Migration patterns of some regularly occurring waders in 1990-1992

Erik Hirschreid

Hirschfeld,E. 1994. Migrationpatterns of some regularlyoccurring waders in Bahrain1990- 1992. Wader Study GroupBull. 74.36-49. Erik Hirschfeld, P.O. Box 2411, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

INTRODUCTION annual fluctuations in wader numbers or weather/tides. Counts from different roosts have been combined in a few The PersianGulf harbourslarge numbersof Palearctic cases (for exampleGreenshank Tringa nebularia) where waders both on migrationand in winter. These have the average numberthroughout the year did not differ attracted considerableattention during the recent ten more than ñ 20% between roosts. In those cases where it years (see for exampleEvans & Keijl (1993) for an differedmore (for exampleTerek Sandpiper Tringa overview). When I arrivedin Bahrainin October1989 I cinereusand Redshank T. totanus)counts have been was impressedby the numbersof wadersbut surprised used from one roostonly. Roostingsites used for each over the lack of detailed information on numbers. I could figure are indicatedbelow each graph. onlyfind figuresfrom scatteredand incompletewader countsin the BahrainNatural HistorySociety's files and Note that wader numbers have not been correlated with the onlypublication dealing with this groupof birdsin roostsize in any way, and also that the lumpingof counts Bahrain was a shortpaper by Tucker (1985). After an from differentyears preventsany analysisof annual initialreconnaissance period in late 1989, I set out to fluctuations. Unidentified waders have not been included, performregular, systematic counts of wadersat certain withthe exceptionof the two speciesof Sand Plovers, tide roosts. These counts continued until December 1992, DunlinCalidris alpina and CurlewSandpiper Calidris shortlybefore I leftthe island. This paper summarisesthe ferrugineawhich have been analysed as unidentifiedof abundanceof commonerspecies recorded and is adapted eitherspecies. A brokenline in a graph indicatesan from a forthcomingpublication on bird migrationpatterns extrapolationof values,due to insufficientobserver in Bahrain(Hirschreid in prep.). coverage.

Wader ringingwas initiatedin Bahrainin autumn1991 and Histogramshave been usedfor specieswhich occurin has continuedannually since (Hirschreidet aL 1992; lower numbers, and these show actual number of Hirschfeldet aL in press;Mohamed et aL in prep.). individualsper monthat aftsites (i.e. sites otherthan the four describedbelow).

METHODS It shouldbe kept in mindthat the state of the tide varies seasonally. The hightide duringthe winter monthsis the The four main roostingareas described below were 'lowest' high tide of the year, sometimes reaching almost a selectedas studysites (Map 1). Only my own counts metre below the highestlate summer hightide. During were included in the statistics in order to avoid anomalies such conditions,waders have more roosting sites to caused by different observers'identification criteria and choosefrom and willthen be scatteredout and perhaps census methods. Each site was normallycovered within missedby a single observertrying to countthem. The one hourof hightide once in each ten-dayperiod comparativelylow winter numbersfor some species are throughoutthe year. Due to annual leave and other thus partly caused by this factor, but also by generally reasons,the sites could howevernot be covered every smaller numbersoverwintering. ten-dayperiod in the same year, so countshave been combinedfor all three differentyears. Informationon speciesstatus in neighbouringcountries have, where not acknowledged,been taken from Bundy et The graphspresent an averageof all (1-3) counts al. (1989), Stagg (1987), Richardson(1990) and Oman (regardlessof the year)for eachten-day period (except Bird List edition3. The firstsentence in each species for Lesser Golden Plover Charadriusmongolus which accountdetails status in Bahrainderived from Nightingale showsall records).Inevitably, some ten-day periods were & Hill (1993) and my own observations. bettercovered than others. Eachten-day period average has then been added, in runningmean format, to the averagesof the period before and the periodafter, and dividedby three to even out aberrantpeaks caused by

36 STUDY SITES Sanadmangroves marsh, (50o36 ' E, 26o09' N): MAN The followingsites (Map 1) were used as studysites for wadersas they regularlyharboured large numbersduring The last, polluted,remnants of mangroveon the island, now belongingto the EnvironmentalProtection high tide: Committee.Situated in the southernpart of the important , south of . ASRY, island (50ø39.5'E, 26013 ' N):

ASRY 50 ao

Consistsof sandy beaches and one large, sheltered lagoonnear the tip of Muharraqisland. Part of the lagoon •u • ß lies insiderestricted area and was thus minimally disturbed.

Rasal Busaytin, (50o36 ' E, 26ø 17' N): RB An area of disused masts and concrete fundaments which attractedcertain species of waders in high numbers. Destroyedby land-fillingin summerof 1992.

