warbler 1, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 1,  Lesser Whitethroat 1, Common Babbler 4(2 adults and 2 juveniles),  Common Myna c.5

Left: adult Common Babbler Abdaly Farms 5^th April 2007

Right: juvenile Common Babbler Abdaly Farms 5^th April 2007

Subiyah

Sparrowhawk 1,  Cuckoo 1, Red-throated Pipit 1,  Redstart 1,  Song Thrush 1, Eastern Orphean Warbler 1,  Lesser Whitethroat 2,  Chiffchaff c.4,  House Sparrow C

Doha Spit/Manchester Club

Grey Heron 25+,  Greater Flamingo 2,  Shoveler 6,  Black Kite 1,  Osprey 1,  Crab Plover 1,  Ringed Plover 50+,  Kentish Plover 20,  Curlew Sandpiper 1,  Dunlin C,  Grey Plover c.5,  Ruff 4,  Bar-tailed Godwit 1,  Curlew C,  Marsh Sandpiper 2,  Terek Sandpiper c.150,  Common Sandpiper 5,  Turnstone 10,  Heuglin’s Gull 1,  Slender-billed Gull 200+,  Caspian Tern 50,  Gull-billed Tern c.20,  Sandwich Tern 4

Jahra East

Purple Heron 2,  Glossy Ibis 19,  Greater Flamingo c.20,  Montagu’s Harrier 1,  Black-winged Stilt c.10,  Grey Plover 10,  Little Stint C,  Sanderling C,  Bar-tailed Godwit 4,  Caspian Tern 20+,  Slender-billed Gull C,  Black-headed Gull C,  Gull-billed Tern 5,  Little Tern 14,  Swallow C,  Yellow Wagtail c.50, White Wagtail c.5

Sulaibhikat Nature Reserve

Namaqua Dove 2,  (Monk Parakeet 1),  Bee-eater 30+,  Swallow C,  Yellow Wagtail C,  Tree Pipit c.10,  Red-throated Pipit 2,  White-cheeked Bulbul C,  Redstart 2,  White-throated Robin 1,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 2,  Graceful Prinia C,  Willow Warbler 1,  Chiffchaff C,  Isabelline Shrike 2(isabellinus),  Woodchat 1

 

6^th APRIL 2007

Pipeline Beach/Zour Port

Pallid Harrier 1,  Bee-eater 1,  Redstart c.6,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 1,  Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 1,  Lesser Whitethroat 4,  Whitethroat 1,  Blackcap 3,  Chiffchaff c.15,  Southern Grey Shrike 1(pallidirostris),  Isabelline Shrike 1(phoenicuroides),  Woodchat 1

Ras al Zour

Cormorant 2,  Socotra Cormorant 5+,  Lesser Kestrel c.5,  Marsh Harrier 1,  Avocet 1,  Sanderling c.25,  Curlew 2,  Slender-billed Gull c.80,  Caspian Gull 1,  Bridled Tern c.12,  White-cheeked Tern 70+,  Sandwich Tern c.5,  Gull-billed Tern 3,  Lesser Crested Tern c.100,  Crested Tern 1,  Caspian Tern c.10,  Little Tern 10+, Hoopoe 1,  Crested Lark C,  House Martin 2,  Swallow C,  Tree Pipit 2,  Yellow Wagtail 2,  Grey Wagtail 1,  White-cheeked Bulbul C,  Redstart 4,  White-throated Robin 1,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 2,  Pied Wheatear 1,  Northern Wheatear 1,  Lesser Whitethroat 3,  Chiffchaff C,  Isabelline Shrike 1(phoenicuroides),  Ortolan 1

Doha Spit

Western Reef Egret 1,  Crab Plover 6,  Lesser Sand Plover 300+,  Kentish Plover C,  Ringed Plover c.40,  Grey Plover 2,  Broad-billed Sandpiper c.5,  Dunlin C,  Sanderling C,  Curlew Sandpiper C,  Bar-tailed Godwit 6,  Marsh Sandpiper c.10,  Terek Sandpiper 600+,  Turnstone C,  Slender-billed Gull C,  Sandwich Tern 5+,  Lesser Crested Tern 15+,  Crested Tern 1,  Caspian Tern c.20

South Doha Nature Reserve

Moorhen 1, Green Sandpiper 1,  Bluethroat 1,  Reed Warbler 1,  Chiffchaff C,  Woodchat 1

Sabah-al-Salem

Peregrine 1, Snipe 2,  pratincole sp. 1,  Great Reed Warbler 1,  (Black-headed Weaver 1male)

 

