Use of sewage ponds by birds in Khartoum State, Sudan, and their influence on bird distribution in the region Tom Jennef and Marwa Tahah L’utilisation de bassins d’eaux usees par les oiseaux a Khartoum, Soudan, et les effets sur la distribution des oiseaux dans la region. Nous avons recense 139 especes d’oiseaux dans quatre bassins d’eaux usees a Khartoum, au Soudan. La Foulque caronculee Fulica cristata a ete observee pour la premiere fois dans ce pays oil elle compte une population nicheuse. La Sarcelle hottentote Spatida hottentota et la Taleve sultane Porphyrio porphyrio, connues auparavant d une settle mention pour chacune d’elles, sont egalement representees par des populations nicheuses residentes. La reproduction de la Gallinule poule-d’eau Gallinula chloropns et du Gravelot a triple collier Charadrius tricollaris a ete notee pour la premiere fois dans le pays. La Rousserolle stentor Acrocephalus stentoreus a ete trouvee au sud et le Tisserin gendarme Ploceus cucullatus au nord de leur aires de repartition connues. L’lbis sacre Threskiornis aethiopicns hiverne en grand nombre, ce qui n’avait pas encore ete rapporte. Une liste annotee des especes recensees est presentee ainsi que des notes supplementaires pour celles dont le statut a change. Certaines de ces dernieres possedent des populations viables dans des petites parcelles d’habitat d’eaux usees. La maniere dont les bassins d’eaux usees fournissent un nouvel habitat pour les oiseaux est examinee, ainsi que les implications potentielles pour la conservation des especes afrotropicales et palearctiques qui utilisent ces habitats et etendent ainsi leurs aires de distribution le long du Nil. Summary. We recorded 139 bird species at four sewage sites in Khartoum State, Sudan. Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata was observed for the first time in Sudan, with a resident breeding population. Hottentot Teal Spatida hottentota and Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio, both previously known only from single records, were also revealed to have resident breeding populations. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus and Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris were recorded breeding for the first time in the country. A southerly range extension was noted for Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus and a northerly range extension for Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus. Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus was found to have a large, hitherto unrecorded, wintering population. An annotated checklist is presented of all species recorded, with additional notes for those showing a change in status. Some of these have viable populations in very small patches of sewage habitat. We discuss how sewage ponds have provided new habitats for birds, and the potential conservation implications for Afrotropical and Palearctic species using such areas, thereby extending their ranges along the Nile. K hartoum State lies at the confluence of the Niles (Plusquellec 1990), but north of Khartoum Blue and White Niles, from where the main there is little irrigation far from the banks of River Nile flows north to Egypt. These three the Nile. rivers separate the three largest cities in Sudan: There have been relatively few publications Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman, which together on the birds of Sudan. The only field guide to comprise an urban centre of cFJ million people cover the whole country was published in 1955 (Alsalman & Ali 2011). Away from the immediate (Cave & Macdonald 1955), and since then the vicinity of the Nile, the habitat of Khartoum State only major publication was a distribution atlas is Acacia desert scrub (Cave & MacDonald 1935). of Sudan’s birds (Nikolaus 1987). Robertson The region has distinct wet (May-September) (2001) discussed the inland wetlands of Sudan and dry seasons (Nikolaus 1987). Shortly after as 'enormously important for huge numbers of the wet season ends, most pools have dried many species of waterbird’, but we are aware of up, leaving very little standing water. During no recently published studies of wetland birds in the dry season, sewage ponds provide the only Sudan, and none that specifically discusses the extensive still-water wetlands in the area. South of use of sewage ponds. These works include South Khartoum, the Gezira Scheme provides a network Sudan, which became independent from Sudan of irrigation ditches between the Blue and White in 2011 (Christopher 