BAPCOBay, island (50o38 ' E, 2609' N): BAPCO

Sandy beachesand a shelteredbay insidea restricted area belongingto the nationaloil refineryand virtually undisturbed.Species composition is similarto ASRY.

o

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Oystercatcher Haematopusostralegus Fig. 1 Locationof Bahrain and the study area

Jl J.• J3 AI A.• A3 $1 $•Z $3 Ol 02 03 NI N•Z N3 DI D•Z D3 Jl J•Z J3 FI 1• 1;3 MI M2 M3 AI A2 A3 MI M2 M3 Jl J•Z J3 BAPCO Bay, Sitra island. n = 970.

Common migrant and winter and summer visitor in small far away from the countingpoint) duringOctober and numbers.The mainstronghold was BAPCO Bay where a November. Oystercatchersstarted to depart in February maximum of 68 were counted on 19 November 1991. and March and all, exceptfor a few summeringbirds, There was a build-upof adultsat the end of July and were gone by May. All birds showed characters(in the Augustand then a secondpeak (presumablyof juveniles, field) of the subspeciesIongipes which is knownto occur but not positivelyaged as they preferedroosting areas too in the Gulf (e.g. Uttleyet aL 1988; Evans& Keij11993).

Black-winged Stilt Himantopushimantopus

J1 J2 J3 A1 .4,2 A3 S1 S2 S3 O1 02 03 N1 N2 N3 D1 I)2 D3 J1 J2 J3 FI Fl., lB M1 M2 M3 A1 .4,2 A3 M1 M2 M3 J1 J2 J3 Sanadmangroves marsh. n = 813.

37 'Recorded in all months and has bred in small numbers remainingwetlands of Bahrain at this time. The largest since 1990 when colonies were established in the Sanad congregationwas recordedat Nakhl Lawzi where 78 were mangroves, and the Dumistanarea. The main counted 19 November 1992. concentrationsof migrant/winteringbirds were normally found at Sanad. It was not possibleto separatebreeding Black-wingedStilt has recentlystarted to coloniseArabia birdsfrom migrants,but the figure excludespulli. with breedingtaking place in the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Winteringbirds, presumably arriving from other areas, the Eastern Provinceof (Kirwan1992). The occuredduring Decemberto February. The decrease in occurrencepattern in the UAE (or at least Dubaicreek, S. Aprilwas probablydue to local birdsdisappearing into the Aspinallpers. comm.) is slightlydifferent from that of vegetationto nest, and the decrease in July and August Bahrainas mostbirds are seen there from Julyto was probablycaused by post-breedingdispersal by December. breeders. Familygroups were often recordedin the few

Little Ringed Plover Charadriusdubius

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

All sites. n -- 68.

Regularpassage migrant February to Apriland Julyto (excludinglong-staying individuals within the same month) November. Little Ringed Plover breeds in the UAE, ¸man recorded. The specieswas rarely seen in the traditional and - from time to time - in the Riyadhregion but has not wader roostson the shorebut seemedinstead to prefer yet been recordedbreeding in Bahrain. Small numbers inland habitats like the wet areas around Dumistan. winter in Arabia. The figure showsthe numberof birds

Ringed Plover Charadriushiaticula

3O

20

10 (•, : ' : : .... : : : : : : """•'-••"-' ' ' ; ; ; ; I J1 J2 J3 A1 A2 A3 $I 82, $30l 02 03 N1 N2 N3 D1 D2 D3 Jl J2 J3 FI lv2, IV3 M1 M2 M.3 A1 A2 A3 M1 M2 M3 Jl J2 J3 BAPCO Bay, Sitra island. n = 422.

A regular migrant, common in autumn but scarcer in winterand spring. Nightingale& Hill (1993) recorded passage also in May. The decrease in November suggeststhat most RingedPlovers passing Bahrain were headingfor winteringareas further south. Springmigrants passedBahrain in comparativelysmall numbers during Marchand Apriland Evans& Keijl(1993) were also surprisedby the low numbersin springin SaudiArabia. The Siberiansubspecies tundrae, which mainly migrates to tropicalAfrica, occursin Bahrain(Hirschreid eta/. in press)which agrees with Uttleyeta/. (1988).

38 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus

250

150

100

50

0 I ! : : ; ; ; ; ; ; : ; ; ; ; .' : ; : : : .' ; ; : : '- J1 J2 J3 A1 A2 A3 $1 $•. $3 Ol O•. 03 NI N•. N3 DI D•. D3 Jl J•. J3 • • 1•3 ]VII IV[2 N[3 A1 A2 A3 ]VII IV[2 N[3 Jl J2 J3 BAPCO Bay, Sitra islandand ASRY, Muharraq island. n = 8,666.