7^th APRIL 2007

Green Island

Red-vented Bulbul 2, White-cheeked Bulbul C, Blackcap 2,  Lesser Whitethroat c.8

Sabah-al-Ahmad

Dunn's Lark 6,  Hoopoe Lark 3,  Bar-tailed Lark 1,  Short-toed Lark c.15, Crested Lark C,  Swallow C,  Tawny Pipit c.5, Yellow Wagtail 2, Northern Wheatear 1,  Southern Grey Shrike(aucheri) 1,  Woodchat 1

Grey Hypocolius Tulha 7^th April 2007

Tulha Oasis (within Sabah-al-Ahmad)

Black Kite 1,  Pallid Harrier 1,  Black-winged Stilt 2,  Wood Sandpiper,  Namaqua Dove 1,  Cuckoo 2,  Bee-eater c.5,  Hoopoe 1,  Wryneck 1,  Grey Hypocolius 2(pair), Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin c.4,  White-throated Robin 6+,  Redstart c.10,  Rock Thrush 1,  Lesser Whitethroat C,  Blackcap C,  Icterine Warbler 2,  Chiffchaff C,  Semi-collared Flycatcher 1,  Southern Grey Shrike 1(pallidirostris),  Woodchat 1,  Pale Rock Sparrow c.12,  Spanish Sparrow C,  Ortolan 20+

Jahra East

Western Reef Egret 1,  Little Egret 10,  Black Kite 1,  Osprey 1,  Collared Pratincole 1,  Black-winged Stilt 10,  Little Stint C,  Dunlin C,  Ruff c.30,  Black-headed Gull C,  Slender-billed Gull C,  Gull-billed Tern 3,  Caspian Tern C,  Little Tern 4, Ortolan 1

Doha Spit

Lesser Sand Plover 400+,  Ringed Plover C, Kentish Plover C,  Broad-billed Sandpiper c.10,  Dunlin C,  Sanderling C,  Little Stint C,  Curlew Sandpiper C,  Bar-tailed Godwit 2,  Curlew C,  Marsh Sandpiper c.10,  Terek Sandpiper C,  Turnstone C,  Slender-billed Gull C,  Heuglin’s Gull 2,  White-cheeked Tern 1,  Gull-billed Tern 1,  Sandwich Tern c.15,  Lesser Crested Tern c.20,  Crested Tern 1,  Caspian Tern C,  Little Tern 4

Jahra Farms

Eastern Imperial Eagle 1(2cy),  Laughing Dove C,  White-throated Kingfisher 1,  Cuckoo 2,  Tree Pipit 3,  Redstart 2,  Nightingale 1,  Chiffchaff C,  Semi-collared Flycatcher 1,  Common Myna C,  Bank Myna 2+,  Ortolan 1

Left: Bank Myna Jahra Farms 7^th April 2007

Right: Bank Myna breeding site – well at Jahra Farms 7^th April 2007

South Doha Nature Reserve

Little Bittern 1,  Night Heron 1,  Purple Swamphen 2(seistanicus),  Moorhen 2,  Reed Warbler C,  Basra Reed Warbler 1,  Clamorous Reed Warbler 1,  Great Reed Warbler 2,  Sedge Warbler 1,  Chiffchaff C

 

8^th APRIL 2007

Al-Abraq Al-Khabari

Cattle Egret 1,  Squacco 2,  Pallid Harrier 2,  Sparrowhawk 2,  Turtle Dove 2,  Collared Dove 2,  Cuckoo 1,  Bee-eater 1,  Red-throated Pipit 5+,  Yellow Wagtail c.10,  White-throated Robin 2,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 1,  Pied Wheatear 1,  Redstart 5,  Barred Warbler 2,  Whitethroat 1,  Lesser Whitethroat c.8,  Menetries’s Warbler 2,  Icterine Warbler 1,  Chiffchaff C,  Willow Warbler 2,  Semi-collared Flycatcher 2,  Woodchat 1

Sabah-al-Ahmad (including Tulha Oasis)

Lesser Kestrel 25+,  Montagu’s Harrier 1,  Common Sandpiper 1,  Wood Sandpiper 1,  Scops Owl 1,  Little Owl 1, Crag Martin 1,  Swallow C,  Tawny Pipit c.5,  Pied Wheatear 2,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 1,  Redstart 4,  Southern Grey Shrike 1(pallidirostris),  Ortolan c.5

Doha Spit

Western Reef Egret 1,  Oystercatcher 12,  Lesser Sand Plover 300+,  Dunlin C,  Sanderling C,  Curlew Sandpiper C,  Whimbrel 1,  Bar-tailed Godwit 2,  Slender-billed Gull C,  Great Black-headed Gull 1(2cy),  Heuglin’s Gull 4,  Sandwich Tern 15+,  Lesser Crested Tern c.25,  Crested Tern 2,  Caspian Tern c.50,  Little Tern 5