2011). All references to Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) - 185 ‘Sudan’ hereafter refer to the current borders of sewage treatment works equivalent to those in the Republic of Sudan. Khartoum and Bahri, although there are plans for Much of the wastewater in Khartoum State one (Maki 2010). is disposed of in pit latrines and septic tanks, We visited Soba Hospital 23 times in April but two large sewage treatment plants using 2012-February 2015, Khartoum seven times in stabilisation ponds exist at El Hag Yousif in November 2013-December 2014, Bahri 28 times Bahri, constructed in 1982 and expanded in 1990, in November 2013-May 2015, and Omdurman and at Soba, south of Khartoum, implanted in twice in May 2014 and January 2015, with the 1971 (Maki 2010). Waste stabilisation ponds are majority of visits between mid August and early shallow basins enclosed by earth embankments June. Mist-nets were employed at Bahri (24 in which sewage is treated by natural methods times), Khartoum (once) and Soba (twice) as part using algae and bacteria. They are a common of a separate study of Northern Masked Weavers system of sewage treatment in many developing Ploceus taeniopterus and Cinnamon Weavers countries, and are particularly suitable in warm P. badius (Jenner in prep.). Observations were climates if sufficient land is available (Mara 2003), not standardised and effort was not consistent making them ideal for use in Sudan. Sewage on each visit, especially during mist-netting treatment sites are recognised as important areas activities. High reeds surrounding many of the for birds (e.g. Glue & Bodenham 1974, BirdLife ponds limited visibility and some areas at Bahri International 2014). This study aims to provide and Khartoum could not be accessed at all. All information on birds using sewage ponds in counts are therefore conservative, especially of Khartoum State, with particular reference to those those species inhabiting reedbeds. Most open- species that appear to have changed their status water species, such as ducks, grebes and coots, since the publication of Nikolaus (1987). tended to occupy particular ponds, so effort was concentrated on these areas, where visibility was Study sites and Methods usually better. Observations from open scrub Observations were made at four sewage treatment surrounding the ponds are included, but less plants that use stabilisation ponds. Khartoum effort was made in this habitat, so many landbird sewage treatment works (15°30’07”N 32°32’49”E) species using sewage sites will have been under¬ has eight ponds covering a total of c.40 ha, the recorded. two largest each c.13 ha, with approximately 4.3 km of perimeter edged by Phragmites reeds Results c.2-3 m wide. The sewage treatment works at We recorded 139 bird species at the four study Bahri (15°40’04”N 32°36’28”E) comprise 15 sites (see Appendix 1). Of these, 71 were residents ponds covering c. 120 ha, the largest r.30 ha, in the area, with 41 either confirmed to breed with approximately 9.1 km of perimeter edged or assumed to be breeding within the grounds by reeds, in places 10-15 m wide. In both of the sewage sites, and the remaining 30 being Khartoum and Bahri, some of the smaller ponds probably local residents recorded flying over or were empty throughout the study. The small passing through the site, but unlikely to use the sewage site serving Soba Hospital (15°30’40’,N areas regularly. Fifty-one were considered solely 32°37155’T), just south of Khartoum, has 11 winter visitors from the Palearctic, with several small ponds with a total area of c.2 ha, the ponds resident populations supplemented by winter being employed on a rotational basis such that migrants. Another ten were Palearctic migrants some are empty, some have open water and on passage. Seven were intra-African migrants some are filled with reeds at any given time. A breeding locally, although none was confirmed to small sewage treatment pond serving Omdurman breed at the sewage sites. In many cases, we have Islamic University (15°34T9”N 32°27’25”E) has had to assume status, except for those species for c. 1—2 ha of permanent open water, which floods which breeding was confirmed. Our assessment to form a larger area during the wet season. of the status of many species is based on our About half of the site at Omdurman is reed- experience from hundreds of days in the field at covered. At all four sites, reeds are cut for use other locations in the region (most published on in roofing. Omdurman does not have any large birdingsudan.blogspot.com). 