A commonbreeder, which probablyalso occursas a MigrantKentish Plovers are said to pass throughthe migrantand winter visitor. The largestcongregation was Riyadhregion of (inland)Saudi Arabia in Marchto May 470 at BAPCO Bay on 14 November 1990. The numbers and Augustto October. The migrationof Middle Eastern/ fluctuatedwidely and were difficultto interpret,due to this Central Asian KentishPlovers is otherwisevirtually speciesbreeding occurrence. Many different populations unknown(Cramp et aL 1983). are possiblyinvolved. Greater and Lesser Sand Plover Charadriusleschenaultii and Ch. mongolus

.J1 .J2 .J3 A1 A2 A3 $1 $2 $3 O1 02 03 N1 N2 N3 D1 l• D3 .J1 ,J2 ,J3 FI 1• F3 MI. 1• M3 .4.1 A• A3 MI. 1• M3 .ll ,J• ,J3

BAPCO Bay, Sitra island. n - 28,352.

These two speciesoften pose identificationproblems, JuvenileGreater Sand Ploversturned up as early as in especiallyin roosts,and muchhas already been written June (earliestdate duringthe periodwas of two juveniles abouttheir separationin the field (e.g. Taylor 1982; on 12 June). This conformswith the patternin the UAE Hirschreid1991; Hockey 1993; Hirschreid& Stawarczyk wherejuveniles are quite regularalready in June. 1993). It was not alwayspossible to identifyroosting JuvenileLesser Sand Ploversturned up much later, rarely individualsspecifically, not just because of the similarity before mid August. between the two but also because of light conditionsand observation distance. Boththe subspeciescolumbinus (Asia Minorto Afghanistan)and crassirostris(Transcaspia to Bothspecies are commonthroughout the year. Kazakhstan)of Greater Sand Ploverwere regularly Nightingale& Hill (1993) considerLesser Sand Plover recorded(all ringedbirds in autumn 1992 were passageperiods as Marchto Apriland Julyto October, columbinus(Hirschreid in press)). Roselaar(in Crampet and Greaters as March to April and June to August. al. 1983) statesthat columbinusis not presentin the Gulf after September(basing this on skins)but this statement Numbersstarted to buildup in June and reacheda first could not be verified in Bahrain. peak in the beginningof Augustand a second in mid September. Afterthat there was a decreasefollowed by a Bundyet aL (1989) and Gallagher& Woodcock(1980) new build-upat the end of Novemberand beginningof considerthat the subspeciesatrifrons of LesserSand December. Numbers then decreased to reach their Ploverswinter in the region,while Cramp et aL (1983) and lowestin the end of January. In springmost migrants left Evans& Keijl(1993) considerpamirensis to winter. Bahrainat the beginningof May. The largest Accordingto measurements,birds ringed in autumn 1992 concentrationwas 1,612 Sand Ploversat BAPCO Bay on belongedto boththe mongolus(which includes the 10 September 1990. subspeciesmongolus and stegmanm)and the atrifrons (whichincludes the subspeciespamirensis, atrifrons and Spread throughoutthe year, 87.5% of identifiedbirds in schaefen)groups of subspecies(Hirschreid et aL in roostcounts (n = 9,140) were LesserSand Plovers. The press). sample is too smallto make a detailed,separate, analysis of monthlyoccurrence of each species,but indicatesthat the percentageof Greater Sand Ploversis at its lowestin Januaryto Februaryand Aprilto May. It seems that the percentageof Greater Sand Ploversis highestin June and July, as I have observed in the UAE.

39 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

20

15

-

O. : ;- , ...... : : ,' : ,' ,' ; ; ; J1 J2 J3 A1 A2 A3 S]. $2 $3 O1. 02 03 N]. N2 N3 DI D2 D3 J1 J2 J3 1• F2 F3 M1 M2 M3 A]. A2 A3 M1 M2 M3 J1 J2 J3

All records. n = 241.

Regular migrantand winter visitorJuly to March. Bahrain outletat Ras Tubli and occasionallyin hightide roosts is on the extremewestern edge of the speciesknown among other waders. It showed a more even occurrence winteringarea but it is regularlyrecorded in the patternthan otherwaders. A slightincrease in the end of neighbouringstates, increasinglyso furthereast. Februaryand Marchwas probablycaused by spring Typicallyfavoured agriculturalareas around Dumistan,but migrantspassing through. The largestconcentration was the specieswas also seen regularlyat the freshwater 28 at Hamalah ExperimentalFarm on 15 November1991.

Grey Plover Pluvialissquatarola

2ooT

100 •

0 ...... ; _' ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; I I I I I I I I I Jl J2 J3 At A.2 A3 S1 $2 S3 O1 02 03 NI N2 N3 DI D2 D3 Jl J2 J3 FI F2 F3 MI M2 M3 At A.2 A3 MI M2 M3 Jl J2 J3 BAPCO Bay, Sitra island. n = 3,650.

