Birds recorded at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia Birds recorded at KAUST, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia KAUST is the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology located about 100 km north of Jeddah. The university opened in 2009 and these are the records since of birds seen within the perimeter fence. Most of the records were made by Brian James. Common and scientific names follow those in the Birds of the Middle East by R. F. Porter et al, but with some additions from the new Birds of Middle East by Potter and Aspinall. Status - Resident refers to birds that are resident in the area but does not necessarily mean they have bred here. ‘Migrant’ refers to species where, some or all of them pass through KAUST, which therefore can include summer residents which have their numbers boosted during migration periods. As observations have only been made since September 2009, the exact status of many birds remains uncertain and under review. Some species were seen regularly at KAUST in the first years but are now rarely seen. This includes a number of waders which rarely stop at KAUST now because fresh water pools have since been drained and therefore no suitable habitat remains to attract them. A few fairly common birds in the surrounding area have not yet been recorded at KAUST or berry infrequently. This is presumably because there is little suitable habitat for them. Bold letters These give an indication of where to find the bird. The first mentioned would be the mist reliable site. GC- Golf course B- Beach areas - primarily South Beach KAM- Area near the King Abdullah Monument or Nature Conservation Area M- mangroves, North Beach, near King Abdullah Monument, track behind the houses around the Coral Garden Route PG- Park or other green areas including gardens on the Island The highlighted number after indicates abundance 1- common during times indicated 2- fairly common at times indicated 3- only a few at times indicated 4- more than 5 records but never more than uncommon 5- less than 5 records The number in the box refers to the number of times the bird has been recorded during that month since KAUST opened. The shaded colour further indicates this, with the darker the colour indicating the greater the numbers of recording in that month. Again it should be remembered that these records are incomplete. As a teacher certain months have less data because school vacations occur at that time. There are, for example few records for July because I have rarely been here here at that time. Alternative names for birds. The classification of birds is constantly changing. The table gives some alternative common and scientific names for the birds found at KAUST. Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix Length:17cm Wingspan:27cm Passage migrant and winter GC, PG, M, 3 Quail appear to migrate through and probably winter at KAUST. Many records are from the golf course but it may also be found in the gardens and the edges of the mangroves. They are usually on or near thick Bird cover and most frequently seen flying off. Several Photo records of exhausted birds being killed by cats. J F M A M J J A S O N D photo by B James 2 2 3 2 2 1 0 0 7 3 0 0 Length:83cm Greylag Goose Anser anser Wingspan:164cm Vagrant/Escape? GC 5 A single bird was at the golf course pool from October 2010 until April 2011. A group of 4 was also at the golf course in November 2016. It is Bird possible all the records are from birds escaped from Photo captivity. J F M A M J J A S O N D 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 photo by B James Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Length:64cm Passage migrant GC 5 Wingspan:133cm A single record of a bird on November 12, 2017 at the main pool at the golf course at dusk. It soon disappeared. Porter and Aspinall indicate it should pass the Western Kingdom but this is a very rare record for recent times. J F M A M J J A S O N D photo by B James 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca 40 cm Length:40cm Wingspan:66cm Passage migrant Harbor 5 One record of a single bird swimming in the harbour on April 30, 2017. Recorded elsewhere in Western Bird Kingdom but scarce. Photo J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 photo Chirp Tracker Length:48cm Wingspan:80cm Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Passage migrant GC5 1 or 2 were seen in November and December 2010 at various fresh water pools. Another pair were at the golf course pools in December 2017. Bird Photo J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 photo by B. James Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Length:56cm Wingspan:95cm Passage migrant GC 3 From September to December a few birds regularly visit the golf course pools. Some birds are similar to the domestic duck which is found locally as a domestic Bird species. Photo J F M A M J J A S O N D 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 7 7 2 photo by Wikipedia 6 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Length:36cm Wingspan:61cm Passage migrant GL 4 Few records all from October and November. 1 was found dead at the golf course by Dan Taylor October 8, 2011. 5 more were recorded at the golf course on November 7, Bird 2017. Photo J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 2 0 photo by B. James Common Pochard Aythya ferina Length:45cm Wingspan:80cm Passage migrant GC 5 Known at KAUST from just two records both of single birds at the golf course in November 2011 and 2017. Bird Photo J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 photo from Birds of India Length:42cm Wingspan:70cm Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Passage migrant GC 5 1 was on the golf course pool November 24/25, 2011 and again in December of the same year. Another female in winter plumage was recorded at the same spot on Bird December 21, 2017. Photo J F M A M J J A S O N D photo from Slimbridge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 7 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Passage migrant GL 3 This species is a regular visitor during migration periods mainly to the golf course lakes. It is more frequent in the Autumn passage with up to 10 birds recorded in late October, 2015. The shovel bill is distinctive. Length: 51cm J F M A M J J A S O N D Wingspan: 78 cm 2 3 1 3 0 0 0 2 6 5 7 5 female by photo by B James Northern Pintail Anas acuta Length: Passage migrant GC 4 56cm Wingspan: 88cm 7 were seen off the beach October 28, 2011, and a pair at photo by B the golf course in March, 2012. Other records in Autumn James mainly in flooded areas near the mangroves or the golf course. J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 6 0 Garganey Anas querquedula Length:39cm Wingspan63 cm Passage migrant GC, B 2 The most common duck at KAUST, with small numbers occurring regularly at the golf course pools. It also occurs regularly in the occasional pools toward the KAM area and in flight from South Beach. photo by B James J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 3 2 3 1 1 1 5 9 7 5 1 8 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Length:27cm Passage migrant GC 2 Wingspan:43cm Singles or small groups have been seen at the golf course pools on autumn and spring passage. This species has been recorded in every month of the year and a pair bred Bird in the reeds at the golf course in June 2015. It seems when there is suitable habitat available this species is Photo present. J F M A M J J A S O N D photo by B James 5 3 2 5 5 4 4 7 7 6 7 3 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Length:130cm Passage migrant B, M, KAM, 4 Wingspan:155cm First spotted in January 2010 and groups of up to 20 were observed in March and April 2011. Since then seen regularly but numbers small. Common in Jeddah, particularly in the south Corniche area and ‘should’ be seen Bird more frequently at KAUST. Also regular at KAEC. Photo J F M A M J J A S O N D 3 3 3 3 1 0 0 0 4 2 4 1 photo by B James Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Length:65cm Passage migrant B, M, GC, PG, KAM, 2 Wingspan:90cm A passage migrant with odd birds resting at the beach or on pools in Spring (April) and Autumn (September-October). Not uncommon at golf course in Autumn often feeding on Bird the fairways at dawn or dusk.