186 -Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha Notes on selected species Hottentot Teal Spatula hottentota The following notes provide details on species Recorded in all months at all four sewage sites on whose status appears to have changed considerably most visits; first recorded at Soba Hospital on 6 since the publication of Nikolaus (1987). April 2012. The max. count was 48 at Khartoum (September 2014), with high counts at all four Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis sites, including the small areas at Soba Hospital Abundant winter visitor, with breeding pairs (max. 42, October 2012) and Omdurman (max. present at Bahri, Khartoum and Soba Hospital. 30, January 2013). On 31 January 2015, we Described by Nikolaus (1987) as a seasonal recorded 15 small ducklings from three broods at migrant in October-April, breeding only in the Omdurman (Fig. 2) and on 11 February 2014, west of the country. we photographed a pair at Khartoum with a single young that was about half the size of the adults. Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus All our records are from sewage sites, but Dewilde Observed breeding in the wet season at Bahri (2012) photographed three birds on the White (Fig. 1). Also present throughout the dry season, Nile at A1 Dabbaseen Bridge near Omdurman on including on every visit to Bahri (peaking at c.300 11 May 2012, indicating that the species also uses in early February 2014), with one sighting at the river at least occasionally. Nikolaus (1987) Khartoum and two at Soba Hospital. Observed mentioned just one record within the current on many occasions at other locations near the borders of Sudan, at Khartoum in spring 1981, rivers and occasionally over urban areas. Nikolaus with another from what is now South Sudan. (1987) stated that the species is "only a breeding There has clearly been a significant northerly visitor to the north from May to October’. It range expansion in recent years. is unlikely that this conspicuous species would have gone unnoticed previously, which suggests Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma that our dry-season records represent a change in Recorded regularly at Bahri and Khartoum its status. in November 2013-March 2013 (all records between August and early March), with max. 11 Figure 1. Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus (right) and Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, Bahri Sewage Ponds, Sudan, 17 October 2014 (Tom Jenner) Ibis sacre Threskiornis aethiopicus (a droite) et Ibis falcinelle Plegadis falcinellus, bassins d’eaux usees de Bahri, Soudan, 17 octobre 2014 (Tom Jenner) Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) - 187 Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha Figure 2. Hottentot Teal Spatula hottentota with chicks, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan, 31 January 2015 (Tomjenner) Sarcelle hottentote Spatula hottentota avec poussins, Universite islamique de Omdurman, Soudan, 31 janvier 2015 (Tomjenner) individuals. Described by Nikolaus (1987) as a and at Sunt Forest on 22 May. Nikolaus (1987) rare vagrant, but our records suggest it is a regular reported just one record from Sudan, at Kosti, winter visitor in small numbers. c.260 km south ol Khartoum, with none from South Sudan. This subspecies breeds in Egypt Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio and has done so since antiquity (Goodman & The Afrotropical subspecies P. p. madagascariensis Meininger 1989). It was not recorded in the Nile was observed at all sites in all months, with our Valley south of Cairo until the late 1970s, but has first record at Soba Hospital on 6 April 2012 since spread throughout the complete length of (Fig. 3). Our only record away from sewage the Egyptian Nile Valley as a result of the spread habitat was a conservative count of 125 feeding of reedbeds following the construction of Aswan in open flooded fields between the White Nile Dam (Goodman & Meininger 1989). It is unclear and Sunt Forest, near central Khartoum, in May whether the population in Khartoum State is 2015, although none had been observed there recent or was previously overlooked. However, it on seven previous visits. We observed immatures is difficult to believe this species could persist in at Khartoum sewage ponds on 12 September the region without man-made wetlands. Figure 3. Purple Swamphen / Taleve sultane Porphyrio porphyrio, Soba Hospital, Sudan, 6 April 2012 (Tom