20 21 January 2017 Dick Meijer and Peter van Scheepen Hypocolius, Lulu Island Lulu Island

Transcription

1 Report of a birding trip to UAE January 2017 by Dick Meijer and Peter van Scheepen Hypocolius, Lulu Island Lulu Island

2 Introduction As an extension of a bird-watching trip to Sri Lanka we (Peter van Scheepen en Dick Meijer) decided to stay in Dubai from 20 January to 21 January Our prime target species was the enigmatic Hypocolius. Other much sought-after species included: Socotra Cormorant, Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, Pallid Scops-Owl, Egyptian Nightjar, Red-tailed Wheatear, Hume s Wheatear, Bimaculated Lark, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark and Plain Leaf Warbler. We were guided by Mark Smiles (marksmiles63@gmail.com) who was simply excellent in the field: passionate, sharp and fast. Mark is a British bird-watcher who works in Dubai, he is one of the few resident bird-watchers in the UAE and is well informed on the latest sightings and the sites. On Fridays and Saturdays he might be available for guiding. On recent ornithological news can be found. As we didn t have enough time to see all nocturnal species we had to skip a search for Egyptian Nightjar. For the same time-pressure-reason the nomadic Greater Hoopoe-Lark and Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark remained unseen. During our short stay we recorded 105 species of bird including all but 3 of our much sought-after species and we recorded just 2 Arabian Oryx and Indian Palm Squirrel species of mammal. A very interesting and enjoyable stop over! Map 1

3 Itinerary 8 January Flew with early morning Transavia flight from Amsterdam to Dubai where we resisted the temptation to go to the Mushrif National Park to search Pallid Scops Owl and with late night Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Dubai to Colombo. 19 January Left Kitunayaka airport to Dubai with Sri Lankan Airways at hrs. By Taxi to Ramada Chelsea hotel which was a comfortable place to stay ( and with a good Indian restaurant on the ground-floor. Slept in Ramada Chelsea hotel. 20 January Mark picked us up from Ramada Chelsea hotel at 5.00 hrs. and drove us to Abu Dhabi for our 10-minutes-crossing by boat to Lulu Island. Walked on the Island it is not allowed to leave the beach and walk into the inner part of the Island, which we tried to respect from 7.15 hrs. to hrs. (Hypocolius, Red-tailed Wheatear, Indian Silverbill, Black-throated Thrush, Asian Desert Warbler, Menetries's Warbler, Bay-backed Shrike and Pallas's Gull) and returned to the main land at hrs. Drove to Al Ain (Pallid Scops-Owl in Al Jimi oasis, Egyptian Vulture, Hume's and Mourning Wheatear on Jebel Hafit (1249 m.)). Drove to Qarn Nazwa where we 'lifered' Pharaoh Eagle-Owl at dusk. Returned to Dubai, checked Al Maha reserve on the way (Arabian Oryx) and slept in Ramada Chelsea hotel again. Lulu Island

4 21 January Left our hotel at 5.00 hrs. again to drive to Dibba on the east coast (Sooty Gull, Lesser Crested Tern and Swift Tern) and spent some time in Masafi Wadi (Hume's Wheatear, Scrub Warbler and eventually Plain Leaf Warbler). Drove to Wamms Farms where the green fields had attracted a great variety of species of birds: Bimaculated Lark, Oriental Skylark, Eurasian Skylark, Buff-bellied Pipit, Water Pipit, Variable Wheatear and Isabelline Wheatear). The wintering Eversmann's Redstart, however, did not pop up. Returned to the west coast and found just one Socotra Cormorant at the fish quay of Umm al Qawain and spent some time at the lagoon of Khor al Beida to check the many waders, gulls and terns (Great Knot, Crab Plover, Greater and Lesser Sand Plover, Terek Sandpiper and Slender-billed Gull). Were taken to the airport and said goodbye to Mark at hrs. Map 2

5 Acknowledgments This report benefited from the remarks by Kees Verburg after his proof reading of an earlier version. In the field we used: References 'Birds of the Middle East (second edition)' by Richard Porter and Simon Aspinall. Chistopher Helm, London. ISBN While preparing and digesting our trip we used: Dubai, United Arab Emirates February 2011 by Peter & Juke van Scheepen. Dick Meijer Peter van Scheepen

