CHECKLIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES OSME ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE MIDDLE EAST THE CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA OSME OSME was founded in 1978 as the successor VICE PRESIDENTS (AS ATJUNE 2010) to the Ornithological Society ofTurkey. Its Imad Atrash (Palestine) primary aims are: Dr Ghassan Ramadan-Jaradi (Lebanon) Mona Ramadan-Jaradi (Lebanon) • To collect, collate and publish data on all aspects ofthe birds ofthe Middle East, the Ali bin Amer Al Kiyumi (Oman) Caucasus and Central Asia. SherifBaha el Din (Egypt) Ramaz Gokhelashvili (Georgia) • To promote an interest in ornithology and Dan Alon (Israel) bird conservation throughout the Middle Dr Akram Eissa Darwish (Syria) East, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Dr Sergey Sklyarenko (Kazakhstan) • To develop productive working Dr Ali Adhami Mirhosseyni (Iran) relationships with governmental and Azzam Alwash (Iraq) non-governmental organizations with an interest in conservation and/ornatural COUNCIL (AS ATJUNE 2010) history in the region. Michael Blair Richard Bonser PUBLICATIONS OSME publishes a scientificjournal, Ian Harrison • Secretary [email protected] Sandgrouse, containing papers, news and Sharif AlJbour features on the ornithology of the OSME Guy Kirwan region. Chris Lamsdell • Advertising MEETINGS [email protected] An Annual General Meeting is held at which Richard Prior • Publicity guest speakers provide new perspectives on [email protected] ornithology in the region. Colin Richardson Dr Robert Sheldon PROJECTS The Conservation & Research Committee AbdulRahman Al-Sirhan kgrnaonwtlsefdugnedsantdo vcaolnusaebrlveatpiroonjeocftsbitrhdast finurtthheer Effi•eWWeabrsrite• Smaalnesag&emDeinsttri(bcuo-toipotned()co-opted) [email protected] nraegtiioonn.alPsriforroimtytihsegOivSeMnEtorpergoijoenc.ts involving John Warr • Treasurer &Membership (co-opted) [email protected] MEMBERSHIP GeoffWelch OSME is open to all. For details of • Chairman [email protected] membership, subscription fees and how to • Conservation & Research Fund join see www.osme.org. [email protected] MEBIRDNET OSME CORPORATE MEMBERS This is a discussion and information Avifauna group moderated by OSME. Tojoin see Greentours www.osme.org. NHBS POSTAL ADDRESS Rockjumper Birding Tours OSME c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire Sams Bird Tours SG19 2DL, UK. Sunbird Registered charity no282938 ©2010 Ornithological Society ofthe Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia. www.osme.org SanDGROUSE supplement 3 • 2010 1-96 EBRC annotated checklist of the birds ofthe United Arab Emirates. Tommy Pedersen & Simon Aspinall (compilers) 2 Introduction. UAE 4 Checklist. 79 Category D species. 80 Selected Category E species. 84 Appendix 1. Current species that require a rarity description. 88 Appendix 2. Gazetteer of sites. Photo above: Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus offshore Fujairah, 23June 2010. © Tommy Pedersen Cover photo: Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii Kalba corniche, 29 April 2010. © Tommy Pedersen Back cover photo: Trumpeter Finch Rhodopechys githaginea Wadi Bih, February 2008. © NickMoran ,1-4 « 1 » II a. EnvironmentAgency-ABUDHABI ^JSfig^ '«SS5" EnvPronmentLlDataInitiative PublicationofthischecklistofthebirdsoftheUnitedArabEmirateshasbeenmadepossiblebyadonationfrom theEnvironmentAgency-AbuDhabi(EAD),whichischargedwithresponsibilityfortheconservationandpro- tectionoftheenvironment,floraandfaunaoftheEmirateofAbuDhabi,partoftheUnitedArabEmirates(UAE). InassociationwiththeUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP),EADhasalsolaunchedtheAbuDhabi GlobalEnvironmentalDataInitiative(AGEDI),tocollectandmanageenvironmentaldataforgovernmentaland other users. Through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Emirates Bird Records Committee (EBRC), EAD alsohelpstomanagetheUAEnationaldatabaseofbirdrecords. Sandgrouse Supplement3 1 EBRC annotated checklist of the birds of the United Arab Emirates TOMMYPEDERSEN &SIMONASPINALL (COMPILERS) As of 1 July 2010 a total of441 species hasbeen recorded in the UAE, excluding species in categories D and E. The English and scientific names and species sequence in