Jenner) 188 - Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus can be confused in non-breeding plumage. We Nikolaus (1987) described it as a passage recorded up to six Common Coots throughout migrant and winter visitor between September our study at Bahri, between mid November and and February. We found the species to be a early March, and a single on the White Nile in common year-round resident at all four sites. Khartoum on 2 December 2011, but never saw It was especially common at Khartoum, where the two species together. hundreds were usually present. We photographed small chicks in September 2014 and regularly saw Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris immatures between September and February at all Observed at Soba Fdospital on seven occasions in four sites. It is a common breeder in neighbouring three consecutive years, in February, April-June Egypt (Goodman & Meininger 1989). and October, with two present on three occasions (Fig. 5). On 14 April 2012, a bird in Acacia scrub Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata c.20 m from the nearest water behaved as if it had First recorded at Khartoum sewage treatment a nest nearby, although none was found. It kept works in November 2013 and present during landing nearby and walking away as if trying to all visits to this site, with max. 44 on 24 January distract the observer. Such behaviour is usually 2014. On the same day, a pair was photographed considered proof of breeding (BTO 2014). The with two medium-sized chicks that were probably species was first recorded in Egypt in 1993, and 2-3 weeks old (Fig. 4). On 10 February 2014, at it was confirmed breeding there in 2009 (Jiguet the same site, we observed three family groups, etal. 2011). two with two juveniles and one with a single juvenile. An adult in breeding plumage was Slender-billed Gull Larus genei observed at Bahri on 4 April 2014. We are aware Two photographed on 4 April 2014 at Bahri. of no previous reports of this species in Sudan. We have other records away from sewage sites, Nikolaus (1987) made no mention of it and including a group of six photographed migrating only refers to Common Coot Fulica atra, which he described as an uncommon winter visitor. It is unclear whether Red-knobbed Coot has expanded its range into the country or if it was previously overlooked, as the two coot species Figure 4 (below). Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata with chicks, Khartoum Sewage Ponds, Sudan, 11 February 2014 (Tomjenner) Foulque a crete Fulica cristata avec jeunes, bassins d’eaux usees de Khartoum, Soudan, 11 fevrier 2014 (Tom Jenner) Figure 5 (right). Three-banded Plover / Gravelot a triple collier Charadrius tricollaris, Soba Plospital, Sudan, 25 October 2012 (Tom Jenner) Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) 189 Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha - north along the White Nile past Tuti Island increasing numbers of Slender-billed Gulls at this on 24 February 2012 (Fig. 6), a single moving inland site (Goodman & Meininger 1989), and north over the Blue Nile south of Khartoum on this is possibly a factor in our observations further 25 March 2012, and four groups totalling r.40 south in Sudan. individuals heading north over the White Nile at Jebel Aulia on 21 February 2015. We also Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus have two additional sightings of distant groups of A single mist-netted at Bahri on 4 April 2014 birds migrating along the White Nile that were (Fig. 7). Seven days later two birds responded by almost certainly this species, and there is a record singing to a recording of Clamorous Reed Warbler of two seen at Um Shugeira, Khartoum, March song in the same area. In much of its local range 2012 (Woods & Faki 2012). Nikolaus (1987) this is a resident species (Kennerley & Pearson reported only one inland record, from Khartoum 2010), making it likely that these birds were also in spring 1980. It is probably regular in Khartoum resident, although the trapped individual showed State on passage. In Egypt the species is generally no signs of breeding condition. Breeds on the confined to saline habitats. However, changes Red Sea coast of Sudan, and Nikolaus (1987) in agriculture during much of the 20th century mentioned a record from beside the Nile just have led to increased salinity at Lake Qarun (70 south of the Egyptian border, but there are no km south-west of Cairo near the Nile), leading to records on the Nile from further south. The Red Figure 