6 Systematic list of birds Sequence and taxonomy follow Clements Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood The ebird/clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016. Downloaded from: I = Introduced 1. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 50 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 2. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) 3 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 3. Gray Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) 12 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 4. Little Grebe (Podiceps ruficollis) 7 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 5. Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) 1 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 6. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) 100+ seen at Khor al Beida 7. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) 22 seen at Dibba Port and 9 at Umm al Qawain 8. Socotra Cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) Just 1 seen at Umm al Qawain fish quay

7 9. Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) Socotra Cormorant, Umm al Qawain fish quay 6 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January and 3 at Khor al Beida 10. Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis) 60 seen at Khor al Beida 11. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 2 seen at Al Maha reserve on 20 January and 4 at Wamm farms 12. Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) 3 seen at Khor al Beida 13. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron perncopterus) 11 seen at Jebel Hafit on 20 January. 14. Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) 1 seen at Al Jimi oasis on 20 January. 15. Short-toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) 1 seen at Al Jimi oasis on 20 January. 16. Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) 2 seen at Khor al Beida 17. Eurasian Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) 1 seen on Lulu Island and 2 at Al Maha reserve on 20 January and 2 at Khor al Beida

8 18. Shikra (Accipiter badius) 1 seen at Al Jimi oasis on 20 January. 19. Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) 25 seen at Khor al Beida 20. Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) 1 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January and 7 at Khor al Beida 21. Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) 2 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January and 2 at Wamms farms 22. Lesser Sand-Plover (Charadrius mongolus) 6 seen at Dibba port and 3 at Khor al Beida 23. Greater Sand-Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii) 4 seen at Dibba port and 1 at Khor al Beida 24. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) 6 seen at Dibba port and 200 at Khor al Beida 25. Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) 3 seen at Khor al Beida 26. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) 2 seen at Khor al Beida 27. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) 1 seen en route in Abu Dhabi on 20 January and 3 at Khor al Beida 28. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) 300 seen at Khor al Beida 29. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) 3 seen at Khor al Beida

9 30. Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris) 3 seen at Khor al Beida 31. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) 250 seen at Khor al Beida 32. Sanderling (Calidris alba) 1 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 33. Little Stint (Calidris minuta) 12 seen at Khor al Beida 34. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypyleucos) 1 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January, 1 at Dibba port and 1 at Khor al Beida 35. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) 2 seen at Khor al Beida 36. Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) 1 seen at Dibba port and 10 at Khor al Beida 37. Crab Plover (Dromas ardola) 3 seen at Khor al Beida 38. Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei) 1 seen at Umm al Qawain fish quay and 3 at Khor al Beida 39. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) 50 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January and 100+ at Khor al Beida 40. Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichi) 2 seen at Dibba port 41. Pallas's Gull (Icthyaetus icthyaetus) 7 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January.

10 42. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus barabensis) 6 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January, 3 at Dibba port and 8 at Khor al Beida 43. Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica) 25 seen at Khor al Beida 44. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 1 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January and 1 at Khor al Beida 45. Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) 6 seen at Dibba port 46. Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis) 10 seen at Dibba port 47. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) Common throughout. 48. Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) Common throughout, but less numerous than S. decaocto. 49. Pallid Scops-Owl (Otus brucei) 2 seen at Jimi oasis near Al Ain on 20 January. Pallid Scops-Owl, Jimi oasis near Al Ain

11 50. Pharaoh Eagle-Owl (Bubo ascalaphus) Great views of a calling bird at Qarn Nazwa on 20 January. 51. Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) 2 seen at Al Jimi oasis and 4 at Qarn Nazwa on 20 January and 8 at Masafi wadi, 8 at Wamm farms and 8 at Khor al Beida 52. Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 3 seen at Qarn Nazwa on 20 January and heard at Wamms farms 53. Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) 2 seen at Al Jimi oasis on 20 January, 1 at Wamm farms and 1 at Khor al Beida 54. Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) 2 seen at Al Maha reserve on 20 January and 1 at Wamm farms 55. Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinninculus) 1 seen at Qarn Nazwa on 20 January. 56. Alexandrine Parakeet (Psitacula eupatria) I 2 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 57. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) I 2 seen at Al Maha reserve on 20 January and 2 at Wamms farms 58. Southern Gray Shrike (Lanius meridionalis) 2 seen en route to Khor al Beida and 1 at Khor al Beida 59. Steppe Gray Shrike (Lanius palludirostris) 1 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 60. Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) 1 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January.

