Sandgrouse - Yemen Red Sea islands

Sandgrouse 20 (1): 1998

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The birds of some of Yemen's Red Sea islands

R. F. Porter and Dr Omar Al-Saghier

FROM 17 - 22 MARCH 1995, RFP, OA-S and Dr Scott Kennedy, visited four Red Sea islands north and west of Al-Hudaydah. Ornithological information on the 31 island complex is sparse, nonetheless it qualifies for inclusion as an additional Important Bird Area (IBA) to the 57 already identified in the Republic of Yemen (Evans 1994). The four islands visited were Tikfash (where we camped), Qusur (three visits), Bawared (one visit) and Kutman (where we didn't land due to rough seas). Tikfash and Kutman have coral cliffs to c. 35 metres, otherwise the islands are low, flat and sandy. Vegetation is generally sparse, mostly Suaeda sp. and Salsola sp., and a small mangrove Avicennia marina swamp on Tikfash.

Table 1. Breeding birds of four Yemeni Red Sea islands, March 1995. Figures are the estimated number of pairs present * = 15 pairs of wings found, indicating predation; no live birds seen.

Tikfash Kutman Qusur Bawared

Striated Heron Butorides striatus 2

Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis 5 10

Goliath Heron Ardea goliath 1 1

Osprey Pandion haliaetus 5 4

Kentish Plover Chardrius alexandrinus 4 2

Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii 15

Caspian Tern Sterna caspia 5

Saunder's Tern Sterna saundersi 15 2 3

Brown Noddy Anous stolidus *

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis 5

Black-crowned Finch Lark Eremopterix nigriceps widespread 2

Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes widespread 2

BREEDING BIRDS
Breeding birds are summarised in Table 1 (figures based on systematic counts on all islands). The behaviour of the Brown Boobies Sula leucogaster on the coral cliffs on the east side of Kutman suggested they were about to nest. Small numbers were seen resting on all other islands, and many were at sea. A Goliath Heron Ardea goliath on Qusur was on an empty nest. Osprey Pandion haliaetus was abundant. Three nests were found at the east end of Tikfash, one of which was one metre high, clearly indicating successive use over many years. Qusur held at least eight nests, but we estimated only four pairs to be present; one had three eggs. It would be unsurprising if the whole island complex held over 100 pairs. A Barbary Falcon Falco peleginoides may have been a local breeder. Sooty Gulls Larus hemprichii were paired and displaying on Kutman island's cliffs but the only White-eyed Gulls L. leucopthalmus were flocks loafing on Qusur (60) and Tikfash (40). More interesting were two pairs of Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinnans off the coral cliffs of Kutman. Although no nests were found, Caspian Terns Sterna caspia on Qusur probably had eggs as they constantly dive-bombed us in their territories. Predated Brown Noddies Anous stolidus strongly indicated a breeding colony on Bawared. A later visit, in e.g. June or July, would prove other tern species to be nesting, including Swift Sterna bergii (up to 200 loafing on Tikfash), Lesser Crested S. bengalensis and White-cheeked Terns S. repressa. Small numbers of Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens and Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia were present in mangroves on Tikfash, suitable breeding habitat. Also here were several singing African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus.

NON-BREEDING BIRDS Among non-breeding species were: 50 Crab Plover Dromas ardeola, 100 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, 80 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, 140 Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, 100 Turnstone Arenaria interpres and 21 Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus, whilst at sea three Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus, two Persian Puffinus persicus and eight Wedge-tailed Shearwaters P. pacificus were observed.

COMMENT These observations are relevant to proposals currently being considered to introduce tourism to some Red Sea islands. Such a move poses a serious threat to breeding colonies. Further research and study of breeding species on these islands is needed, in order that informed advice may be given to the relevant authorities and plans agreed to protect sites during the breeding season. For other observations relevant to these islands see Evans (1989), Evans (1994) and Phillips (1982).

REFERENCES EVANS, M. I. (1989) Breeding birds on some Red Sea islands off North
      Yemen. Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 23: 14-20.
EVANS, M. I. (1994) Important Bird Areas in the Middle East.
      BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series no. 2),
      Cambridge.
PHILLIPS, N. R. (1982) Observations on the birds of North Yemen in
      1979. Sandgrouse 4: 37-59.
R. F. Porter, BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, U. K.
Dr Omar Al-Saghier, AREA, P. O. Box 87148, Dhamar, Republic of Yemen.

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BREEDING BIRDS	Breeding birds are summarised in Table 1 (figures based on systematic counts on all islands). The behaviour of the Brown Boobies Sula leucogaster on the coral cliffs on the east side of Kutman suggested they were about to nest. Small numbers were seen resting on all other islands, and many were at sea. A Goliath Heron Ardea goliath on Qusur was on an empty nest. Osprey Pandion haliaetus was abundant. Three nests were found at the east end of Tikfash, one of which was one metre high, clearly indicating successive use over many years. Qusur held at least eight nests, but we estimated only four pairs to be present; one had three eggs. It would be unsurprising if the whole island complex held over 100 pairs. A Barbary Falcon Falco peleginoides may have been a local breeder. Sooty Gulls Larus hemprichii were paired and displaying on Kutman island's cliffs but the only White-eyed Gulls L. leucopthalmus were flocks loafing on Qusur (60) and Tikfash (40). More interesting were two pairs of Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinnans off the coral cliffs of Kutman. Although no nests were found, Caspian Terns Sterna caspia on Qusur probably had eggs as they constantly dive-bombed us in their territories. Predated Brown Noddies Anous stolidus strongly indicated a breeding colony on Bawared. A later visit, in e.g. June or July, would prove other tern species to be nesting, including Swift Sterna bergii (up to 200 loafing on Tikfash), Lesser Crested S. bengalensis and White-cheeked Terns S. repressa. Small numbers of Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens and Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia were present in mangroves on Tikfash, suitable breeding habitat. Also here were several singing African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus.
NON-BREEDING BIRDS	Among non-breeding species were: 50 Crab Plover Dromas ardeola, 100 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, 80 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, 140 Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, 100 Turnstone Arenaria interpres and 21 Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus, whilst at sea three Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus, two Persian Puffinus persicus and eight Wedge-tailed Shearwaters P. pacificus were observed.
COMMENT	These observations are relevant to proposals currently being considered to introduce tourism to some Red Sea islands. Such a move poses a serious threat to breeding colonies. Further research and study of breeding species on these islands is needed, in order that informed advice may be given to the relevant authorities and plans agreed to protect sites during the breeding season. For other observations relevant to these islands see Evans (1989), Evans (1994) and Phillips (1982).
REFERENCES	EVANS, M. I. (1989) Breeding birds on some Red Sea islands off North Yemen. Orn. Soc. Middle East Bull. 23: 14-20. EVANS, M. I. (1994) Important Bird Areas in the Middle East. BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series no. 2), Cambridge. PHILLIPS, N. R. (1982) Observations on the birds of North Yemen in 1979. Sandgrouse 4: 37-59. R. F. Porter, BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, U. K. Dr Omar Al-Saghier, AREA, P. O. Box 87148, Dhamar, Republic of Yemen.

	- go back to start of note on the Yemen Red Sea islands
	- view more articles from Sandgrouse 20(1)
	- return to OSME contents home page