6 (below). Slender- billed Gulls / Goelands railleurs Larus genei, Tuti Island, Sudan, 24 February 2012 (Tom Jenner) Figure 7 (right). Clamorous Reed Warbler / Rousserolle stentor Acrocephalus stentoreus, Bahri Sewage Ponds, Sudan, 4 April 2014 (Tom Jenner) 190 Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha - Figure 8. Wattled Starlings / Etourneaux caroncules Creatophora cinerea, Bahri Sewage Ponds, Sudan, 12 April 2014 (Tom Jenner) Sea population is A. s. brunnescens, while that in 2010 and April 2011). Nikolaus (1987) described Egypt is A. s. stentoreus (Kennerley & Pearson the species as rare in the north (i.e. within the 2010). Biometrics of the captured bird were current boundaries of Sudan) and knew of no insufficient to establish subspecies, and therefore breeding records. Our records suggest that it is a the origin. Recordings were played at other sites locally common resident in Khartoum State and without response. The construction of the Aswan probably breeds at sewage sites or nearby. High Dam in Egypt led to an increase in reedbeds, with Clamorous Reed Warblers extending their Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus range along the length of the Nile in Egypt below Recorded regularly at Soba Hospital and Bahri the dam (Goodman & Meininger 1989). sewage ponds throughout the study, where many were mist-netted (Fig. 9). We noted hundreds of Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea nests at Bahri and several breeding colonies around Flocks regularly observed at Bahri between mid Khartoum State, especially close to the Nile rivers, February and late May throughout the study, and we have recorded the species 330 km further with max. c.200 in April 2014 (Fig. 8). Flocks north at Karima (18°33’36”N 31°50,28”E), where included males in full breeding plumage and it was common beside the River Nile on 20 March recently fledged juveniles. We also have records 2014. The first record for Egypt was reported from Soba Hospital (April 2012) and an area in May 2006 (jiguet 2012). Nikolaus (1987) beside the Blue Nile c. 5 km from there (August reported no records north of 14°N, which is Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) 191 Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha - Figure 9. Village Weaver / Tisserin gendarme Ploceus cucullatus, Bahri Sewage Ponds, Sudan, 28 February 2014 (Tom Jenner) south of Khartoum. This is now a common and in 2009 a major new dam was built at Merowe, conspicuous species in Khartoum State and it is 350 km north of Khartoum, and the Kajbar Dam unlikely that Nikolaus and others would have is planned for further north (Bosshard 2008). A missed it, suggesting a recent range expansion. man-made wetland also exists beside Khartoum oil refinery, 70 km north of Khartoum; we have Conclusion been unable to visit it, but apparently it is an Many species appear to have undergone significant oxidant pond dealing with industrial wastewater range expansions, or changed their status, since the (KRCSD 2015). publication of Nikolaus (1987), although some of A number of species have recently been recorded these might have been previously overlooked. for the first time in Egypt (Jiguet et al. 2011, 2012, Three species that were unknown in Sudan, or 2014), including two of those discussed here known from just a single record, namely Hottentot (Three-banded Plover and Village Weaver). Two Teal, Purple Swamphen and Red-knobbed Coot, recent additions to the Egyptian list were recorded now have significant resident populations in at sewage sites, although neither would have come Khartoum State, while others have increased their from Sudan. Jiguet et al. (2012) described An ranges or become established as breeding or winter emerging pattern of vagrancy for Afrotropical residents. It is worth emphasising that Khartoum species along the southern Nile valley’. Goodman State is c.400 km from the nearest national border, & Meininger (1989) discussed responses of birds so in many cases these records involve significant to changing environments in Egypt, including range extensions. It is reasonable to assume that how the construction of the Aswan High Dam many of these populations would not exist if resulted in the spread of Phragmites and Typha these man-made sewage habitats were unavailable, marshes, leading to the spread of reed-dwelling as equivalent habitats do not occur naturally in species such as Purple Swamphen and Clamorous the area. Reed Warbler, right along the Nile below the It is estimated