the checklist follow closely those recommended by the Ornithological Society of the Middle East, the CaucasusandCentralAsia (OSME), whoseOSMERegionListofbirdtaxaisatwww.osme. org.ThischecklistwaspreparedfromtheUAEnationalrecordsdatabasethatismaintained by the Emirates Bird Records Committee, EBRC, assisted by all current members of the EBRC: Simon Aspinall, Oscar Campbell, Peter Hellyer, Steve James, Nick Moran, Tommy Pedersen and Andrew Twyman. The contribution made by past EBRC members, namely JohnBannon, PaulBourdin, Dave Diskin, ErikHirschfeld and ColinRichardson, and espe- cially that of Colin, as the previous UAE Bird Recorder, is also gratefully acknowledged. Mike Blair and Peter Hellyer read a draft and made useful suggestions and comments. A website for birders in the UAE may be found at www.uaebirding.com which also contains 'Rare Bird Report' forms for submission of sightings of so-called vagrants and will have a regularly updated online version of this checklist. Species currently needing a description are listed in Appendix 1 below. Anyone noticing errors or omissions in this checklist is kindly requested to inform the Emirates Bird Recorder, Tommy Pedersen, at: [email protected]. SITE NAMES A gazetteer of site names together with GPS coordinates is provided in Appendix 2 (also available to download from www.uaebirding.com). Certain sites mayhave changed name overtheyears, inwhich casebothnames are cross-referenced there, whileinsome instanc- es a named site may now no longer exist. DEFINITIONS Species abundance is classified according to the likelihood of seeing that species on any given visit to suitable habitat during the appropriate season. Vagrant—species recorded on fewer than 25 occasions and less than annual in occur- rence. Rare—species with more than 20 recent records (averaging one a year or more, evenifnot annual). Uncommon—recorded on less than 10% ofvisits. Fairly common—recorded on 10-50% ofvisits. Common—recorded on 51-90% ofvisits. Very common—recorded on more than 90% ofvisits. Category A—species occurring in an apparently wild state. Category A species are includ- ed in the UAE Checklist. Category C—species probably introduced by man that have established breeding popula- tions and are now deemed self-sustaining (and have already existed 10-15 years or more). 2 Sandgrouse Supplement3 Category C species are included in the UAE Checklist. Category D—species that would otherwise appear in Category A, except that there is rea- sonable doubt that they have occurred naturally. Category D species are not included in UAE the list. — Category E species that have been recorded as introductions or escapees from captivity, with breeding populations, if any, that are thought not to be self sustaining. Category E species are notincluded in the UAE list. Only selected Category E species are listed below. A full list is at www.uaebirding.com. TPedersen, POBox333849Dubai, UAE. [email protected] SJAspinall, EBRC, POBox333849Dubai, UAE. Kurdistan Wheatear Oenanthexanthoprymna, 1st UAE record. © Ian Boustead Sandgrouse Supplement3 3 UAE CHECKLIST The official Emirates Bird Records Committee checklist. ChukarAlectoris chukar Uncommon resident in Ra's al-Khaimah mountains north of Dibba and Masafi area. Feral releases elsewhere. Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi intermedins Fairly common and widespread mountain resident. Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus (Category C) Very common and widely released; doubtfully native (archaeological evidence for presence since Fifth Century AD). Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Sand Partridge.©HuwRoberts Common passage migrant; few in winter and summer. Maybreed. Eastern Greylag Goose Anseranser rubrirostris Uncommon and irregular winter visitor, November-March, rarely to April; injured birds have oversummered. Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons albifrons Uncommon to rare winter visitor; extreme dates 3 November and 4 April. LesserWhite-fronted Goose Anser erythropus Vagrant. Grey Francolin.© TommyPedersen 1 OneimmatureUmmal-QaiwainRubbish . Tip 20 Nov 1996 (M Tunturi), then same bird Ramtha Rubbish Tip 5 Dec 1996-14 Mar 1997 (SLJames, C Richardson etal). 