Common migrant recorded in all months. Winter numbers end of Septemberwith 234 (23 September 1991) and 240 were fairlystable and a build-upof springmigrants (24 September1992). The pattern is similarto that of the commencedin Marchand peaked in Apriland early May. UAE, with the exceptionof a heavy passage occurringin The largestnumbers were recordedin BAPCOBay at the Bahrain in November.

Sanderling Calidrisalba

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

ASRY, Muharraqisland. n = 154.

Regularmigrant and winter visitor (rarely July) August to the HamalahExperimental Farm where they fed on fly Maywith smaller numbers in winter. Nightingale& Hill larvaein patchesof chickenwaste in the desert. The (1993)consider spring migration to continueinto early largestnumbers were seen there in springwhen the June. A Sanderlingringed in Italyin May 1950was maximum,169 on 5 May 1992, was also recorded. The recoveredin Septemberthe same year in Bahrainand seriesof countsfrom that interestingsite are however couldbe explainedby Siberianpopulations of Sanderlings incompletebut largeflocks of wadersare normallyabsent performinga loopmigration (Cramp et al. 1983). from there Octoberto April. No Sanderlingswere recordedthere after 20 May, while birdson autumn The figureshows records at a coastalsite, but the largest migrationwere presentfrom at least mid August(but no concentrationsof Sanderlingsdid howeveroccur inland at countscould be made there earlier in the summer).

4O Comparealso Turnstonefor this localphenomenon of there in the secondweek of May. Sanderlingsoften turn inland occurrence. up inlandin SaudiArabia (Bundy et aL 1989) and in the UAEduring spring passage. These late springbirds are A markedpassage between April and mid June has been probablyfrom African-wintering populations which find an noted in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, while importantstaging post in the Gulf beforethey commence Evans & Keijl (1993) mentionhighest numbers occurring a long, non-stopoverland flight to the tundra.

Little Stint Calidris minuta

300t 200t O, : : ' : : : : ; : : ; : : : : : ,' .' : ,' : : : .' : : : : • ' ' Jl 32 J3 A! A2 A3 $1 $2 $3 O1 02 O• N1 N2 N3 DI D2 D3 J1 J2 J3 FI F2 F3 MI M2 M3 AI A2 A3 MI M2 M3 J1 J2 33 BAPCO Bay, Sitra island. n = 8,131.

Common migrantand winter visitor,rarely largestconcentration was 730 at BAPCO Bay on 18 oversummering.There was a rapidbuild-up in July and December 1991. Augustwhich peaked in September. In 1992, Juveniles startedto turn up in early Septemberwith a main influxin A Russian-ringedLittle Stint was trapped in Bahrainin mid month(Hirschreid et aL in press). After a decrease in September1992, but no informationon its originshave October,numbers built up again in Novemberto fairly been receivedto date (Hirschreidet aL in press) and a stablewintering numbers. A smallpeak in mid March Saudi-ringedLittle Stint was recoveredbreeding in the pointedto springmigrants, Little Stints then gradually Taimyr in summer 1993 (Newton 1994). disappearedfrom Bahrainduring April and May. The

Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

All records. n = 56

Scarce migrantand winter visitorAugust to May. It migrantsturned up in Septemberand mostof the spring usuallypreferred sites like Janabiyahreeds and Ras Tubli migrantsin the periodMarch to May. ratherthan open shores. The majorityof autumn

Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper Calidrisalpina and ferruginea

1øøø1500-[t

o..------.[./.-, , ,' : : -., ; : .' ,' ,' ; : :, ;__ ,' ; ; I I ! I I I I I I I I ! . ; ; Jl J2 J3 A! A2 A3 SI S2 S3 01 02 03 N! N2 N3 DI D2 D3 Jl J2 J3 FI F2 lq3 MI M2 M3 AI A2 A3 MI M2 M3 J! J2 33 BAPCO Bay, Sitra island. n = 29,451.

41 Since these two speciescan be extremelydifficult to figure. Figures29 and 30 showthe patternof adultbirds separate in roostsin winter plumage(see for example in summerplumage, which are easierto identify. Uttley et aL 1990), they have been combinedin one Curlew Sanpiper Calidrisferruginea

"øøT 600t 400l

I ! J I o I I I • i • u,'•uM N J• J9 • A1 A2 A3 S1 S• S• $•ING:

BAPCO Bay, Sitra island. Summer-plumagedindividuals only. n = 9,O84.