that the current sewage treatment dam. Our records suggest that many species could ponds in Khartoum State are insufficient for the be extending their ranges along the River Nile region’s growing population (Maki 2010); it is in both directions, utilising man-made habitats, therefore probable that more will be constructed. such as sewage ponds. That the relatively small We are currently unaware of any major sewage sewage sites at Soba Hospital and Omdurman treatment sites serving the cities further north, Islamic University support significant populations but this may change with future development. In of many of these species suggests that small addition, other wetland sites could be important; ecosystems could be sufficient to promote such 192 - Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha range extensions. This opens the potential for some Jiguet, F., Baha el Din, M., Baha el Din, S., Bonser, R., non-migratory Afrotropical species to reach the Crochet, P.-A., Grieve, A., Eloath, R., Haraldsson, Palearctic region and vice versa. T., Riad, A. & Megalli M. 2011. First report of The number of noteworthy records made by the Egyptian Ornithological Rarities Committee - 2010. www.chn-france.org (accessed 10 November us in relatively few visits highlights the degree to which the region has been under-watched by 2015). Jiguet, F., Baha el Din, M., Baha el Din, S., Bonser, R., ornithologists in recent years. There is a need Crochet, P.-A., Grieve, A., Hoath, R., Haraldsson, for a systematic study of birds at the wetlands of T., Riad, A. & Megalli, M. 2012. Second report of Sudan, to form a baseline from which any future the Egyptian Ornithological Rarities Committee - population changes can be assessed. In particular, 2011. www.chn-france.org (accessed 10 November there is a need to monitor new man-made habitats 2015). such as sewage ponds and reservoirs at other Jiguet, F., Baha el Din, S., Abdel Latif Ibrahim, W., locations along the Nile Valley. Bonser, R., Corso, A., Crochet, P.-A., Grieve, A., Eloath, R. & Schweizer, M. 2014. Third report of Acknowledgements the Egyptian Ornithological Rarities Committee - We thank Dr Elfatih Eltagi Mahgoub for supervising 2012 and 2013. www.chn-lrance.org (accessed 10 Marwa Taha during research for her master’s degree, November 2015). staff at Khartoum and Bahri Sewage Ponds for Kennerley, P. & Pearson, D. 2010. Reed and Bush arranging access to the study sites, and Mark Mallalieu Warblers. London, UK: Christopher Helm. and Ron Demey who made helpful comments on an Khartoum Refinery Company. 2015. www.krcsd.com earlier version of this paper. Marwa Taha was funded (accessed 10 November 2015). by a grant from the African Bird Club. Maki, A. M. E. 2010. Wastewater management in Khartoum Region: Soba Wastewater Treatment References Plant (Stabilization ponds). M.Sc. thesis. Alsalman, A. S. & Ali, A. E. 2011. Population Khartoum: Sudan Academy of Science. estimation from high resolution satellite imagery: a Mara, D. 2003. Domestic Wastewater Treatment in case study from Khartoum. Emirates J. Engineering Developing Countries. London, UK: Earthscan. Res. 16: 63-69. Nikolaus, G. 1987. Distribution atlas of Sudan’s birds BirdLife International. 2014. Important Bird Areas with notes on habitat and status. Bonn. Zool. factsheet: Phakalane sewage lagoons, near Gaborone. Monogr. 25: 1-322. www.birdlife.org (accessed 10 November 2013). Plusquellec, H. 1990. The Gezira Irrigation Scheme in Bosshard, P. 2008. China’s environmental footprint in Sudan: objectives, design and Performance. World Africa. SAIS Working Pap. Afr. Stud, www.sais-jhu. Bank Tech. Pap. 120. Washington DC: The World edu (accessed 10 November 2015). Bank. British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). 2014. BTO Robertson, P. 2001. Sudan. In Fishpool, L. D. C. & breeding status codes, www.bto.org (accessed 10 Evans, M. I. (eds.) Important Bird Areas in Africa November 2015). and Associated Islands: Priority Sites for Conservation. Cave, F. O. & Macdonald J. D. 1955. Birds of the Newbury: Pisces Publications & Cambridge, UK: Sudan. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. BirdLife International. Christopher, A. J. 2011. Secession and South Sudan: Woods, C. & Faki, E. 2012. Ringing on Um Shugeira, an African precedent for the future. S. Afr. Geog. March 2012. birdingsudan.blogspot.com (accessed J. 93: 125-132. 