2. Two adults (one dead), Nad al-Sheba 28 Dec 2005-4 Mar 2006 (T Pedersen et al). 3. One immature Zakher Pools 25 Nov-8 Dec 2007 (D Clark et al). Mute Swan Cygnus olor Vagrant. 1. One adult, two immatures Abu Dhabi; Eastern Lagoon (sewage farm) 13 Dec LesserWhite-fronted Goose, 2nd UAE record.© 1984 (M Crumbie et al). TommyPedersen 4 Sandgrouse Supplement3 2. Six birds (two groups ofthree) flyingnearBahrani Island 8 Dec 1993 (per N Cochrane- Dyet). 3. Two Abu Dhabi; Eastern Lagoon 15 Oct 2000 (C Band). 4. Three immatures Al Warsan Lakes (Wimpey Pits) 24 Dec 2002-08 Mar 2003, with two birds present 16 Mar 2003 (T Pedersen et al). Releases documented: • Pairnesting SirBaniYas 10 Apr 1989 (MVerhage) with fourbirds present28Jul-2 Sep 1989. • A flock of up to 19 birds Abu Dhabi; Al Reem Island and Eastern Lagoon 18 May 2008-15 May 2009 onwards (R Hornby et al). • One Dubai; International Media Production Zone 4-12 Mar 2010 (M Smiles et al) and twoJumeirah Golf Estate 3Jun 2010 (G Talbot). Bewick's Swan Cygnus (colwnbianus) beurickii Vagrant. 1. Two Nad al-Sheba GC 25Jan-2 Feb 1994 (C Richardson etal). Four unidentified swans hadbeen reported same locality from mid-December 1993. Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Vagrant. 1. Five adults and one immatureAl WarsanLakes (WimpeyPits) 1 Jan-16Mar2003, four birds 28 Mar 2003; single adult 31 Mar-15 Apr 2003 (P Bourdin, J Ward et al). Releases documented: • One Sir Bani Yas 31 Aug-2 Sep 1989. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca (Category C) Feral population on Sir Bani Yas Island since 1980, now widespread throughout the country. First confirmed breeding (away from Sir Bani Yas): Abu Dhabi Island, 1989 (JNB Brown). Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Localisedwintervisitor, usuallyinsmallnumbers (butrecentincreasenoted), October-mid April with peak January-early March. Peak count 150, Al Wathba Lake 27-28 Dec 2008. Summer records assumed to refer to escaped birds. Ruddy Shelduck Tadornaferruginea Rare to uncommon visitor, October-mid May, has summered. The potential for escaped birds should be noted as this species is frequent in private collections. Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianns coromandelianus Vagrant. 1. One female/immature Safa Park 7-9 Nov 1984 (JS Ash, NE Baker et al). 2. Three Hatta Lake 1 Feb 1985 (JAD Chapman). 3. One female/immature Emirates Golf Club 26 Nov 1993 (C Richardson). 4. One female/immature Emirates Golf Club 24-25 Nov 1994 (C Richardson). 5. One Al Wathba Lake 14 Nov 1996 (SL James, A Abdi). 6. One female/immature Khatt Lake 30 Nov-5 Dec 1996 (P Brett, SL James et al). 7. Onefemale/immatureSharjahRubbishTip28Dec2000,again1 Feb2001 (CRichardson, DA Diskin et al). Sandgrouse Supplement 3 5 8. One immature Qurrayah22-30 Nov 2001 (DA Diskin etal). ' 9. Sixbirds Al WarsanLakes (Wimpey Pits) 22 Nov 2003, with one remaining on 28 Nov 2003 (DA Diskin et al). Gadwall Anas strepera strepera Uncommon to fairly common migrant and winter visitor, but seldom numerous. Eurasian WigeonAnas penelope Common to uncommon migrant and winter visitor; has oversummered, MallardAnas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Common migrant and winter visitor. Introduced birdsbreeding since at least the 1980s. Northern ShovelerAnas clypeata Locally common to very common migrant and winter visitor; occasional in summer. Northern Pintail Anas acuta Common migrant and winter visitor; has oversummered. GarganeyAnas querquedula Fairly common to common migrant, rare in summer; small numbers winter. Eurasian Teal Anas crecca crecca Common to very common migrant and winter visitor. Marbled DuckMarmaronetta angustirostris Vagrant. 1. Flock of25 Abu Dhabi Island 1 Mar 1972 (J Stewart-Smith). 2. Two Rams Rubbish Tip, Ra's al-Khaimah, October 1975, exact date not known (S Dexter). 3. TwoAlWarsanLakes (WimpeyPits) 20Dec2000-11Jan2001 (CRichardsonetal),with one until 28 Jan 2001; probably same Sharjah Rubbish Tip 9 Feb 2001 (DA Diskin). 4. One Khor al-Beida 1 Feb 2008 (P Cram, NJ Moran, B Elder et al). Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Vagrant. 1. One Dhayah 24 Dec 1970 (FE Warr). 