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New Bird Species Spotted in Abu Dhabi

Wilson’s Phalarope, Steganopus tricolor, a small wader, is the first ever record of this species in the UAE.

This is a remarkable new find because this bird is generally found only in the Americas, he EAD said.

The species has only been recorded on four previous occasions in the region, in Oman (twice) and in Turkey (twice in the 1980s).

The species is well known for its far-flung wanderings, and is recorded annually in western Europe in autumn. It has also reached the Falkland Islands, southern Australia and even Antarctica.

The Wilson’s Phalarope, although not globally threatened, has attracted scores of bird watchers to the Reserve during the past few days.

This species normally inhabits shallow, inland waters, especially those that are very saline.

And so, for this reason, Al Wathba Lake would appear to be a suitable habitat for this species as it was observed feeding on the shallow margins of the main lake.

The species feeds either by swimming in shallow water, frequently spinning in circles as it does, or by walking along the shoreline. Both methods were observed at Al Wathba, and the bird was seen to stalk floating insect prey and then seize it with a sudden stab of its long, very fine bill.

Given that there is little other suitable habitat in the area, EAD experts believe it may remain in the vicinity for some time, feeding up before it departs northwards.

The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, which is managed by EAD, is approximately 40km southeast of Abu Dhabi Island and 3km from Mussafah. It is currently not open to the general public but has received student and media groups in the past.

This 5sqkm area, which was declared a protected area upon the orders of late Shaikh Zayed in 1998, has long been recognised as one of the most important sites for birds in the UAE. Visited by thousands of migrants every winter, including waders, ducks and birds of prey, it is also the site of the UAE’s first breeding colony of the charismatic Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus.

For years, the Reserve has been attracting the attention of scientists and birdwatchers that are keen to study both common species and rarer visitors.

Once formal descriptions and photographs of the Wilson’s Phalarope have been assessed by the Emirates Bird Record Committee (EBRC), it will become the 435^th wild species on the official UAE Bird List, maintained by the EBRC in association with EAD.

“This new record is a welcome addition to the growing list of birds in the UAE and once again highlights the importance of reserves for migratory birds,” said Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of the EAD.

“I was stunned and delighted by the discovery,” said Oscar Campbell, a keen bird watcher and member of the EBRC.

“The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is always a fascinating place to watch birds, and there is always the chance of finding a real rarity, but I would never have imagined that a bird like this would turn up here, thousands of kilometres away from its normal wintering grounds in South America.”

“The presence of three flamingos, two tagged in lake Tuzla of Turkey in 2007 and one at Lake Uromiyeh in Iran in 1989 also highlights the importance of Al Wathba for the flamingos and other waterbirds,” said Dr. Salim Javed, Deputy Manager, Bird Conservation at EAD and Manager of Al Wathba Wetland Reserve.

qudoos@khaleejtimes.com

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