10 November 2015). Dewilde, J. 2012. A1 Dabbaseen Bridge, birdingsudan. a Khartoum International Community School, Khartoum, blogspot.com (accessed 10 November 2015). Sudan. E-mail: jennertom @hotmail. com Dowsett, R. J., Atkinson, P. W. & Caddick, J. A. b University of Bahri, Facidty of Natural Resources 2015. Checklist of the birds of Sudan, www. and Environmental Studies, Khartoum, Sudan. E-mail: africanbirdclub.org (accessed 10 November 2015). marwataha55 @gmail. com Glue, D. & Bodenham, D. 1974. Bird-life at a modern sewage farm. Bird Study 21: 229-237. Received 11 November 2015; revision accepted 1 Goodman S. M. & Meininger P. L. (eds.) 1989. The March 2016. Birds of Egypt. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) - 193 Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha Appendix 1. Species observed at sewage sites in Khartoum State, Sudan, April 2012-May 2015. Sequence and taxonomy generally follow Dowsett et al. (2015), with amendments. Sites: S = Soba Hospital; B = Bahri; K = Khartoum; 0 = Omdurman. Status: R = Resident at sewage sites; L = Local resident, visiting sewage sites; P = Palearctic winter visitor; A = Afrotropical wet-season visitor: M = Passage migrant. Encounter rate: c = Common (encountered on most visits in season); f = Fairly common (encountered on fewer than 50% of visits in season); u = Uncommon (encountered three times or fewer). Annexe 1. Especes d’oiseaux observees sur quatre bassins d'eaux usees a Khartoum, Soudan, avril 2012-mai 2015. L’ordre et la taxonomie suivent principalement Dowsett et al. (2015) avec des amendements. Sites: S = Hopital de Soba; B = Bahri; K = Khartoum; O = Omdurman. Statut: R = Resident sur les bassins d’eaux usees; L = Resident local, visitant les bassins d’eaux usees; P = Hivernant d’origine palearctique: A = Migrateur afrotropical present en saison des pluies; Mz Migrateur de passage. Frequence d’observation: c - commune (observee pendant de la majorite des visites en saison appropriee); f = frequente (observee pendant moins de la moitie des visites en saison appropriee); u = peu commune (observee trois fois ou moins). s =3 in u O a> at o <x> c/5 St i5 s Comments PODICIPEDIDAE Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollls SBK RP c Breeding in small numbers. Numbers increase in winter. Max. c.500, April. PHALACROCORACIDAE Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus SB L f Small numbers, fewer in winter. Max. 5, March. ARDEIDAE Black-crowned Night Heron Nyctlcorax nycticorax S M u Single August record; common on passage along both Niles. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides SBKO RP c Present all year. Breeding not confirmed, though immatures common. Max. c.60, January. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis SBKO R c Present all year. Colony at Bahri with c.300 nests in wet season. Striated Heron Butorides striata B L u Two single May records. Common on the Nile. Little Egret Egretta garzetta SBK R c Present all year. Breeding not confirmed. Max. c.20. Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia B A ‘ u Small numbers present in wet season. Max. 2. Great Egret Ardea alba B P u Single November record. Common locally. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea SB P f Scattered records August-April. Max 2. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea SBK P c September-May. Max. 42, April. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala BK L f Small numbers all year: commoner in wet season. Max. 4. CICONIIDAE African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus B A u Single April record: 22 flying over. Common locally in wet season. Black Stork Ciconia nigra B M u Singles flying over, January and May. Abdim’s Stork Ciconia abdimii B A f Wet-season visitor. Max. 5, September. THRESKIORNITHIDAE Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus SB P f Small numbers winter August-April, major passage along White Nile. Max. 15, December. Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus SBK R c Small breeding colony at Bahri in wet season; common winter visitor. Max. c.300, February. PHOENICOPTERIDAE Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus B P u Single individual present January-May. ANATIDAE Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor SBK RA f All year; commoner in wet season. Max. 40, May. White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata SBK R c Common all year; confirmed breeder. Max. c.500. December. Eurasian Wigeon M areca penelope B P u Single record of five, December. Commoner on Nile. 194-Bull ABC Vol 23 No 2 (2016) Use of sewage ponds by birds in Sudan: Jenner & Taha