Common passage migrantand winter visitor. Winter A flywayfor Curlew Sandpipersmigrating to Africa, some numberswere very difficultto estimate but it is clear that of them coming from as far east as the Lena river, the speciesis presentin good numbers,probably crossesthe Middle East (Cramp et aL 1983) and a Curlew thousands,in Bahrain in winter. The arrival in mid July Sandpiperringed in SouthAfrica in winterwas controlled consistsexclusively of adultswhile juveniles started to two and a half years later in the UAE (Uttley et aL 1988). arrivefirst in September.In springmost birds had left by It is abundant in winter in (::)manwhere 15,700 were for mid May. The largest concentrationswere 843 at BAPCO examplecounted in January 1992 (Perennou& Mundkhur Bay on 20 August 1990 and 835 at the same place on 23 1992). September 1991. Dunlin Calidrisalpina

1

I I I A• J1 J2 33 A1 A2 A3 S1 S2 S3 J1 J2 J3

BAPCO Bay, Sitra island. Summer-plumagedindividuals only. n = 7,752.

Commonmigrant and wintervisitor, although most aL in press.)that year. Dunlinsleft Bahrainapproximately autumnmigrants apparently do not arrive untilin a monthearlier in springthan CurlewSandpipers did. The September (contra Nightingale& Hill 1993). largestcongregation was 1,780 at BAPCO Bay on 23 September1991. It hada markedlydifferent migration pattern to Curlew Sandpiperand arriveda monthlater in Bahrain. This can Dunlinstrapped in Bahrainshowed characters of a range be explainedby the fact that virtuallyall adult Dunlinshad of subspecies:sakhalina, schinzii, alpina, and the newly moultedflight-feathers when they arrived in Bahrain "centralis"form.A migrantalpina Dunlin, ringed in and presumablyhad suspendedtheir migration Sweden in autumnwas recoveredin Bahraintwo years somewhereon the way to moult(Hirschreid et aL 1992). later (R. Staav pers. comm.). Evans& Keijl(1993) found This is also in line with observationsin the UAE (Uttley et sakhalinabeing the dominantsubspecies in theirspring aL 1988) and SaudiArabia (P. Symenspers. comm.). In studyin Saudi Arabia. They also suggestthat an influxof 1992, a few juvenile Dunlinsarrived together with adults in Dunlinsthat occursin late Apriland earlyMay consistsof earlySeptember, but mostjuveniles did notturn up until birdsfrom anotherpopulation than the winteringbirds, the last ten days of Septemberand October(Hirschreid et whichlargely have departedfrom the Gulf at that time.

Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicolafalcinellus

-. ß • I : = I '...... '. '. : • : : ' . . : '. : , ß ' : I I I I J1 J2 J3 A1 A2 A3 S1 S2 S3 O1 02 03 NI l• iN3 Ell I• 1•8 J1 J2 J3 Fl. F2 F3 • NE M5 A1 A2 A3 • IVE M• J1 J2 J3

BAPCOBay, Sitraisland and ASRY, Muharraqislandø n = 10,905.

42 Commonmigrant and winter visitor July to April, are presumablythe resultof a good breedingseason. occasionallyspring migrants occur in late May and early The shoresat Tubli Bay and Bahrain Fort are strongholds June. There was no markedlate autumnpeak, in contrast for winteringBroad-billed Sandpipers (unlike ASRY and to otherwaders, but the specieswas presentthroughout BAPCO) and an estimateof the total winteringpopulation Octoberwhereafter numbers tailed off. Springmigrants in Bahrain is 1,500-2,000 birds. turned up in March and very few birdswere seen after April. There was only one summerrecord: 3 at BAPCO It is apparentlyscarce in winterin SaudiArabia while for Bay on 12 June 1992. The largestcongregations were example5,077 were countedin Oman and 572 in the UAE also at BAPCO Bay: 900 on 5 August 1990 and 895 on 31 in January 1992 (Perennou& Mundkhur1992). The August 1992. In some years large numberscan subspeciesoccurring in the PersianGulf is the Fenno- apparentlybe seen in November,for example954, mainly Scandian falcinellus(e.g. Uttley et aL 1988; Evans & Keijl juveniles,at ASRY on 2 November1989 (pers. obs.) and 1993).

Ruff Philomachuspugnax

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

All records. n -- 836.

Regular migrant,mainly inland and close to fresh water, in relativelysmall numbers. Comparativelyfew Ruffwinter in the Gulf region,perhaps due to lack of suitablehabitat.

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptesminimus

Scarcemigrant (7 Novemberto 9 April),favouring marshy locationthroughout the winter. Peak occurence(6 areas such as Sanad and Janabiyahreeds. Some, records)in March. presumablythe same individuals,were seen in the same Common Snipe Gallinagogallinago

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

All records. Recordedbetween 28 Augustand 21 May. n = 430.

Regularmigrant in marshesSeptember to May, with one probablyis associatedwith influxesfrom wintering areas June record. The peak monthwas November,while a further north during cold weather, as in the winter of secondpeak in January(perhaps only in some years) 1991/92. Numbersdiminished after January.