2. One Abu Dhabi; Saadiyat Island 18 Dec 1981 (G Ramadan-Jaradi). Red-crested Pochards, 8th UAE record. © TommyPedersen 6 Sandgrouse Supplement3 3. One female Zabeel Ponds 3-6 Dec 1987 (C Richardson). 4. One male Ramtha Rubbish Tip 28 Dec 1989, later died of botulism (C Richardson, U Wernery). 5. Three Zabeel Ponds 5-30 Jan 1991 (C Richardson). 6. One Ra's al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary 21 Nov 1995-21 Feb 1996 (P Jonasson, C Richardson et al). 7. One Khart Lake 25 Nov-30 Dec 1996 (P Brett, B Curtis). 8. Fourmales and two females Dubai Pivot Fields and Al Warsan Lakes 20Jan2008with two males and a female 2 Feb 2008 (N Lake, R Brown et al). 9. One female Al Wathba Lake 22 Jan 2008 joined by two males 24Jan, one male staying to 26Jan 2008 (NJ Moran, OJ Campbell et al). 10. One male Ain al-Fayda 1-8 Feb 2008 (D Clark). 11. One female Al Ain Water Treatment Plant 6-14 Mar 2008 (G Talbot et al). Releases documented: • Four birds Sir Bani Yas Island 31 Aug 1989, at least one (male) remaining to 1995. Common Pochard Aythyaferina Fairly commonbut localised migrant and winter visitor; has oversummered. Ferruginous DuckAythya nyroca Uncommon winter visitor; occasional summer records. Tufted DuckAythyafuligula Fairly common migrant and winter visitor; occasional summer records. Red-breasted MerganserMergns senator Vagrant. 1. Two SouthFurayjidatIsland 29 Oct 1972 Stewart-Smith). (J 2. Flock of up to 15 Al Jazirah Khor 25 Nov 1988 AD Chapman, D Robinson, (J C Richardson et al); four birds present 9 Ferruginous Duck. © TommyPedersen Dec 1988 (JNB Brown). 3. One Al Rafa'a 7 Dec 1997 (SJ Aspinall et al). 4. Four Khor al-Beida and Dreamland 25 Feb 2000 (Alula) with one male present 3 Mar 2000 (SJ Aspinall). 5. Five Khor al-Beida 11 Nov 2006 (N Tovey). Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus FairlycommontocommonofftheEastCoast all year; only rarely inside the Arabian Gulf. Persian Shearwaters. © TommyPedersen Sandgrouse Supplement3 7 Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Former vagrant, now almost annual in spring off East Coast, with one October record; single record from the Arabian Gulf. One feeding offKhor Kalba Beach 30 Apr 1995 (SJ Aspinall et al). One offRa's Dibba 1 May 1995 (WIWO/TM van der Have). One offFujairah Hilton Hotel 11 May 1995 (SL James), perhaps same as first record. Three: one off Fujairah Port Beach, one off Fujairah Corniche and one off Kalba Corniche, 15 May 97 (SJ Aspinall). Umm One Shaif Oilfield (platform) 16 Apr 2001 is the sole record from the Arabian Gulf (SJ Aspinall). Two offRa's Dibba 5 Oct 2002 (DA Diskin). One offFujairah Corniche 4 Mar 2003 (DA Diskin). Six offAl Ghurfa Breakwater 22 Apr 2006 (I Boustead), with singles 3 (NJ Moran) and 11 May (T Pedersen et al) 2006. One off Fujairah Port Beach 8 Apr 2007 (SJ Aspinall, OL Wardman), with two off FujairahHiltonHotel 16 and 27Apr (SLJames, IBoustead, APTwyman, AWasse), up to thirteen same locality 29 Apr (SL James), followed by singles 4-29 May, with two there 11 May (N Tovey, SLJames, SJ Aspinall et al) 2007. 10. One offRa's Dibba 29 Apr and 25 May 2007 (SL James et al). 11. One offRa's Dibba 18 Apr 2008 (G Talbot). 12. Four Kalba Corniche 2 May 2008 (G Talbot), with one there 12 May (KBensusan); one offBidiya and six offFujairah Hilton Hotel 19 May (SLJames, AP Twyman), then two 25 May and a singleton 28 May (NJ Moran, SL James) 2008. M 13. OneFujairahPortBeach 17Apr-15 May2010 (N Tovey, Smiles etal), with two same locality 22 May (AP Twyman) and one Khor Kalba 29 May (G Talbot) 2010. Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes Vagrant. 1. OneFujairahHiltonHotel8Oct2004 (SL James). 2. One off Khor Kalba 11-12 Jun 2010 (OJ Campbell, Rogan, MSmiles, GTemple, J D Wilby et al). Jouanin's Petrel Bulweriafallax Vagrant. 1. One Al Ghurfa Breakwater Oct 2004 Flesh-footed Shearwater, 2nd UAE record. ©Oscar Campbell (SJ Aspinall, SL James). Leach's Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa leucorhoa Vagrant. 1. Abird found dyingattheold Sharjah airfield, seeminglyaeroplane assisted, 8Jun 1969 (RG Griffiths, JM Lapthorne); preserved inBM Natural History, Tring, UK. Wilson's Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus Rare to uncommon visitor off the East Coast, end May-August; only sporadically inside the Arabian Gulf. 8 Sandgrouse Supplement3