12 Bay-backed Shrike, Lulu Island 61. Isabellline (Daurian) Shrike (Lanius isabellinus isabellinus) 1 seen at Wamms farms 62. House Crow (Corvus splendens) Isabellline (Daurian) Shrike, Wamms farms Common in urban areas and on Lulu Island. 63. Brown-necked Raven (Corvus ruficollis) 2 seen at Al Maha reserve and 2 at Jebel Hafit on 20 January, 4 at Dibba port and 2 at Wamms farms and 6 en route to Khor al Beida 64. Desert Lark (Ammomanes deserti) 6 seen at Jebel Hafit and 1 en route to Dubai on 20 January and 4 in Masafi wadi

13 65. Bimaculated Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata) 28 seen at Wamms farms 66. Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) 1 heard at Wamms farms 67. Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula) 1 seen at Wamms farms 68. Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) 6 seen on Lulu Island and 1 at Qarn Nazwa on 20 January, 5 at Wamms farms and 1 at Khor al Beida 69. Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) 60 at Wamms farms 70. Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula obsoleta) 4 seen at Jebel Hafit and 2 at Qarn Nazwa on 20 January. 71. Common House-Martin (Delichon urbica) 2 seen at Wamms farms 72. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) I 4 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 73. White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) 30 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January and common elsewhere. 74. White-spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos) 2 seen at Jebel Hafit on 20 January, 2 in Masafi wadi and 2 at Khor al Beida 75. Scrub Warbler (Sococerca inquieta) 8 seen in Masafi wadi

14 Scrub Warbler, Masafi wadi 76. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) 1 seen at Wamm farms 77. Plain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus neglectus) 1 seen in Masafi wadi 78. Clamorous Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) 3 heard on Lulu Island on 20 January. 79. Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) 1 heard on Lulu Island and 1 at Jebel Hafit on 20 January and 1 seen at Wamms farms 80. Asian Desert Warbler (Sylvia nana) 2 seen on Lulu Island and 3 at Al Maha reserve on 20 January. 81. Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca halimodendri) 2 seen on Lulu Island and 1 at Jebel Hafit, 1 heard at Al Maha reserve on 20 January and 1 heard at Masafi wadi 82. Menetries's Warbler (Sylvia mystacea) 1 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January.

15 83. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros phoenicoroides) 1 male seen on Lulu Island and 1 female at Jebel Hafit on 20 January and 1 female and 1 male in Masafi wadi 84. Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitarius) 1 male seen at Jebel Hafit on 20 January. 85. European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) 1 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 86. Hume's Wheatear (Oenanthe albonigra) 3 seen at Jebel Hafit on 20 January and 6 in Masafi wadi Hume's Wheatear, Jebel Hafit 87. Variable Wheatear (Oenanthe picata) 1 seen in Masafi wadi and 2 at Wamms farms and 1 at Khor al Beida on 21 January was most likely this species. Variable Wheatear, Khor al Beida

16 88. Red-tailed Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna) 1 seen on Lulu Island and 1 at Jebel Hafit on 20 January and 6 in Masafi wadi Red-tailed Wheatear, Masafi wadi 89. Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) 4 seen on Lulu Island and 2 in Al Maha reserve on 20 January and 2 at Khor al Beida 90. Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellinus) 1 seen at Al Maha reserve on 20 January and 1 at Wamms farms on 21 January. 91. Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens) 1 seen on Jebel Hafit on 20 January. Mourning Wheatear, Jebel Hafit

17 92. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) 8 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 93. Black-throated Thrush (Turdus atrogularis) 7 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. 94. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) I 8 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January and common elsewhere. 95. Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus) I 3 seen at Wamms farms 96. Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) 1 seen on Lulu Island and 1 at Jebel Hafit on 20 January. 97. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) Purple Sunbird, Jebel Hafit 15 seen at Wamms farms 98. Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) 1 seen on Lulu Island and 6 at Al Maha reserve on 20 January and 1 at Wamms farms 99. Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) 1 seen at Wamms farms 100. Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) 1 seen at Wamms farms

18 101. American Pipit (Anthus rubescens japonicus) 3 seen at Wamms farms 102. Hypocolius (Hypocolius ampelius) 43 seen on Lulu Island on 20 January. Hypocolius, Lulu Island 103. Striolated Bunting (Emberiza striolata) 1 seen at Jebel Hafit on 20 January House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Common throughout Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) 3 seen on Lulu Island and 4 at Jebel Hafit on 20 January. Indian Silverbill, Jebel Hafit

19 Systematic list of mammals 1. Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) 3 seen at Al Maha reserve on 20 January. Arabian Oryx, Al Maha reserve 2. Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) 1 seen and more heard at Wamms farms Other animals 1. Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) 1 seen during crossing by boat to Lulu Island on 20 January.