43 Pintail Snipe Gallinagostenura

Rare migrant,first recordedin 1991 but probablya stayingand seen at least untilthe beginningof January regular,overlooked visitor (see Hirschfeldin press). Nine 1993. It is also regular in small numbers in the UAE and recordsbetween 28 Septemberand 8 May. One to two Oman on migration. birds at Ras Tubli on 27 November 1992 were long-

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

All records. n = 54.

Scarce migrantand winter visitorJuly to May, possibly The speciesis generallyscarce on the Arabianside of the summeringin some years. Prefersthe Tubli Bay area but and occurrences in winter/late autumn in the rarely seen in coastal hightide roosts. Comparedto other Gulf are probablyassociated with cold-weather wader species,the main, late, arrival,in Novemberto movements from the normal wintering areas in iran. January, is notable. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

500

-, : : : : : ,' : ; ,' : : : ; ; ; ; : _' : : : : : • : : : _' _. ; ; ; _' _. _. J1 J2 J3 A1 A2 A3 S1 S2 S3 O1 02 03 N1 N2 N3 D1 D2 D3 J1 J2 J3 FI F2 F3 M1 M2 M3 A1 A2 A3 M1 M2 M3 J1 J2 J3 BAPCOBay, Sitra islandand ASRY, Muharraqisland. n = 9,591.

Common migrantand winter visitorwith small flocks summering.There was a build-upduring July and August whichpeaked after the middlepart of September.This was followedby a slightdecrease to fairly stablewintering numbers. Spring migrantspeaked in the beginningof Aprilwhile May had the lowest numbers. The largest congregationwas 574 at BAPCO Bay on 24 September 1992. Birdstrapped in Dubai were of the nominate subspecies(Uttley et al. 1988).

44 Whimbrel Numeniusphaeopus

80

7O

6O

50

4O

3O

2O

10

0 JUL AUG SEP O C T NO V DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

Ras al Busaytin,Muharraq island. n = 528.

Common migrant and winter visitor. Small numbers in completefor the autumn. The maximumcount was 105 summer. It seems to be comparativelynumerous in at Ras al Busaytinon 19 April 1991. Boththe nominate winterin Bahraincompared to neighbouringcountries. race and alboaxillarisoccur in the Gulf (Cramp & The main roostwas at Ras al Busaytinbut since this site Simmons 1983). was destroyedthe ten-day countsin the figure are not Curlew Numeniusarquata

300

200 150 100•I,

501'.0 • t ." : : I ,• ; I I I I ; ; ; ; .' ; ; ; .' ; ß .. .. : : : ; :- ; ; ; ; : Ji J2 J3 A1 A2 A3 $1 $2 $3 O1 02 03 N1 N2 N3 DI D2 D3 Jl J2 J3 FI F'2 1•3 M1 M2 M3 AI A2 A3 M1 M2 M3 J1 J2 J3 BAPC¸ Bay, Sitra islandand ASRY, Muharraqisland. n = 13,109.

Common migrantand winter visitor,also summering. foundin May. The largestcongregation was 346 at ASRY Therewas a rapidbuild-up in Julyand Augustwhile on 11 September1990. autumnnumbers were fairlystable throughout until a decrease in November. Winter totals were more or less Evans& Keijl(1993) noteda smallinflux in late May. consistentand a peak in the end of March and beginning They suggestedit mightbe causedby second-year,non- of Aprilwere presumablycaused by springmigrants breedingbirds. It is well-known(e.g. Bundy et aL 1989) passingthrough Bahrain. The lowestnumbers were that the subspeciesoccurring in the Gulf is the long-billed orientalis.

Spotted Redshank Tringaerythropus

Scarcemigrant and wintervisitor August to April(25 seen on the shore. Generallya scarcespecies in the records). Prefersinland, freshwater habitats and rarely region.

Redshank Tringatotanus

J1 J2 J3 A1 A2 A3, SI S2 S3 Ol 02 0:5 NI N2 NS DI D2 DS Jl J2 J$ F1 F'2 F3 MI M2 M3 AI A2 A3 MI M.2 M3 Jl J2 J3 ASRY, Muharraqisland. n = 6,946.

45 Common migrantand winter visitoroften summering in Winteringbirds had left by the end of April. Numbers smallflocks. Numbersbuilt up duringJune and July and were at their lowestin May. The largestcount was 601 at reacheda first peak in Augustand a secondin November. ASRY on 7 November 1990.

Marsh Sandpiper Tringastagnatilis

25

15

10

J1 J2 J3 A1 A2 A3 $1 $2 $3 O1 O2 03 N1 N2 N3 D1 D2 D3 J1 J2 J3 F1 1• F3 M1 M2 M3 A1 A2 A3 M1 M2 M3 J1 J2 J3 Sanad mangroves marsh, Bahrain island. n = 2,291.