Kabd

Hobby 1,  Lesser Kestrel 2,  Sparrowhawk 1,  Booted Eagle 1,  Namaqua Dove 1,  Collared Dove 3,  Bee-eater c.10,  Cuckoo 1,  Short-toed Lark 5,  Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin 1,  Rock Thrush 1,  Eastern Olivaceous Warbler 1,  Isabelline Shrike 5 (3 phoenicuroides, 1 isabellinus and 1 ‘karelini’), Pale Rock Sparrow c.10, Ortolan 2

 

9^th APRIL 2007

Departure from Kuwait International Airport early morning

 

SPECIES LIST

Total of 156 Species recorded

 

Common Teal Anas crecca

Only seen in Kuwait Bay with highest count c.50 at North Doha Nature Reserve 3^rd April

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

6 Doha Spit near the Manchester Club 5^th April

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Up to 4 noted in Kuwait Bay on several occasions and 2 seen with the next species at Ras al Zour 6^th April

Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis

In the Western Palearctic this species is restricted to the southern Kuwait coast. 5+ were noted on a sandy islet off Ras al Zour 6^th April

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

Singles at South Doha Nature Reserve 3^rd and 7^th April, a confiding male at Jahra Farms 3^rd April and 1 Jahra East 4^th April

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

1 over South Doha Nature Reserve at dusk 7^th April

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides

Seen in decent numbers at Jahra East on most visits and 1 at Tulha 4^th April

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

1 Al Abraq 8^th April

Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis

Singles noted at Doha Spit and Jahra East on several dates

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Small numbers at sites in Kuwait Bay such as Jahra East and Doha Spit

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Commonly seen in Kuwait Bay at sites such as Jahra East and Sulaibhikat

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

9 South Doha Nature Reserve 3^rd April and ones and twos at Jahra East on several dates

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

17 Jahra East 4^th April and 19 there the following day

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus

Common in Kuwait Bay with upwards of 400 seen from Sulaibhikat 3^rd Apri

Black Kite Milvus migrans lineatus

A handful seen during the trip; singles at Jahra East, Abdaly, Doha Spit (on two occasions) and Tulha. Individuals were of the eastern form lineatus or ‘Black-eared Kite’

Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus

Singles at Sulaibhikat and Sabah-al-Ahmad 4^th April

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus

2 over the reedbed at Jahra East 4^th April and a migrant over Ras al Zour 6^th April

Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus

Small numbers seen each day; the steppe areas at Sabah-al-Ahmad being particularly productive and migrants seen at sites such as Doha Spit and Pipeline Beach/Zour Port

Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus

Singles at Jahra East 5^th April and Sabah Al-Ahmad 8^th April

Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipter nisus

1 Subiyah 5^th April, 2 Al Abraq and 1 Kabd 8^th April. Additionally 2 shot birds were unfortunately found at Al Abraq 8^th April

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus

1 Tulha 4^th April and 1 Abdaly Farms 5^th April

Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis

1 over South Doha Nature Reserve 3^rd April

Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca

1 2^nd calendar year bird over the Burger King car park at Jahra 7^th April

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus

1 dark morph Kabd 8^th April

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

1 Doha Spit 5^th April and 1 Jahra East 7^th April

Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni

Small numbers seen actively migrating over Ras al Zour 6^th April, 25+ grounded birds during inclement weather at Sabah Al-Ahmad 7^th April and 2 Kabd 8^th April

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Seen in small numbers at most sites throughout our visit

Hobby Falco subbuteo

1+ at Kabd Agricultural Farm 8^th Apri

Peregrine Falco peregrinus

1 over the Kuwait City skyline at Sabah-al-Salem 6^th April

Little Crake Porzana parva

A male and female Jahra East 4^th April with a female there 5^th April

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Only seen at South Doha Nature Reserve and Jahra East

Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio seistanicus

2 at dusk at South Doha Nature Reserve 7^th April

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Peak of c.50 Doha Spit 3^rd April, otherwise noted in small numbers in Kuwait Bay

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Up to 15 Jahra East and 2 on the small pool at Tulha 7^th April

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

1 on the sandy island off Ras al Zour 6^th April

Crab Plover Dromas ardeola

We only saw this species at Doha Spit as we did not have the chance to visit Bubiyan Island where spectacular numbers breed. Records from Doha Spit included 3 on 3^rd April, 1 on 5^th April and 6 on 6^th April

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola

1 at Jahra East 3^rd April (in a flock with the following species) and a single again at Jahra East 7^th April with an unidentified pratincole seen at dusk at Sabah-al-Salem 6^th April

Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni

An impressive flock of 28 flew over Jahra East, and settled briefly, on 3^rd April

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Common in Kuwait Bay, particularly at Doha Spit high tide roost

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus

Common to very common in Kuwait Bay; observed in good numbers at Sulaibhikat, Doha Spit and North Doha Nature Reserve

Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus

Kuwait is the easiest place to see this species in the Western Palearctic. It was commonly observed in Kuwait Bay; the best site being the high tide roost at Doha Spit. 400+ were present here 6^th – 7^th April

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Regular in Kuwait Bay; a peak of 50+ Doha Spit 3^rd April

Red-wattled Lapwing Hoplopterus indicus

3 Abdaly Farms 5^th April

Sanderling Calidris alba

Common in Kuwait Bay; also c.25 seen at Ras al Zour 6^th April

Little Stint  Calidris minuta

Common in Kuwait Bay with largest numbers at Doha Spit high tide roost

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

Common in Kuwait Bay with 100s present at Doha Spit high tide roost

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Common in Kuwait Bay, particularly at Doha Spit high tide roost

Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus

Small numbers noted in the high tide roost at Doha Spit with c.5 6^th April and c.10 7^th April

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Seen generally in small numbers at Jahra East and Doha Spit; peak of c.30 Jahra East 7^th April

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

2 Sabah-al-Salem 6^th April

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Seen at Doha Spit on all visits; a peak of 6 6^th April

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

2 at Doha Spit 3^rd April and 1 there 8^th April

Curlew Numenius arquata

Common in Kuwait Bay at sites such as Doha Spit, Sulaibhikat and Jahra East

Redshank Tringa totanus

Peak of 100+ in Kuwait Bay at North Doha Nature Reserve at high tide 3^rd April

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis

Seen at Doha Spit on most visits with c.10 there on 6^th – 7^th April being the highest counts

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

50+ in the high tide roost at North Doha Nature Reserve 3^rd April

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

4 Jahra East 4^th April and 1 South Doha Nature Reserve 6^th April

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Presumably the same individual present on the small pool at Tulha on 4^th, 7^th and 8^th April

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus

Surprisingly abundant in Kuwait Bay; largest count being 600+ during high tide at Doha Spit 6^th April

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Commonly seen at Jahra East and Doha Spit with 3 on the pool at Tulha 4^th April and 1 there 8^th April

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Good numbers seen on each visit to Doha Spit

Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus

A 2^nd calendar year bird at Jahra East 3^rd April and a 2^nd calendar year bird at Doha Spit 8^th April

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

Commonly seen in Kuwait Bay, particularly at Jahra East, though less numerous than the next species

Slender-billed Gull Larus genei

Common to abundant in Kuwait Bay with sometimes hundreds seen at sites such as Jahra East, Sulaibhikat and Doha Spit

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus fuscus

1 Green Island 4^th April

Heuglin’s Gull Larus (fuscus) heuglini

Up to 4 birds presumably of this (sub)species seen in Kuwait Bay at sites such as Doha Spit and Jahra East

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans

An adult on the sandy islet off Ras al Zour 6^th April

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica

Small numbers in Kuwait Bay throughout our stay; peak of c.20 Doha Spit 5^th Apri

Caspian Tern Sterna caspia

Common in Kuwait Bay with largest numbers noted at Jahra East and Doha Spit; unfortunately we witnessed one being shot by hunters at Jahra East

Crested Tern Sterna bergii

1 Doha Spit 3^rd April, 1 Ras al Zour 6^th April, 1 Doha Spit 6^th April, 1 Doha Spit 7^th April and 2 there on 8^th April

Lesser Crested Tern Sterna benghalensis

Up to 20 seen at Doha Spit on most days and c.100 at Ras al Zour 6^th April

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis

Regularly seen in Kuwait Bay at Doha Spit and Jahra East; also c.5 at Ras al Zour 6^th April

White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa

70+ roosted on the sandy island off Ras al Zour 6^th April and 1 showed well in the high tide roost at Doha Spit 7^th April

Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus

At least a dozen were distantly from Ras al Zour 6^th April

Little Tern Sterna albifrons

Seen at Sulaibhikat, Jahra East, Doha Spit and Ras al Zour in small numbers, peaking at 14 Jahra East 5^th April. Despite careful scrutiny and decent views of most birds we failed to find any suitable Saunders’s Tern candidates.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Seen at several sites during the week; peak being 10+ Sabah-al-Ahmad 4^th April

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

2 Al Abraq 8^th April

Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis

Common throughout; seen in good numbers at most sites