Scarce migrantJuly to April,preferring the Sanad and regularin Bahrain in recent years, but it is difficultto draw Tubli Bay areas. Unlikemany otherwaders, peak any safe conclusionsdue to lack of detailedwader counts numberswere found in spring,not autumn. The birds left before 1990. The maximum count was 56 at Sanad rapidlyin Apriland nonewere recordedduring May or mangroveson 20 February 1992. June. MarshSandpipers have possiblybecome more

Greenshank Tringanebularia

60

1-, : : : : : : : : ; ; : : : : ,' ; ; ,' ., : ...... 7---• JJ J2 53 AZ A2 A3 S1 S2 S3 o1 O2 03, NZ N2 N3 D1 D2 D3 JZ J2 J3 FI F2 F3 MZ M2 M3 AZ A2 A3 MI M2 M3 JJ J2 53, BAPCOBay, Sitraisland and ASRY, Muharraqisland. n = 2,291.

Common migrantand winter visitor,summering in small foundseemingly higher numbers in midto late Aprilthan numbers. Exhibiteda more even occurrencepattern than in winter in Saudi Arabia, but this trend could not be many other waders. The largestcongregation was 150 at clearlydiscerned in Bahrain. BAPCO Bay on 23 September1991. Evans& Keijl (1993)

Green Sandpiper Tringaochropus

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

All records.Recorded between 20 Augustand 29 April. n = 70.

Scarce migrantand rare wintervisitor, Nightingale & Hill April. Groupsof up to five birdswere seen on a coupleof (1993)also mention records from May, June and July. occasions. Rarelyseen at traditionalwader roosts,preferring drainageditches and marshesinstead. The wintering populationwas apparentlylow, while migrantspassed in small numbersduring August to Octoberand Marchto

46 Wood Sandpiper Tringaglareola

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

All records. Recordedbetween 8 February- 22 May, and 12 July - 6 December. n = 221.

Regularpassage migrantin small numbers,also recorded Most autumnmigrants passed in Augustto November June. Occurredmainly at Sanad and in other marshes, whilespring migration mainly took place in Marchto May. very rarelyat coastalroosts. The peak in May was Some birdsprobably wintered at Sanad, butwere difficult caused by two large flocks, one of 29 and the other of 34. to detect in the dense vegetationthere.

Terek Sandpiper Tringa cinereus

4OO

ASRY, Muharraq island. n -- 4,576.

Commonmigrant, especially in autumn,but scarcewinter migrationwas not markedat all, with a gradual increase visitorin small numbers. There was a big differencein duringMarch and April.Note howeverthat there is a lack numbersbetween BAPCO Bay and ASRY for thisspecies. of data from April. Largestcongregation recorded was ASRY was the strongholdwith a regularoccurrence of 484 at ASRY on 17 August 1991. TerekSandpipers in all months,sometimes with flocks numberingseveral hundred. At BAPCO Bay numbers Evans& Keijl(1993) recordedlarger numbers in spring rarely reached morethan 50 and the specieswas virtually than in winter in Saudi Arabia and suggestthat the Gulf absentthere duringthe springmonths. There was a coastof SaudiArabia is an importantspring refuelling site build-upin late summerwhich culminatedin the beginning for Terek Sandpipers.This species presumably has of September. This was followedby a sharpdecline and differentspring and autumnmgiration staging sites, see by Decemberonly wintering birds remained. Spring Evans & Keijl (1993) for a discussionon this.

Common Sandpiper Tringahypoleucus

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

47 All records. n - 111.

Regular migrant and winter visitorin small numbers Septemberin autumnand Aprilin spring. The peak in (usuallyless than 10) July to April. It is rarelyseen Januarywas presumablycaused by birdsfleeing severe among otherwaders at hightide roosts,seemingly weatherfrom winteringareas further northin January preferringditches, marshes and fresh-wateroutlets 1992. instead. The main monthsof passagewere Augustand

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

0 ...... I I ,• I ,• I I -• ,• ,• ...... J1 J2 J3 A1 A2 A3 $1 $2 $3 O1 02 03 N1 N2 N3 D1 D2 D3 J1 J2 J3 Fl_ 1'2 F'-J M1 M2 M3 A1 A2 A3 M1 M2 M3 J1 J2 J3

BAPCO Bay, Sitra island. n = 1,245.

Commonmigrant and wintervisitor in smallparties. In ACKNOWLEDGMENTS commonwith Sanderling,this speciesoccurred in its largest numbersat Hamalah ExperimentalFarm during I would especiallylike to thank Dr. Saeed A. Mohamed, the hot months of the year. Turnstones arrived later than Dr. Tadeusz Satwarczyk,¸livier Girard and Michel mostother small waders, numbersbuilt up in Augustand Fouquetfor companyin the field and fruitfuldiscussions peaked in September. Thereafterthey decreasedto on wadersand statistics.Bahrain Petroleum Company stablewinter numbers,seemingly augmented by more Bsc. (BAPC¸) kindlyprovided access to their refineryfor birdsduring December and January(but the countsduring wader counts and sheikh Hamed bin Ibrahim Mohamed al that time are insufficientto draw any safe conclusions). Khalifawas mostsupportive of my bird studiesin Bahrain. Numbersdecreased during March and reached a low by Peter Symens,Colin Richardsonand SimonAspinall the end of April,when they again increasedvery rapidly kindlyprovided information on waders from neighbouring and peaked in May. The largestcongregation was 495 countries. Hamalah ExperimentalFarm on 14 May 1992.

The late peak in May could have been caused by a new REFERENCES arrival of long-distancemigrants having wintered in Africa and usingBahrain as a stagingpoint before flying (non- BundyG., Connor,R. J. & Harrison,C. J. O. 19XX. Birdsof the stop?)to the tundra (c.f. Sanderling). See Cramp & Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. London and . Simmons(1983) and Evans & Keijl (1993) for a discussion of this. April and May influxeshave also been noticedin Evans,M. I. & Keijl,G. O. 1993. Springmigration of coastal wadersthrough the SaudiArabian Gulf in 1991. Sandgrouse the EasternProvince of SaudiArabia while spring 15: 56-84. passageis less obviousthan autumnpassage in the UAE. Hirschreid, E. 1991. Further comments on the identificationof Sand Plovers. BirdingWorld 4: 399. OTHER SPECIES OF WADERS RECORDED Hirschreid,E., Mohamed,S. A. & Stawarczyk,T. 1992. Bahrain DURING 1990-1992 Wader Study 1991. WlWO Report 42, Zeist. Hirschreid,E., Mohamed,S. A. & Stawarczyk,T. in press. Avocet Recurvirostra avoceta Migrationpatterns, weight, measurement and moultof waders Crab Plover Dromas ardeola dngedin August- September1992 in Bahrain. WaderStudy Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus GroupBull. Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor Collared Pratincole Glareolapratinco/a Hirschfeld,E. & Stawarczyk,T. 1993. Feedingjizz dientificationof Black-wingedPratincole Glareola nordmanni Sand Plovers. BirdingWorld 6: 454-455. Kittlitz's Plover Charadriuspecuaris Hirschfeld,E. in prep. Birdsin Bahrain:a studyof theirmigration Charadrius asiaticus Caspian Plover patterns 1990-1992. Golden Plover P/uvialisapricaria Red-wattled Plover Hoplopterusindicus Hirschfeld,E. 1994. The firstrecords of PintailSnipe Ga//inago Sociable Plover Chettusiagregaria stenurain Bahrain. Sandgrouse1 White-tailed Plover Chettusia lecura Hockey P. 1993. Identificationforum: Jizz identificationof Sand Lapwing Vane#us vanellus Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Plovers. BirdingWorld 6: 369-372. Long-toedStint Calidris subminuta Kirwan,G. 1992. Aroundthe region. OSMEBulI. 29: 35-48. Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Red-neckedPhalarope PhalaropusIobatus

48 Newton,S. F. 1994. NCWCD birdringing schemes, Saudi Arabia. Oman Bird News 15: 3-4.

Nightingale,T. & Hill, M. 1993. Birdsof Bahrain. London.

Perennou & Mundkhur 1992. Asian and Australasian Waterfowl Census 1992. WRB, AWB.

Richardson, C. 1990. The Birds of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai& WarringtOno Shirihai,H. & van den Berg,A. 1987. Influxof Kittlitz'sSand Plover in Israelin 1986-87. DutchBirding 9: 85-86. Stagg,A. 1987. Birdsof the Riyadhregion. Privatelypublished. Taylor, B. 1982. Field identificationof Sand Plovers in East Africa. DutchBirding 4:113-130. Tucker,G. M 1985. AutumnWader Migrationin Bahrain. Wader Study GroupBull. 44: 30-32. UttleyJ. D., Thomas,C. J., Green, M. G., SuddabyD. & Platt,J. B. 1988. The autumnmigration of wadersand otherwaterbirds throughthe northernUnited Arab Emirates.Sandgrouse 10: 58-70.

WSG 1994 Conference venue- BLisum, Germany

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• ••• T•hnol•entmm

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Fomchungs- und Technologiezentrum Westk•ste, Hafentbrn, 25761 B•sum Geeany '••Tel:0•34Conference 604280address: WSG,H.H•tker F•:04834 6772 •. G.

49